2 moons on 27th aug ;)

[Enrieco]

got frm my friend: (maybe u guys know already?)

2 Moons on 27th August!!!

Hi everyone,

It's going to be a rare sight so remember - don't miss the opportunity
to view 2 moons in the sky -> 27 AUGUST 2003.

Never again in your lifetime will the Red Planet be so spectacular!

This month and next month the Earth is catching up with Mars,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.

The encounter will culminate on August 27th when Mars comes to within
34,649,589 miles 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, Mars 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 12:30
a.m. That's pretty convenient when it comes to seeing something that no
human has seen in recorded history. So mark your calendar at
thebeginning of August to see Mars grows progressively brighter and
brighter throughout the month.

Share with friends, children and grandchildren and with everyone you
know, as no one alive today will ever see this again.

www.detik.com



You can find out more about mars in www.exploremarsnow.org

www.nasm.si.edu/ceps/etp/mars

[Starman]

Originally Posted by Enrieco got frm my friend: (maybe u guys know already?) 2 Moons on 27th August!!! Hi everyone, It's going to be a rare sight so remember - don't miss the opportunity to view 2 moons in the sky -> 27 AUGUST 2003. Never again in your lifetime will the Red Planet be so spectacular! This month and next month the Earth is catching up with Mars,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. The encounter will culminate on August 27th when Mars comes to within 34,649,589 miles 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, Mars 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 12:30 a.m. That's pretty convenient when it comes to seeing something that no human has seen in recorded history. So mark your calendar at thebeginning of August to see Mars grows progressively brighter and brighter throughout the month. Share with friends, children and grandchildren and with everyone you know, as no one alive today will ever see this again. www.detik.com You can find out more about mars in www.exploremarsnow.org www.nasm.si.edu/ceps/etp/mars

The above is wrong. Mars will not look as big as the moon at 75X.

This email has been floating around and I have to do so much explaination. Members of the public were fooled into believing that.

Yes, Mars is very close for the first time in 60K years, but it will never be as big as the moon at 75X magnification.

[Ansel]

Originally Posted by Starman The above is wrong. Mars will not look as big as the moon at 75X. This email has been floating around and I have to do so much explaination. Members of the public were fooled into believing that. Yes, Mars is very close for the first time in 60K years, but it will never be as big as the moon at 75X magnification.

So, for us in Singapore, when is the best time to catch Mars tonight, 27/8? Which direction do I look? Due east?

How big will Mars be with 300mm Nikon lens?

[Starman]

Originally Posted by Ansel So, for us in Singapore, when is the best time to catch Mars tonight, 27/8? Which direction do I look? Due east? How big will Mars be with 300mm Nikon lens?

I would say anytime tonight. There is really no need to catch it at a particular hour or minute. Anytime tonight is a good time, provided the sky allows it.

Yes, look East...you can't miss it...it's bright orangish-red

Umm 300mm nikon lens.....I can't really comment on that, but I don't think it will be big enough to see any details on the surface. You will need a scope for that. Any scope....those toy scopes from Toy R us will do too...albiet poor quality and chromatic abberation.

[Ansel]

Originally Posted by Starman I would say anytime tonight. There is really no need to catch it at a particular hour or minute. Anytime tonight is a good time, provided the sky allows it. Yes, look East...you can't miss it...it's bright orangish-red Umm 300mm nikon lens.....I can't really comment on that, but I don't think it will be big enough to see any details on the surface. You will need a scope for that. Any scope....those toy scopes from Toy R us will do too...albiet poor quality and chromatic abberation.

I intend to attach my Nikon Lens Scope convertor over the 300mm lens, that should make it into a 60x telescope.

[willyfoo]

Originally Posted by Ansel I intend to attach my Nikon Lens Scope convertor over the 300mm lens, that should make it into a 60x telescope.

Where will you be shooting?? Can I try the lens scope convertor from you?

[Ansel]

Originally Posted by willyfoo Where will you be shooting?? Can I try the lens scope convertor from you?

I won't really be shooting, just looking. I am in the East Coast area. You are welcome to have a look thru my lens scope, but I'll only be back quite late tonigt, after 10 pm.

[frisky]

Originally Posted by Ansel I intend to attach my Nikon Lens Scope convertor over the 300mm lens, that should make it into a 60x telescope.

Er, what sort of 300mm is it? If it is a 300 f/2.8, 60x will probably be usable, f/4, perhaps, f/5.6, not too interesting....... A good 7x50 bino will probably serve you better. Anyway, at 8x25, it aren't interesting at all...........

[frisky]

Originally Posted by Starman I would say anytime tonight. There is really no need to catch it at a particular hour or minute. Anytime tonight is a good time, provided the sky allows it. Yes, look East...you can't miss it...it's bright orangish-red

Make sure there isn't a block of flats in front of you though.......

Around night fall it is eastward, midnight is zenith (right up), closer to
daybreak it is on the west, so calculate yourself for the rest of the night.

A thick cloud will easily block it, and that happens more often than not.
Hopefully we get a clear sky tonite........