Mars Closest To Earth In Nearly 60,000 Years

Ananova ^ | 8-13-2003

[blam]

Mars closest to Earth in nearly 60,000 years

The wandering of the planets is bringing Mars closer to Earth than at any time in nearly 60,000 years.

Just 34.6 million miles of space will separate the two planets on August 27.

Mars was five times as distant just six months ago, and won't be as close again until August 28, 2287.

Already, Mars has begun to loom large in the late evening sky, its rusty twinkle apparent in the south east.

Aldo Vitagliano, of the University of Naples in Italy, calculates that Mars has not had as close a brush with Earth since September 12, 57617 BC, when Neanderthals ruled but modern man had begun to make inroads.

The Red Planet will still seem small to the naked eye - having the apparent diameter of a small coin seen from 500 feet away. Even though Mars is twice the size of the moon, it will be 145 times as distant.

With binoculars or a telescope, observers can start to pick out details on the planet's surface. The view from even a modest telescope should reveal the planet's southern ice cap.

Next week, astronomers will send radio waves from antennas on Earth that will bounce off Mars to study the terrain where one of the two Nasa rovers is targeted to land in January.

The close proximity will improve the resolution of the radar images, says Albert Haldemann, deputy project scientist for the rover mission.

Planetariums around the world are planning Mars-gazing parties beginning on the evening of August 26, and the Hubble Space Telescope is expected to take a close-approach portrait of the planet.

[Benrand]

Can we drop Iced Tea Algore off?

[tet68]

THEY have been waiting 60,000 years for this!

[Redcloak]

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[gitmo]

Well, we were in the neighborhood and thought we'd drop by.

[Prodigal Son]

With binoculars or a telescope, observers can start to pick out details on the planet's surface. The view from even a modest telescope should reveal the planet's southern ice cap.

Well, I'll just have to go out and buy myself a modest telescope. Blam, do you have any idea what exactly a modest telescope would be? What size and all that? I'd seriously like to see those ice caps if possible and the planet is pretty easy to pick out in the night sky so it seems like a pretty good opportunity.

[Focault's Pendulum]

Great pics of Mars....thanks.

[blam]

"Blam, do you have any idea what exactly a modest telescope would be? "

Nope. I pinged Radio Astronomer, he'll know.

[gcruse]

Blam, do you have any idea what exactly a modest telescope would be?

One that won't refract on the first date?

[ibbryn]

Any opinions on what we would see with a "modest" telescope. I've got a Bushnell spotting scope I'm looking through. It's pretty "modest."

[Centurion2000]

I've got an 8-32X40 rifle scope that seems to find it just fine. Of course people might think I'm trying to shoot Mars down or something equally stupid.

[Prodigal Son]

Can you see the ice caps with it?

[Prodigal Son]

I found this pic:

It says that was done with an 8 inch telescope on June 11. Sure enough, you can see the ice cap. I'm figuring an 8 inch telescope is still pretty big but by August 27 Mars would be a lot closer. Still, I don't want to to buy some massive expensive scope that I probably won't ever use again. I wonder what the smallest scope would be that you could get a good look would be?

Source of picture: http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2003/18jun_approachingmars.htm

[mrsmith]

"Neanderthals ruled but modern man had begun to make inroads. "

How the Greens long for the good old days before inroads- or outroads for that matter.

[thtr]

I took this picture last night. I think there is a good possibility that Mars has canals on it.

[abner]

A friend of mine has a telescope with a 24" mirror. The eyepiece is about 10 feet in the air. It is awesomely cool..

[Joe Hadenuf]

For those that may not know, go outside tonight, look east, southeast at about 9:30 p.m. Look for the reddish star, which will actually be the planet Mars......

[martin_fierro]

Mars was five times as distant just six months ago, and won't be as close again until August 28, 2287.

Eh. Remind me then.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Don't be fooled. Amateur astronomers are making great strides in digital imaging. The above image was taken with an 11" scope, using an attached webcam and digital imaging enhancement software. Check my profile for some old lousy film format images. My more current images are much improved but haven't had time to post them.

[mikegi]

According to Celestron's website, that same telescope should see Mars at about twice the size. Here's a gif showing the sizes at different dates:

Of course, who knows how much image processing it took to get the image in your post. To the eye, Mars may look alot dimmer.