MARS FLYBY question

Edward S Light (light@argoscomp.com)
Fri, 25 Jun 1999 08:14:44 -0400 (EDT)

Jay Respler forwarded a question from Steve Rappolee ...

> MARS FLYBY (i.e. spacecraft in solar orbit)
> Semi-major axis          204968597.          km
> Eccentricity                     0.174563502 deg 
< ... stuff deleted ... >
>
> the question is of course if mars observer is in solar orbit has it or
> will it ever make any close earth flybys? and could it be telescopicly
> or visualy observed?
>

According to the above elements, and ignoring the apparently erroneous
label "deg" after the eccentricity, the perihelion distance is about
169 188 561 km or 1.130940 AU. As the earth's aphelion is approximately
1.0167 AU, the two orbits (barring maneuvering or close flybys to Mars)
cannot approach closer than about 17 100 000 km (or 10 600 000 miles).

So, no close earth flybys.


Clear and dark skies!
   Ed Light

Lakewood, NJ, USA
N 40.1072, W 074.2317, Hgt +21 m (69 ft)