Skywatching FYI

[Mermaid]

This month and next Earth is catching up with Mars, 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 ways Jupiters
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. The encounter will culminate on August 27th
when Mars comes to within 34,649,589 miles and will be the brightest object
in the night sky (except for the moon). 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 Mars will rise in the
east at 10 p.m. and reach its azimuth at about 3 a.m. But 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 12:30 a.m. That's pretty convenient
when it comes to seeing something that no human 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. No one alive today will ever see this again.


Mermaid

[Aries]

Oh boy...any info on the chaos this may cause those of us with Mars as our ruling planet?? I gotta go look up info on it now...

I certainly hope it doesn't mean I'm going to grow larger and larger through the month of August.....LOL

[Aoife (pronounced E-fah)]

Oh boy...any info on the chaos this may cause those of us with Mars as our ruling planet?? I gotta go look up info on it now...

I certainly hope it doesn't mean I'm going to grow larger and larger through the month of August.....LOL

You and me both, I'm right there with you on this one. I was born March 21st.

[Tink]

Thanks for the (pun intended) head up. :lol:

I told a lady at wok today that's a den mom for cub scouts. She's going to look up info on the net and try to organize a camping, mars watching over-night trip for the pack in August.

I too, will kepp an eye out when camping at Tux, it's dark enough up there at night that I should get a great view!!!

[Isabelle Warwicke]

I am part of a skywatchers group. We throw star parties all the time. I live waaaay out in the country so I have great, unspoiled views of the night sky. I am planning my first planet party for this. Thanks for the info. Can't wait to see this.

Looking up,

[Kae]

Off to Mom's I go for that weekend...best viewing I have access to. Thanks for teh heads up. I wilsh we had a skywatchers group here

Kae

[Tempest_Gypsy]

And damnit!! My telescope is pcked up and in Charlotte! Hmmm, ought to call my dad, so at least HE can use it.

[jmthane]

I am part of a skywatchers group. We throw star parties all the time. I live waaaay out in the country so I have great, unspoiled views of the night sky. I am planning my first planet party for this. Thanks for the info. Can't wait to see this.

Looking up,

I wish I had great unspoiled views of the night sky - and a telescope. (Used to have one, but it got stolen when the house was robbed many years ago.)

[emalia]

Bumping this up as it is still a current event.. :D

[Tink]

Hey can it be seen by the naked eye...or do i need to haul out the telescope?

[Mermaid]

You'll see much better with a telescope--but it's very visible as the brightest thing in the sky other than the moon! It's been reddish, and orangish--depends on the weather on Mars. Reddish means they're having a dust storm up there. It rises in the southeast.

Mermaid

[Rocket RN]

I really wish I had a telescope. I wonder if rent-a-center has them....

~V~

[Mermaid]

Rocket, you might check for local astronomy groups, or if there is a local observatory....most of them that I've heard of are having public nights.....

Even one of the junior colleges here will be setting up their telescopes for a couple nights of public use--so I would think others would as well!

Mermaid

[emalia]

Is there still going to be good viewing at the end of the month?? IE Labour Day weekend?

I stepped outside last night around 11 or so and saw this really bright orangey star. At first I thought it was the Inter National Space Station, but then I realized I had read this post when it first was made and Hey I was looking at Mars. Pretty cool!

Thanks for that!!

Muffin

[Mermaid]

Mars will be at it's closest on August 27 (new moon).
I would think it will still be big and bright Labor Day weekend, although beginning to wane.
A here's a good site for info http://www.griffithobservatory.org/mars2003.html

Can ya tell I like astronomy?

And Ria--"full earth tonight, and Mars is big and bright......"

Mermaid

[Mermaid]

::::bump:::::

since tonight's the night <G>

Mermaid