Set your calendars for the Mars Spectacular!

Whomp · 20-07-2005, 21:53

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. [u]Mars will look as large as the full moon </u>would 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.

No one alive today will ever experience this again.

Socrates · 20-07-2005, 23:07

Cool.

I seem to recall that there was a close encouter not that long ago.

But I also recall that there was to be 2 encounters, so that may explain that.

First, better off translating those units into international units. It's not my job.

Or even astronomical units, like light-years, parsecs, and... astronomical units. 1 a.u. is the average distance between the Sun and the Earth, so it is well convenient for measurements in the Solar System.

Then, one can be fooled with arc units. For there are minutes and seconds of both hours and degrees.

Since a complete rotation is equal to 360° or 24 hours, there is a simple "factor 15". 1 arc second of hour = 15 arc seconds of degree. From your post, I concluded that Mars would be 25.11 arc seconds of degree wide, because I know both the Sun and the Moon are about 30 minutes of degree wide (one of those data that stick to your brain). Therefore, it looks like it fits with your 75-power magnification. I could have remembered Mars's average width, but sometimes you gotta remember less and be cunning.

A magnitude of -2.9 is huge !

I think it's more brilliant than Venus, is that right ?

Whomp · 20-07-2005, 23:23

krys--I believe that is correct it will be more brilliant than Venus. Thanks for clarifying all the translations.

Since I live in a big city there are hardly any visible stars. I plan to go to my cousins house on Aug. 27th for a party. They have a pretty nice telescope so it should be cool. They live about 1 1/2 hours away from Chicago (which I consider bumblefuck Iowa). We should be able to get a great view from out there so it should be fun.

Beam · 20-07-2005, 23:34

There was an even closer encounter 2 years ago and it confused the hell out of me during the night at a passage from England to the Netherlands.

Wtf is that red non flashing buoy fucking doing there in the east! (red non flashing buoys aren't supposed to be seen at sea).

Half an hour later it had gotten high enough to make me realize it only could be Mars. It was in a beautiful large triangular composition with 2 bright stars.

Got a couple of overnight trips planned for August and September, looking forward to spot the same spectacle again.

Whomp · 21-07-2005, 02:45

Great idea Beam! I think I will take the boat out on the lake 10 kilometers and check it out too. I hadn't even thought of that. Have you ever had a telescope out on a boat?

Beam · 21-07-2005, 08:18

Not sure if 10 km is enough to get rid of Chicago city lights Whomp. And how to stabilize a telescope on a boat?

Matrix · 22-07-2005, 00:33

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by Whomp

At a modest 75-power magnification [u]Mars will look as large as the full moon</u> to the naked eye.

When magnified, you're no longer looking with a 'naked eye', don't you?

Beam · 22-07-2005, 01:13

Better read it like this.

[u]At a modest 75-power magnification Mars will look as large</u> as [u]the full moon to the naked eye.</u>

Whomp · 22-07-2005, 01:52

Thanks for the correction. Anyhow, being out on the water will be a pretty cool place to view so I'll try getting out there a bit (of course avoiding the shipping lane).

grahamiam · 25-07-2005, 02:58

many thanks for posting this whomp! my oldest will surely get a blast out of this. iirc, last time, plain old binoculars worked just fine

maybe this time i'll get a small telescope for him as an early b-day present

any recommendations on a 'scope?

20-07-2005, 21:53	#1
Whomp King Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chicago. Posts: 2,388	Set your calendars for the 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 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. [u]Mars will look as large as the full moon </u>would 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. No one alive today will ever experience this again. __________________ If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. There's no point in being a damn fool about it.--W. C. Fields

20-07-2005, 23:07	#2
Socrates Emperor Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 3,946	Cool. I seem to recall that there was a close encouter not that long ago. But I also recall that there was to be 2 encounters, so that may explain that. First, better off translating those units into international units. It's not my job. Or even astronomical units, like light-years, parsecs, and... astronomical units. 1 a.u. is the average distance between the Sun and the Earth, so it is well convenient for measurements in the Solar System. Then, one can be fooled with arc units. For there are minutes and seconds of both hours and degrees. Since a complete rotation is equal to 360° or 24 hours, there is a simple "factor 15". 1 arc second of hour = 15 arc seconds of degree. From your post, I concluded that Mars would be 25.11 arc seconds of degree wide, because I know both the Sun and the Moon are about 30 minutes of degree wide (one of those data that stick to your brain). Therefore, it looks like it fits with your 75-power magnification. I could have remembered Mars's average width, but sometimes you gotta remember less and be cunning. A magnitude of -2.9 is huge ! I think it's more brilliant than Venus, is that right ? __________________ Sent from my Debian

20-07-2005, 23:23	#3
Whomp King Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chicago. Posts: 2,388	krys--I believe that is correct it will be more brilliant than Venus. Thanks for clarifying all the translations. Since I live in a big city there are hardly any visible stars. I plan to go to my cousins house on Aug. 27th for a party. They have a pretty nice telescope so it should be cool. They live about 1 1/2 hours away from Chicago (which I consider bumblefuck Iowa). We should be able to get a great view from out there so it should be fun. __________________ If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. There's no point in being a damn fool about it.--W. C. Fields

20-07-2005, 23:34	#4
Beam c00l b33r Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Beat 'm up Scotty!. Lives in the Lands that are Nether. Posts: 5,094	There was an even closer encounter 2 years ago and it confused the hell out of me during the night at a passage from England to the Netherlands. Wtf is that red non flashing buoy fucking doing there in the east! (red non flashing buoys aren't supposed to be seen at sea). Half an hour later it had gotten high enough to make me realize it only could be Mars. It was in a beautiful large triangular composition with 2 bright stars. Got a couple of overnight trips planned for August and September, looking forward to spot the same spectacle again. __________________ That was a pretty good gamble. -- Scotty, The Galileo Seven, stardate 2821.5, Episode 14 Linux never looked this good!

21-07-2005, 02:45	#5
Whomp King Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chicago. Posts: 2,388	Great idea Beam! I think I will take the boat out on the lake 10 kilometers and check it out too. I hadn't even thought of that. Have you ever had a telescope out on a boat? __________________ If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. There's no point in being a damn fool about it.--W. C. Fields

21-07-2005, 08:18	#6
Beam c00l b33r Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Beat 'm up Scotty!. Lives in the Lands that are Nether. Posts: 5,094	Not sure if 10 km is enough to get rid of Chicago city lights Whomp. And how to stabilize a telescope on a boat? __________________ That was a pretty good gamble. -- Scotty, The Galileo Seven, stardate 2821.5, Episode 14 Linux never looked this good!

22-07-2005, 01:13	#8
Beam c00l b33r Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Beat 'm up Scotty!. Lives in the Lands that are Nether. Posts: 5,094	Better read it like this. [u]At a modest 75-power magnification Mars will look as large</u> as [u]the full moon to the naked eye.</u> __________________ That was a pretty good gamble. -- Scotty, The Galileo Seven, stardate 2821.5, Episode 14 Linux never looked this good!

22-07-2005, 01:52	#9
Whomp King Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chicago. Posts: 2,388	Thanks for the correction. Anyhow, being out on the water will be a pretty cool place to view so I'll try getting out there a bit (of course avoiding the shipping lane). __________________ If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. There's no point in being a damn fool about it.--W. C. Fields

25-07-2005, 02:58	#10
grahamiam Emperor Join Date: May 2004 Location: USA, East Coast. Posts: 2,673	many thanks for posting this whomp! my oldest will surely get a blast out of this. iirc, last time, plain old binoculars worked just fine maybe this time i'll get a small telescope for him as an early b-day present any recommendations on a 'scope?