2007-08-21 11:53:08 · 15 answers · asked by williamsa80 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
In the current apparition (2007-2008) of Mars, its closest approach to the Earth is on December 19, and opposition is December 24 at 20:00 UT. This discrepancy is due to Mars' elliptical orbit.
These are the correct dates, taken from the RASC Observer's Handbook 2007. The information contained in the email currently circulating on the internet saying Mars will be closest on August 27 is entirely incorrect. It refers to the close approach of August 27 _2003_, four years ago.
2007-08-21 12:07:54 · answer #1 · answered by GeoffG 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The closest Mars ever gets to Earth is 35 million miles and it was almost that close back in the end of 2003. The next time it will be that close is about 60,000 years away...However, every 26 months, Mars comes pretty close to Earth...check Mars near the end of December. It should be relatively close then.
2007-08-21 19:10:04 · answer #2 · answered by Chris B 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Mars will be at opposition (that's the closest it gets, at about 35 million miles from Earth) in December 2007. Opposition happens about every 780 Earth days.
2007-08-21 19:54:14 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
This year, Mars will be closest to the Earth on December 19th, about 00:00 UT (GMT). The angular size, to the eye, will be about 16 arcseconds, or 118 times smaller than the Moon.
2007-08-21 19:45:20 · answer #4 · answered by morningfoxnorth 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
December 19th. Mars will be 88 million km from earth and look like this:
http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/wspace?tbody=499&vbody=399&month=12&day=19&year=2007&hour=00&minute=00&fovmul=1&rfov=2&bfov=30&porbs=1&showsc=1
Enough with the "two moons" stuff already...
2007-08-22 00:19:10 · answer #5 · answered by DrAnders_pHd 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Every 25-26 months. This year in December.
2007-08-21 19:23:26 · answer #6 · answered by Renaissance Man 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
that happend a few years ago. Mars is not going to look the size of the moon.
2007-08-21 19:17:05 · answer #7 · answered by Mr. Smith 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
in 2007 it will be the closest in October around halloween. Look near the Pleaties
Dont buy into that junk e-mail floating around that says it will be as big as the moon in August. that is a hoax.
2007-08-21 20:49:28 · answer #8 · answered by B. 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
About August 27. It won't be the closest but pretty close.
2007-08-21 19:58:59 · answer #9 · answered by Jenny 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The night of August 27-28.
2007-08-21 18:57:15 · answer #10 · answered by Elaine P...is for Poetry 7 · 0⤊ 5⤋