Mars will appear as big as the moon in August...
Subject: MARS SPECTACULAR
The Red Planet is about to be spectacular! This month and next, Earth
is
catching up with Mars in an encounter that will culminate in the
closest
approach between the two planets in recorded history. The next time
Mars
may come this close is in 2287. Due to the way Jupiter's gravity tugs
on
Mars and perturbs its orbit, astronomers can only be certain that Mars
has
not come this close to Earth in the Last 5,000 years, but it may be as
long
as 60,000 years before it happens again.
The encounter will culminate on August 27th when Mars comes to within
34,649,589 miles of Earth and will be (next to the moon) the brightest
object in the night sky. It will attain a magnitude of -2.9 and will
appear
25.11 arc seconds wide. At a modest 75-power magnification
By August 27, Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked
eye.
Mars will be easy to spot. At the beginning of August it will rise in
the east at 10p.m. and reach its
azimuth at about 3 a.m.
By the end of August when the two planets are closest, Mars will rise
at
nightfall and reach its highest point in the sky at 12:30a.m. That's
pretty
convenient to see something that no human being has seen in recorded
history. So, mark your calendar at the beginning of August to see Mars
grow
progressively brighter and brighter throughout the month.
Share this with your children and grandchildren.
NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN
The Red Planet is about to be spectacular! This month and next, Earth
is
catching up with Mars in an encounter that will culminate in the
closest
approach between the two planets in recorded history. The next time
Mars
may come this close is in 2287. Due to the way Jupiter's gravity tugs
on
Mars and perturbs its orbit, astronomers can only be certain that Mars
has
not come this close to Earth in the Last 5,000 years, but it may be as
long
as 60,000 years before it happens again.
The encounter will culminate on August 27th when Mars comes to within
34,649,589 miles of Earth and will be (next to the moon) the brightest
object in the night sky. It will attain a magnitude of -2.9 and will
appear
25.11 arc seconds wide. At a modest 75-power magnification
By August 27, Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked
eye.
Mars will be easy to spot. At the beginning of August it will rise in
the east at 10p.m. and reach its
azimuth at about 3 a.m.
By the end of August when the two planets are closest, Mars will rise
at
nightfall and reach its highest point in the sky at 12:30a.m. That's
pretty
convenient to see something that no human being has seen in recorded
history. So, mark your calendar at the beginning of August to see Mars
grow
progressively brighter and brighter throughout the month.
Share this with your children and grandchildren.
NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN
