Mars is closing in...

[d70_n00b]

Hey all, for anyone with proper equipment this article might be of interest:

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/space/10/27/mars.close.up.ap/index.html

A quick excerpt:

On Saturday, Mars' orbit will bring it 43.1 million miles away from Earth, with its closest pass scheduled for 11:25 p.m. EDT.

The two planets -- normally separated by about 140 million miles -- will not be this close again until 2018.

Don't think I'll pick much up with my 70-300.... ....so I hope to see some good pics from this talented bunch!

[kipper]

I think one of our resident astrologers here who does it as a living said it's a load of bollocks.

Out of interest what day/time should we look for it in Australia seeing as these yanks are on the other side of the planet.

[frink]

That article is correct.
There were however, a few emails and websites circulating earlier in the year (and pretty much every year) that stated Mars would look the size of a full Moon and other rubbish (end of the world, the usual stuff).

If I remember correctly, Mars has its opposition with Earth roughly every 2 years (point in their orbits where they're the closest).
Quick google pulled up this page for 'kids' http://www.kidscosmos.org/kid-stuff/mar ... tions.html
It's about the 2003 opposition but is relevant here.
Better one from the people who actually visit the place here:
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/allabout/night ... sky03.html

Seeing as Mars is on the opposite side off the Earth to the Sun (just like the Moon is at fullmoon), the best time to view is a few hours after sunset once it's had time to rise above the horizon a bit. It will remain visible most of the night. It will appear in the eastern sky as a bright pale red/orange looking 'star'. I should check that's where/when it will appear, i'm pretty sure though

A decent pair of 8-10x binoculars should show Mars as a small disk. You'll probably need a 'scope to show any sort of surface features/colouring though.

kipper: Astronomers NOT astrologers.. they really hate that

[Big V]

Yes, Mars needs a telescope to see detail, here it is through my 8 inch scope and a webcam...

[kipper]

Friggin ooops, think I was in a hurry to go out and wrote it pretty quickly