And it would be cool -- except it's a hoax. > From the RASC mail list: > > >Date: Sat, 11 Jun 2005 08:00:54 -0300 > > > >Hi: > > > >BOGUS MARS CHAIN LETTER > > > >Another e-mail chain letter touting bogus astronomy is spreading > >across the Internet. The letter claims that on August 27th Mars will > >dazzle the world, appearing brighter than ever in history. The > >problem is that "August 27th" is actually August 27, 2003.... > > > >http://SkyandTelescope.com/news/article_1529_1.asp > > > > > >Clear skies > >Royal Astronomical Society of Canada - Halifax Center Astronomy > >page: http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/~aa063
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Carole Parker Sent: Monday, June 13, 2005 5:40 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Clan MacDude; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [basfa-list] Fwd: Cool info about Mars! For the costuming-inclined, call it astronomical costuming? Until later-- Carole Begin forwarded message: > From: "Carol Christensen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: Mon Jun 13, 2005 2:43:02 PM US/Pacific > > The Red Planet is about to turn 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 watch Mars grow progressively brighter throughout the month. > > No one currently alive will ever see this again!
