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07/19/2005 07:57:50 PM · #1 |
Received this email from a friend. Talk about photo-op!!!!
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 would 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, grandchildren, teachers, students, etc. etc.. NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN
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07/19/2005 07:59:42 PM · #2 |
I'm sure that was last year?
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07/19/2005 08:00:09 PM · #3 |
| I think in another forum that that was last year. |
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07/19/2005 08:01:32 PM · #4 |
nope.... it happened 2 years ago... also there is one floating around that Mars will appear as big as the moon. I gues some people like to have a little chuckel when they send these out
however July 21st the moon will be at its closest to earth and full. and again on August 19th
James
Message edited by author 2005-07-19 20:03:48. |
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07/19/2005 08:01:36 PM · #5 |
sorry but no- yet antother net myth ...
see this link |
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07/19/2005 08:02:54 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by TheStick:
NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN |
Excuse me? 60,000 years may be a long wait, but I plan to be around to see it again. :)
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07/19/2005 08:04:35 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by jab119:
nope.... it happened 2 years ago... also there is one floating around that Mars will appear as big as the moon. I gues some people like to have a little chuckel when they send these out
however July 21st the moon will be at its closest to earth and full. and again on August 19th
James |
I remember it being the night of the "Back to School" Speed Challenge... shows how much my life revolves around DPC... sad aint it!
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07/19/2005 08:05:33 PM · #8 |
it just doesn't matter. the martians are going to destroy us all anyway.
:-(
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07/19/2005 08:06:19 PM · #9 |
It could have been sadder. I could have been sitting on my porch for nothing! God I am gullible!
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07/19/2005 08:09:04 PM · #10 |
Aug 31, 2003
:)
Interesting challenge... joint blue ribbon!
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07/19/2005 08:11:46 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by TheStick:
It could have been sadder. I could have been sitting on my porch for nothing! God I am gullible! |
oh dont worry we all fall for em. I got an email (on April 1st) from my Astronomy club emai list saying the Star Sirius was going super nova and it was getting brighter.
Silly me I run out side and look, um, no brighter than normal, grab the binocs, still looks like it always does.
I come back in and there were 5 emails saying Nice try, thats the oldest trick in the book (for astronomers anyway)
James |
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07/19/2005 08:15:03 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by TheStick:
It could have been sadder. I could have been sitting on my porch for nothing! God I am gullible! |
LOL! Just remember, 99.9% of everything on the web is pure bullsh_t (except here of course.)
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07/19/2005 08:17:24 PM · #13 |
Thank you all for your kind words.
Now let's never speak of this again! ;)
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