[Maverick]

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 10 P.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 12:30 A.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