starlightnight
Lebanon, KY
age: 30
| Mars getting close to opposition, offering prime viewings of the Red Planet
By KATIE EVANS, DAILY SUN
http://www.thevillagesdailysun.com/articles/2007/10/02/news/news02.txt
THE VILLAGES - Though he believes it could be decades until humans set foot on Mars, Joe McElwee said technology makes it feel like we're already there.
"Robotic missions are very exciting," said the retired NASA employee, adding that the Internet has allowed everyone to explore the Red Planet with the rovers. "I think it's amazing to be able to put yourself in the Martian landscape."
And, every 26 months, people are able to experience the best viewings of the fourth planet from the sun through amateur telescopes, when Mars and the sun are on opposite sides of the Earth. This is as close as Mars will get to Earth during its orbit around the sun.
Mars opposition, as it's called, will occur Dec. 24. And from now until April 2008, star gazers will have the best viewings of the planet they will have until about 2014.
The last best Mars opposition took place in 2003, when it had the closest approach to Earth that it has had in 60,000 years, according to NASA's Mars Exploration Web site, http://mars.jpl.gov.
Bill Santos, a member of The Villages Astronomy Club, remembers that viewing well.
"We went down to the recycling center on Rolling Acres Road," he said. "We got stung to death."
Though pesky insects made the viewing a short one, Santos said it was great.
"It wasn't far from Earth," he said. "You could make out the snowcaps if you wanted to on the top.
"It looked like it was a mini-moon."
While the best viewing for October will be this Thursday (Oct 11), when the planet passes by open star cluster M-35 and the constellation Gemini, Florida's ever-changing fall weather may prohibit locals from viewing it.
"Right now we've had such terrible weather," said Jeff Tonge, a member of The Villages Astronomy Club. He said it can take up to an hour and a half to position a telescope, and during the preparation clouds can quickly come in, blocking the view of the sky.
"It's very disconcerting for that to happen," said the Village of Hacienda East resident.
He predicts, come November, that the weather will allow people the time they need to view Mars.
Though there may be another month to wait for the best weather conditions to view the planet, McElwee thinks there's something about the planet that causes a romantic fascination among many people.
"People might remember the movies they've seen about Mars," said the Village of Glenbrook resident. "And there's been a lot of focus in the past about Mars."
He said he believes it's viewed as reachable - a planet humans could one day walk on - which he thinks encourages the fascination.
"It also is something that we can see brightly in the sky at times," he said. "I think that brings it to a more human level."
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Locating:
And an interactive star chart:
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/skychart/
For this week (Oct 8-13), I would recommend first locating the constellation Orion. It looks somewhat like a giant hourglass with three stars in the center (Orion's belt). The upper left star in the constellation, or 'the left shoulder,' is the faintly reddish supergiant Betelgeuse, it happens to be about the tenth brightest star currently visible. Imagine a line from the left side of the belt that runs up through Betelgeuse and extends about the same distance beyond. You will then see three objects very close together in a triangular shape, two of which are stars, the bright red object is Mars. But be warned, it is easy to confuse Mars with Aldebaran, a huge star (38 times larger than our Sun), orange in hue, which is one of the 'eyes' in the constellation Taurus the Bull. Just keep in mind that Taurus, a V-shaped constellation, is on the 'upper right side' of Orion, whereas Mars will be found on the 'upper left.'
Viewing:
As the article mentioned, Mars will appear brightest around Dec 24, when it will be in opposition. If viewing with strong binoculars or a telescope, you can determine exactly which part of Mars you are seeing via the following link:
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/planets/3307831.html
If you want a even better view, check out the Mar's Exploraton Rover Mission homepage on Nasa's website (they survived the duststorms!):
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/all/
And finally another very informative link:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mjpowell/Astro/Naked-Eye-Planets/Mars-Path-2007-8.htm
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(And although they don't have anything to do with Mars...)
The Orionids
"October's Orionid meteor shower has a prolonged peak over a week in duration, centering on Oct. 21...the best viewing will be in the pre-dawn hours, as the gibbous moon sets before then. The Orionids are another unpredictable shower, so expect five to 20 an hour, which appear to trace back to Orion's head."
I counted about fifteen over the weekend.
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lovinglife437
Meadville, PA
age: 44
| Thank you thank you thank you!
I appreciate your posting this.........
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