The Martians are coming!!! (8/27)
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Bighersh Alter-Ego
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: 33.02N / 96.66W
The Martians are coming!!! (8/27)
Subject: The Red Planet - Share with your kids! Share with your everybody!
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.
Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 59
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From: Lewisville, TX
Originally Posted by cia-agent
snip
So, mark your calendar at the beginning of August to see Mars grow
progressively brighter and brighter throughout the month.
NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN.
So, mark your calendar at the beginning of August to see Mars grow
progressively brighter and brighter throughout the month.
NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN.
ummm, isn't that tomorrow????
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Bighersh Alter-Ego
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 178
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From: 33.02N / 96.66W
Well, that E-mail fooled me, and the local news agencies here...
I've looked into the sky a few nights, but didn't see anything that I woudl say was "Mars".
Didn't mean to mislead anyone- just wanted to pass this along, believing it was true; especially after hearing it on the news...
I've looked into the sky a few nights, but didn't see anything that I woudl say was "Mars".
Didn't mean to mislead anyone- just wanted to pass this along, believing it was true; especially after hearing it on the news...
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,336
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From: Your moms house
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Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,336
Likes: 1
From: Your moms house
Originally Posted by cia-agent
Well, that E-mail fooled me, and the local news agencies here...
I've looked into the sky a few nights, but didn't see anything that I woudl say was "Mars".
Didn't mean to mislead anyone- just wanted to pass this along, believing it was true; especially after hearing it on the news...
I've looked into the sky a few nights, but didn't see anything that I woudl say was "Mars".
Didn't mean to mislead anyone- just wanted to pass this along, believing it was true; especially after hearing it on the news...
pffft
It's cool. If you look to the East (I think) you will see a VERY bright star that doesn't "flicker"....thats Mars.
Thread Starter
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Bighersh Alter-Ego
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 178
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From: 33.02N / 96.66W
Hmm, I guess I got sucessfully bull*****ted...
I did find this...
http://www.space.com/spacewatch/050819_mars_guide.html
Man; I had this in my Palm Pilot & everything...
I did find this...
http://www.space.com/spacewatch/050819_mars_guide.html
Man; I had this in my Palm Pilot & everything...
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 231
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From: Wildcat Country
Looks like that news is a couple of years late.
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/allabout/ni...ightsky02.html
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/allabout/ni...ightsky02.html
