Mars Opposition 2005
Hi Skywonderers!
Getting ready for Halloween? Well it looks like the Great Pumpkin really is coming this time!
This weekend Mars will come closer to Earth than it will again for another 13 years. Mars will be as close about 43 million miles away on October 30th, 2005, just in time for Halloween.
Whenever an outer planet, one that is further from the Sun than earth, is opposite the Sun as viewed from earth, it is said to be "in opposition" which is a time when that planet is really close to earth.
Mars is in opposition with earth every 26 months, or roughly every two years. The last opposition, on August 27th 2003, was truly a historic one with Mars being only 35 million miles from earth. Mars will not be this close to earth again until August 28th, 2287!
Learn more about Mars opposition from the NASA Mars Exploration Page.
Mars will be easy to spot in the sky this year, as it is very large and bright and has an orange "pumpkin" color to it! This "Great Pumpkin" will rise in the east just after sunset, travel across sky all night long, then set just before sunrise for many nights near Halloween this year!
Yes, the closest technically is on October 30th, but we can't help but celebrate the Great Pumpkin's arrival finally!
Trick or Treat!
Dan
Getting ready for Halloween? Well it looks like the Great Pumpkin really is coming this time!
This weekend Mars will come closer to Earth than it will again for another 13 years. Mars will be as close about 43 million miles away on October 30th, 2005, just in time for Halloween.
Whenever an outer planet, one that is further from the Sun than earth, is opposite the Sun as viewed from earth, it is said to be "in opposition" which is a time when that planet is really close to earth.
Mars is in opposition with earth every 26 months, or roughly every two years. The last opposition, on August 27th 2003, was truly a historic one with Mars being only 35 million miles from earth. Mars will not be this close to earth again until August 28th, 2287!
Learn more about Mars opposition from the NASA Mars Exploration Page.
Mars will be easy to spot in the sky this year, as it is very large and bright and has an orange "pumpkin" color to it! This "Great Pumpkin" will rise in the east just after sunset, travel across sky all night long, then set just before sunrise for many nights near Halloween this year!
Yes, the closest technically is on October 30th, but we can't help but celebrate the Great Pumpkin's arrival finally!
Trick or Treat!
Dan
posted by Dan at 3:15 PM
6 Comments:
You ought to turn on the option for people to enter in word verification in order to prevent spam comments. Anyhoot--
You actually get me excited about astronomy. I never would have thought, "Oh, tonight's special, 'cause, the Mars is so close."
Love ya bro,
that is so beautiful! what a great shot
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