For astronomers

[simpo two]

Just in at Simpo HQ:

> Mars
>
> 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
>
> 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

[Don]

Wasn't this a couple of years ago?

[Don]

simpo two said:

> Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye.

Err. That's something of an exaggeration.

[Einion Yrth]

Don said:

simpo two said: > Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. Err. That's something of an exaggeration.

Read it again Don;-
At a modest
> 75-power magnification
>
> Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye.


.. and it was indeed in 2003, simpohq needs that timeline graphic, wherever it is.

>> Edited by Einion Yrth on Friday 19th August 11:08

[simpo two]

Einion Yrth said:

.. and it was indeed in 2003, simpohq needs that timeline graphic, wherever it is.

I will have my dumkopf agent shot at dawn. Astronomers, you may stand down until the next appearance of Halley's Comet.

[Don]

Einion Yrth said:

Read it again Don;- At a modest > 75-power magnification > > Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye.

D'oh!

[mybrainhurts]

Mmmmmm......Mars

[Don]

mybrainhurts said:

Mmmmmm......Mars

Deep fried in batter, sir?


Warning: This thread's Serious By date has expired.

[tvrbob]

Don said:

Wasn't this a couple of years ago?

Yes this was August 2003. Somebody is distributing an old e-mail me thinks

[mybrainhurts]

Don said:

mybrainhurts said: Mmmmmm......Mars Deep fried in batter, sir?

No, thanks, I'm all right as I am.....

[wolves_wanderer]

Bugger, missed it then. I'll clear the calendar for 60,000 years time...

[leosayer]

Does anyone have any news on Uranus?

[Pigeon]

tvrbob said:

Don said: Wasn't this a couple of years ago? Yes this was August 2003. Somebody is distributing an old e-mail me thinks

That was the first time. This is the second time. It happens twice in quick succession and then never again for years and years and years.

[wedg1e]

leosayer said:

Does anyone have any news on Uranus?

Piles of it.

[Eric Mc]

So, if the closest approach was two summers ago, how can this be the closest approach in X thousand years?

I had a look at it two years ago and it was much brighter than normal but, apart from that, there was no great significance in this event.

Mars is always a bit of a disappointment through most telescopes available to amateurs. Even the largest telescopes in the world don't show a great amount of detail. However, over the past 40 years over 20 spaceprobes have visited the planet and sent back stunning photos and data about the red planet.

[chim666]

Here y'go...

http://urbanlegends.about.com/b/a/175663.htm