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A note slightly related: Mars reaches perihelic opposition with the sun on July 27, 2018, which means observers on Earth will have their closest view of the pla
by gbugniot 8y ago
A note slightly related: Mars reaches perihelic opposition with the sun on July 27, 2018, which means observers on Earth will have their closest view of the planet since 2003. Great time to borrow a telescope.
- colemannugent 8y agoBeing able to see the red of Mars at night is strange. Since I (and probably most of us on HN) live in the worst area for light pollution it's not too often you can see other planets like this unaided.
- cup-of-tea 8y agoYou should be able to see all five inner planets with the naked eye, even in a city.
- scrumper 8y agoIndeed. It was seeing the moons of Jupiter from a New York City apartment window* that rekindled my dormant childhood interest in astronomy. I felt like Galileo. I had no idea what to expect when I pointed the binoculars at Jupiter. I thought they were stars at first.
- anonytrary 8y agoJupiter and Venus are incredibly bright, you'll be able to see them with the naked eye at night even if you're in a city.
- colemannugent 8y agoI should clarify: I have seen the planets before, but I can't remember being able to see this much detail without a telescope or binoculars. Jupiter and Venus look like regular, although very bright, stars. Mars is currently a very visible red circle that is unmistakably a planet.
- huhtenberg 8y agoEven without a telescope it's already so damn bold and red in the night sky, it really makes you stop and stare. Go check it out tonight!
- lorenzhs 8y agoThat date coincides with a total lunar eclipse over parts of Asia, Africa and Europe btw. Should be fun to watch. More info at https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEplot/LEplot2001/LE2018Jul27T.pdf https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEplot/LEplot2001/LE2018Jul27T...