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East and West noted in the sketch are Martian E/W, not celestial E/W.
Observation Notes:
The dark band of Mare Cimmerium and the point of Syrtis Minor were prominent along the southern hemisphere. The South polar Cap was not as prominent as it was a month ago. It looks like I also picked up the division between Cimmerium and Tyrrhenum. There appeared to be dark material arrayed broadly around the SPC. (Not the thin dark border I've been seeing--this feature was softer and much broader.) The bright patch of Hellas on the southwestern limb almost appeared as a second polar cap when I first looked. I didn't pick up any detail in the northern hemisphere. I saw no hint of Utopia.
| Subject | Mars | |
| Classification | Planet | |
| Position* | Aries [RA: 02:54:37 / Dec: +13:45:45] | |
| Size* | 13.6" (Equatorial diameter) | |
| Brightness* | -0.92 | |
| Date/Time | August 27, 2005 - 1:30 AM (August 27, 2005 - 08:30 UT) | |
| Observing Loc. | Flagstaff, AZ - Home | |
| Instrument | Orion SVP 6LT Reflector (150 mm dia./1200 mm F/L) | |
| Eyepieces/Mag. | 10 mm Sirius Plössl+ 2X Barlow (240X) | |
| Conditions | Clear, calm, 49° F | |
| Seeing | Ant. III-IV | |
| Transparency | Mag 5.2 NELM | |
| *Sources | Orion's The Sky Astronomy Software |
Chech out mars tonight, as it will be just like a full moon, and be as big as one too! I"m calling all my friends and family and telling them to stay up to 12:30 am, to see this majestic sight. No of us today will ever be able to see this ever again, except for out great x 50-grand children ( probably 50th generation or more from now). Its gonna be tight! SO stay up and wittness history in the making.
Hi CAR,
I hate to throw a wet blanket on this story, but Mars will never pass close enough to Earth to look as large as a full moon to the naked eye. In order for Mars to appear that large, you will need to use a telescope at high power. In 2007 Mars' closest opposition will occur in December. Even then, it will merely look like a bright orange star to the naked eye. You may have gotten this news from a virulent email that has been circulating annually, every August since 2003. More information about this hoax email can be found here.
However, a beautiful sight is coming up for the early morning of August 28th. That morning, a Lunar eclipse will take place with the Moon taking on a dark red color as it passes through the Earth's shadow. The eclipse will be at its peak from 2:52 - 4:22 am on the west coast of the US, or from 5:22 - 7:22 am on the east coast. This is definitely something to wake up early for.
Jeremy