[vox] [fwd] [OT] Snuggling Up to Mars

[Bill Kendrick]

In case you've been hiding in a cave for the past 60,000 years. ;)

-bill!

----- Forwarded message from maws_general_list -----

Date: Wed, 13 Aug 2003 13:24:13 -0000
From: "maws_general_list"
Subject: [MAWS General List] Snuggling Up to Mars

"Mars, Earth to soon move closest in past 60,000 years"
(Source: Wire reports, 8/13/03)

LOS ANGELES - The wandering of the planets brings Mars closer to Earth 
this month than at any time in nearly 60,000 years. It will be a 
last-chance proposition for all alive today: Mars won't be as close 
again until Aug. 28, 2287. 

About 34.6 million miles will separate the two planets Aug. 27. If 
that doesn't sound close, Mars was five times as distant six months 
ago. Mars has begun to loom large in the late evening sky in the 
southeast. For several weeks, it should shine brighter than any other 
celestial body - save the moon and Venus. 

Aldo Vitagliano of the University of Naples in Italy calculated that
Mars hasn't had as close a brush with Earth since Sept. 12, 57617 
B.C., when Neanderthals ruled but modern man had begun to make 
inroads.


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