Re: SIGNALLING TO MARS


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Posted by Guy C. on July 24, 2005 at 10:48:07 from 85.35.55.194 user Astronomer_Guy.

In Reply to: SIGNALLING TO MARS posted by Dan Lind on July 24, 2005 at 07:06:50:

About the Mars thing... this is one of those "internet rumors" based on a tiny bit of a real event that has gotten distorted way out of recognition, and taken on a life of its own.

Most of you got in that note is two-year-old, outdate information. The kernel of truth is that in August, 2003, Mars had a particularly favorable apparition, that was indeed "the best in several thousand years" -- but by a factor so small that most people wouldn't notice the difference. It was, at that time, like a very bright star; indeed, it was the brightest object visible in the sky, not counting the Moon or Sun. (But even then it was nowhere near as bright as the Moon.) I think what happened is that the original two-year-old message has kept getting passed around the internet as it had no "sell by" date stamped on it.

In fact, there will be another rather nice apparition of Mars this fall. It should look very pleasant in a small telescope, but not quite as bright as 2003. Fun for amateurs, and the Professors among us.


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