Never again in your (or my) lifetime will the Red Planet be so spectacular. This month and next, Earth is catching up with Mars, 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. The encounter will culminate on August 27th when Mars comes to within 34,649,589 miles 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 Mars will rise in the east at 10 p.m. and reach its azimuth at about 3 a.m. But 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 when it comes to seeing something that no human 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. No one alive today will ever see this again.
Posted by Maccabeus (Member # 1369) on :
Dang it, I work nights!!!
Posted by mags (Member # 1570) on :
this is soooo amazingly cool. thanks for sharing it.
Posted by Goober (Member # 506) on :
Maccabeus, take a "lunch" break or something.
August 27th? I will be on campus. Stupid lights everywhere near the city. I think Mars should be bright enough though. I should find my telescope the weekend before. Its around someplace I am sure...not sure if it will help much though heh, I think its more of a moon thing.
Thanks for letting us know. I hate missing once in a lifetime chances like this. Everyone always tells me "oh did you see the moon reverse directions last night!" and stuff. I am ALWAYS a day late.
Posted by Maccabeus (Member # 1369) on :
I am effectively "locked in" when at work. I can open the door, but an alarm will sound and lots of cars with pretty red and blue flashing lights will come to see what is the matter.
Fortunately I do not work every night.
Posted by Goober (Member # 506) on :
What do you work like IN PRISON or something?!
Posted by cvgurau (Member # 1345) on :
I've been seeing it for weeks without knowing what it was. I thought it was an exceptionally bright sattelite. Hm. Now I know. THanks, bene. Posted by Maccabeus (Member # 1369) on :
No, as a matter of fact I am a night janitor at Cracker Barrel. I suppose the alarm is for my protection.
Posted by Nexus Capacitor (Member # 1694) on :
That's a lot like prison, actually. Posted by Kolona (Member # 1438) on :
Not according to my grandson. But that's only because Cracker Barrel sells wobots. (That's a SF comment, right? )
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 1563) on :
So this is the closest Mars has been in the last 5000 to 60,000 years, huh? And the closest it will be for the next 280 years?
If anyone notices a series of bright flashes on the surface of Mars, please let me know immediately.
Posted by Maccabeus (Member # 1369) on :
I saw it tonight! (Last night was cloudy.) At least I assume it's that bright star next to the moon that I can see even through streetlight glare. I can even see the red color, which is unusual for me--I can't usually make out star colors.
Anyone got a telescope, or even a good strong pair of field glasses?
Posted by mags (Member # 1570) on :
I'm going to be in Maui when Mars is at its apex... but yes, my dad has a telescope with a camera attachment. So my parents have offered to loan it to my husband while I'm writing, writing, writing. Posted by cvgurau (Member # 1345) on :
Mags, if your husband is going to be taking pictures, you simply have to send some to me. I've only seen it with my naked eye, and it's not much. I tried using binoculars, but it didn't help.
Oh well.
Chris
Posted by Kolona (Member # 1438) on :
Mags, will you be joining Marianne at the Maui Writer's Conference?
Posted by mags (Member # 1570) on :
Yep, at the retreat and conference. Though as I recall we are taking different tracts at the retreat. - but looking at the schedule, there are lots of opportunities for us to run into each other.
Re: Mars -- Yesterday at Fry's I picked up a flier in which they are trying to get people to buy Celestron Telescopes. - it states that "Mars will be at its closest to Earth on August 27th, 2003 at 2:51am Pacific daylight time (9:51 Universal Time). / Opposition occurs on August 28th, 2003 at 11:00am Pacific daylight time (18:00 Universal Time) / Best observing is from 10PM to 2AM on August 26th, 27th, and 28th."
Posted by Marianne (Member # 1546) on :
Mags, what tract are you taking? Are you staying at the Marriott? I am at a condo down the beach. Let's plan on having lunch one day.
Posted by mags (Member # 1570) on :
Marianne,
Yes, I'm at the Marriott - getting in on the 21st. Having looked at the schedule, I'm sure that we will have more than a few chances to get together for lunch.
I'm taking the Science Fiction tract. - I just kept watching them move the price deadline out, so I'm wondering how small the classes are really going to be.
Posted by Marianne (Member # 1546) on :
I will be looking for ya Posted by Kolona (Member # 1438) on :
While we're at it, anyone going to the Columbus, Ohio writer's conference this coming weekend?
Posted by Bene_Gesserit (Member # 1675) on :
On the west coast, northern California anyway, Mars appears about 10PM in the Southeast sky. It is close enough to appear red.
I can open the door, but an alarm will sound and lots of cars with pretty red and blue flashing lights will come to see what is the matter.
