Irish stargazers will assemble around the State tonight to take part in a piece of astronomical history.
The last time Mars came this close to Earth, our ancestors lived in caves and were struggling to make basic tools out of rocks.
|
|
Photograph of Mars issued by NASA
|
Now, 60,000 years on, people around the world will be using a vast array of high-tech digital and optical gadget to observe the red planet as it passes.
From Boyle to the Polynesian shores of Tahiti to outback Australia and Castlebar, amateur and professional stargazers will aim their telescopes towards the eastern sky for a close encounter with Mars.
At 9.51 p.m. GMT Mars will pass just 55.76 million km (34.65 million miles) from Earth, making it the closest encounter between the two planets since the Stone Age.
The last time Mars came nearer was around September 12 in 57,617 BC when Mars was about 55.72 million km (34.62 million miles) from Earth. If you miss it this time you'll have to wait 284 years for another such close encounter.
Some of the best viewing will be in the southern hemisphere, especially from isolated tiny South Pacific islands like Tahiti, thought to be the closest point on Earth to Mars, and outback Australia, where a lack of pollution from city lights means Mars will shine bright red in the night sky.
But Astronomy Ireland said that Mars will be an impressive sight in a good quality telescope for several months, and regardless of the weather conditions tonight, events to mark this occasion will take place around the country. A full list of venues is available at www.astronomyireland.ie.
Mars will appear to be about the same size as a mid-sized crater on the moon to those looking with the naked eye.
NASA probes have sent back images suggesting water once flowed on or near the Martian surface. Water is seen as a prerequisite for life on other planets.
On Monday, NASA selected the low-cost Phoenix probe to carry out the first so-called Scout mission to Mars. Phoenix is expected to land on the red planet in late 2008.
Additional reporting