Close Encounters of the Martian Kind...

[Steven Cedrone]

"On August 27th, a celestial event will take place which has not happened in over 73,000 years. On that day, now proclaimed to be Mars day, the planet Mars will be closer to Earth than in all of recorded history. It will be the chance of a lifetime for everyone to go out and see Mars and never before, and never again in our lifetimes!" (http://starryskies.com/The_sky/events/mars/opposition.html)


Steve

[hollis_f]

Don't wait until Aug 27th (it might be cloudy). Go out and check out Mars anytime over the next few weeks. Look South at midnight (SE before, SW after) and look for the very bright star. It should appear to have a reddish colour (although some people can't see it).

Or you could wait until 2285 (or thereabouts) when it'll be even closer.

[Steven Cedrone]

Checked it out last night. Very impressive! Need a better telescope, though...

Steve

[Video11]

You can really notice it with the naked eye, but I wish I had something better than my binoculars. The local university here is running clinics all this week to let the public see Mars through telescopes. They are setting up in different parking lots and parks every night. I'm going to have to head out one night.