[ANTHONYD]

>Mars
>
>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 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.
>
>
>Share this with your children and grandchildren.
>
>NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN