[Shotimes] (Totally OT) If there are any astronomers out there......

[George Fourchy]

You might be interested in knowing that the planet Mars is approaching Earth during
the month of August to the point where it will be closer than it has basically ever
been since the beginning of recorded time.  Astronomers aren't sure (due to the
unmeasurable effect of Jupiter's magnetic field on Mars over time), but it may have
been as much as 50,000 years ago since it was as close as it will be in about 3
weeks.  It will rise at dusk, and be at its zenith at about midnight.  At a
magnification power of 75, which isn't much when it comes to telescopes, it will
appear as large as the moon.  The next time it will be this close will be in the
year 2287.

Toss this one if you aren't interested....I've always been fascinated with the night
sky since I learned to use celestial navigation to find myself in the middle of the
ocean, back in the '70s.

George