PHA-Exchange> planet mars
claudio at hcmc.netnam.vn
claudio at hcmc.netnam.vn
Tue Jun 14 17:47:18 PDT 2005
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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