>
>
> In July and August, the 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 will be 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.
>
> The encounter will culminate on Aug. 27 when mars comes to within
34,649,589
> miles and will be (next to the moon) the brightest object in the night
sky.
> It will attain a magnitude of minus 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 PM and reach its azimuth at about 3 AM. 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 AM. 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 with your
> children, and grandchildren. No one alive today will ever see this again.
>
> (See Discover Magazine, Aug 2003.) From Redstone Rocket 16 Jul 2003
Received on 2003-07-29 16:05:06
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