Chaosmaker Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abramul Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 Appear as large as the full moon? Doubtful... What probes are we launching? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Switch Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 Where did you read this? A reliable source? Sounds like a load of twaddle to me, no offense. ^^; I mean, Mars was the closest it's been to us for a long time 1-2 years ago, wasn't it? There's no way it could get as big as the full moon... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThetaOrionis01 Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 http://www.snopes.com/science/mars.asp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peregrine Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 Appear as large as the full moon? Doubtful... What probes are we launching? Theta Orionis beat me to it with that link, but the "as big as the moon" comment only means that with a 75x telescope (apparently fairly low-end power), you can see it as that size. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stampede Posted June 24, 2005 Share Posted June 24, 2005 I'll be sure to mark it in my filofax. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D@N Posted June 24, 2005 Share Posted June 24, 2005 ill be sure to check that out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stanhead Posted June 25, 2005 Share Posted June 25, 2005 It didn't even look that big in 2003. If it'll look 20% smaller in October this year, then it probably wouldn't even be noticeable with the naked eye. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D@N Posted June 26, 2005 Share Posted June 26, 2005 This is what he means Appear as large as the full moon? Doubtful... What probes are we launching? Theta Orionis beat me to it with that link, but the "as big as the moon" comment only means that with a 75x telescope (apparently fairly low-end power), you can see it as that size.<{POST_SNAPBACK}> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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