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canuckistan
Mod Team
Joined: 17 Jun 2003
Location: Training future GS competitors.....
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 Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2005 1:53 pm Post subject: A Mars once-in-our-lifetime viewing opportunity |
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MARS SPECTACULAR!
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>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 |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2005 2:02 pm Post subject: |
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| Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. |
That will be awesome! I wonder what global disaster the wingnuts will claim it portends. An empire will rise/fall? Tsunamis? The Ice Age?
I hope it doesn't fizzle like most of the comet things have in my lifetime.
Thanks for the heads up. Literally. |
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schwa
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Yap
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| Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2005 2:31 pm Post subject: Re: A Mars once-in-our-lifetime viewing opportunity |
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| canuckistan wrote: |
>Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. |
That line set off my BS detector. As usual, snopes.com was on it.
http://www.snopes.com/science/mars.asp |
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canuckistan
Mod Team
Joined: 17 Jun 2003
Location: Training future GS competitors.....
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| Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2005 2:58 pm Post subject: |
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Whooops! Gotta check my email sources 
I remember the 2003 sight of Mars--it was neat.
Although with a decent telescope it could be interesting again:
| Quote: |
Mars will make another fine appearance in 2005, but that occurrence will take place in October/November (not August), and the red planet will appear about 20% smaller than it did in 2003.
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mithridates
Joined: 03 Mar 2003
Location: President's office, Korean Space Agency
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| Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2005 3:11 pm Post subject: |
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| I think we should have a Dave's get-together for that. Go to one of those islands near Incheon for a weekend, rent a telescope (or bring along you-know-who if he's bought his already) and stay for the weekend. |
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calypso
Joined: 31 May 2004
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| Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2005 3:17 pm Post subject: |
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| mithridates wrote: |
| I think we should have a Dave's get-together for that. Go to one of those islands near Incheon for a weekend, rent a telescope (or bring along you-know-who if he's bought his already) and stay for the weekend. |
the idea of a bunch of people rubbing their telescopes doesnt sound too appealing |
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pollyplummer
Joined: 07 Mar 2005
Location: McMinnvillve, Oregon
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| Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2005 3:27 pm Post subject: yes |
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| mithridates wrote: |
| I think we should have a Dave's get-together for that. Go to one of those islands near Incheon for a weekend, rent a telescope (or bring along you-know-who if he's bought his already) and stay for the weekend. |
I concur. It definitely beats crap mexican food in Youido. |
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poddubny
Joined: 03 Aug 2004
Location: i have NO avatar privileges!
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| Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2005 3:35 pm Post subject: Re: A Mars once-in-our-lifetime viewing opportunity |
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| canuckistan wrote: |
The next time Mars may
come this close is in 2287. |
i'll wait til then, thanks. |
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kermo
Joined: 01 Sep 2004
Location: Eating eggs, with a comb, out of a shoe.
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| Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2005 3:52 pm Post subject: |
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| mithridates wrote: |
| I think we should have a Dave's get-together for that. Go to one of those islands near Incheon for a weekend, rent a telescope (or bring along you-know-who if he's bought his already) and stay for the weekend. |
Doesn't Jongnoguru have an outpost out there? |
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canuckistan
Mod Team
Joined: 17 Jun 2003
Location: Training future GS competitors.....
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| Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2005 3:59 pm Post subject: |
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| kermo wrote: |
| mithridates wrote: |
| I think we should have a Dave's get-together for that. Go to one of those islands near Incheon for a weekend, rent a telescope (or bring along you-know-who if he's bought his already) and stay for the weekend. |
Doesn't Jongnoguru have an outpost out there? |
Yes, he's been busy property speculating and renovating beat-up old duplexes. |
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mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
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| Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2005 4:01 pm Post subject: Re: A Mars once-in-our-lifetime viewing opportunity |
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| schwa wrote: |
| canuckistan wrote: |
>Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. |
That line set off my BS detector. As usual, snopes.com was on it.
http://www.snopes.com/science/mars.asp |
lol how could anyone think something that only looks like a small star to the unaided eye would look as big as the full moon just because it moves 1% closer to earth? |
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squat toilet
Joined: 08 Mar 2005
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| Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2005 4:20 pm Post subject: |
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| mithridates wrote: |
| I think we should have a Dave's get-together for that. Go to one of those islands near Incheon for a weekend, rent a telescope (or bring along you-know-who if he's bought his already) and stay for the weekend. |
How do 10 people share one telescope?
There's nothing in the world I hate more than a telescope hog.
I'll tell ya right now, if I go and someone bogarts the 'scope, they'll be looking at Mars out the window of a hospital room.
God Damn astronomy angers me |
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mithridates
Joined: 03 Mar 2003
Location: President's office, Korean Space Agency
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| Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2005 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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I hate telescope hogs too.  I suspect that the telescope hog will distract the others with beer. |
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eamo
Joined: 08 Mar 2003
Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.
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| Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2005 5:29 pm Post subject: |
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| I bagsy first dibs on the telescope!!! Me! Me! |
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Bulsajo
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2005 5:39 pm Post subject: |
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Sunset on Mars. Released by NASA on June 11th |
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