I have just read an AP news story entitled "Mars Glow, No need for Rudolph's nose." It is a story of the red planet giving a greater amount of light than the moon on Dec. 24 2007. My question is; "Is this a recurring event? If so, How often does it occur? And does it usually occur on or about the same date?"
In other words; this time it is happening on Dec. 24, will the next be say like in the middle of summer? Or will it also be in the Fall or winter as well?
I am curious and plan to search the past occurances for a theory of mine, But I would like to know how far Back I should go for the last Occurance.
2007-12-23 13:46:32 · 9 answers · asked by truthsadvocate_s3 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Hey, if you've got young kids...
Then, by all means, tell them it's Rudolph's nose.
Scientifically, there's no way Mars is going to outshine the moon, at least as far as observations go tomorrow night!
The only time THAT will happen is when the moon is in its 'New' phase...
I Wish Good Holiday Cheer For You!
Bob
2007-12-23 13:57:42 · answer #1 · answered by Bobby 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mars is NOT giving more light than the Moon on December 24. Go outside now and see the star so close to the Moon. That is Mars. Does it look brighter than the Moon to you? No? Not to me either. The only time Mars could outshine the Moon would be during a new Moon when the Moon doesn't shine at all. That happens once a month.
2007-12-23 13:52:39 · answer #2 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Tomorrow (DEC1) is a great time to look at the moon and two planets. That you live in AZ does not make any difference at all. The Brighter planet is Venus the faint one is Jupiter. If you are away from a lot of city lights try and find someone with a telescope and look for the rings and dust particles around Jupiter. Also you can see the craters on the moon. Tomorrow the moon will form an isosceles triangle with Jupiter and Venus.
2016-04-10 22:31:11 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is impossible. The only way that Mars would outshine the moon is if you went to one of the Martian moons, Phobos, or Deimos and looked into the sky. Then our moon would appear as a steady white dot and Mars would be immense. As for here on Earth, unless the moon is new, there is absolutely no way that an object 55 million miles away that is half the size of Earth is going to outshine an object one quarter the size of Earth at only 236,000 miles away.
2007-12-23 15:21:38 · answer #4 · answered by North_Star 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That story is nonsense. Mars can never shine brighter than the Moon. It's much farther away from Earth than the Moon, and farther from the Sun as well. Mars is closest to Earth every 26 months. It was the closest in recorded history in August 2003, and even then was a million times fainter than the Moon.
2007-12-23 13:53:29 · answer #5 · answered by GeoffG 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well I don't know about it outshinning the moon, but Mars is so bright now because it is the closest distance to the Earth, not sure when it happened in the past, but it is supposed to be this close again in around 2040.
2007-12-23 13:58:56 · answer #6 · answered by Anna 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only during a new moon, or during a total lunar eclipse. Otherwise, the Moon easily outshines Mars.
The Moon is quite bright at the moment, so the story may be a bit wrong, or easy to misinterpret.
2007-12-23 13:52:39 · answer #7 · answered by Labsci 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Potentially when there is no moon or a think sliver, but rarely does it or can it outshine it
2007-12-23 14:02:56 · answer #8 · answered by Experto Credo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It said in the article thatr the next one would be in 9 years, so i'd say the last was 9 yrs., +/- 1 year.
2007-12-23 13:52:39 · answer #9 · answered by Synthuir 3 · 0⤊ 5⤋