Get your long lenses ready!

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Epoc

Senior Member
This month (August) 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.

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.
 
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Just-Clayton

Senior Member
I will have to see that. I caught the Venus transition in front of the sun last year. Before I had any camera I got to see Haley's comet and hale bop comet along with large meteors that came with them.
 
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mikeh32217

Senior Member
Epoc said:
This month (August) 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.

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.
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Thanks for the heads up will try to remember to watch for it and maybe by then I'll have a long lens to preserve the event!
 
D

donaldjledet

Senior Member
Epoc said:
This month (August) 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.

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.
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Thanks I hope I don't forget by the time the 3rd week of aug. gets here.
 
R

Rick M

Senior Member
Epoc said:
This month (August) 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.

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.
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This was an Email hoax a while back, please verify your source.
 
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480sparky

Senior Member
[h=2]Get your long lenses ready![/h]

OK, if you say so............

D7K_6422.jpg~original
 
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480sparky

Senior Member
Epoc said:
Well that just plain out SUX!! Can't quite get my head around why sh!theads would do such crap. :(
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It's not just a few select that do it.... the same email makes the rounds every time the earth gets near mars. It gets passed around because it sounds exciting, yet most people have no clue about the realities of celestial mechanics.

For instance, remember the big too-doo about the "Supermoon" a few months back? Here's the facts: On average, the moon is the same angular size of a quarter held 6' 1½" from your eye. The "supermoon" was supposed to make the moon look huge, because of the orbit being it closer to the earth. Fact is, the "supermoon" was the same angular size as that quarter held 6' 1¼" from your eye.

I'll let you do the math.
 
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480sparky

Senior Member
Moab Man said:
I think your telescope might have sat on that camera. That's why we put things away and not leave them on the couch where maybe a telescope might sit on it.
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Actually, I had to get the 'scope out of the hard case and set it up to take this shot. It went right back into the case afterwards.
 
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