Mars
My friend, Jill wrote me this email the other day which I promised to pass on. 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.
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.
Also the Perseids (meteor shower) are expected to reach their maximum on August 12. Peak activity is unfortunately predicted for the daylight hours across North America. Sky watchers are encouraged to watch during the predawn hours of Friday, August 12 and again during the early morning hours of Saturday. (see the above CNN link if you want more info)
The kids and I have spent a few late night/early morning adventures when the Perseids come, best viewing was when we lived in Swanton, which was farther away from the city lights.
This has been your look to the skies update.
:-)
11 comments:
I still love looking at the stars from my deck. What if every star was a sun, and around every sun swirled a solar system that was a million times more complicated and wonderful; than ours? Cool to think about once in a while.
I was told about this a few weeks ago by a friend. I haven't been able to substantiate the claim however. From what I can tell it was 2003 that Mars came very close, and won't be nearly that close again until 2018.
Here is what is posted on Wikipedia, but two other astronomy sites had the same info listed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars#Observation_of_Mars
Does anyone have more info on this?
Google "Mars Hoax" lol
Thanks aaron, I did not check this and should have, when I read the story about the meteor shower I remembered Jill had sent me that and had promised to blog about it.
Sloppy work on my part and good catch on yours.
:-)
I honestly didn't suspect a hoax, but at the same time wasn't able to find good info on it. A friend Jason F is in to astronomy and knew about the hoax already.
http://jasonf-blog.blogspot.com/2005/08/meteors-clouds-mars-and-snopes.html
I check everything but didn't because when Jill told me it came from her cousin I thought it was the one involved with the space/science field which it obviously wasn't.
Thanks aaron, and I'm sure some of my older friends who have been snoped by me in the past will enjoy it. I can take it...I think - lol
:-)
sure you can, Lisa. Besides, it made for an interesting read if one has a vivid imagination. And, of course, I do. However, do know how strongly you feel about not checking to see if factual, but Lisa ? Don't be too hard on self. You're allowed one minor err. ( lol )
oh ! and I so love the pic. I've gazed at it for a couple of minutes and so reminds me of a ... welz, ya don't wanna know. :)
I agree with the way things are now it's not exactly the smartest time to be spending money on rockets to Mars. Especially with what the war in Iraq and Afghanistan are costing.
I do believe there are some advantages to space technology, but it also should be done in a more fiscal responsible manner.
lol Faith, it was def an error, you should have seen the email I sent Jill,
:-)
Oh well it proves any myths of thinking I was not human are now def wrong - hehehe
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