MARS SPECTACULAR COMING--Huh?

I haven't been engaged much in astronomy for months because of our bad weather
here in California. Although the last few weeks have been pretty decent, my
schedule has been filled with other matters. I've had two people send me the
message below. Am I missing something. That was last year wasn't it? Did Mars
get a bump? :-)




*Subject:* MARS SPECTACULAR COMING

Those of you who live in the L.A. area, fugetiboutit.
You can't see your hand in front of your face. LOL!!!

MARS SPECTACULAR!

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.

This is from 2003. Old news. People who aren't astronomers do this now and
again. What happened one year will happen a year later.

This year the Mars Opposition in around November 5th or so, it is not a record,
the disk will be 20 arc-seconds 20% smaller than in 2003, but higher up in the
sky than in 2003 for northern observers.

--- 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




"W. Watson" wrote in message
k.net...
I haven't been engaged much in astronomy for months because of our bad weather
here in California. Although the last few weeks have been pretty decent, my
schedule has been filled with other matters. I've had two people send me the
message below. Am I missing something. That was last year wasn't it? Did Mars
get a bump? :-)




*Subject:* MARS SPECTACULAR COMING

Those of you who live in the L.A. area, fugetiboutit.
You can't see your hand in front of your face. LOL!!!

MARS SPECTACULAR!

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.

"W. Watson" wrote in message
k.net...
I haven't been engaged much in astronomy for months because of our bad
weather
here in California. Although the last few weeks have been pretty decent,
my
schedule has been filled with other matters. I've had two people send me
the
message below. Am I missing something. That was last year wasn't it? Did
Mars
get a bump? :-)




*Subject:* MARS SPECTACULAR COMING

Those of you who live in the L.A. area, fugetiboutit.
You can't see your hand in front of your face. LOL!!!

MARS SPECTACULAR!

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.


Old news. The articles is from 2003, when Mars made its closest approach to
Earth in ??,000 years -- viewing was amazing. This year's closest approach
comes in November, will not be anything like the 2003 but should provide
decent views of Mars.

--

-----
Joe S.

DN
From: "David Nakamoto"
DN
Subject: MARS SPECTACULAR COMING--Huh?
DN
Date: Tue, 07 Jun 2005 06:14:29 GMT
DN
DN This is from 2003. Old news. People who aren't astronomers do this now and
DN again. What happened one year will happen a year later.
DN
DN This year the Mars Opposition in around November 5th or so, it is not a record,
DN
DN the disk will be 20 arc-seconds 20% smaller than in 2003, but higher up in the
DN sky than in 2003 for northern observers.

This is not very funny. I and other astronomers in New York are
starting to get news items like this. Of course we know the correct
situation but the articles are obivously rehashes, wwith the actual
year and day missed out. The text seems to be mere reprints of the
2003 article, even keeping any quotes from astronomers and
observatories!
In my SpaceWak column for July, in preparation, I have a few words
about the 2003 apparition being passed off as the one for 2005. Many
of my readers remember the 2003 return.
An other ,lesser, bone-headed news item calims that opposition
this yer is on October 29th or 30th (depending on timezone). The
writer assumes procimity and opposition are the same, a mistake made
by even reputable astronomy sources from time to time. Proximity is in
October; opposition comes on November 7th.
To see my SpaceWalk column visit www.nsschapters.org/ny/nyc. On
the side apron of items, a ways down, is 'Spacewalk' for the current
and last month. June's column is up there now. It has initial news
about Mars but it's the July one that cranks up for the apparition.

---
þ RoseReader 2.52á P005004


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I'm not sure if this is a prank, or unintentional due to astronomy ignorance,
but I favor the former for now.

It's something we have to contend with until the public gets educated.

--- 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




"JOHN PAZMINO" wrote in message
...
DN
From: "David Nakamoto"
DN
Subject: MARS SPECTACULAR COMING--Huh?
DN
Date: Tue, 07 Jun 2005 06:14:29 GMT
DN
DN This is from 2003. Old news. People who aren't astronomers do this now
and
DN again. What happened one year will happen a year later.
DN
DN This year the Mars Opposition in around November 5th or so, it is not a
record,
DN
DN the disk will be 20 arc-seconds 20% smaller than in 2003, but higher up in
the
DN sky than in 2003 for northern observers.

This is not very funny. I and other astronomers in New York are
starting to get news items like this. Of course we know the correct
situation but the articles are obivously rehashes, wwith the actual
year and day missed out. The text seems to be mere reprints of the
2003 article, even keeping any quotes from astronomers and
observatories!
In my SpaceWak column for July, in preparation, I have a few words
about the 2003 apparition being passed off as the one for 2005. Many
of my readers remember the 2003 return.
An other ,lesser, bone-headed news item calims that opposition
this yer is on October 29th or 30th (depending on timezone). The
writer assumes procimity and opposition are the same, a mistake made
by even reputable astronomy sources from time to time. Proximity is in
October; opposition comes on November 7th.
To see my SpaceWalk column visit www.nsschapters.org/ny/nyc. On
the side apron of items, a ways down, is 'Spacewalk' for the current
and last month. June's column is up there now. It has initial news
about Mars but it's the July one that cranks up for the apparition.

---
þ RoseReader 2.52á P005004


----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet
News==----
http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 100,000
Newsgroups
---= East/West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =---

"David Nakamoto" wrote in message
I'm not sure if this is a prank, or unintentional due to astronomy
ignorance, but I favor the former for now.

It's something we have to contend with until the public gets educated.

You really think the public's level of understanding is on the rise? I'm
not so sure.

Ed T.

I read somewhere that the announcement was being used to spread a virus,
but that might just be coincidental since viruses are attached to so
much stuff.
Marty

Somebody is recirculating this two year old story. Two people have
written to me recently to ask about the August 27 record breaking
close approach.

This year, Mars is largest in our skies on October 30 at 20.17
arcseconds, a few days before opposition.

Mel



On Tue, 07 Jun 2005 04:28:02 GMT, "W. Watson"
wrote:

I haven't been engaged much in astronomy for months because of our bad weather
here in California. Although the last few weeks have been pretty decent, my
schedule has been filled with other matters. I've had two people send me the
message below. Am I missing something. That was last year wasn't it? Did Mars
get a bump? :-)




*Subject:* MARS SPECTACULAR COMING

Those of you who live in the L.A. area, fugetiboutit.
You can't see your hand in front of your face. LOL!!!

MARS SPECTACULAR!

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.