questions about the close ness of Mars

if we are very close to Mars will it take quite a few years to move
away from this close and in another 65000 years be as close again?

As far as I know there will be very similar encounter of
Mars in near future - in 2287.
Roman

Artty wrote:
if we are very close to Mars will it take quite a few years to move
away from this close and in another 65000 years be as close again?

As far as I know there will be very similar encounter of
Mars in near future - in 2287.
Roman

Artty wrote:
if we are very close to Mars will it take quite a few years to move
away from this close and in another 65000 years be as close again?

yes i agree with artty on this one ... is it the case that mars will be a
little further away next year ? and a little more the year after ? and in
ten years time it will have been closer ten years ago . And how about 5
years ago was it closes't then , and was we told it will be really close in
2003 .
"Roman Svihorik" wrote in message
...
As far as I know there will be very similar encounter of
Mars in near future - in 2287.
Roman

Artty wrote:
if we are very close to Mars will it take quite a few years to move
away from this close and in another 65000 years be as close again?

yes i agree with artty on this one ... is it the case that mars will be a
little further away next year ? and a little more the year after ? and in
ten years time it will have been closer ten years ago . And how about 5
years ago was it closes't then , and was we told it will be really close in
2003 .
"Roman Svihorik" wrote in message
...
As far as I know there will be very similar encounter of
Mars in near future - in 2287.
Roman

Artty wrote:
if we are very close to Mars will it take quite a few years to move
away from this close and in another 65000 years be as close again?

Hi there. You posted:

I am not an expert but this is what I have been led to believe. Mars and
Earth travel around the Sun at different speeds and therefore pass each
other on our orbits every eight years.

Well, actually, the Earth and Mars pass each other about every two years or
so, making oppositions about 2.1 years apart. However, the orbit of Mars is
somewhat more elliptical than the Earth's, so the very closest passes tend to
happen about every 15 to 17 years. The next opposition will be in 2005 with
Mars appearing a little smaller than it does now, but in 2018, it will appear
nearly as big as it did in late August of this year. Clear skies to you.
--
David W. Knisely
Prairie Astronomy Club: http://www.prairieastronomyclub.org
Hyde Memorial Observatory: http://www.hydeobservatory.info/

**********************************************
* Attend the 10th Annual NEBRASKA STAR PARTY *
* July 27-Aug. 1st, 2003, Merritt Reservoir *
* http://www.NebraskaStarParty.org *
**********************************************

Hi there. You posted:

I am not an expert but this is what I have been led to believe. Mars and
Earth travel around the Sun at different speeds and therefore pass each
other on our orbits every eight years.

Well, actually, the Earth and Mars pass each other about every two years or
so, making oppositions about 2.1 years apart. However, the orbit of Mars is
somewhat more elliptical than the Earth's, so the very closest passes tend to
happen about every 15 to 17 years. The next opposition will be in 2005 with
Mars appearing a little smaller than it does now, but in 2018, it will appear
nearly as big as it did in late August of this year. Clear skies to you.
--
David W. Knisely
Prairie Astronomy Club: http://www.prairieastronomyclub.org
Hyde Memorial Observatory: http://www.hydeobservatory.info/

**********************************************
* Attend the 10th Annual NEBRASKA STAR PARTY *
* July 27-Aug. 1st, 2003, Merritt Reservoir *
* http://www.NebraskaStarParty.org *
**********************************************