Mars glows, no need for Rudolph's nose

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Mars will shine unusually bright on Christmas Eve 2023, positioned directly opposite the sun and reflecting maximum light, making it visible at a distance of 55.5 million miles from Earth. The full moon will rise about an hour later, enhancing the celestial display. According to Jack Horkheimer, director of the Miami Space Transit Planetarium, Mars will outshine the brightest star and will not be as prominent in the night sky for another nine years. The Hubble Space Telescope captured an image of Mars during its closest approach to Earth on December 18, 2023.

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Mars will be unusually bright this Christmas Eve and the moon will be shining full — a development that might make Santa Claus rethink his need for Rudolph's red nose.

That idea, from Miami Space Transit Planetarium director Jack Horkheimer, made us wonder if retooling a certain reindeer song is the best way to explain it to the kids:

Mars is a red-tinged planet

With a very shiny glow

And if you look to see it

You will find the moon in tow.

The red planet will shine brighter because it will be directly opposite the sun, reflecting the most light, and fairly close to Earth, only 55.5 million miles away. The full moon will appear nearby, rising about an hour later, said Horkheimer, host of the public television show "Star Gazer."

All of the other Yuletides

Santa would have at his side

The shiny nose of Rudolph

Acting as his big sleigh's guide

Mars will outshine the brightest star and won't be as noticeable in the sky for nine more years, Horkheimer said. The Hubble Space Telescope took a picture of Mars, which came closest to Earth on Dec. 18, but it will be brighter on Christmas Eve because of its position opposite the sun.

Continued...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071220/ap_on_sc/mars_rudolph
 
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Evo said:
Mars will be unusually bright this Christmas Eve and the moon will be shining full — a development that might make Santa Claus rethink his need for Rudolph's red nose.

That idea, from Miami Space Transit Planetarium director Jack Horkheimer, made us wonder if retooling a certain reindeer song is the best way to explain it to the kids:

Mars is a red-tinged planet

With a very shiny glow

And if you look to see it

You will find the moon in tow.

The red planet will shine brighter because it will be directly opposite the sun, reflecting the most light, and fairly close to Earth, only 55.5 million miles away. The full moon will appear nearby, rising about an hour later, said Horkheimer, host of the public television show "Star Gazer."

All of the other Yuletides

Santa would have at his side

The shiny nose of Rudolph

Acting as his big sleigh's guide

Mars will outshine the brightest star and won't be as noticeable in the sky for nine more years, Horkheimer said. The Hubble Space Telescope took a picture of Mars, which came closest to Earth on Dec. 18, but it will be brighter on Christmas Eve because of its position opposite the sun.

Continued...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071220/ap_on_sc/mars_rudolph

Where will Mars be located in the Northern Hemisphere?
 
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http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/planet-Mars/photo//071224/480/f69b15443db74c85bf165e6ef96269d4/;_ylt=Ap5GCTo_AsTH6G5sypqi3vcDW7oF
 
Last edited by a moderator: