To all,
Some of you have receive the misinformation below. This is the correct
information:
Mars will come into its Opposition on November 7, 2005 in constellation
Aries. A week earlier, on October 30, 2005, the planet will have come to its
closes distance to Earth this year: 69.42 million km (43 million miles, or
0.46406 AU). Even though Mars will be closer than Jupiter. Mars will be 20"
of
arc in diameter in the nightsky where Jupiter will be about 31" nearly
1,027,330,000 km (7.20 AU) away on the other side of the Sun from us at that
time. Mean while enjoy Jupiter tonight at 38" in diameter. Jupiter is only
about 650,000,000 km away. Jupiter is big!

The info below is for 8/27/2003, which was also incorrect. At 75X, Mars in a
telescope would have appeared one quarter the size of the full moon and a
heck of a lot dimmer. The full Moon is about the size of a dime held at arms
length. Try it tonight and see if you can cover the moon with a dime. Sorry
if you missed the 2003 opposition of Mars.

Bobby Thompson
Walker County Science Center
Georgia

----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2005 7:36 AM
Subject: MARS -- August 27 Special


> MARS SPECTACULAR
>
> 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.
>
> This 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 10
> PM and reach its azimuth at about 3 AM.
>
> 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.
>
> You might want to share this with most, if not all of your friends, your
> friends, your children, and grandchildren.  NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER
> SEE THIS AGAIN.
>