For observers in the far northern United States and southern Canada, Mars will be so low in the sky that atmospheric turbulence will hamper telescopic viewing more than usual, because light from the planet must travel through more of Earth's atmosphere.
On the other hand, amateur and professional astronomers in South America, South Africa and Australia will have an exceptional opportunity, for the planet will pass directly, or very nearly overhead."
As the table below shows, Mars, rising before midnight and bright in the early morning sky, is now about 100 million km from us and will close to 56 million km at the end of August, its closest approach for some 65 000 years.
The new 9mm eyepiece on the 'yelloscope' (5" SCT) is already showing the southern polar ice cap clearly as well as Syrtis Major and some other features.
As an example, on August 27, when Mars arrives at its closest point to Earth, it will be blazing directly overhead (or very nearly so) for all those living near and along latitude 15.6º south. Cities that will be treated to this unusual spectacle include La Paz, Bolivia; Brasilia, Brazil, Lusaka, Zambia, and Cairns, Australia.
Apparent size of Mars at 400 million km , 106 million km (07 June 2003) and 56 million km (27 August 2003)
TABLE 2: MARS VIEWING CIRCUMSTANCES - Southern Hemisphere
Date |
Distance |
Magnitude |
Constellation |
Rises |
Highest |
November 8 |
225.70/363.15 |
+1.8 |
Virgo |
3:38 a.m. |
After sunrise |
November 22 |
218.07/348.91 |
+1.7 |
Virgo |
3:11 a.m. |
After sunrise |
December 6 |
209.06/336.38 |
+1.7 |
Virgo |
2:45 a.m. |
After sunrise |
December 20 |
199.58/319.33 |
+1.6 |
Libra |
2:20 a.m. |
After sunrise |
January 4 |
188.24/302.88 |
+1.5 |
Libra |
1:55 a.m. |
After sunrise |
January 18 |
177.27/283.63 |
+1.4 |
Libra |
1:33 a.m. |
After sunrise |
February 5 |
162.20/260.98 |
+1.2 |
Ophiuchus |
1:07 a.m. |
After sunrise |
February 19 |
150.59/240.94 |
+1.1 |
Ophiuchus |
12:49 a.m. |
After sunrise |
March 3 |
140.18/225.55 |
+0.9 |
Sagittarius |
12:34 a.m. |
After sunrise |
March 17 |
128.46/205.54 |
+0.7 |
Sagittarius |
12:17 a.m. |
After sunrise |
April 2 |
114.89/184.86 |
+0.5 |
Sagittarius |
11:58 p.m. |
After sunrise |
April 16 |
103.74/165.98 |
+0.3 |
Sagittarius |
11:42 p.m. |
After sunrise |
May 1 |
91.93/147.92 |
0.0 |
Capricornus |
11:23 p.m. |
5:58 a.m. |
May 15 |
81.80/130.88 |
-0.3 |
Capricornus |
11:04 p.m. |
5:36 a.m. |
May 31 |
70.55/113.51 |
-0.7 |
Capricornus |
10:40 p.m. |
5:08 a.m. |
June 14 |
61.91/99.06 |
-1.0 |
Aquarius |
10:13 p.m. |
4:40 a.m. |
June 30 |
52.61/84.65 |
-1.4 |
Aquarius |
9:38 p.m. |
4:03 a.m. |
July 14 |
45.83/73.33 |
-1.8 |
Aquarius |
8:58 p.m. |
3:22 a.m. |
July 29 |
39.79/64.02 |
-2.3 |
Aquarius |
8:07 p.m. |
2:31 a.m. |
August 12 |
36.16/57.86 |
-2.6 |
Aquarius |
7:04 p.m. |
1:31 a.m. |
August 27 |
34.67/55.78 |
-2.9 |
Aquarius |
5:52 p.m. | 12:21 a.m. |
Naturally the log card stamp for this one will be in red!
John Mucklow
And here's 'Smiley on Mars'
