Alright, this is for sharing of your observation experience. Or, if you are arranging gatherings, star-gazing expeditions or just want some company to go observing together, you can shout it out here.
Canopus Lim wrote:Yeah..that's a real hoax.. can't imagine seeing Mars as big as the moon! Probably can see Martians on Mars if there are any Martians.
Just did a quick calculation - if Mars is indeed as big as the moon (about 0.5 deg), then given the radius of Mars at 3,397 km, it would be about 778,530 km from Earth. In other words, it's about twice the distance from Moon to Earth! While it will definitely be spectacular to see Mons Olympus up close, the gravitational forces would probably not be too pleasant!
I personally don't think it's a hoax. A hoax usually has the characteristics of fear (e.g. the alignment of 9 planets will cause giant tidal waves), or creating false hope (e.g. all pertrol will have 40% off at a certain date/time). It is probably the result of a layman who misinterpreted or exaggerated the magnitude of the effect. (Or forbid! A company which wants to sell more astronomical equipment!)
Cheers!
[80% Steve, 20% Alfred] ------- Probability of Clear Skies = (Age of newest equipment in days) / [(Number of observers) * (Total Aperture of all telescopes present in mm)]
I consider it a hoax because somebody purposely took the information for the closest approach of Mars in 2003 and recirculated it on the internet.
Below is an example of an email I got.
Of course people who are circulating it are ignorant people, but still it is a chain letter that creates false hope.
Personally, I think it is very damaging to astronomy because people who are interested in astronomy will be tricked by it (at least it makes their expectations way too high) and those who are not interested will be turned off even more when they find out it is a chain letter.
Subject: TWO MOONS - DON'T MISS THIS ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME SIGHTING
Attention: Science Teachers
Since this event can be viewed with naked eyes, no need for binoculars or telescope, look out for it in August, especially after our National Day fireworks.
Mars is going to be a second moon of earth for a day.
NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN
The Red Planet (MARS) is about to be spectacular! This month and next, Earth is catching up with Mars in an encounter that will culminate in the closest approach between the two planets in recorded history. The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287. 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 before it happens again. The encounter will culminate on August 27th when Mars comes to within 34,649,589 miles of Earth and will be (next to the moon) the brightest object in the night sky. It will attain a magnitude of -2.9 and will appear 25.11 arc seconds wide. By August 27, Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. Mars will be easy to spot. At the beginning of August it will rise in the! east at 10 pm and reach its azimuth at about 3 am by the end of August when the two planets are closest, Mars will rise at nightfall and reach its highest point in the sky at 12.30 am. That's pretty convenient to see something that no human being has seen in recorded history. So, mark your calendar at the beginning of August to see Mars grow progressively brighter and brighter throughout the month.
Share this with your colleagues, family, friends, children and grandchildren.
Happy National Day !!!
(name deleted) - Educational Products for Science & Technology
I can contribute my 8" dob if I am free on 29th October. How about in the east side of Singapore? hehe. If it is at Jurong, I can only reach there at about 9pm plus.
I would like to suggest setting up a webcam exhibit so that people can see Mars without having to squint in an eyepiece. I've got a webcam and a laptop but we'll need a tracking mount/scope and a power source.
I would like to suggest setting up a webcam exhibit so that people can see Mars without having to squint in an eyepiece. I've got a webcam and a laptop but we'll need a tracking mount/scope and a power source.
Rich, how about bringing your etx?
I got the WO4337 eyepiece adapter that can use on my Panasonic Video Camera... I can bring along if needed. Since it a 40mm eyepiece, it'll require a long focal length scope to get higher magnification... such as C8 or C9.25.
Have a nice day.
Yang Weixing "The universe is composed mainly of hydrogen and ignorance."
"The universe is composed mainly of hydrogen and ignorance." 
ie near a public toilet?