Fwd: MARS SPECTACULAR! (info)

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MARS SPECTACULAR! The Red Planet is about to be spectacular! This month and next, Earthis catching up with Mars in an encounter that will culminate in the closest approach between the two planets in recorded history. The next timeMars may come this close is in 2287. Due to the way Jupiter's gravity tugs onMars and perturbs its orbit, astronomers can only be certain that Marshas not come this close to Earth in the Last 5,000 years, but it may be aslong as 60,000 years before it happens again. The encounter will culminate on August 27th when Mars comes to within34,649,589 miles of Earth and will be (next to the moon) the brightestobject in the night sky. It will attain a magnitude of -2.9 and willappear 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 willbe easy to spot. At the beginning of August it will rise in the east at10p.m. and reach its azimuth at about 3 a.m. By the end of August when the two planets are closest, Mars will riseat nightfall and reach its highest point in the sky at 12:30a.m. That'spretty convenient to see something that no human being has seen in recordedhistory. So, mark your calendar at the beginning of August to see Marsgrow progressively brighter and brig! hter thr oughout the month. Share this with your children and grandchildren. NO ONE ALIVE TODAYWILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN