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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 General Board Posts >> Dont miss this (OT) but worth it...
        
(Message started by: Cerberus on Jul 20^th, 2005, 1:39am)

Title: Dont miss this (OT) but worth it...
Post by Cerberus on Jul 20^th, 2005, 1:39am

THIS WILL BE VERY INTERESTING...............
Coming in August to the Sky's Near You!

Mars

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Title: Re: Dont miss this (OT) but worth it...
Post by Kirk on Jul 20^th, 2005, 3:25am

Bump

Title: Re: Dont miss this (OT) but worth it...
Post by LeLimey on Jul 20^th, 2005, 4:14am

Wow thank you for sharing that Ramon, I shall make sure I tell everyone I know too

Title: Re: Dont miss this (OT) but worth it...
Post by BobG on Jul 20^th, 2005, 4:41am

~~Wow! That will be cool. Probably be some great photos on the NASA website during the close encounter. Thanks Ramon.~~

modified to say................
Ah shit. Jimmy pooped on us.

Title: Re: Dont miss this (OT) but worth it...
Post by LeLimey on Jul 20^th, 2005, 4:48am

I hope you don't mind Ramon but I cut and pasted your post onto the ouch uk board for everyone there to see as well.
I've just realised that if we are all looking up at the same stars its just one more little link in our chain

Title: Re: Dont miss this (OT) but worth it...
Post by Woobie on Jul 20^th, 2005, 4:58am

on 07/20/05 at 04:48:11, LeLimey wrote:

I hope you don't mind Ramon but I cut and pasted your post onto the ouch uk board for everyone there to see as well.

He doesn't mind.

[smiley=crackup.gif]

Title: Re: Dont miss this (OT) but worth it...
Post by burnt-toast on Jul 20^th, 2005, 5:15am

I can't wait for August - should be really interesting to see things develop. Thanks for sharing this.

Tom

Title: Re: Dont miss this (OT) but worth it...
Post by Jimmy_B on Jul 20^th, 2005, 7:29am

Sorry guys...but this is an urban legend. Mars was the closest to earth in August of 2003 and never as bright as a full moon ::)

Mars will come pretty close to earth in November of this year and the difference to the naked eye from 2003 will be neglible.

Sorry to spoil the party.

http://www.snopes.com/science/mars.asp

http://www.earthsky.com/skywatching/marsbrightest.php

Party pooper, Jimmy

Title: Re: Dont miss this (OT) but worth it...
Post by BobG on Jul 20^th, 2005, 7:35am

Thanks for poopin' on the party Jimmy. ;;D

I didn't want to stay up until midnight anyway. I can wait for the next time. It's what? only 60 bizillion years from now. I'll call and remind ya'll.

Title: Re: Dont miss this (OT) but worth it...
Post by Topical on Jul 20^th, 2005, 7:43am

I think that's funny though. As bright as the full moon? hehe....

Looking up tonight I could see the marvelous orange object. In fact with my bad eyesight I saw two Mars at one time! Beautiful!

Title: Re: Dont miss this (OT) but worth it...
Post by Frank_W on Jul 20^th, 2005, 8:00am

I would like to poop on Mars. Seriously.
[smiley=laugh.gif]