[smile]I don't know about Ya'll but I'm going to enjoy this 100% with my grandson and whom ever else wants to join me!!

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 10pm and reach its
azimuth at about 3am.

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 1:30am. 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.

[smile] SO SO Cool!!!![bounce]

Moonstar wrote:
At the beginning of August it will rise in the east at 10pm and reach its
azimuth at about 3am.

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 1:30am. That's pretty
convenient to see something that no human being has seen in recorded history.

Is this eastern time, or what?

I really hate to be a Kill Joy, or burst any bubbles....but...if you will check this out, you will find that it happened about 4 years ago. The message keeps going around on the Net........ Check Google to make sure. [frown]

[cry][mad]Well it came from a friend of mine who I believe recieved it over the net. Now I feel like an idiot[oops]>>>>>>>>Moonie slinks off into a corner to pout<<<<<<<<<<<&l t;[frown]

I'm not happy about this[oops] I looked and found this:

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/07jul_marshoax.htm

Moonstar wrote:
I'm not happy about this I looked and found this:

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/07jul_marshoax.htm

I went thru this same thing Last year, Moonie...I had the telescope set up..... had coffee made... planned to do an All Nighter to get photos.....
contacted NASA to get exact times.......
and got shot down.... Sorry !

OH It's Ok I just thot it would have been real cool to see!! I'll learn to check things out before posting them[rolleyes]

Opps double post >>>>Moonie slaps her little fingers for pushing the keys again<<<<<<[lol][lol]

>>Bunny pats Moon on the back<< [nonsense]

Thank you Bunny I needed that.[smile][cool] >>>>>>>>>>>>&g t;>Bunny and Moonie Skips off to find something to get into<<<<<<<<<<<&l t;<[bounce][bounce][nonsense][nonsense][nonsense][nonsense][bounce][bounce]