Mars this summer

Nice photo of you at least. ^_^

But yes, it makes you realize that almost nothing a newspaper prints is verified
for accuracy, so you should believe none of it unless you can get it verified
somehow.

What a world we live in.

--- 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




"Matthew Ota" wrote in message
oups.com...
After my experiences with journalists, when it comes to technical
topics, they can really print some howlers.

It makes me seriously doubt journalistic accuracy in reporting on
topics that I do not know much about.

I was featured in the Los Angeles Times during the last Mars
opposition. I had my 10 inch SCT set up near the 60 inch telescope at
the Mount WIlson Observatory, and a reporter took my photo when I was
looking throgh my telescope. See:

http://www.cbsnews.com/elements/2003...17_photo.shtml

The caption in the paper the next morning said: "Matthew Ota of Orange
County, California observes Mars through his 60 inch telescope."

So I will forever be the owner of the world's smallest 60 inch
telescope, according to the Los Angeles Times.

At least the inaccurate caption did not go over AP, just the photo

Matthew Ota

I would say 32 degrees higher in the sky is more than "slightly" better
placed....

"Mark" wrote in message
ups.com...
I would say 32 degrees higher in the sky is more than "slightly" better
placed....
Yes. I was trying to avoid using anything approaching 'hype'. :-)

Best Wishes

The best part is that Mars will be much higher in the sky this time for
us in the Northern Hemisphere and almost as close.
Bill


Chip wrote:
Hi,
I just received a forwarded message about Mars being"huge" this summer.

Always, always never trust everythng you see in email or on the
internet.

The bogus Mars mass emailing upset me so much, I got the folks at the
Urban Legends Reference Pages to debunk it:

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

Matthew Ota
certified Mars fanatic

Your local news ads are out of date_ typical.



Chip wrote:

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