The planet Mars will come within 34 million miles of Earth this year. That is closer than it has in thousands of years. With a simple 75x telescope (or even some good binoculars) Mars will be as big as a full moon. You will be able to see great detail of the surface of the planet. The night it will be the closest is August 27th, but it will be great viewing for weeks and weeks.
Where is the closest place that is really dark so I can take my kids?
Something tells me these guys would know.
http://www.astrotulsa.com/
Everyone is invited to join us at our observatory for the opportunity to look through different types of telescopes and enjoy a variety of celestial objects. There will be members available to provide guidance from basic constellation spotting to all aspects of the universe. Our observatory features a 14 inch telescope and a classroom. We also have about 1.5 acres of open ground for setting up your own equipment. Families are welcome but children MUST be supervised. For the safety and enjoyment of everyone, please review Star Party Etiquette
I see this same thing come around every year. Sorry, but it already happened.
http://www.snopes.com/science/astronomy/brightmars.asp
Thanks...I should always look at snopes before posting...
Not much use for a telescope in Tulsa unless your'e up high looking down.
Giggity, giggity.
Quote from: custosnox on May 18, 2009, 10:20:40 AM
I see this same thing come around every year. Sorry, but it already happened.
http://www.snopes.com/science/astronomy/brightmars.asp
Well that's a bummer, I was going to blame Bush or global warming for this occurrence.
Quote from: guido911 on May 18, 2009, 02:08:51 PM
Well that's a bummer, I was going to blame Bush or global warming for this occurrence.
Why do that, Bush didn't have anything to do with it and Global Warming is an environmental occurrence not a Fox News event.
Quote from: RecycleMichael on May 18, 2009, 09:21:07 AM
The planet Mars will come within 34 million miles of Earth this year. That is closer than it has in thousands of years. With a simple 75x telescope (or even some good binoculars) Mars will be as big as a full moon. You will be able to see great detail of the surface of the planet. The night it will be the closest is August 27th, but it will be great viewing for weeks and weeks.
Where is the closest place that is really dark so I can take my kids?
The best place in the state to stargaze is Kenton. But that's in the far west Panhandle.
I reckon someplace in north Osage County, such as Bigheart or Foraker, would be sufficiently dark enough.
Quote from: joiei on May 18, 2009, 02:23:41 PM
Global Warming is an environmental occurrence not a Fox News event.
No, global warming is a political agenda.
Quote from: rwarn17588 on May 18, 2009, 02:23:57 PM
The best place in the state to stargaze is Kenton. But that's in the far west Panhandle.
I reckon someplace in north Osage County, such as Bigheart or Foraker, would be sufficiently dark enough.
Actually out on Oologah or Ft. Gibson Lake you are far enough from light pollution and haze where you can get a good clear look. Can't argue with Kenton as a great place to gaze either. Really anywhere on the high plains outside population centers is great. I pulled off the side of the road near Kit Carson, Colorado one night about midnight and laid down in the bed of my truck for a 1/2 hour or so in total disbelief at how much more of the cosmos you can see outside an urban area.
There is a conservatory out near claremore somwhere, but I can't say exactly where. I stumbled on it years ago while I was out driving around aimlessly.
I think the best place I ever stargazed at was back when I lived in SE New Mexico. Scrubland where the nearest town was miles away, and city's were just make believe things from t.v. I remember seeing the sky with such clarity that you need photo's from hubble to compare now.
Quote from: joiei on May 18, 2009, 02:23:41 PM
Why do that, Bush didn't have anything to do with it and Global Warming is an environmental occurrence not a Fox News event.
Take a step back, take a deep breath, and think SARCASM! Everything is either Bush's or global warming's fault. Why not then Mars getting close to earth.
I've been to Mars. It's nice.
http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=MARS&state=PA (http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=MARS&state=PA)
I would invite everybody to come out to a dark place in the middle of nowhere...but then you would all turn into a mob and kill me and hide my body.
I think I will stick to public meetings and TulsaNow happy hours.
Guido, nice pic & quote! Made me laugh!
Quote from: Ed W on May 18, 2009, 04:41:21 PM
I've been to Mars. It's nice.
http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=MARS&state=PA (http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=MARS&state=PA)
That's where they make the Mars candy barz.
I'd guess the best place to view Mars will be in the Outback of Australia. Oklahoma has problems with cloud cover, just like during that last eclipse of the sun and the one eclipse of the moon in 2007 or 2008 when-ever it was. Clouds got in the way. Mars is a very cold planet. Earth is only 93 million miles from the Sun and Earth gets darn cold, Mars is another 55 Million miles farther out than that. I doubt man will ever travel to Mars, at least not for many, many more decades. JMO.
I spent a summer in Mars Hill and it was the best place for a kid to hang out. The last time I was there they didn't have an Outback.
Quote from: sauerkraut on May 18, 2009, 05:22:59 PM
Mars is a very cold planet. Earth is only 93 million miles from the Sun and Earth gets darn cold, Mars is another 55 Million miles farther out than that. I doubt man will ever travel to Mars, at least not for many, many more decades. JMO.
Wow, that's really something, Mr. Clavin.
Quote from: Ed W on May 18, 2009, 04:41:21 PM
I've been to Mars. It's nice.
http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=MARS&state=PA (http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=MARS&state=PA)
Yeah, but Mars ain't the kind of place to raise your kids. In fact it's cold as hell.
Quote from: Conan71 on May 19, 2009, 09:23:14 AM
Yeah, but Mars ain't the kind of place to raise your kids. In fact it's cold as hell.
And theres no one there to raise them if you did
Quote from: Conan71 on May 19, 2009, 09:23:14 AM
Yeah, but Mars ain't the kind of place to raise your kids. In fact it's cold as hell.
Bill Shatner?
And covered by William Shatner
I liked the Shat's rendition of "Bust A Move"
edit: Hah! Got some cowbell!
Quote from: Conan71 on May 19, 2009, 03:45:30 PM
I liked the Shat's rendition of "Bust A Move"
edit: Hah! Got some cowbell!
Drat! Gotta wait until I get home to check this out.
Damned corporate policies!
Quote from: rwarn17588 on May 18, 2009, 02:23:57 PM
I reckon someplace in north Osage County, such as Bigheart or Foraker, would be sufficiently dark enough.
I believe the astronomy club goes out somewhere near leonard. Doesn't seem far enough away, though.
Quote from: Hoss on May 19, 2009, 03:32:03 PM
Correct!
I did not know that. I am scared now.
Quote from: custosnox on May 19, 2009, 04:50:11 PM
I did not know that. I am scared now.
Face your fears!
Quote from: RecycleMichael on May 18, 2009, 04:44:42 PM
I would invite everybody to come out to a dark place in the middle of nowhere...but then you would all turn into a mob and kill me and hide my body.
I think I will stick to public meetings and TulsaNow happy hours.
Well..... actually...... that WAS being planned for the next happy hour!
Quote from: Wilbur on May 20, 2009, 06:59:47 AM
Well..... actually...... that WAS being planned for the next happy hour!
Shhhh, dammit Wilbur, now we have to buy that goat.