Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye

Sadoun · #1 (**permalink**) 07-18-2006, 05:55 PM

I am not sure if the below is true, but that would be nice.

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

We Will Never See This Again in Our Lifetime

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THIS DATE: AUGUST 27TH
...nor will the people of the next 50-to-1,000 Life Times!
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.

rainman · #2 (**permalink**) 07-18-2006, 07:49 PM

sounds cool will be looking for it.

wejones · #3 (**permalink**) 07-19-2006, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sadoun

I am not sure if the below is true, but that would be nice.

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

We Will Never See This Again in Our Lifetime

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THIS DATE: AUGUST 27TH
...nor will the people of the next 50-to-1,000 Life Times!
Mars

..........

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. ........

This is simply NOT TRUE. Notice that there is no year in the date.

This is a chain letter that has been going around for a few years. I received this chain letter from someone who also sent it to me last year and the year before.

Not only does mars NEVER look as big as the moon, but Mars won't even be visible in the evening for about a year. It is visible right now just after sunset, but then goes around behind the sun, and won't even be visible at all for months.

This message started a couple years ago, when mars did make a close approach to the earth, but it never would look as big as the moon.

Anyway...... NOT TRUE.

Edit: to find out where Mars will be at any time, go to http://skyandtelescope.com/observing...le_1220_1.asp# and click change location next to the Sky Chart picture, and it will give you a nice sky chart that will show you where the stars and planets are located in the sky.

rainman · #4 (**permalink**) 07-19-2006, 07:26 AM

Thanks Bill I guess I can go to bed early instead of watching the sky.

Sadoun · #5 (**permalink**) 07-20-2006, 11:54 AM

Thanks Bill for clarifying that.

I was looking at the evening sky last Sunday around just after sunset around 9PM-10PM. I saw several planets (counted 5) with the nacked eye. One was very vivid and bright.

wejones · #6 (**permalink**) 07-20-2006, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sadoun

Thanks Bill for clarifying that.

I was looking at the evening sky last Sunday around just after sunset around 9PM-10PM. I saw several planets (counted 5) with the nacked eye. One was very vivid and bright.

If I read the Sky&Telescope page correctly, Mars should now be in the western sky in the evening, ie it's about as far away from us (and as small) as it can be and still see it. And it's moving around behind the sun, so in a few weeks it will be setting while it's still light, so you can't see it anymore, and won't come out again to where you can see it until next year, and that will first be in the morning, in the east.
I used to keep track of where the planets were, but I sold my telescope several years ago when I lived near a light poluting city. Now I live in an area with clear skys, and wish I still had the scope. :-( But I still try to read the S&T page occasionally. It's a very nice page.