The Increased size of the Red Planet

Original Copy for Printing

Written June 2005

   Over the last several months news stories have been floated around that Mars is a on a close approach towards Earth and may appear as a large red object almost the size of the Moon. If a large red object does appear it is not Mars, because event has already played out just two years ago. If we research newspaper reports from 2003, this close-up event was noted and remember Mars did not appear large to the naked eye as most were lead to believe. Why is story now resurfacing and what could be the purpose behind this release in the news? Is there an unexpected red object going to appear so that the public may mistake it for Mars?

All Rights Reserved: Copyright 2005

News stories courtesy of CNN

Earthlings revel in Mars close-up

Planetary approach is nearest in 60,000 years By Richard Stenger and Jeordan Legon CNN Thursday, August 28, 2003 Posted: 12:22 AM EDT (0422 GMT)

(CNN) -- The last time the red planet was this close to Earth 60,100 years ago, man lived in caves.

No wonder when Mars and Earth synchronized their orbits a few minutes before 6 a.m. EDT Wednesday -- bringing them closer to each other than at any time in recorded history -- thousands of people around the globe went outside to take a peek. "Knowing that this is once in a lifetime that I can see another planet with the naked eye, yeah, it's great," said Rebecca Horton, a stargazer from Sydney, Australia. Astronomers say Mars, five times closer now than six months ago, is about 34.6 million miles away, making it the brightest nighttime object except the moon. It is possible to get some fairly close encounters every few years," said amateur astronomer Paul Shallow. "It does come around, but not this close." But with the far-away planet getting so close, some hopeful watchers felt gypped by Mother Nature. In Oakland, California, where hundreds of space fans paid $11 to attend the Chabot Space & Science Center's "Mars Mania Costume Party," clouds rolled in along with night sky Tuesday. Mars was fogged out, and there were no refunds. But the good news is that Mars will remain a stunning nighttime attraction for weeks. Most sky watchers can see the planet, presently in the constellation Aquarius, in the southeastern sky soon after sunset, high overhead during the midnight hours and in the southwestern sky before sunrise. Backyard telescopes may coax features out of the reddish, orange blur, including dark, mottled streaks, which inspired scientists of past centuries to envision intricate canals and advanced Martian civilizations. The rare configuration of 2003 has stoked renewed, albeit not as fanciful, interest in Mars, which on average cruises 50 million miles farther from the sun than Earth does. About every 26 months, the two planets pass relatively close to one another, during periods now known as opposition. What makes this one noteworthy is that Mars, which follows an extremely elliptical or egg-shaped path, is currently at it closest point to the sun during its orbit. Those two conditions, along with a few obscure celestial variables, have produced an astronomical chance of a lifetime, or several lifetimes actually.

Mars won't pass closer to Earth until 2287, according to astronomers.

Besides awing the curious, the alignment has motivated numerous governments to dispatch missions to the red planet. Taking advantage of the shorter trip distance, two U.S. and two European probes set off earlier this year, all to arrive at the end of the year. "Mars fever has caught, not only for amateur astronomers, who are getting their best look at the planet ever and that we'll ever have in our life, but also for professionals, as you know, with the [NASA] Mars Rovers and other spacecraft that are en route," said David Eicher, editor of Astronomy magazine.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/space/08/27/mars.closeup/index.html

 CNN) -- Like cogs and gears on a colossal clock, Earth and Mars will soon synchronize their orbits, bringing them closer to each other than anytime in recorded history.

The alignment early Wednesday is expected to send droves of earthlings out of their homes overnight to marvel at the glowing reddish point in the sky, for now the brightest nighttime object except the moon.

Mars, five times closer now than six months ago, will be 34.6 million miles away, its closest brush with Earth in about 60,000 years, according to calculations by international astronomers.

The closest approach officially takes place minutes before 6 a.m. EDT. The nearest terrestrial place to Mars at that time will be Tahiti, according to astronomers. But just about anywhere with dark skies will be a good place for an observation party.

"Mars coming this close is an excellent opportunity for amateur astronomers to see Mars," International Mars Society President Robert Zubrin said. "With a good amateur telescope right now, you can easily see the ice cap on the Martian pole."

Can't make the Wednesday show? No problem. Mars will remain a stunning nighttime attraction for weeks.

Most sky watchers can see the planet, presently in the constellation Aquarius, in the southeastern sky soon after sunset, high overhead during the midnight hours and in the southwestern sky before sunrise.

Backyard telescopes may coax features out of the reddish, orange blur, including the legendary dark channels or "canals," which inspired scientists of past centuries to predict advanced Martian civilizations.

The rare configuration of 2003 has stoked renewed, albeit not as fanciful, interest in Mars, which on average cruises 50 million miles farther from the sun than Earth does.

About every 26 months, the two planets pass relatively close to one another, during periods now known as opposition.

What makes this one noteworthy is that Mars, which follows an extremely elliptical or egg-shaped path, is currently at it closest point to the sun during its orbit.

Those two conditions, along with a few obscure celestial variables, have produced an astronomical chance of a lifetime, or several lifetimes actually.

Mars won't pass closer to Earth until 2287, according to astronomers.

Besides awing the curious, the alignment has motivated numerous governments to dispatch missions to the red planet.

Taking advantage of the shorter trip distance, two U.S. and two European probes set off earlier this year, all to arrive at the end of the year.

"Mars fever has caught, not only for amateur astronomers, who are getting their best look at the planet ever and that we'll ever have in our life, but also for professionals, as you know, with the [NASA] Mars Rovers and other spacecraft that are en route," said David Eicher, editor of Astronomy magazine.

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