[Previous entry: "MY PLAN FOR MONDAY"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "KANSAS SAMPLER FESTIVAL"]

08/23/2003 Archived Entry: "MARS IS OUT THERE"

MARS IS OUT THERE

Mars watching is interrupting my sleep pattern. That's okay. I've finally decided that taking a flash light helps when I'm out wandering around the neighborhood trying to find a clearing through the trees where I can spot Mars. I've had the best luck about 4:30 in the morning. I'm sure the shine of my flashlight raises questions with the passersby on the highway...and there always seems to be plenty of them.

Here's is what one website had to say about the evernt:

"This month, Earth is catching up with Mars, an encounter that will culminate in the closest approach between the two planets in recorded history. 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.

"On August 27, 2003, the fourth rock from the sun will be less than 55.76 million kilometers (34.65 million miles) away from the Earth and will be (next to the moon) the brightest object in the night sky....that may seem like a large distance, but Mars was about five times that distance from Earth only six months ago.

".... So, mark your calendar 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."

CLICK HERE for more information.