Mars' Simulated View
When earthdweller
Patrick Vantuyne
wondered what his home planet's
single large moon would look like if
viewed from Mars on July 17, he
availed himself of the JPL
Solar System Simulator.
Of course, when viewed from Earth on that date (tomorrow), the gibbous
Moon will pass tantalizingly close
to Mars for observers in North,
Central, and South America and will actually
pass in front of (occult)
the Red Planet for some locations, including much of Florida.
Vantuyne's efforts
were rewarded with this remarkable simulated view of
the crescent Moon against the background of a darkened Earth.
From the martian vantage
point, the lunar orb is seen just below the
tip of the Florida peninsula at 8:05
GMT.
Observers on planet Earth who want to watch the corresponding
Moon/Mars show
in tomorrow's predawn sky should note the viewing times for
selected cities.