[PBARC] Mars

[E. Glenn Wolf, Jr.]

The Red Planet is about to become a spectacular sight!  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.

The encounter will culminate on August 27th when Mars comes to within
34,649,589 miles of Earth and will be the brightest except for the moon =
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 10 p.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