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[RC] Mars - Annie George

     Subject:  Once in Thousands of Years                                                    
                                                                                                                                      
Don't Miss Out on An Awe Inspiring Event in the Universe .

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 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 12:30a.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, nieces and
nephews.
NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN