Mars is at perihelion -- AURORA OUTLOOK

Space Weather News for August 30, 2003
http://spaceweather.com

MARS: Today (Aug. 30th) Mars is at perihelion, the end of its lopsided
orbit closest to the sun (1.38 AU), which means the sun is beating down on
the red planet with unusual intensity. Perihelion marks the beginning of
dust storm season on Mars. Why? Sun-warmed air moves. The wind picks up
dust. And on Mars small clouds of dust sometimes expand and envelop the
whole planet. These clouds are something for amateur astronomers to look
for while they're watching Mars with their telescopes during the weeks
ahead.

AURORA OUTLOOK: Earth is heading for a solar wind stream flowing from a
coronal hole on the sun. Our first encounter with the stream could take
place on Sept. 2nd, so that's when sky watchers should be alert for
possible auroras.

-Sam Wormley
http://edu-observatory.org/eo/aurora.html