NONKINSENSE

The Red Planet is about to be spectacular! This

month and next, Earth is catching up with Mars in an

encounter that will culminate in the closest

approach between the two planets in recorded

history. The next time Mars may come this close to Earth is

in 2287. Due to the way Jupiter's gravity tugs on

Mars, astronomers can only be

certain that Mars has not come this close to Earth

in the last 5,000 years, but it may be as long as

60,000 years before it happens again.

The encounter will culminate on August 27th when

Mars comes to within 34 million miles of Earth and

will be (next to the moon) the brightest object in

the night sky.

Mars will look as large as the full moon to the

naked eye. Mars will be easy to spot. At the

beginning of August it will rise in the east at

10p.m. and reach its azimuth at about 3 a.m.

By the end of August when the two planets are

closest, Mars will rise at nightfall and reach its

highest point in the sky at 12:30a.m.

Happy Gazing,

Jim

Just Say YesUpdated 01:30 PDT Mon, Jun 20 2005
Prog-rock veterans Yes may not be touring as a unit these days, but you can still catch several of the band's members on a couple different tours this summer. The More Drama tour will feature guitarist Steve Howe, bassist Chris Squire and drummer Alan White, performing separate sets and then joining together for a special finale. Squire will perform with his original band, The Syn, which made its mark on the British progressive rock movement in the 1960s before Squire and Jon Anderson founded Yes. Steve Howe will do a set of solo guitar, and White will perform with his new band - fittingly named White and featuring Asia keyboardist Geoff Downes. Downes will join the three Yes-men for an encore of rarely performed Yes songs that haven't been played live since the band's 1980 world tour. The Howe/Squire/White tour runs from August 3 through September 4, beginning in Portland, Ore., and hitting both coasts and Canada before finishing at the Taste Of Cleveland festival September 4. Meanwhile, vocalist Anderson is embarking on his own solo tour of Europe and the Middle East. He'll begin September 1 in Tel Aviv, Israel, and proceed through Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, the U.K. and more before wrapping October 16 in Reykjavik, Iceland. Howe, Squire, White, Anderson and keyboardist Rick Wakeman spent much of last year on tour for Yes' 35th anniversary tour. Wakeman made headlines this spring when he performed in Havana, Cuba, but has no tour plans at the moment.Niilo Smeds / Pollstar
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