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Mars Spectacular
Topic Started: Jun 11 2005, 08:22 AM (418 Views)
Fesarius
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Admiral
[Admiral, I apologize for not providing a link. This was sent to me by a relative, and I am trying to hunt down the origin of the article. If anyone finds the link, please feel free to post it.]

****************

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.

The encounter will culminate on August 27 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.

Share this with your children and grandchildren. NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN.
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somerled
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Admiral MacDonald RN
Mars is nice through a telescope , nicer through a bigger telescope , the bigger the objective or primary the better the image.

The trick is getting a good quality photograph , even using a CCD camera through a telescope. Posted Image is a better image than you are likely to see with a commercial telescope (< 6" diameter) and you might see if you know someone who has a larger telescope (say 18" to 25" diameter).

Jupiter is more interesting though. and more striking.

My suggestion is - don't bother buying a telescope just to see this event - look up your local astronomy club and ask if they are having a star-party on or about then , being summer in the northern hemisphere , I would say there will be heaps of star-parties and open-nights and field-nights. There will be bigger and much better quality telescopes at these than you'll be able to buy in the local camera shop , or Walmart .
If you want to buy a scope - and want reasonable resolution in planetary viewing a 10" f6 to f8 newtonian , and 10" f12 SCT or MAKCAS are good value. And a good quality plossyl 1.25" diam eyepiece (40mm fl say) and a shorty 2x barlow will kit you up well.
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Deleted User
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I'll keep an eye out, that sounds cool.
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Fesarius
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Admiral
Admiral,

I've been searching for about an hour, and all I can come up with are the articles that mentioned Mars back in August of 2003. I should have checked my sources before I created the topic. Please delete. Thanks.

--Fesarius
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Fesarius
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Admiral
Welsby,

My bad (I think). Please see above. No harm done, I suppose.
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Deleted User
Deleted User

:lol: Ah well, I was probably asleep anyway!
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somerled
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Admiral MacDonald RN
Fesarius
Jun 11 2005, 09:32 AM
Admiral,

I've been searching for about an hour, and all I can come up with are the articles that mentioned Mars back in August of 2003.  I should have checked my sources before I created the topic.  Please delete.  Thanks.

--Fesarius

FYI : Mars Ephemeris 2005

The max size of mars in 2005 is 20.2" on 30 October brightness -2.3.
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Fesarius
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Admiral
^^^
Somerled,

Thanks. So is what I posted initially valid, or old news?
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somerled
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Admiral MacDonald RN
Fesarius
Jun 11 2005, 09:48 AM
^^^
Somerled,

Thanks. So is what I posted initially valid, or old news?

Bit of both.
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Deleted User
Deleted User

*Head Explodes* :welsby:

I'll keep an eye out...
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somerled
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Admiral MacDonald RN
Fesarius
Jun 11 2005, 09:48 AM
^^^
Somerled,

Thanks. So is what I posted initially valid, or old news?

Bit of both.

You might find this interesting.
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Fesarius
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Admiral
^^^
Thanks again. I've always loved that word 'apparition.' It's been used as the title of musical works, and it also has an unearthly-sounding quality to it.
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DEFIANT
Commodore
I thought it was looking a little closer than 10 years ago. The action planet will be in the stubborn sign sign of Taurus as well.
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somerled
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Admiral MacDonald RN
DEFIANT
Jun 11 2005, 11:25 AM
I thought it was looking a little closer than 10 years ago. The action planet will be in the stubborn sign sign of Taurus as well.

:huh:
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somerled
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Admiral MacDonald RN
Mike Welsby
Jun 11 2005, 09:52 AM
*Head Explodes* :welsby:

I'll keep an eye out...

Oh smeg !! , more exploding heads . :ermm:
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