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MARS SPECTACULAR!
June 17, 2005
**MARS SPECTACULAR! ***
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.
Share this with your children and grandchildren. NO ONE
ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN
Jim Monti
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