A bit Scientific, but thought I'd share this e-mail.................
> ****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
> ****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
