A Once in a Lifetime look at Mars

[muckshifter]

The Red Planet is about to get 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 around 10pm and reach its azimuth at about 3am

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. Have a party!

NOONE ALIVE TODAY, WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN

 

[Taffycat]

Wow Mucks, this sounds pretty amazing - we are marking the calendar here, even as I type!

Let's hope we will still have clear skies and the weather won't turn 'orrible.

 

[Adywebb]

Excellent Mucks - to think we will probably be the first ever to see this - amazing

 

[muckshifter]

Jeff Wayne ... had an insight.


Wonder how many "Objects from Mars" we'll see reported ...

 

[Rush]

Cant wait

BBQ and me nattering away to the kids about space that night..bet they can`t wait ...again

 

[Anon_F]

Cheers

I like Mars, but i prefer Snickers, why did they change the name from Marthon though

 

[Becky]

Can't wait, sounds like it's going to be spectacular!

 

[Rush]

Funny

By feckit

Cheers

I like Mars, but i prefer Snickers, why did they change the name from Marathon though

Thats funny m8 in the murdoch sense of reality

The americans probably

 

[muckshifter]

BBQ and me nattering away to the kids about space that night..bet they can`t wait ...again

Well spotted Rush ... but shhh, don't let on to the others.










* mucks wonders off nonchalantly to hide *

 

[muckshifter]

Game over ... congrats Rush well spotted in seeing the HOAX

This is the 3rd year running this "email" has done the rounds.



I was just curious to see how many would 'fall' this year for the story.









* now I'm really off to hide *

 

[Taffycat]

Game over ... congrats Rush well spotted in seeing the HOAX

This is the 3rd year running this "email" has done the rounds.

I was just curious to see how many would 'fall' this year for the story.

* now I'm really off to hide *

Dohhh! We were loking forward to that!

Nice one Mucks

 

[muckshifter]

Dohhh! We were loking forward to that!

Nice one Mucks

TC, it did happen, in 2002, I think ... the Hubble got some good picks.

http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/entire_collection/pr2003022a/

 

[Taffycat]

TC, it did happen, in 2002, I think ... the Hubble got some good picks.

http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/entire_collection/pr2003022a/

Thank you Mucks, the link has some great pics, we're enjoying them here

 

[crazylegs]

Funny i thought April the 1st had gone...months ago....

 

[Rush]

Space

My wife says i`m full of space !!!!

 

[Rush]

Ok i win

Are me and mucks the only ones that think there maybe just maybe something else out there or is every one so naive to think we are alone..if so...watch this space ??

 

[floppybootstomp]

And this was a sticky?

Treat yourself to a glass of wine Sir Mucks

On second thoughts make that a bottle. Of port

 

[muckshifter]

And this was a sticky?

Treat yourself to a glass of wine Sir Mucks

On second thoughts make that a bottle. Of port

Yep, I stickied it too ...

I actually got it in an email, was just going to "warn" people, but then me brain kicked in and said to do otherwise.

I hope now people may double check what they read ... even from me.







* I'll find another one ... and we can play the game again *

 

[Anon_F]

By feckit
Thats funny m8 in the murdoch sense of reality

Murdoch will be busy doing the harvest for the next few months so unlikely to hear him.
Thought i would see if my humour could help instead!