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.
(...and any other people you find worthy...)
