Get Ready for a Rare Mars Flyby: Second Closest Approach in 60,000 Years!

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the upcoming close approach of Mars to Earth, which is noted to occur for the second time in nearly 60,000 years. Participants examine the implications of this event, the accuracy of media reports, and comparisons to previous approaches, particularly the notable 2003 encounter.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question the accuracy of media reports regarding Mars' proximity, noting discrepancies in the reported distances and the significance of the event compared to previous approaches.
  • There is confusion about the visibility of Mars during this approach, with some participants wondering why it is described as glowing now when it was visible before.
  • One participant expresses skepticism about the reliability of reporters in conveying scientific information, suggesting a lack of proper scientific education among journalists.
  • Another participant critiques the clarity of a different article discussing comets and supernovae, highlighting inconsistencies and questioning the scientific accuracy of the claims made.
  • Some participants share humorous remarks about the perceived absurdity of the discussions and comparisons to politics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express disagreement regarding the accuracy of media representations of the Mars flyby and the implications of its visibility. There is no consensus on the reliability of the information presented in news articles or the scientific literacy of journalists.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference specific distances and visibility conditions, but there are unresolved questions about the accuracy of these figures and the implications of the reported events. The discussion includes critiques of media reporting without reaching a definitive conclusion on the matter.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in astronomy, media literacy regarding scientific reporting, and those following celestial events may find this discussion relevant.

russ_watters
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http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/2005-10-27-mars-flyby_x.htm
Mars is ready for another close-up. For the second time in nearly 60,000 years, the Red Planet will swing unusually close to Earth this weekend, appearing as a yellow twinkle in the night sky.
Say what? Second time in 60,000 years? Besides the 17 year cycle of close approaches, this one isn't even the second closest in 5 years! It's going to be 43 million miles away and the 2001 opposition was 42 million miles.

And this is an AP report, which means it's going out in every major news outlet (cnn has the same story, verbatim).
 
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Astronomy news on Phys.org
Mars' latest rendezvous will not match its record-breaking approach to Earth in 2003, when it hovered from 35 million miles away. But more skygazers this time around can glimpse the fourth rock from the sun because it will glow above the horizon.
I wonder what this means? I don't know anyone who had any trouble seeing it last time. It's going to glow this time, but it didn't glow last time?

For the northern hemisphere, Mars will be a lot higher than in 2003, making this a better apparation for people at latitude like mine (38N). Maybe that's what they meant to say.
 
So wait... are you telling me we can't trust reporters for scientific news seeing as how practically there only requirements in college are remedial chemistry?
 
For the second time in nearly 60,000 years, the Red Planet will swing unusually close to Earth this weekend.

Mars' latest rendezvous will not match its record-breaking approach to Earth in 2003, when it hovered from 35 million miles away.

The two planets -- normally separated by about 140 million miles -- will not be this close again until 2018.

ooookkkkkkk
 
tony873004 said:
I wonder what this means?

...

For the northern hemisphere, Mars will be a lot higher than in 2003, making this a better apparation for people at latitude like mine (38N). Maybe that's what they meant to say.
I think that's what they meant. Yes, along with scientific illiteracy, this particular reporter has trouble constructing a coherent sentence.
 
Here's another one from AP

Comets Hit Early Americans, Scientists Say
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051029/ap_on_sc/early_americans;_ylt=AjxTwnCKNInHPrU3ArVqRe2s0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MzV0MTdmBHNlYwM3NTM-

A supernova could be the "quick and dirty" explanation for what may have happened to an early North American culture, a nuclear scientist here said Thursday
Strange opening sentence for an article that promised us comets. It then drops all supernovae references and gets to the comet theory.

...he estimates that comets struck the solar system during the Clovis period...
Comets are part of the solar system. How do you strike the solar system anyway?

These comets would have hit the Earth at 1,000 kilometers an hour
A little slow for a comet! Some fighter jets are faster. Since this is slower than Earth escape velocity, it would be impossible for them to hit with such a low speed.

If you read this story from the above link, hit the "Discuss" button. There's a bunch of "Re: Comets are not supernovae" posts.
 
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Oh my god, I thought politics was stupid.
 
1,000km/h is pretty much what any jet aircraft, private or military can do lol
 

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