Posts: 8492
From: Oakfield, WI, USA
Registered: MAR 2002

posted 08-11-2005 01:30 PM         

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The Perseid meteor shower is underway. The shower's broad peak extends
from August 11th through 13th, with August 12th being best. If you get
away from bright city lights and watch the sky between local midnight
and dawn on Friday morning, August 12th, you can expect to see dozens to
hundreds of meteors.

The planet Mars is out during the Perseid meteor shower, too. It's
that bright red "star" high in the eastern sky before dawn. Many Perseid
meteors will appear to fly past Mars on Friday morning--a pretty sight.

And speaking of Mars, beware the Mars Hoax. A rumor about the red
planet continues to spread via email. The message claims that Mars will
come so close to Earth on August 27th that it looks as big as the full
Moon. In fact, Mars is approaching Earth for a close encounter in
October--not August. October's close approach will indeed be beautiful, but
Mars will never rival the Moon.

Posts: 7907
From: Las Cruces, NM, USA
Registered: DEC 2001

Posts: 1391
From: Dallas, Ga. USA
Registered: SEP 2002

posted 08-11-2005 02:01 PM         

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The hoax is also saying it is the closest approach in 65k years. This in fact occurred several years ago and even then it was difficult to make out the ice caps with a 4 inch scope. Don't go buying a cheap telescope for lots o' $ thinking you will see anything based on the rumor...

This message has been edited by dbudner on 08-11-2005 at 02:02 PM

Posts: 631
From: Palos Verdes, California USA
Registered: AUG 2002

posted 08-12-2005 11:34 AM         

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Very disappointed - woke up at 1:30 AM to find SoCal's coastal fog had ruined my chances....

Hope others had better luck...it is an amazing spectacle to see.

Posts: 631
From: Palos Verdes, California USA
Registered: AUG 2002

Posts: 8492
From: Oakfield, WI, USA
Registered: MAR 2002

posted 08-13-2005 07:35 AM         

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Also overcast here last two nights....VERY bummer.

as for Ray's comment, that's one pic that didn't make the scrapbook! Tempted, but..... LOL

All times are CT (US)