Mars this summer

Hi,
I just received a forwarded message about Mars being"huge" this summer.
25 arc seconds wide. The message went on to say that it'll be as big as
the full moon naked eye.

Like most internet messages..I don't believe it. I thought last summer
was the closest Mars would be until sometime next century. The message
went on to say that Earth and Mars would be 34,649,589 miles apart.
Is this true or not? I lean toward not. Mars was pretty spectacular last
summer. If this year is even marginally better I can't wait.
Thanks
Chip

On Mon, 20 Jun 2005 09:49:18 -0400, Chip
wrote:

I just received a forwarded message about Mars being"huge" this summer.
25 arc seconds wide. The message went on to say that it'll be as big as
the full moon naked eye...

Mars was very close _two_ years ago. This story was put into circulation
again last summer (which was ridiculous- Mars is only in opposition
every other year), and again this summer, where it is merely inaccurate
(Mars will be close again, but not as close as it was two years ago). I
don't know who keeps dredging up this old story, but it's looking like
we're now cursed to see it annually!

_________________________________________________

Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com

Chris L Peterson wrote:
snip
Mars was very close _two_ years ago. This story was put into circulation
again last summer (which was ridiculous- Mars is only in opposition
every other year), and again this summer, where it is merely inaccurate
(Mars will be close again, but not as close as it was two years ago). I
don't know who keeps dredging up this old story, but it's looking like
we're now cursed to see it annually!


Unfortunately, an incredibly large number of people just forward anything that
looks interesting to everyone they know without checking to make sure it's true.

Some folks think planets are just like constellations - they'll appear in the
same place every year.

But it's hard to figure they'd believe the planet would be the closest it's been
in 60k years every year.

"Mark S. Holden" wrote in message
...

But it's hard to figure they'd believe the planet would be the closest
it's been
in 60k years every year.

Some people, particularly journalists, will believe anything.

On Mon, 20 Jun 2005 10:29:43 -0400, "Mark S. Holden"
wrote:

But it's hard to figure they'd believe the planet would be the closest it's been
in 60k years every year.

Look at everything else people believe, and suddenly this doesn't seem
so hard to figure.

_________________________________________________

Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com

Here is a good piece regarding the "new" Mars email. It's really an=20
old email just being recirculated...

http://www.snopes.com/science/mars.asp


-Florian

Even though this autumn's apparition puts Mars' maximum apparent size
at 20 arcseconds rather than 25 as in August 03, it may well be better
for most northern hemisphere residents because Mars will be much higher
in the sky and therefore yield steadier views.

From http://www.tnni.net/~dustymars/2005_MARS.htm - "Mars will appear
smaller in 2005 than it was in 2003. During closest-approach in 2005
Mars will be 4.9 seconds of arc smaller in apparent diameter than it
was at closest approach in 2003; however, it will be 32 degrees higher
in the sky for Northern Hemisphere observers and that will tend to
negate the effects of a smaller apparent diameter. "

The Moon is 30 arcMINUTES in size, not arcSECONDS.

I'm beginning to be convinced that this story is some prank by someone with way
too much time, since it only affects the amateur astronomy community, and would
not be of general interest to the general public. After all, some editing of
the important facts, like the year this pertains to, have been snipped out.

To get the record straight.

Mars closest approach, Oct 29-30, depending on your location.
Mars Opposition, November 6-7, again depending on your location.
Size of disk = 20 arc-seconds.
Season on Mars? Mid Summer for the southern contingent, a warm balmy 0 degrees
centigrade, until the dust storms blot out the Sun and freezes their patooties
off. ^_^
Constellation? Aries, quite a bit further north than it was in 2003.

Next time Mars is this large? 2018. However, at that time it will be almost as
far south as it can get, between Sagittarius and Capricorn, making it more
difficult to see for northern observers. On the plus side, the nights for
northern observers will be fairly warm.

For those that are interested, I'm running a three article series on this
Opposition in the Griffith Observer, the Griffith Observatory magazine, starting
in August.

--- Dave
--
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pinprick holes in a colorless sky
Let inspired figures of light pass by
The Mighty Light of ten thousand suns
Challenges infinity, and is soon gone




"Chris L Peterson" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 20 Jun 2005 09:49:18 -0400, Chip
wrote:

I just received a forwarded message about Mars being"huge" this summer.
25 arc seconds wide. The message went on to say that it'll be as big as
the full moon naked eye...

Mars was very close _two_ years ago. This story was put into circulation
again last summer (which was ridiculous- Mars is only in opposition
every other year), and again this summer, where it is merely inaccurate
(Mars will be close again, but not as close as it was two years ago). I
don't know who keeps dredging up this old story, but it's looking like
we're now cursed to see it annually!

_________________________________________________

Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com

Yup, what a wonderful thing it is, to have selective, short-term memory. Why
bother with facts from just a month ago? It's past history.

--- Dave
--
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pinprick holes in a colorless sky
Let inspired figures of light pass by
The Mighty Light of ten thousand suns
Challenges infinity, and is soon gone




"Chris L Peterson" wrote in message
news
On Mon, 20 Jun 2005 10:29:43 -0400, "Mark S. Holden"
wrote:

But it's hard to figure they'd believe the planet would be the closest it's
been
in 60k years every year.

Look at everything else people believe, and suddenly this doesn't seem
so hard to figure.

Is the "Griffith Observer" and online magazine?

"David Nakamoto" wrote in message
news:GiEte.12$tA.2@trnddc06...
I'm beginning to be convinced that this story is some prank by someone
with way too much time, since it only affects the amateur astronomy
community, and would not be of general interest to the general public.
After all, some editing of the important facts, like the year this
pertains to, have been snipped out.

To get the record straight.

Mars closest approach, Oct 29-30, depending on your location.
Mars Opposition, November 6-7, again depending on your location.
Size of disk = 20 arc-seconds.
Season on Mars? Mid Summer for the southern contingent, a warm balmy 0
degrees centigrade, until the dust storms blot out the Sun and freezes
their patooties off. ^_^
Constellation? Aries, quite a bit further north than it was in 2003.

Next time Mars is this large? 2018. However, at that time it will be
almost as far south as it can get, between Sagittarius and Capricorn,
making it more difficult to see for northern observers. On the plus side,
the nights for northern observers will be fairly warm.

For those that are interested, I'm running a three article series on this
Opposition in the Griffith Observer, the Griffith Observatory magazine,
starting in August.

--- Dave
--
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pinprick holes in a colorless sky
Let inspired figures of light pass by
The Mighty Light of ten thousand suns
Challenges infinity, and is soon gone




"Chris L Peterson" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 20 Jun 2005 09:49:18 -0400, Chip
wrote:

I just received a forwarded message about Mars being"huge" this summer.
25 arc seconds wide. The message went on to say that it'll be as big as
the full moon naked eye...

Mars was very close _two_ years ago. This story was put into circulation
again last summer (which was ridiculous- Mars is only in opposition
every other year), and again this summer, where it is merely inaccurate
(Mars will be close again, but not as close as it was two years ago). I
don't know who keeps dredging up this old story, but it's looking like
we're now cursed to see it annually!

_________________________________________________

Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com