Abstract
THE present apparition of Mars is, for observers in the northern hemisphere, the most favourable that has occurred for many years. The planet, which was at opposition on November 4, made its closest approach to the earth on October 27, on which date its distance was approximately 42,600,000 miles and its apparent diameter 20″-4. On August 22, 1924, the distance was 8,000,000 miles less and the apparent diameter so great as 25″-1 (practically the maximum possible), but on this date the planet, at its greatest altitude, was not more than 21° above the horizon of London; whereas, on October 27, 1926, it crossed the meridian at an altitude of 53°. This increase of 32° was more than sufficient to make up for the shrinkage in apparent diameter, with the result that observers in Great Britain have, in general, been able to obtain more satisfactory views than at the closer approach of two years ago. Not until 1941 will there occur an equally favourable combination of altitude and apparent diameter.
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STEAVENSON, W. Mars in 1926. Nature 118, 666–667 (1926). https://doi.org/10.1038/118666a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/118666a0