Quote:
Originally Posted by Jazza11
from the info i have found it says mars's angular size in 2018 will be 24.1" thats only 1" off the 2003 approach so does anyone know what we can expect from mars in 2018?
|
Oppositions as close as the 2003 one are few and far between.
However, as always, weather and seeing can be the limiting factors
as well as dust storms on Mars itself.
For example, I recollect being at the Wiruna dark sky site around one
of the oppositions, probably around the late '90's and the view on
that particular night for several hours was better than some of the
closer approaches. The seeing was prefect and it was one of those
nights where you could throw more and more power at an object and
it just kept delivering. The detail particularly around the icecaps was
astounding.
So a very close approach at opposition is opportune, but there can be
the above cited limiting factors, hence a certain amount of luck is involved.
Hope luck is on your side when the time comes!
Best Regards
Gary