Stargazers prepare for Mars close-up ( 2003-08-27 10:41) (eastday.com)
Chinese stargazers can now think of nothing else but Mars. The red planet
will come closer to Earth Wednesday than at anytime in around 60,000 years.
Amateur
astronomers from Guangzhou High School No 113 in South China's Guangdong
Province observe the planet Mars from their school, August 24, 2003. The
red planet is expected to reach its closest point to the Earth in almost
60,000 years. [newsphoto.com.cn]
"I won't miss it for anything! I'd rather put off meeting my clients today,"
said Ye Minglei, a foreign-trade firm employee and an astronomy buff in
Shanghai.
Besides Ye, thousands of astronomy fans will either stand on their balconies
or go to the countryside to catch a last-gasp glimpse of Mars: It won't come as
close again in their lifetime.
If the weather cooperates, stargazers will be able to observe the
ever-clear-and-big planet in the southeast after sunset Wednesday.
The fourth rock from the sun, with its rusty twinkle apparent in the faint
sky, should shine brighter than any other heavenly bodies - including the moon
and Venus, astronomers said.
Some 55.76 million kilo-meters will separate the two planets this evening. If
the distance seems big, consider this: Mars was five times as far away just six
months ago.
Tuesday, more than 300 residents in Shanghai went to Shanghai
Library for a lecture on Mars.
The red planet
Telescopes, priced from 200 yuan (US$24) to several thousand yuan, have been
selling like hotcakes these days.
"We sold around 2,000 astronomical telescopes last month. But in the same
period last year, we sold less than 100," said Dong Yun-bing, a salesman at
Bosma telescope shop on Shanghai's Nandan Road.
According to the Shanghai Astronomy Society, the city now has many astronomy
fans. "The membership of Shanghai Phosphor Union, the city's premier
astrono-mical club, has hit some 200 - almost eight times more than when it was
founded in late 2001," said society secretary general Lin Qing.
