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[Guest]

MARS SPECTACULAR!
>>
>>
>> The Red Planet is about to be spectacular! 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.
>>
>> 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. 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.
>>
>> 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.
>>
>> Share this with your children and grandchildren.
>>
>>
>> NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN...
>>

[becca1223]

This was true back in August 2003.

http://www.snopes.com/science/mars.asp

I received the same email recently and was about to forward it also, then I vaguely remembered that this had already happened a couple of years ago.

[PhantomSgt]

Darn I missed it. I guess I will just have to wait until 2287 to catch the next show.


_________________
Retired AF E-8

Independent that leans right of center.