Xany Posted July 25, 2005 Report Posted July 25, 2005 (edited) copied and pasted from an email i got from an astronomer friend of mine. NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN. The Red Planet (MARS) 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. By August 27, 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 10 p.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 12:30 a.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. SO COOL!!!!! More info Here Edited July 25, 2005 by Xany Quote
Super Jamie Posted July 25, 2005 Report Posted July 25, 2005 are those times northern or southern hemisphere? Quote
Xany Posted July 26, 2005 Author Report Posted July 26, 2005 not too sure actually.....i might try and find out. Quote
Northen Rolla Posted July 26, 2005 Report Posted July 26, 2005 Very cool, Glad i work night shift now, i'll actually be able to see it :D Quote
Ruts Posted July 26, 2005 Report Posted July 26, 2005 hmmm that link is all about 2003 info .... Quote
Ruts Posted July 26, 2005 Report Posted July 26, 2005 Here is a link that debunks the story - (damn it that would have looked good too) http://www.astronomy.com/ASY/CS/forums/281296/PrintPost.aspx Quote
Xany Posted July 26, 2005 Author Report Posted July 26, 2005 BIG WHOOPS!!! little hint people: don't believe everything your friends email you..... bwahahahahahaha Quote
Nitephyre Posted July 26, 2005 Report Posted July 26, 2005 hmmm that link is all about 2003 info .... heh i was gunna say something, but i thought that maybe it was just some background info :jamie: Quote
Xany Posted July 27, 2005 Author Report Posted July 27, 2005 seems its been going around.....its a chain letter that prolly went round 2 years ago and somone has decided that they would like to have some fun and send it around again..... i've been had... :jamie: Quote
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