This month and next, 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 10 p.m. and reach its azimuth at about 3 a.m.

But 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 the beginning of August to see Mars grow progressively brighter and brighter throughout the month.

 

Yeah, I've been watching mars for the past month and a half with my telescope. With my scope, and certain filters, you can actually see the polar cap, as well as dust storms (thats with a modest magnification, in light polluted Fremont). My highest magnification is 500x... I've been using 250x.

 

can you see the "face" on the surface?

 

If you look to the moon, it appears as a sattellite of the moon. It really isn't (obviously) but is it like a bright orange star.

 

No wonder its so easy to spot as of late... It shows up when its hardly even dark out. Awesome stuff. Oh, and I was looking at it the other night and saw one of the best shooting stars ive ever seen Nice big fire trail followed by the metorite lighting up and disapearing quickly... cool

 

Dan... hami meet?

-Gagan

 

Star party? I gotta scope... albeit only a 3.5" SCT. We could go to Fort Funston. Anywhere around the bay sucks unless you can block bay cities' lights with the costal range.

I'm definitately taking more pictures this year

Btw - I have a schweet solar filter if we wanna start early heh.

jason