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Jupiters closest approach
Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2005 4:53 pm
by PaulH
For you budding astronomers out there, Jupiter is about to make its closest approach to the Earth. Look east tonight after sunset, can't miss it. Its bloody huge!
As you all know, this is the largest planet in the solar system and because of this its gravitational pull can be faintly felt. This not only affects the tides, which will be much larger than usual, but its effects are so that objects on Earth will weigh about 2% less than normal. Step on your weighing scales at midnight!
Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2005 4:57 pm
by beowuuf
Don't you mean at 12 noon?
Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2005 5:00 pm
by PaulH
Yes, yes sorry. The US still has chance.
Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2005 5:24 pm
by Zyx
Yes, in the
Virgo constellation.
Pure love will be greatly strenghtened this week. It's a good time for declaring your passion to the beloved one.
Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2005 5:27 pm
by PaulH
Excellent map. As you can see, the Moon is very close by too which is strengthening the effect. This is a rare solar coincidence.
Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2005 6:46 pm
by Sera
er, depends if the clouds ever move away, i hate this place -.-
Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2005 8:47 pm
by PaulH
It is a bit cloudy, but may brighten later. The funny gravity distort thing can be felt anytime. Just stick 1kg bag of sugar on some scales, it will only weigh 980g
Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2005 1:10 am
by Gambit37
I wondered why my pen kept rolling across the desk.
Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2005 2:22 am
by Paul Stevens
it will only weigh 980g
I wondered why it was so much easier to swim.
Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2005 2:38 pm
by PaulH
They had to cancel all of the weekends athletics events because it was calculated that top pole vaulters could vault an extra 9cm.
Jupiter moves away after the third, so normality will be returned...
Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2005 8:04 pm
by Sera
hehe, i did jump a few times yesterday, and i went much higher than i did just now o.o, must have been the effects
Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2005 9:54 pm
by PaulH
Surely the wings help?
Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2005 6:45 pm
by Sera
nope, they werent used =P