Astronomers prepare for Mars' close encounter

Astronomers across Ireland were rigging up their telescopes today as Mars comes closer to the Earth than any time since the last ice age almost 60,000 years ago.

Amateur astronomers are looking forward to being able to see surface markings and polar ice-caps on the Red Planet as it comes to within 34,646,418 miles of the Earth – 145 times the distance to the Moon.

One astronomer, Derek Maskell, says he is looking forward to being able to see surface markings and polar ice-caps on the Red Planet as it comes to within 34,646,418 miles of the Earth – 145 times the distance to the Moon.

Mr Maskell, 72, from Gloucester, said while the planet was already visible to the naked eye, he would be viewing it at its height tonight through his 10-inch telescope.

“Mars is very big and very red so you could see it using just binoculars or by looking up into the south east sky.

“It will show up as a red disc and will be clearer than at any time since the ice age, it will be a very pretty sight,” he said.

At precisely 10.51am Irish Time, the two planets will be a mere 34,646,418 miles apart – 145 times the distance to the Moon.

Last time the Red Planet was this close to the Earth humans were living in caves and hunting mammoths.

The moment will be missed in Ireland, since it is daytime. But tonight Mars will be only about 2,000 miles further away, and just as dazzling.

Robin Scagell, vice-president of the Society for Popular Astronomy in England, said a telescope with an aperture of four inches or more would reveal surface details on Mars.

“You will certainly see the south polar cap, which is really glistening at the moment,” he said. “You can also see all the dark markings that are visible on the Hubble space telescope photos – obviously not in such detail, but not far off.

“The weather on Mars is as important as that on Earth for Mars observations. We have to hope there aren’t any dust storms on the planet, because they can wipe out all the surface features.”

The bright white south polar cap is currently tilted towards the Earth.

Mars-watching is very much an activity for nightbirds. At 11pm the planet will be just above the rooftops and shrouded by the murky layers of atmosphere that hug the horizon.

To see Mars clearly it is necessary to stay up until 1am, when the planet will be sufficiently high in the sky.

The reason Mars is so close to the Earth this year has to do with the planets’ orbits.

Earth and Mars are like two runners going round a racetrack at different speeds.

As it circles the Sun, Mars is on average about one and a half times further away than the Earth. It takes 687 days to complete one orbit, compared with the Earth’s 365.

Roughly every 26 months, Earth overtakes Mars on the inside, causing a close encounter between the two planets as it passes. If the planets’ orbits were circles, the distance between them would be the same every time this occurs. But their orbits are actually oval-shaped, and Mars in particular follows a very non-circular path.

As a result the distance between Earth and Mars at their closest approach can vary between 35 million and 63 million miles.

Mr Maskell, who is a member of the Cotswold Astronomical Society, said the event, which coincides with National Astronomy Week in England, would be remembered for generations.

“It’s all we amateur astronomers have been talking about for weeks.

“There’s nothing else at the moment. There are no comets around.”

Mr Maskell explained that the best time to view Mars was at 1am when the planet was highest in the sky.

“When looking at the planets you mustn’t look from a window as a lot of heat escapes and the whole image will be wavy.

“You need to get outside in the garden away from the lights and look to the South East,” he said.