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| TheBeast 1512th Post
 
Red Carpet V.I.P- Platinum Member
    
    
    
    
|  "OT: See the planet Mars!"
, posted Tue 26 Aug 01:34:
The red planet Mars will be the closest its been to Earth in 30,000-70,000 years (depending on where your standing). This will enable even the smallest telescope to recognise its face and some features on the planet's surface.
The disk (face) of Mars will have around 25.12 arc seconds of angular diameter (how big it is). 1 degree = 60 minutes, 1 minute = 60 seconds. Using trigonometry, knowing the diameter of the planet allows us to calculate its distance, and vica versa.
WHERE'S IT HAPPENING
Mars follows the same path as the Sun and Moon across the sky, except it has it own rise and set times. The rise and set times are similar to the Sun and Moon as in they don't change a great deal from day to day. So once you found the brightest, red star rising in the east, and setting in the west, then its easy to keep track of the planet. Rise and set times will depend on your location.
Mars, on the 27th of August will be 0.3727 astronomical units from Earth (34.65 million miles or 55.75 million kms). An astronomical unit is the mean (average) distance of the Earth from the Sun (149,600,000km).
The Red Planet will be in the constellation of Aquarius during opposition.
For more information check out HERE!
Who knows if you are lucky you might get to to see THIS...
[this message was edited by TheBeast on Tue 26 Aug 01:36] |
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