Houston, We've got a Red Planet!

Mars - During July and August Mars will be the closest to the Earth than it has been in all of recorded history. (quote)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."(end quote)
@Modestah (11179)
United States
July 21, 2007 3:32pm CST
Mars, known as the "red planet" will be the closest to Earth as it has ever been in at least 5000 years...this month and August! This phenomenon will reach its summit on the 27th of August (mark your calendars) at which time it will be the brightest light in the night sky next to the moon itself. As a matter of fact, it will appear to our unaided eyes as the same size of the moon! this is going to be Spectacular! This may never happen again in tens of thousands of years, how fortunate we are that it will occur in our lifetime! wooohoooo! click on the picture to read about the times it will achieve its zenith during august.
3 people like this
7 responses
MsTickle
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
24 Jul 07
That's just awesome. I hope we get to see it here in Australia as well. I'd better do a search on-line for some info methinks. Great news, thanks for sharing.
crazynurse
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
22 Jul 07
Wow Modestah. Thanks for the information. I will certainly be outdoors attempting to see Mars! Seems I always forget when something like this has been announced.I will go right now and place this on my calander that hangs on the refrigerator. We live by that calander. All appointments, trips, and anything else important is on there!
byfaithonly
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
22 Jul 07
Wow this does sound very interesting - now if I could just find my calendar, I know it's in a box someplace in the house, or at least I think... Seriously I am going to try to remember this as I would love to see it.
scarlet_woman
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
22 Jul 07
sweet-time to break out the meade :) i'll have to mark this down or i'll forget about it. but i've been meaning to take out the telescope,this will be a good excuse to take some pictures also.
KarenO52
@KarenO52 (2950)
• United States
22 Jul 07
That will be some event. I don't want to miss it. I guess I'll have to stay up late to see it.
DanaMark
@DanaMark (807)
• United States
22 Jul 07
Thanks for alerting us to this. I had not heard about it yet. I'll be watching. I've always enjoyed watching the stars anyway. I used to lay out on our barn roof and watch for falling stars. I had a chart of the constellations that would glow in the dark, so I spent a lot of time trying to figure out where they all were. It will be fun watching for Mars. Thanks.
aprilgrl
@aprilgrl (4460)
• United States
21 Jul 07
Wow, this I got to see. Thanks for the update about the red planet. I'll be sure to look out on Aug 27th. This is exciting.