Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: chris on 22/07/2010 23:01:02

Title: From where did this hoax about Mars looking like the moon arise?
Post by: chris on 22/07/2010 23:01:02

There's an email circulating - and I've even been sent a powerpoint presentation this week - claiming that on August 27th Mars will pass very close to the Earth to the extent that it will appear as large as the Moon in the night sky.

This is obviously tripe. Mars in 35 million miles away and, at best, will be 1/140'th the diameter of the moon in the night sky. It's not even that close to Earth on August 27th.

So how did this rot arise?

Chris

Title: From where did this hoax about Mars looking like the moon arise?
Post by: Geezer on 22/07/2010 23:15:31

I first received an e-mail with something like that in 2003 when Mars and Earth were "only" 55 million km apart. I think it's being going the rounds in one form or another ever since.

Title: From where did this hoax about Mars looking like the moon arise?
Post by: LeeE on 23/07/2010 03:42:22

I suspect this nonsense arose due to the simultaneous presence on Earth of both mischievous and gullible people.

Title: From where did this hoax about Mars looking like the moon arise?
Post by: RD on 23/07/2010 03:58:05

Quote

Mars, Earth - Closest Approach in Recorded History
Outline
Email claims that Earth and Mars will have the closest approach in recorded history in August and will be a spectacular sight for stargazers.

Brief Analysis
The event described did occur back in 2003, but this message is now hopelessly outdated. No such close approach will occur in July or August 2010.

http://www.hoax-slayer.com/mars-earth-close.html

Title: From where did this hoax about Mars looking like the moon arise?
Post by: JP on 23/07/2010 08:40:46

Snopes has a possible explanation:
http://www.snopes.com/science/astronomy/brightmars.asp

One original email (from 2003, when Mars was close to the Earth), had the sentence
"At a modest 75-power magnification Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye," but the email was often posted with a line break separating the part about magnification from "look as large as the full moon . . . "