Thanks Bill! (Sorry that I forgot that we have more than one astronomer on this list!)

And I forgot to "highlight" anything....it was the part about  Mars looking as big as the full moon....then I read it said WITH magnification (see my next post)

Trisha

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Nolan" <bill@freeholder.com>
To: listserv@azgeocaching.com
Subject: RE: [Az-Geocaching] Mars will look as big as the full moon?? JIM	SCOTTI, help!
Date: Wed, 6 Jul 2005 09:56:11 -0700

> 
> It is an e-rumor, sort of.  It actually happened a couple of years ago.
> There will be another close approach this year, but not as close as that.
> If you want a more complete explanation, visit:
> 
> http://www.snopes.com/science/mars.asp
> 
> I hope that clears it up.
> 
> Bill in Willcox
> Astronomy Instructor
> Cochise Community College
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: az-geocaching-bounces@listserv.azgeocaching.com
> [mailto:az-geocaching-bounces@listserv.azgeocaching.com] On Behalf Of Trisha
> Brasher
> Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2005 9:24 AM
> To: Arizona Geocaching
> Subject: [Az-Geocaching] Mars will look as big as the full moon?? JIM
> SCOTTI, help!
> 
> Hey Jim (and everyone on the list)
> 
> This email is circulating like an e-rumor. The part that caught my eye is
> highlighted below:
> 
>   Subject: Fwd: mars is coming close=20
> 
>     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 and it will 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.
> NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL
>    EVER SEE THIS AGAIN
> 
> 
> "My life is just a pencil in the hand of God,
> and it is He who is writing my story." ~ Mother Teresa
> 
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"My life is just a pencil in the hand of God, 
and it is He who is writing my story." ~ Mother Teresa