PHA-Exchange> Planet Mars

[claudio at hcmc.netnam.vn]

        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 
Aug ust 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 
       

   



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