Mars Hoax!

Post date: May 07, 2009 10:55:15 PM

originally by Errol Rickmann

Beware of an email circulating about MARS as big as the Moon in August. This is totally untrue and sensation mongers continue to perpetrate this on unsuspecting people, who pass this on to their friends.

The truth is that mars will be nowhere near to 35 million miles from Earth, and in fact this year around October it will be closest at 60+ million miles from the Earth. This will make for best viewing for the year, but it will certainly not be anywhere near the size or brightness of the Moon or even Venus.

Better advice at this time would be for amateur astronomers to focus on Jupiter and Venus in the mornings as we expect Jupiter to lose its moons in August and we expect it will be joined in the telescope with Neptune. Check back regularly as these events will be posted on our Calendar.