Mars

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

In case anyone does not know ---- Mars and the Earth will be at their closest, at the end of August, at about Midnight.

This will be the ONLY time in the History of Humanity--- so far--- and NOBODY alive today will ever see it again !

DO NOT MISS --- it will be close to the Moon --- and Enormous !!!

[Mrs C.]

nobody will see it today through all this cloud!

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

nobody will see it today through all this cloud!

Astronomy --- as Astrology --- is mostly a matter of luck !

We may be getting a few clear nights shortly ---- Hope Hope !

[jhopgood]

So hot here that I sat on the terrace at about midnight to read and have a nightcap. The sky was pretty cloudy.
When I awoke at about 4.30 am, the terrace was bathed in moonlight and there was a very bright object close to the moon, certainly brighter that all the other stars, which I could not see as I had taken my glasses off.
I assume it was Mars.

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

YEP !! Keep looking --- it gets bigger !

[Angela Woodford]

I thought this thread would be about the proposed "healthy" changes to the Mars Bar.

Sacrilege!

[J.R.]

YEP !! Keep looking --- it gets bigger !

(It will if you keep taking the little blue tablets, Neill !!)

[sejintenej]

In case anyone does not know ---- Mars and the Earth will be at their closest, at the end of August, at about Midnight.

This will be the ONLY time in the History of Humanity--- so far--- and NOBODY alive today will ever see it again !

DO NOT MISS --- it will be close to the Moon --- and Enormous !!!

DANGER - Enormous green men at large; we are being invaded

------or is it that NASA is invading Mars?

[sejintenej]

Just been checking what I am supposed to be able to see. (21.14 hrs London time) There are 7 planets which, weather permitting, can be seen with a telescope - and some with the naked eye.

Mars is almost on top of Venus on western horizon with Saturn just a little further west. The fact that the two are so close means that they appear even brighter.
On the eastern horizon, far too close to the moon to be easily seen are Jupiter and Uranus, the one almost on top of the other.
Due south is Pluto and half way from there to Jupiter is Neptune.

FWIW I use http://www.fourmilab.ch/cgi-bin/Yoursky

[englishangel]

http://www.snopes.com/science/astronomy/brightmars.asp

I am really surprised Jo hasn't posted this, especially as we were told the same thing on here 3 years ago.

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

Jo could not have posted this one, it has not occurred for some Millenia, and won't again for some more !!!

My only contact with Mars Bars, is to carry Mini Mars Bars as emergency rations --- since I am a Type 1 Diabetic, and Hypoglycemias tend to be entertaining but distracting !!!

After 54 years (Including my last 3 in the Army) I am getting the hang of it !!!

[sejintenej]

My only contact with Mars Bars, is to carry Mini Mars Bars as emergency rations --- since I am a Type 1 Diabetic, and Hypoglycemias tend to be entertaining but distracting !!!

Did nobody ever tell you about dextrose powder? Instant digestion either wasahed down neat or quickly dissolved, does not need biting / chewing etc. Far easier for first-aiders.
Another very sweet one I thoroughly enjoyed was Kendall Mint Cake - at least as good as Mars Bars for your purpose (I am NOT advertising it, don't get paid etc. - usual disclaimers)

[Fjgrogan]

Totally off topic but ........ our vicar is diabetic and, knowing that I used to carry a pack of Dextrasol tablets with me, once shook my hand during the Peace in a communion service and said 'Peace be with you; have you any Dextrasol handy?' If his sermons get long and rambling it is usually a sign that he is having a hypo, and has actually asked if someone will warn him if we notice it happening! (NB I am not diabetic).

[englishangel]

Jo does Snopes postings when stuff is a load of b******s as this Mars thing is if you click the link.

Just realised she is having trouble getting on.

[Jo]

Ah, but I'm easily fooled by anything scientific, being a complete scientific ignoramus

I've actually found an excellent temporary workaround for my connectivity problem with the forum - a proxy service called hidemyass.com which makes the forum think I'm coming from somewhere other than my own IP address. My ISP told me about one called Proxify, for diagnostic purposes, which allowed me to read but not log on (and therefore not post). But last weekend I found this one that allows me to log on and post as well, so - for the moment at least - I'm back

(We'll forget, for now, that one of the purposes of proxy services is to craftily look at porn anonymously from work, which is absolutely NOT what I'm using it for!)