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Author Topic: The Red Planet Brad Norman Okie Dokie Member # 234 posted July 27, 2005 02:14 PM                    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. Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. Mars will be easy to spot. At thebeginning 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 prettyconvenient to see something that no human being has seen in recorded history. So, mark your calendar at the beginning of August to see Mars growprogressively brighter and brighter throughout the month. NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN Posts: 298 | From: Oklahoma | Registered: Aug 2003  |  IP: Logged Leonard HMFIC Member # 2 posted July 27, 2005 03:36 PM                       That's cool. I love to observe the planets, it's amazing to actually see a few of the moons around saturn. Good hunting. LB -------------------- EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All. Don't piss me off! Posts: 31509 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003  |  IP: Logged Crow Woman Knows what it's all about Member # 157 posted July 27, 2005 04:29 PM                    Hey thanks for the heads up Brad! I love watching the nighttime sky and will enjoy this for sure! -------------------- Sheri L Baity Lord, Please give me peace, because if you give me strength, I might beat someone to death! Posts: 687 | From: Covington | Registered: Mar 2003  |  IP: Logged Rob Knows what it's all about Member # 75 posted July 27, 2005 05:07 PM                    cool..thanks Brad! -------------------- "Where did all these #$%^&* Indians come from?" Gen. George Armstrong Custer Posts: 224 | From: Clancy Montana | Registered: Feb 2003  |  IP: Logged Locohead World Famous Smoke Dancer Member # 15 posted July 27, 2005 10:09 PM                    Will do Brad. Thanks here also. Looks like the family and I are due for an all nighter on the Eastern Plains next month. We haven't got our coveted telescope yet but it is amazing what a plain jane pair of binoculars will do for viewing stars and such!!! Thanks again for the heads up! -------------------- I love my critters and chick!!!! :) Posts: 2219 | From: CO | Registered: Jan 2003  |  IP: Logged The Outdoor Tripp Knows what it's all about Member # 619 posted July 27, 2005 10:21 PM                       Loco, Get yourself a $29 camera tripod to steady your plain Jane binoculars. You'll be amazed how much things improve. -------------------- The Outdoor Tripp www.theoutdoortripp.com "All great truths begin as blasphemies." Posts: 805 | From: Texas | Registered: Mar 2005  |  IP: Logged NASA Knows what it's all about Member # 177 posted July 28, 2005 07:14 AM                   Sorry to burst everyone's bubble, but, it just ain't so. Most of the information about this is true, but it was in 2003 when it happened. Someone apparently found an old e-mail about the closest approach of Mars in 2003 and sent it around again, not realizing that the event was over with two years ago. Loco, take the kids out to the plains anyway. Posts: 1168 | From: Typical White Person | Registered: Apr 2003  |  IP: Logged Brad Norman Okie Dokie Member # 234 posted July 28, 2005 08:09 AM                    Nasa's right. I just recieved the email the other day and didn't even think about it. Pretty stupid of me considering I remember it in 2003. Like he said, go out and enjoy the stars and planets anyway. Sorry for the confusion. Posts: 298 | From: Oklahoma | Registered: Aug 2003  |  IP: Logged Crow Woman Knows what it's all about Member # 157 posted July 28, 2005 09:45 AM                    yep... a moment here too... I remember watching it when I lived in Covington, I never thought anything about it... oh well... lots of shooting stars and satelites to watch... they are just as fun. -------------------- Sheri L Baity Lord, Please give me peace, because if you give me strength, I might beat someone to death! Posts: 687 | From: Covington | Registered: Mar 2003  |  IP: Logged Cal Taylor Knows what it's all about Member # 199 posted July 28, 2005 02:39 PM                    Way to go Brad, I guess I missed it in 03 so now I'll have to wait until 2287. Geez, get a guys hopes up and then tell him to wait for 282 years. -------------------- Democracy is two wolves and a lamb deciding what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote. FoxPro Field Staff Member Posts: 1069 | From: Wyoming | Registered: May 2003  |  IP: Logged

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