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.

MOD EDIT: Source



[edit on 7/5/2005 by cmdrkeenkid]

This has already been posted here in an old ATS thread:
www.abovetopsecret.com...

Not as large as the full moon either, it is all discussed if you take a look.

Originally posted by Charlie Murphy
This has already been posted here in an old ATS thread:
www.abovetopsecret.com...

Not as large as the full moon either, it is all discussed if you take a look.

That discussion ended over 10 days ago, so this thread can stay open... Though I would really recommend reading that thread.

wow...talk about dejavu.....Dont know how I missed that one. Anyrate....Someone metioned that this is a year old? For real? Cuz I didnt notice any date on the note....oh well....

It is a repeat from 2003, yeah. Mars won't be coming close to Earth this August. BUT it will be coming close this October. In the source I gave you, it continues to elaborate on this fact.

Here' a NASA link that may be helpful as well: Approaching Mars