[vineyardblues]

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

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****