[Vision2020] Mars: Red Planet of War

[Ted Moffett]

Tami and Saundra:

By the last week in August the sun will set earlier and Mars should be in 
position for good viewing before midnight, so viewing Mars will not mean 
staying up too late.  It is so bright NOW it cannot be mistaken for anything 
else in the sky, unless someone does not know about Mars close approach, and 
instead sees a saucer with little green men.

I bet reports of UFOs will increase during August.

Ted


>From: "Saundra Lund" <sslund@moscow.com>
>To: "'Tami Stinebaugh'" <stin1624@uidaho.edu>,   "'Ted Moffett'" 
><ted_moffett@hotmail.com>
>CC: <vision2020@moscow.com>
>Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Mars: Red Planet of War
>Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2003 09:35:53 -0700
>
>Tami & Ted,
>
>Thanks for the heads-up on this and for the viewing tips!  I, too am
>gonna have to make some plans so that at least my daughter & I (not much
>chance my dh would be willing to go on a *very* early morning drive --
>LOL) can see this.
>
>Thanks again for sharing.
>
>Saundra Lund
>Moscow, Idaho
>
>The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to
>do nothing.
>Edmund Burke
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: vision2020-admin@moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-admin@moscow.com]
>On Behalf Of Tami Stinebaugh
>Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2003 4:31 PM
>To: Ted Moffett
>Cc: vision2020@moscow.com
>Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Mars: Red Planet of War
>
>
>Being that between midnight and 3 am I am often dead asleep, seeing this
>will take some planning on my part:)  I'm thinking a camping trip mid
>August might be a good time to view Mars.  I'll probably even let the
>kids stay up for this one;)
>
>Tami Stinebaugh
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Ted Moffett <ted_moffett@hotmail.com>
>Date: Thursday, July 31, 2003 4:22 pm
>Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Mars: Red Planet of War
>
> >
> > Tami, et. al.
> >
> > Ah, modern humanity and the separation from nature.
> >
> > The most cursory glance at the night sky recently from 12 midnight
> > till 3 AM
> > reveals the bright red planet of war hanging in the southeast to
> > southern
> > sky on the Palouse.  It is very bright now compared to how Mars
> > usually
> > appears.
> >
> > As your report indicates, the show will just get better in August.
> >
> > But get away from the city lights to view Mars.  City light
> > pollution
> > destroys sky watching.  10 miles away from Moscow or Pullman at
> > least is
> > required, further than 10 miles away if you live in Lewiston or
> > Clarkston.
> > It is so sad to consider that many children growing up in major
> > urban areas
> > never or rarely get to wonder at the star dusted night sky as it
> > appears
> > without light pollution.  I've heard stories of children who first
> > venture
> > into "wilderness" being frightened by what they see for the first
> > time in
> > the sky.
> >
> > Ted
> >
> >
> >
> > >From: Tami Stinebaugh <stin1624@uidaho.edu>
> > >To: "upbeatapr00@yahoogroups.com" <upbeatapr00@yahoogroups.com>,
> > Matthew
> > >Stinebaugh <mstinebaugh@latah.id.us>,   moscow vision2020
> > ><vision2020@moscow.com>
> > >Subject: [Vision2020] mars
> > >Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2003 15:25:57 -0700
> > >
> > >I had this information forwarded to me and thought I'd spread it
> > along for
> > >those who haven't heard it yet.
> > >
> > >http://www.snopes.com/science/mars.asp
> > >
> > >Tami Stinebaugh
> > >
> > >
> > >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
>
>

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