AG wrote:Sorry guys I think that is an Urban myth...
A.
Regarding Mars close approach: Not this year hobos.
Keep your 75 power telescope for the 2018 opposition of Mars.
Opposition Date..Angle..x75....Distance (miles)
1640 Aug 21......25.1"..31.4'..34,672,516
1766 Aug 13......25.1"..31.4'..34,672,516
1845 Aug 18......25.1"..31.4'..34,672,516
1924 Aug 23......25.1"..31.4'..34,672,516
2003 Aug 28......25.1"..31.4'..34,672,516
2005 Nov 7.......19.8"..24.8'..43,689,229
2007 Dec 28......15.5"..19.4'..55,773,484
2010 Jan 29.......14.0"..17.5'..61,722,656
2012 Mar 3........14.0"..17.5'..62,652,214
2014 Apr 8........15.1"..18.9'..57,725,556
2016 May 22......18.4"..23.0'..47,314,505
2018 Jul 27.......24.1"..30.1'..35,880,941
http://www.uapress.arizona.edu/onlinebk ... ends.htm#1
The moon's angular size is about 30 arc min (30').
Actually, the 2007 opposition on Dec 28 is not too bad.
The view through a 75 power telescope, 19.4 arc min, is about 0.6 the size of the Moon.