Sorry if this has been mentioned, but I just got an email about this and I think it's pretty cool!

This month and next, Earth is catching up with Mars,
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.

The encounter will culminate on August 27th when
Mars comes to within 34,649,589 miles 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 Mars will rise in the East at 10 p.m. and
reach its azimuth at about 3 a.m. But 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 a.m.

That's pretty convenient when it comes to seeing
something that no human 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!
No one alive today will ever see this again.


Some cool links:

http://www.nwaonline.net/...261455.bsp

http://www.sacbee.com/con...0960c.html

Good. less miles to drive to the land I just bought on Mars.

Mars looks SCARY!
[This message was edited Mon Aug 11 14:40:27 PDT 2003 by VinaBlue]

Heavenly said:

Lol, buying property in the homeland, huh?

Very cool stuff.

it is kinda amazing that Mars is only half as far away now than it was 8 years ago.

VinaBlue said:

I thought women were from mars, no?
Men came from monkeys and women came from mars.

SpcMs said:

That HAS to screw with our weather systems...

Heavenly said:

Nooo. Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus.

teller said:

Now Bush has something to blame global warming on

The moment we've all been waiting for

Cool facts, Vina! Thanks!

Maybe Marvin will visit.

TwIsTeDmInD said:

I wish he would!!

Thanks for the info Vina!

I love Marvin!

You know, I've been seeing something in the sky, a bigger brighter thing that looks like a star. That's probably it! I didn't think it was Venus, and I thought maybe it was Mars.

Cool!

Can't wait to see it along side the moon!

edit
[This message was edited Mon Aug 11 13:19:06 PDT 2003 by Sweeny79]

gatorgirl said:

Neaters. Thanks Vina and gator.
I can only hope my handlers will let me out of my cage long enough to see it.

Thanks for the reminder Vina

teller said:

Hmmm... think you may have a point here.

Thanx Vina! I love all the info on Mars too. Here's some more...

This is from www.cainer.com My favourite astrologer, Jonathan Cainer. He says...

'The Moon was technically officially full at 5.48 am, but it will still look pretty impressive tonight. So too will Mars ­ which is in much the same part of the sky - as it now shines brighter than ever before. These are intense times for many of us but they are also, potentially, wonderful. No matter what you are going through or dealing with, you really need not feel afraid. The planets speak of positive progress, available soon to all whose hearts are sincere and whose motives, towards their fellow human beings, are compassionate.'