The angry red planet...

from WinCustomize Forums

In case you haven't seen it, the planet Mars is putting on quite a show in the late night sky. I'm on the west coast (US) and it comes up around 1:00am in the SE sky. I have to wait until almost 2:30 to see it though because of the trees around my house.

Mars is closer to the Earth than it has been for 60,000 years. It's the largest and brightest thing we've ever seen in the sky. On August 27th it will be at its closest. It appears as a huge orange light in the sky and looks so unusual you can't miss it.  Right now it's about ten times brighter than Venus and more than twice as big. By the 27th it will be even larger and brighter.

On the 14th of August there will be a full moon with Mars parked just a few degrees off to the right. Should make for some spectacular photos. It was actually partially eclipsed by the moon on the 17th of July for most of the East Coast.

Tonight, the 29th, is a new moon so there won't be any moonlight to interfere with the view. Even binoculars should give you a good view, you'll possibly be able to make out the southern polar ice cap which is tilted towards us.

Just thought I'd let people know it's worth taking a look. It's the first time in the history of modern man there's been a view like this. And fittingly, it's no less than the god of war...

5,310 views 8 replies
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
How about a skin competition around this subject? First price: Featered skin? DX maybe?
The Political Machine 2024
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hmm skin for a angry god of war planet? nice idea too bad im not that good on making a skin.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
That was a cool movie too.Interesting tip David.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

A skin to commemorate this event is a great idea - so is a competition. I don't think I could get anything done in time for the closest approach on the 27th but I might give it a try.

When I was camping a few weeks ago we dragged a big telescope up to a parking lot on the side of Mt Shasta to look at it. There was a full moon so there wasn't anything else in the sky that night. When Mars came up over the horizon it was incredible. There was a lot of atmosphere between the telescope and Mars because it was still kind of low when we focused on it so the effect was like there were flames rolling off it, like it was charging towards Earth in a flaming chariot.

Last night my wife and I waited for it to clear the trees and the effect was beyond words. In my life I've never seen anything in the sky that large, bright or colorful. Tonight I'm planning to haul my telescope outside if I can stay awake. Maybe I'll get some photos I can share with you.

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Here's some recent observations of Mars done by members of the British Astronomical Association: http://www.britastro.com/mars/rep20031.htm
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
A skin to commemorate this event is a great idea - so is a competition. I don't think I could get anything done in time for the closest approach on the 27th but I might give it a try.

Cool!
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have found some interesting links.

http://www.synapses.co.uk/astro/monthnxt.html

http://www.stargazing.net/nsaclub/pub/skyevents/sky.htm

http://www.manitobamuseum.mb.ca/pl_night_sky.html

http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/planets/article_899_1.asp