Does anyone know if this is true????

[mikeyocc50]

This month and next, Earth is catching up with Mars in 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 before it happens again.<br /><br />The encounter will culminate on August 27th when Mars comes to within 34,649,589 miles of Earth 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.<br />Mars will be easy to spot. At the beginning of August it will rise in the east at 10p.m. and reach its azimuth at about 3 a.m.<br /><br />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 12:30a.m. That's pretty convenient to see something that no human being 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.<br />Share this with your children and grandchildren.<br /><br />NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN <br /><br /><br />I've heard today this is a hoax and an urban legend. Can someone elobarate on this for me? Thanks in advance.

 

[derekmcd]

A quick search tells me it was true in aug. 2003. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div> </div><br /><div><span style="color:#0000ff" class="Apple-style-span">"If something's hard to do, then it's not worth doing." - Homer Simpson</span></div> </div>

 

[harmonicaman]

The next time Mars will come this close is in 2287, and member <b>Derekmcd</b> is right, very few of us will be around to see it.<br /><br />Here are some upcoming Mars apparitions, but these won't be as close as the encounter in 2003: <br /><br />2005 Nov 7 <br />2007 Dec 28 <br />2010 Jan 29 <br />2012 Mar 3 <br />2014 Apr 8 <br />2016 May 22 <br />2018 Jul 27 <br />

 

[mikeyocc50]

So this upcoming weekend is nothing to look for then??

 

[harmonicaman]

You're joking, right?<br /><br />Here's a few things to look for:<br /><br /><b>Saturday, August 26 - </b>If you’re up before dawn this morning, be sure to look for Venus and Saturn very close to one another.<br /><br />Did you spot the slender crescent Moon tonight just after sunset? Then be glad it’s gone early as we say farewell to the favorites of the southern Milky Way. Start at G Scorpii and neighboring 7.4 magnitude globular cluster NGC 6441. Head a little more than 2 degrees due north to large and brightly scattered open cluster M7. Shift slightly northwest and include neighboring 10th magnitude globular NGC 6453 in the same low power field. Be sure to visit less than four degrees northwest for the lovely arching loops of “Butterfly” cluster - M6!<br /><br />Centering on Gamma Sagittarii, go north 6 degrees to find the billowing lobes of the Lagoon Nebula and the “Strawberry Cluster” - NGC 6530. Less than 2 degrees north-northwest brings you to the subtle lobes of the Trifid Nebula - M20. From M20 shift a little less than 6 degrees north-northeast to enter the open magical window of the Small Sagittarian Star Cloud and be sure to catch the faint sheen of open cluster NGC 6602 within it. Less than three degrees north-northeast reveals the gentle “Swan Nebula” floating effortlessly on the ocean of deep space. Perhaps the “Swan” sees the subtle “Eagle” gliding overhead less than three degrees north. Look for its attendant open cluster of stars - M16.<br /><br />And for last, the densely populated open cluster M11. The “Wild Duck” cluster soars about a fist’s width northeast of M16. Dominated by a single 8th magnitude star, this conically-shaped 3,000 member assembly of stardust easily resolves into innumerable stars with any significant amount of magnification. Through intermediate aperture, this 6000 light-year distant, 250 million year old cluster takes on a new form as several hundred 13th and 14th magnitude members begin to spill outside its V-shaped bounds! Discover

 

[MeteorWayne]

Welcome to SDC.<br />The event described took place in 2003. Right now Mars is near the sun, nothing to see there! Other than the sun, of course <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> Also near the Sun are Saturn, Mercury, and Venus, and today, the Moon.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[mikeyocc50]

Thanks Wayne. That was a much clearer answer then what the other guys stated. I looked at it and was confused from what he posted. Not too familiar with what goes in space but certainly curious.

 

[jmilsom]

It is an elaborate hoax that is circulating through internet emails at the moment. Here is some info about it:<br /><br />http://www.hoax-slayer.com/mars-earth-close.html <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[yevaud]

<i>...very few of us will be around to see it. </i><br /><br />I'm working on being one of them. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Well, if you're curious, this is a good place to be.<br /><br />There's a lot of curious people here <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[alokmohan]

It is not true .It is a hoax then?

 

[MeteorWayne]

I don't know if hoax is the right word.<br />More like urban legend.<br />Mars' closest approcah to the earth in thousands of years occurred in 2003.<br />Since then every year the story has been recycled as new news for the current year.<br />Not really a hoax, just wrong. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[spacester]

On July 31 2018, Mars will come nearly as close as it did on August 28 2003, when it was spectacular at 55.8 million kilometers and 25.1 arc seconds. I imagine it will once again be a bright red light in 2018 at 57.6 million kilometers and 24.3 arc seconds.<br /><br />http://77illinois.homestead.com/files/astro/planets3.html<br /><br />2018 is a great time to go to Mars.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[qso1]

Heres the skinny on this visually, starting with the opposition in August 2003. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[qso1]

Next is 2006, and you can see how far apart Mars and Earth are here. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[qso1]

In 2007, they are pretty much at opposition (Or is it conjunction) but their positioned at points in their orbit that have them further apart. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[qso1]

Finally, the 2018 opposition has them pretty much where they were in the 2003 opposition. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

qso1<br />Nice visuals. Where did you get? produce? them? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[mikeyocc50]

qso1 thanks for the visuals. It makes a little sense to me but I can use some common sense to figure out what it is that you were explaining.

 

[qso1]

Thanks, I went to NASA JPL Solar system simulator, positioned my view above the Sun which normally shows all the planets orbits until you play around a bit with the feild of view degree setting. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[qso1]

Thanks. I post visuals mainly because of the old adage, a picture is worth a thousand words. I dont doubt you can use your common sense but this just makes it that much easier. Especially for other folks who might not understand your question or may not understand how orbital mechanics works. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>