Close Encounters Of The Mars Kind 153
Lab_rat0 writes "Never again in our lifetimes will the Red Planet be so spectacular!
This month and next, Earth is catching up with Mars, an encounter that will culminate in the closest approach between the two planets in
recorded history. This article at EliteGeek has more details.
According to Agg over at OCAU, this is probably the reason for all the Mars probes launched over the last few months."
Never again in our lifetimes? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Never again in our lifetimes? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Never again in our lifetimes? (Score:1)
Post: Well, since time doesn't exist [slashdot.org], you have a shot.
Lol, but doesn't the runner/turtle paradox claim that the Earth will never catch up with Mars?
Starry Night - Mars Encounter Program (Score:4, Informative)
Runs on osX and win.
http://www.starrynight.com/MarsEncounter/
Mars will come within 2,400 miles (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Never again in our lifetimes? (Score:4, Funny)
Of course I only noticed coz my little brother called me out, but hey - it's cold out!
Re:Never again in our lifetimes? (Score:2)
That depends on where you live, you insensitive clod! (You can't see it in Europe
Bad Joke Alert (Score:3, Funny)
But when are they going to probe Uranus?
Re:Bad Joke Alert (Score:5, Funny)
Scientists renamed that planet in the year 2354 to end that old joke once and for all. It's now known as Urectum.
"Afer all, who needs courage when you have a gun?"
-Prof Hubert Farnsworth
Re:Bad Joke Alert (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Bad Joke Alert (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Bad Joke Alert (Score:1)
Obligatory Zubrin post... (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Obligatory Zubrin post... (Score:5, Funny)
Preferably someone that I don't like.
Preferably without a space suit.
Re:Obligatory Zubrin post... (Score:2)
They never would be missed.
Well, he wants to be famous... (Score:2)
[A few minutes later]
What? Oh, this is just our new office -- modern arco and such. Watch your head.
Yes, just strap yourself in nice and tight. Normal proceedure. We'll be right back, we've got to go fetch our documents.
*door locks*
Mars Society Interview (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Obligatory Zubrin post... (Score:2)
Damn it I won't be able to sleep at night now... (Score:1, Funny)
Mirror (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Mirror (Score:2)
-Lucas
Text (Score:5, Informative)
This month and next, 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 10 p.m. and reach its azimuth at about 3 a.m.
But 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 the beginning of August to see Mars grow
progressively brighter and brighter throughout the month.
Re:Text (Score:5, Informative)
This from Sky & Telescope: 'Mars becomes almost this large every 15 or 17 years -- whenever it passes closest to Earth (near opposition) within a few weeks of the date it is also nearest the Sun (perihelion). For example, in August 1971 the disk became as large as 24.9", and in September 1988 it reached 23.8". Less-ideal views come at intervals of about 2 years 2 months, as in May 1999 when it reached 16.2", and in June 2001 when it attained 20.8". Putting August 2003 in perspective, this is one of five chances (at most) in your entire lifetime that you'll see Mars so clearly.'
So this month Mars will appear some 0.21 arc-seconds larger than it did in August 1971. This is really not enough for the human eye to make a distinction. That said, you really ought to take advantage of this opposition. I know that I will.
Clear Skies
STB
Close approach (Score:2)
Re:Text (Score:1)
That's pretty convenient when it comes to seeing something that no human has seen in recorded history.
True, but mars is further away from the sun than us, and naturally when we are closest to it, we will be in pretty much the same point in our orbits. Therefore, its on the opposite side of the earth as the sun, appearing as a full mars, and rising/setting with our night.
A little... too close (Score:3, Funny)
Why go to Mars? (Score:5, Funny)
>... and about those lobotomies, statistics show that it's safer to use Rekall than to travel to the red planet itself.
I'm delightfully interested in that Agent-package... Hmm...
Place that bet (Score:2, Funny)
"Quick, get to your safe locations again, we *really* mean it this time, honest!"
Anyway, its always nice to see there is (I use this term lightly) "life" outside of this small planet. Now 34,649,589 miles doesnt seem to far. I'll definately have to have a look.
The end is near! (Score:4, Funny)
Re:The end is near! (Score:2)
Re:The end is near! (Score:2)
You're with the government, aren't you?
Not if I can help it. (Score:2)
1) Near Earth collision
2) Invasion by martians
3) T-Shirts in designer colors
4) ???
5) Profit
on the back.
More details (Score:5, Informative)
Space.com [space.com]
abc.net.au [abc.net.au]
Telescopes-Astronomy.com [telescopes...omy.com.au] - lots of details about suitable telescopes etc.
As an aside, about an earlier event fromThe Universe Today [universetoday.com]:
A rare astronomical event will occur in May 1999- Mars will be the closest it ever gets, only 52.8 million miles. In addition, the Red Planet is in opposition, which means its face is completely lit up by the Sun. Amateur astronomers will be able to see normally obscure features like the polar caps and canyons.
For the best amateur (MARS) pictures, go here. (Score:5, Interesting)
MARS 2003 Pictures [photomeeting.de]
Every year, amateurs and their techniques are improving. This team of Germans, with their Astro-Physics [astro-physics.com] 10" Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope [astro-physics.com] are on the cutting edge of amateur astrophography.
Maps of Mars, including dust storm (Score:5, Informative)
For global views of Mars check here [nasa.gov], however at this time of year (August) Mars is enveloped in planet wide dust storms, so the view is going to be obfuscated by all that red grit...if you want to check out before and during storm pics then click here [nasa.gov].
many more pics available from the Mars Global Surveyor: Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)here [nasa.gov].
Re:Maps of Mars, including dust storm (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Maps of Mars, including dust storm (Score:1)
Re:Maps of Mars, including dust storm (Score:2)
Here's a martian calendar [jps.net].
uh-oh (Score:2, Funny)
Don't get TOO excited... (Score:5, Interesting)
similarity in wording (Score:2)
Head to the hills, mama! (Score:3, Funny)
Got the wife and kids in a truck, and we're gonna head to the hills for a while. Got meself a shotgun... just in case those Martians come for ME!
Re:Head to the hills, mama! (Score:2)
Amazon.co.uk [amazon.co.uk] has it.
You can simulate this event in Celestia (Score:5, Informative)
1 AU = 149,597,870.691 km
0.373 AU = 55800005 km
0.410 AU = 61335126 km
The values seem to be slightly off (by around 1%) when compared to the article's shortest distance, from the approximated planetary orbits.
Re:You can simulate this event in Celestia (Score:5, Informative)
BTW, the RH8.0 sources build fine on RH9.
Re:You can simulate this event in Celestia (Score:1)
--Chris
I've seen it (Score:5, Informative)
In fact, although this is supposed to be the closest opposition for maybe the past 60,000 years, the low elevation means it's not really such a great observation opportunity for astronomers in the northern hemisphere. I was just about able to make out the southern polar cap and some blurred greyish surface features in the southern hemisphere.
If you live further South though, there should be some really spectacular views with Mars almost overhead. And it's so bright that you don't need a large telescope - just a good one. And an equatorial mount is a must, because the damn thing moves so fast.
for those of us without telescopes or probes... (Score:5, Informative)
And for those of us with OSX, there's a macosxhints article [macosxhints.com] that helps you rotate your desktop pic with the APotD
Re:for those of us without telescopes or probes... (Score:4, Interesting)
I usually only like the high-res pics that have been through a million filters to look sexy...
APotD often has lots of grainy bland pics that are scientifically useful but not exactly great desktop material
Actually funny! - Re:DON'T CLICK!! GOATSE.CX LINK (Score:1)
Re:DON'T CLICK!! GOATSE.CX LINK! (Score:1)
Huh? It's just a picture of the rings around Uran -- oh, never mind.
The Power of /. (Score:3, Informative)
its a shame (Score:1)
Dude.... (Score:3, Funny)
That isn't fair! My teachers would never let me reference my email when turning in a paper. >:-(
Telescope + Linux + Mars = KStars (Score:1, Informative)
Here is a screenshot [kde.org] showing KStars tracking the moon.
D'Ya Think? (Score:2, Funny)
Gee, d'ya think?
Hopeless, hopeless.
Saw it last night (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Saw it last night (Score:1)
Jeez (Score:2, Insightful)
Does this really need to be said?
What if... (Score:1)
Re:What if... (Score:1)
Re:What if... (Score:2)
The launch window to Mars has now closed which means that the relatively low energy trajectories used by our space probes are no longer available.
So if the Chinese were to go, they'd better have built one big-ass engine to send them there.
Best wishes,
Mike.
Azimuth? (Score:1, Insightful)
I would have thought, whatever its azimuth is at any given time, there it is already.
War of the Worlds (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:War of the Worlds (Score:2)
Re:The chances of anything coming from Mars... (Score:2)
Damn you... the background on that is all a salmon-reddish color and after closing the page my eyes were blinded by slashdot's white BG.
Headlines in Martian Times (Score:3, Funny)
Little green men on Mars are being warned about the upcoming close encounter with our appearently beautiful neighbor, Earth.
The inhabitants of the planet Earth are known to be greedy, territorial and suicidal (they have enough nuclear power to blow their planet 10 times over. We still don't understand why they call our planet "The God of War"). They have already consumed their home planet, and are expected to be looking towards us during this encounter. Some of them may even try to hop on to our side. Reports confirm 2 or 3 rocket ships launched earlier this year moving towards Mars.
Continue staying underground in caves. Build no canals, humanoid faces or any other structures on the surface reflecting presence of intelligent life on our planet. continue the planet wide dust storm as it will repel the earthlings.
Earth will probably stink because of high leavels of pollution.
---
The secret source of humor is not joy but sorrow; there is no humor in Heaven.
-- Mark Twain
Why is Agg at Overclockers Australia Quoted? (Score:2)
How about next time quoting somebody from an orgnaization that is involved with the spacecraft? NASA, ESA (European Space Agency), NASDA (Japan's Space Aerospace Agency) and even CSA (Canadian Space Agency) have all got hardware on the way and probably could provide a inforamtion that is more useful and authoritative than what was put here.
A good start would be explaining why you would
Re:Why is Agg at Overclockers Australia Quoted? (Score:2)
Re:Why is Agg at Overclockers Australia Quoted? (Score:1)
My original newspost on OCAU:
---
From Dark_Greg: A rather interesting astronomical phenomenon can be observed over the next month, with Mars being closer to earth then it has been in at least 5,000 years, with some estimates putting it at 60,000 years. Needless to say you wont get another chance to see this again in your lifetime. Details can be found here [elitegeek.org]. Tha
Re:Why is Agg at Overclockers Australia Quoted? (Score:2)
Essentially you want to minimise the amount of energy you need to send a probe away from the planet. You are quite right about needing most energy to climb away from Earth, but you then need addition
Re:Why is Agg at Overclockers Australia Quoted? (Score:2)
Re:Why is Agg at Overclockers Australia Quoted? (Score:2)
There are some things I can't explain :)
Best wishes,
Mike.
Re:Why is Agg at Overclockers Australia Quoted? (Score:2)
Think of getting a probe to Mars as two steps:
1. Getting off the Earth and out of the gravity well.
2. Travel immense distance to Mars.
If Mars is closer, then not as much fuel is needed for step two. If there isn't as much fuel needed for step two, then the load will be lighter for step one. If everything is lighter in step one, a smaller rocket can be used to lift the wh
No dust storms this year (Score:2, Interesting)
Rocket Scientist (Score:1)
Agg must be a friggin rocket scientist to put those to together, or not for reiterating the obvious.
Planetary travel is all about delta V.
Bright Mars (Score:2)
Re:Bright Mars (Score:2)
Re:Bright Mars (Score:2)
All those probes... (Score:1)
It's going to be great watching the data come back from the 4 (I think) probes to Mars. There should be a lot of interesting video and photos over the next couple months. I hope all of the probes make the journey in one piece.
BTW. Anyone know how "spread out" these probes are supposed to land? I hope that at least one is aimed at one of the polar regions.
One more thing, to all people who say, "So what, Mars almost as close every 15 years." Well, how long do you expect to live? Every 15 years is s
Re:All those probes... (Score:2)
Amen to that, we've had amazing luck so far. So let's wish all well - although since I'm over the road from the Beagle 2 team, I have to wish them a little bit more luck than the others.
Anyone know how "spread out" these probes are supposed to land? I hope that at least one is aimed at one of the polar regions.
They're all aimed at low latitudes close to the Equator. For them to reach the poles takes a fancy flightpath and a bit more fuel. It a
Just heard on the radio... (Score:3, Funny)
Useful Links (Score:1)
Mars in 2003: Which Side Is Visible?
http://skyandtelescope.com/ [skyandtelescope.com]
Mars at Its All-Time Finest
http://skyandtelescope.com/ [skyandtelescope.com]
Probably? (Score:1)
Could you not be bothered to find out for sure? Why is your source for this non-information a web site about overclocking?
Oh, wait, it's okay. This isn't real journalism.
ROTFL... (Score:2)
What's really funny is that the window for launching the probes was mentioned every freaking time one of them went up, but apparently international news isn't as reputable a source as "elitegeek".
Astrologically speaking... (Score:1)
Pics of Mars Aug 4 2am (Score:1)
http://www.techfreakz.org/astro2/?slide=25
Oh, and you don't have to live in a dark area to see it. The pics were taken 15 miles outside of NYC.
A-hah! (Score:1)
Oh wait, I'm hung over.
Today is August 25th 2003 (Score:1)
--
Agg... (Score:1)
Things to look forward to? (Score:2)
Re:Does this have a practical purpose? (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Does this have a practical purpose? (Score:4, Insightful)
Launching a mission on the date of closest approach would be poor timing. To take advantage of this, missions would need to be launched prior to that date (how long before can be figured out, but I don't know the data to do so). If you launch on the day when Mars and Earth are closest, you'll immediately begin chasing Mars and the trip will not be optimal. If instead you launch before hand, you're travelling towards mars while it's travelling towards you. The rate of movement may be so minimal that it won't make a difference, but I don't know.
Re:Does this have a practical purpose? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Does this have a practical purpose? (Score:1)
Re:Probably? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Probably? (Score:3, Informative)
2xUS, 1 European & 1 Japanese probe.
Re:Probably? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Probably? (Score:2)
Thats why the probes are already on their way and will arrive within 4 months.
That there is a probability is really quite besides the point, it is a certainty that we are talking about. Spirit and Opportunity, Beagle 2, and Nozomi were all planned and launched specifically for this beautiful exploration opport
Perhaps if there are WMD on mars..... (Score:1, Funny)