[Vision2020] The Red Planet

[Pat Kraut]

I do hope it isn't so cloudy when this happens that we cannot see it! I
checked this out in Snopes.com and it is true. I am looking forward to
seeing it.Snopes has some great pictures too...
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 12:30 AM. 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!