Mars is supposed to be really close to the earth.

[Joe for Clark]

Closest on 8/27 - 34 million miles I think. It won't do this again for either 250+ years or 50,000 years. It was hard to tell from the article.

Any way it will rise from the east and will appear almost as big as the moon - it says. I think the high point is around midnight.

Nasa has a site about this.

Pretty cool - I am going to look.

Joe

[XNASA]

1. I think this was debunked.

http://www.snopes.com/science/mars.asp

I wish it were so, but alas, it is not.

[MindPilot]

Nope, it already happend in 2003

[architect359]

12. ...and even back then, it never was "as big as the moon"...

Interesting that every year since that last closest approach, this email gets circulated. Oh, and another thing - how in the heck can anyone seriously believe that one can see another planet as big as or larger than the moon?! I mean, we'd all be heading to hell in a handbasket if that was the case.

[azmouse]

2. You're joking... right?

I've heard this story before and there is no truth to Mars looking as big a the moon. It would have to actually be as close as the moon and... sorry, friend... that just ain't gonna happen.

[corkhead]

3. "almost as big as the moon" is an exaggeration

but yes, it is closer than normal and will be probably the second brightest thing in the night sky

[Selatius]

4. "...appear almost as big as the moon" <--- not likely

It could be almost as bright an object as the moon, but nowhere near its size given its distance from earth.

[OneTwentyoNine]

5. You do know that its Clinton's fault don't you?

If anything mysteriously hits the floor or you drop something then its Clinton's fault for letting the gravity on Mars put such a stranglehold on Earth.

[Joe for Clark]

6. This is what it says -

Mars

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 is
in 2287. Due to the way Jupiter's gravity tugs on
Mars and perturbs its orbit, 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 34,649,589 miles of Earth and
will be (next to the moon) the brightest object in
the night sky. It will attain a magnitude of -2.9
and will appear 25.11 arc seconds wide. At a modest
75-power magnification


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. That's pretty
convenient to see something that no human being has
seen in recorded history. So, mark your calendar at
the beginning of August to see Mars grow
progressively brighter and brighter throughout the
month.




Share this with Family.

NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN

[Joe for Clark]

7. I guess I am gullable - the nasa site does say this though -

You might remember another encounter with Mars, about two years ago, on August 27, 2003. That was the closest in recorded history, by a whisker, and millions of people watched as the distance between Mars and Earth shrunk to 56 million km. This October's encounter, at 69 million km, is similar. To casual observers, Mars will seem about as bright and beautiful in 2005 as it was in 2003.

Although closest approach is still months away, Mars is already conspicuous in the early morning. Before the sun comes up, it's the brightest object in the eastern sky, really eye-catching. If you have a telescope, even a small one, point it at Mars. You can see the bright icy South Polar Cap and strange dark markings on the planet's surface

But it says it will not be big as the moon too. I guess I fell for the email - sorry.

[Jeebo]

16. "At a modest 75 power magnification"...

Notice that it says, "At a modest 75-power magnification Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye." That means it will look that large WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT THROUGH BINOCULARS OR A TELESCOPE. It doesn't say it will look that large to the naked eye. The "naked eye" part refers to when you're looking at the moon, NOT when you're looking at Mars. I'm frankly surprised that apparently none of you noticed that. And yes, I do remember when this was happening for real ... I thought it was last year, but apparently it was three years ago. How time flies!

Ron

[rock]

8. Debunked

I recommend http://www.badastronomy.com/bad/news/index.html.

[Joe for Clark]

9. I am sorry - my brother just did a practical joke on me.

And boy did I fall for it -

I really apologize. I'll get him back, too.

Joe

[medeak]

11. LOL

this will make you feel better... friend who is state health inspector got into horrible trouble when his brother sent him pot through the mail as a joke.

good way to get even however...call local feed store or plant nursery and ask for a truck load of manure delivered to his driveway... (I know someone who actually did this..hysterical!)

[Joe for Clark]

13. Thats a good one.

This is the second time he got me.

I'm thinking his wife is going to get a call from someone saying they are from a VD clinic.

I can leave him twisting in the wind for maybe 48 hours.

Joe

[murray hill farm]

10. Not true!

This went around in 2003 and again this year. It wasnt true in 2003 and is not true now. But it is kind of fun thinking about all the thousands and thousands of folks who will be out in their yards staring up and thinking...What the hey! I sure wish it were true, but it is not! Ah well...it just is not true.

[Ezlivin]

14. Duck! Mars is coming!

If I looked up into the night sky and saw Mars as big as the moon, I would fear for my life. Probably I'd fear for my sanity first, then gain the natural fear that comes with rapidly approaching planetary bodies.

Mars rising, indeed.

[Joe for Clark]

15. I am sorry - I got hosed by my brother.

I am sorry, sorry, sorry.

And I will get even.

Joe

[proud patriot]

20. That's alright

this one got me a couple of weeks ago ..

I was forwarding this to everyone LOL :rofl:

[Joe for Clark]

22. I sure felt pretty stupid.

Somehow I feel better now.

Thanks,

Joe

[TreasonousBastard]

17. Well, even though it's not going to be as BIG as...

the Moon, if it's that bright it will still be spectacular.

Wasn't that long ago I got people checking out Venus at one of it's brightest moments. It's really amazing how many people don't look up in the sky at night, and when I just said "check that out" and they saw it, every single one of them said some variation of "Holy Shit!"

Oh-- don't forget the Perseid meteor shower this weekend if your gonna do some skygazing.

[Joe for Clark]

19. You are kind.

I know he got me, a good one.

He knows damn well I am a little edgy and I wouldn't check links from my brother. He did a good one on me, I give him credit.

Got me hook line and sinker. He is a smart guy - I just don't think his wife is quite as smart.

Practical jokes sometimes get out of hand. Lets see.

Joe

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

18. Got it from an annoying acquaintance who forwards all kinds of hoax

He is also a right-winger. I don't think that's a coincidence.

I love Reply to All.

[Joe for Clark]

26. I got this from my brother - we are ALL dems in my family.

He just screwed with me - and I bit.

Joe

[MrBenchley]

21. It was closest in 2003

and is going away from us now.

[Joe for Clark]

23. You are surely right.

I got played - by my brother - I am sorry.

Joe

[MrBenchley]

24. While it wasn't as big as the moon

(it will never show as a disk to the naked eye) it was quite bright and visibly red.

If you're interested in such things, you might check this site out....

http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx

This weekend the Perseid meteor shower may put on a show....

http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=4450

[Joe for Clark]

25. Thank you and I will -

I went to the Dodger game last night - this is true - the 8th and 9th inning got really exciting -and I am sitting there looking up thinking where the hell is mars?.
At 1 in the morning I am out in my front lawn looking up for mars.

He got me. I admit it.

He did good.

Joe