New York City's channel 4 news talked about it (like everyone else),
but they got a couple of minor points wrong (probably like everyone
else). Not terribly bad, but the less misinformation, the better.

One person said that Mars is only 30 million miles from us (close
enough, i guess), but then went on to say that it's usually 60 million
miles away. Huh?? The only way i can figure 60 million miles is from
a least favorable opposition, but a least favorable opposition is
hardly "usual."

Then the weathercaster, the bearer of bad news for New York
astronomers, said that you wouldn't be able to see Mars through the
clouds with the naked eye or with binoculars. But a telescope might
do it.

Really!?! I had no idea! All this time i was staying indoors on
overcast nights...

It wasn't all bad, of course. They did make what was perhaps the most
important point: Mars will be nearly as bright for the next several
weeks. Perhaps we might thank New York's bad weather for forcing them
to make that statement; it seems to me that a lot of people thought
the show would be over if they weren't outside at the moment of
closest approach.


Clear skies!

--
------------------- Richard Callwood III --------------------
~ U.S. Virgin Islands ~ USDA zone 11 ~ 18.3N, 64.9W ~
~ eastern Massachusetts ~ USDA zone 6 (1992-95) ~
--------------- http://cac.uvi.edu/staff/rc3/ ---------------