Snookered about Mars!
Did you get an email about Mars lately? Did it read something like this?
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.
Well at least that last line is absolutely true. That is because this event happened back in August 2003!
Thanks for the tip from Alex Kahl's Virus and Hoax Alert.
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Compare this to my previous blog. As with politics, religion, relationships and health care there are sometimes multiple plausible versions of reality. ...Steve
Sunday, June 26, 2005
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Earth is catching up with Mars -- Once in a lifetime event
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
-------------------------
Courtesy of Lanny Rounds and Gary & Cecilia Helming
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
-------------------------
Courtesy of Lanny Rounds and Gary & Cecilia Helming
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Father's Day 2005 has been great
My older son called yesterday to see whether I would be available for a little outing. It turns out that when he was growing up his mother would take our two boys to a place called Moose Creek Campground about 10 miles west of town. She would have a blanket and a book while the boys were free to investigate, catch frogs, play in the small stream and generally enjoy the outdoors in Montana. Now our son, the FATHER of two boys himself, is looking for places where his own sons can roam.
He picked me up at 8am this morning so we could go to early worship service (father's day is on a Sunday this year!) and we headed out to investigate some places up towards the mountains East of Seattle.
It may take some more investigations but in the mean time it is very heart-warming to have a loving son who takes both his father and son responsibilities seriously.
Catching frogs paid off. His major endeavor these days is organizing National Science Decathlon so other youngsters can also have fun with science. The first ever national competition was earlier this year and organizational/fund raising efforts are gaining momentum.
My older son called yesterday to see whether I would be available for a little outing. It turns out that when he was growing up his mother would take our two boys to a place called Moose Creek Campground about 10 miles west of town. She would have a blanket and a book while the boys were free to investigate, catch frogs, play in the small stream and generally enjoy the outdoors in Montana. Now our son, the FATHER of two boys himself, is looking for places where his own sons can roam.
He picked me up at 8am this morning so we could go to early worship service (father's day is on a Sunday this year!) and we headed out to investigate some places up towards the mountains East of Seattle.
It may take some more investigations but in the mean time it is very heart-warming to have a loving son who takes both his father and son responsibilities seriously.
Catching frogs paid off. His major endeavor these days is organizing National Science Decathlon so other youngsters can also have fun with science. The first ever national competition was earlier this year and organizational/fund raising efforts are gaining momentum.
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