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Two moons on 27th August
Dave - 17-8-2003 at 11:16

It's going to be a rare sight so remember - don't miss the opportunity to view 2 moons in the sky -
27 AUGUST 2003.

Never again in your lifetime will the Red planet be so spectacular!

This month and next month the Earth is catching up with Mars, 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.

The encounter will culminate on August 27th when Mars comes to within 34,649,589 miles 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, Mars 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 12:30 a.m. That's pretty convenient when it comes to seeing something that no human has seen in recorded history. So mark your calendar at thebeginning of August to see Mars grows progressively brighter and brighter throughout the month.

No one alive today will ever see this again.

[Edited on 17-8-2003 by Dave]


SeanBo - 17-8-2003 at 20:29

No denying that there are forces of nature at work there!


ajdesq - 27-8-2003 at 16:44

It's the 27th today, and my birthday.

Most peeps would have a firework display, but I always have to go one better....


SeanBo - 27-8-2003 at 17:50

Happy Birthday...may the forces of nature be with you!


justal - 27-8-2003 at 19:57

Yep, Happy Birthday!!

Have you seen Mars?? Its too cludy here tonight, but I saw it pretty clearly a few nights ago.

Al.