Mars Alert

   Keep an eye on the night sky in the upcoming weeks to see something that will not happen again for many a moon.
   Mars and Earth are nearing the closest approach between the two planets in recorded history. Thanks to Jupiter's gravitational pull on the red planet, its orbit is affected in such a way as to have brought it this close only once in the past 5,000 years. It may take as long as 60,000 years before the two celestial performers dance an encore.
   At the beginning of August, Mars will rise in the east at 10:00 p.m. and reach its azimuth at about 3:00 a.m. By the end of August, Mars will rise at nightfall and reach its highest point at 12:30 a.m. The denouement will take place on August 27th when Mars will be within 34,649,589 miles of Earth and, next to the moon, will be the brightest object in the sky. Use a telescope if you have access to one, but don't worry if you don't since Mars will appear as large as the full moon to the naked human eye.
   "Pack up the babies and grab the old ladies!" Take the whole family out there and lift up thine eyes!