From: Matthew Brown <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2003 16:14:35 -0700 To: 'Jon Callas' <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: Mars: Here's a chance to see something that no one alive toda y will ever see again
A bit hyped, but, OK, it's fun. Yes, this is the absolute closest in a long time. Oppositions happen every 26 months. In a few years it'll be very nearly as close: The closer oppositions, in millions of miles: Aug. 28, 2003 34.67 Nov. 7, 2005 43.70 July 27, 2018 35.88 Sept. 15, 2035 35.51 ref: http://www.uapress.arizona.edu/online.bks/mars/appends.htm During all these oppositions you wouldn't be able to tell the difference unless you took measurements. And you wouldn't be able to tell the difference in brightness over a several week period, so don't expect anything special to happen on Aug. 27th. When astronomical things like this get hyped, people run outside and ask "when's something spectacular gonna happen?" And they are very disappointed at something that just sits there. Still, it will be a very pretty sight (it already is, if you stay up until past 11PM and look in the SE), and worthwhile hauling out a telescope if you have one. Or go purchase one: they've gotten cheaper in the past few years. =Matt amateur astronomer and amateur telescope maker
