Dave
A Force-of-Nature **  
Member #: 15 Posts 388
Registered: 29-7-2002 Member Is Offline Mood: Hey Ho
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| posted on 17-8-2003 at 11:16 |
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Two moons on 27th August
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]
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SeanBo
A Force-of-Nature ** 
Member #: 135 Posts 337
Registered: 9-2-2003 Location: Poole Member Is Offline Mood: Optimistic!
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| posted on 17-8-2003 at 20:29 |
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No denying that there are forces of nature at work there!
Is there wind on the way??
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ajdesq
A Force-of-Nature * 
F-O-N Champion 2003
Member #: 6 Posts 214
Registered: 24-7-2002 Member Is Offline Mood: Living to kitesurf :-)
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| posted on 27-8-2003 at 16:44 |
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 It's the 27th today, and my birthday.
Most peeps would have a firework display, but I always have to go one better.... 
There's more to life than KITESURFING!
Let me know when you find it.
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SeanBo
A Force-of-Nature **
Member #: 135 Posts 337
Registered: 9-2-2003 Location: Poole Member Is Offline Mood: Optimistic!
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| posted on 27-8-2003 at 17:50 |
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Happy Birthday...may the forces of nature be with you!
Is there wind on the way??
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justal
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| posted on 27-8-2003 at 19:57 |
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Yep, Happy Birthday!!
Have you seen Mars?? Its too cludy here tonight, but I saw it pretty clearly a few nights ago.
Al.
URL: Pixelwave Design - Website Design Wales
Shop: Website Templates
Personal Weblog: A Simple Life of Luxury in West Wales
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Pixelwave Web Design.
justal@forces-of-nature.co.uk