I'm no astronomer but....

[Dracon II]

This is just too much

Attached: an email just forwarded to me

---------------------------------------------------

MARS comes to within 34,649,589 miles of Earth and
will be (next to the moon) the brightest object in the
night sky

Starting in August, Mars will look as large as the
full moon to the naked eye.

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.

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 Earth and Mars are closest,
Mars will rise at nightfall and reach its highest
point in the sky at 12:30a.m.

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.

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. And be sure to watch the sky on August
27th. It will look like the Earth has two moons!

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.

NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN.

[JohnT]

Run away! Run away!!!

[JohnT]

Of course, Mars would do this on our wedding anniversary.

[Pekka]

No it won't. I punch it back and smash it on the rebound so you can spend quality day then. I expect great favours in return. It is no easy task.

[JohnT]

It probably just means we'll spend our anniversary bickering at each other.

Sorry, Supercitizen, but nothing can counter us when we're in a pissy mood.

[Wittlich]

[reds4ever]

That opposition was two years ago (Earth-Mars oppositions happen every two years) and the email is (was?) factually correct.

This years opposition is at the start of November (6th I think), you just have been sent on old email,

[Ninot]

Didn't someone post something like this a few weeks ago, and everyone agreed the article was over a year old?

[JohnT]

Yeah, and we pointed and laughed at that poster too.

<--- at Dracon. HAH-HAH!

[Dracon II]

the email is (was?) factually correct

Except of course, for the assertion that Mars would be close enough to look as large as the Moon to the naked eye.

I only got this email a couple of minutes ago

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/07jul_marshoax.htm

- Apparently it's been put back into circulation quite recently.

[DeathByTheSword]

dude....you are pointing at yourself....

[reds4ever]

Originally posted by Dracon II

the email is (was?) factually correct

Except of course, for the assertion that Mars would be close enough to look as large as the Moon to the naked eye.

Yep, sorry once I'd seen the claim and the date I skipped the rest...

[reds4ever]

BTW. despite being slightly farther away at this next oppostion, Mars will be much better placed to observe from Northern latitudes as it will be higher in the sky.

[Dracon II]

Originally posted by DeathByTheSword
dude....you are pointing at yourself....

He has a subconscious desire to be me. Classic case of Dracon envy.

[Pekka]

As you wish JohnT.. I hope you have no regrets explaining to the world in afterlife why you stopped me from saving the world because you wanted to prove that you can bicker like there's no tomorrow..