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.
