Mars is ready for another close-up. For the second time in nearly 60,000 years, the Red Planet will swing unusually close to Earth this weekend, appearing as a yellow twinkle in the night sky.
Mars' latest rendezvous will not match its record-breaking approach to Earth in 2003, when it hovered from 35 million miles away. But more skygazers this time around can glimpse the fourth rock from the sun because it will glow above the horizon.
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.
Mars will still seem small to the naked eye, appearing about the size of a penny seen from 620 feet away. The rust-colored planet will be at its brightest this weekend, and no celestial body in that part of the sky will be as luminous, Beatty said.
Most backyard telescopes will see Mars as a small, brilliant ball. Observers with more powerful instruments might be able to discern details on the planet's surface, including its southern ice cap and white clouds.
By ALICIA CHANG, AP Science Writer
3 comments:
I keep hoping my home planet will swing by and somebody send out a pod to pick me up! (Although Mars is very lovely; we've been noticing it brightening for awhile)
I've been blog surfing and your the first one (that I've come across)to mention this. I've been fascinated by this. I noticed it the other night and I pointed it out to my 8 year old daughter. She thinks its the coolest thing ;) Thanks for the info.
=)
My pleasure, thanks for dropping by.
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