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MARS EVENT AUG. '06


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 10:00 pm
and reach its azimuth at about 3:00 am.

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 am. 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.
 
I think I saw something about this on the news... thanks to your post, I know it wasn't a dream.
 
Kajira Callista said:
MARS EVENT AUG. '06


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 10:00 pm
and reach its azimuth at about 3:00 am.

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 am. 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.

Wow! that is really interesting. Seems like a good excuse for a party too!

Eb
 
Kajira Callista said:
MARS EVENT AUG. '06


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...

And NASA, instead of planning and executing a manned mission for this most convenient of approaches, has sat on it's hands for the last three decades fiddle-farting away with the shuttle program in Near Earth Orbit.

*sighs* I watched the first and last moon missions, I had hopes of watching mankind go to Mars. Now I'm beginning to wonder if we'll ever get back to the Moon.
 
Evil_Geoff said:
And NASA, instead of planning and executing a manned mission for this most convenient of approaches, has sat on it's hands for the last three decades fiddle-farting away with the shuttle program in Near Earth Orbit.

*sighs* I watched the first and last moon missions, I had hopes of watching mankind go to Mars. Now I'm beginning to wonder if we'll ever get back to the Moon.
Lets build a rocket ship...i wanna go :)
 
Kajira Callista said:
does this mean we can't build a rocket ship?
I bet AA has one in his garage. Maybe he will let us borrow it. :cathappy:

Does this mean I have to unpack?
 
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