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1. Hey, guys. Mars attacked in 2003. That’s only six years ago. I did the math back then. It was 25.1 arc seconds. The Moon is typically 30 arc minutes – which is 30 * 60 = 1800 arc seconds. 1800 / 25.1 = 71.2x. So, i borrowed the club 8 inch (200 mm) SCT, and brought it to the big 2 day Astronomy at the Beach star party, and i showed some fraction of the 13,000 people who showed up – Mars at 100x. Bigger than the Full Moon (naked eye). And, the original idea was, look at the Moon naked eye, and that’s the kind of detail to expect on Mars. See the dog on the Moon made up by the maria? That’s the kind of thing to expect on Mars.

   Next opposition is in January, 2010. It won’t be as big as 2003, so you’ll want to crank the power up a bit more. And, of course, wear your electric sox. Or, check it out from Australia.

   Your eyes, if they’re good, can see detail, pixels, if you will, to about 3 arc minutes. So think of the Moon as maybe 10 pixels across. It’s not much.

   I’ve not gotten a copy of the Mars email in a couple years. If someone wants to send me a copy, my username at yahoo will work. Don’t worry that i might get too many.

   So, i got to see the scar on Jupiter (not just Harry’s head) and Mike didn’t? Well, i live south of the wedge – a weather pattern here in Michigan. So he might not have gotten the chance that i did. It happens, though mostly the North side is clear.

   Comment by suitti — August 26, 2009 #

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