Starlyte Posted August 5, 2003 #1 Share Posted August 5, 2003 On 27th August, Mars will be at its closest to Earth for almost 60,000 years. On that date, the Red Planet will approach to within 34,646,418 miles (55,758,006 km) -- 145 times the distance of the Moon. The last time the two planets were so close our ancestors were living in caves and struggling to survive the extreme conditions of the Ice Age. Who knows what will have happened by the time they are as near again -- 284 years into the future? WHEN AND WHERE TO SEE MARS Mars is now in the constellation Aquarius and is readily recognised because it is already the brightest object in the night sky (apart from the Moon). Instantly recognisable by its brilliance and orange-red colour, it will remain easy to spot for several months, low in the sky somewhere between the southeast and the southwest. (Exactly where depends on the date and time.) Currently, Mars rises at about 11 pm (BST) but it comes up a few minutes earlier each night. Future rising times are 10 pm on 7 August, 9 pm on 21 August and 8 pm on 4 September. About 5 hours after it has risen, Mars reaches its highest point above the horizon -- an altitude of about 23 degrees as seen from London -- and lies due south. Full Article LINK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djdodo Posted August 5, 2003 #2 Share Posted August 5, 2003 sounds cool .. but scary .. I wonder what will happen .. hmm .. on th 28th I will be on my way back to Kuwait ... please God .. make it a safe trip back home .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kismit Posted August 9, 2003 #3 Share Posted August 9, 2003 I have actually noticed an increase in the hieght of the tides along the coast here . I am well aware of the moons effect on the sea , and I have been through a few King tides , but this one seems a little higher still . Do you think it could be possible that Mars is actually effecting the tides also ? Thanx for the link Starlyte . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleStuart Posted August 9, 2003 #4 Share Posted August 9, 2003 Although it probably has some effect, the difference would be miniscule i would of thought Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kismit Posted August 10, 2003 #5 Share Posted August 10, 2003 I would have thought so too PS . Only I have never seen them so high as thay were last week during the mid part of the moon phases . I'm used to them getting up there when the Moon is full or new but not half way through the cycle . So I just thought I would point it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleStuart Posted August 10, 2003 #6 Share Posted August 10, 2003 keep a track of it, keep a record. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kismit Posted August 11, 2003 #7 Share Posted August 11, 2003 Sorry P.S it will have to be a visual record as I spend my time getting people there damn double shot Latte's during my observation times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjo Koolzooie Posted August 11, 2003 #8 Share Posted August 11, 2003 The problem is the place where I live, you can never see anything good like this! Street lights...cloudy all over the sky. It isn't often there is a clear sky. Once however we had a couch on the street as we was going to have it dumped, so that night I sat on it, and we had a clear sky. I was laying down wathcing the sky, t'was nice, but people that was walking past looked at me weird. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forst Posted August 11, 2003 #9 Share Posted August 11, 2003 I can occasionally see some stuff pretty well with my refracting telescope, although I may not be able to see that much of Mars. I'll be out around midnight tonight looking at what I can see. If the moon is out I'll take a gander at that as well. I'll try and be out on the 27th to see when Mars is the closest, but I may not be able to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starlyte Posted August 12, 2003 Author #10 Share Posted August 12, 2003 I actually saw Mars two weeks ago. It rose in the East colored red-orange, and I could see it extremely well. I think it was around 11:30 or midnight. I was out at my parent's house in the country and it was a beautifully clear night. I don't have a telescope so I was viewing naked eye, but even when I tried to use my brother's binoculars, it seemed clearer to me without them. I wish I could get a closer view, but the fact that I saw it at all was amazing. I urge everyone to try to find it if possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forst Posted August 12, 2003 #11 Share Posted August 12, 2003 I went out last night but it was far too cloudy to see more than an outline of the moon. However, the light from the moon was reflecting in the clouds so it was rather bright. When you think about it, that means I was seeing sunlight reflected from the moon reflected again on clouds... Anyway, I'll be out again tonight hoping to see Mars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starlyte Posted August 12, 2003 Author #12 Share Posted August 12, 2003 I went out last night but it was far too cloudy to see more than an outline of the moon. When I found Mars it was around the time of the New moon. With the full moon today it may be hard to see Mars. Good luck though! Let us know is you are able to see it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaj Posted August 16, 2003 #13 Share Posted August 16, 2003 Another link on this Link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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