[2001 ZTS]

I'm a killjoy:

Article Last Updated: 08/18/2005 12:48:12 AM

See Mars really big . . . or will you?By Sheena McFarland
The Salt Lake Tribune



The e-mail is plenty alluring, ending with this message: "Share this with your children and grandchildren. NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN."

"THIS," according to the fast-spreading e-mail, is the night sky on Aug. 27, when Mars in all its red splendor will appear as large as the moon.

The only part of the e-mail that is true, however, is that anyone who sees such a thing will never see it again.

"If we really did see Mars as big as the moon, it would be a really bad day because it would probably mean we'd all die," said Patrick Wiggins, NASA ambassador to Utah.

In reality, Mars will glow redder than usual at the end of October, but it still will take a telescope to make the planet appear to match the moon's size, Wiggins said.

Two years ago, Aug. 27 did mark the day when Mars was closer to the Earth than it had been in about 60,000 years - at 35 million miles away. But Mars regularly comes close about every 26 months, said Mike Murray, programs manager at Clark Planetarium.

Mars in October will be about 43 million miles away from Earth, which seems like a huge distance, but in astronomical terms, it's fairly close, Murray said.
"We don't want to be too down on this. It will still be a great event and Mars will be quite bright, even from the city," he said.

Mars will shine brighter than any star in the sky this autumn and winter.
In order to catch a closer look, Wiggins has arranged a star-watching party on Oct. 22 to view the red planet with Stansbury Park's high-powered telescopes. He hopes to arrange more parties to accommodate those who took interest in what he is calling the "Mars Hoax."

Given a clear sky, he said viewers can see Mars' northern pole and some surface features.

"It's wonderful to be able to see this other world, and to realize that in a few generations, people could be walking around up there," Wiggins said.
Until that happens, late October will probably be the closest view people will have until December 2007.

For more information about the Salt Lake Astronomical Society's star parties at Stansbury Park, visit http://www.slas.us or call 435-882-1209.

Again, Venus (aka "the morning star") is likely as bright any given day than Mars would ever be at it's peak.