Fig 4 Towards the end of the eclipse as seen from Rousay at 09h 58m UT, October 3. A photograph taken through cloud. 300mm lens, 1/250 sec. John Vetterlein.

An earlier view of the eclipse taken in the West Mainland. Alan Hodge.

Annular eclipse of the Sun - October 3, 2005, visible as a partial eclipse from the British Isles.

Another disappointing day for the eclipse for many parts of Orkney.

Here on Rousay, low cloud blotted out the entire event for some, others on the island had glimpses in the cloud breaks.

The photograph (Fig 4) taken from Braes towards the end of the eclipse was typical of the conditions.

Mars oppositions

This year Mars comes to opposition on 7 November - opposition, meaning, literally, opposite the Sun as seen from Earth.

The orbital configuration, therefore, has the Sun, Earth and Mars in line but not necessarily in the same plane.

Moreover, since Mars has a relatively high orbital eccentricity, opposition rarely coincides with the date of closest approach to Earth (see archives for Mars Opposition 2003).

In 2005, Mars is at its closest to Earth (0.4640629 AU) on October 30 at 03h UT.

Fig. 1 Mars: 2005 September 24 at 03h 38m UT 100mm refractor x160.

Fig 2 Mars Mars: 2005 September 24 at 03h 40m UT. 175mm Maksutov x212. A 1/40 sec exposure ISO 200. Phase 91.5%.

Fig 3: 2005 Sep. 26 at 22h 40m UT looking east from Rousay. Mars in the company of Aries and Taurus. Aldebaran is the bright, red star to the left and the Pleiades cluster above left. A 70 sec. exposure 36mm f.2.8 ISO 400.

Mars is the only superior planet to show significant alterations in phase, from a little under 85% to 100%.

Even at closest approach, just 8 days from opposition (phase 100%), Mars will show a phase of 99.5%, hardly noticeable to the telescopic observer of course. (Figs 1 & 2)

Another consequence of Mars's comparative nearness to the Earth is that the planet appears to move quite quickly against the star background.

The physical aspect of the planet also changes rapidly. The apparent brightness of Mars is primarily determined by its distance and phase.

Around opposition it will be a brilliant -2.5 magnitude (2.5 times as bright as Sirius); but this brilliance is only maintained for a short period.

By the beginning of December, Mars's brightness will have halved.

The 2005 opposition will be more favourable for northern observers than the much publicized event in August 2003.

When Mars crosses the meridian close to midnight on the 7th November, its altitude (Kirkwall) will be nearly 48º, compared to a mere 15º at the previous opposition.

In apparent diameter it will be 20.1 arc seconds compared to 25 arc seconds at its closest in 2003.

The next opposition will occur in 2007 on Christmas Eve.

Mars will appear very high in the sky above Gemini. I predict there will be much discussion about this event, mostly from an astrological perspective.

This is because the Moon will occult Mars in the early hours of the same day.

A juxtaposition of full Moon and the occultation of the planet associated with warlike events down here, may encourage some to signal something dramatic in the affairs of our species - who knows?!

JV 26/09/05