This is a hoax that that seems to make its rounds every August. It started in 2003 when Mars was 34 million miles away from earth. Then astronomers calculated this was the closest Mars had been to our planet in nearly 60,000 years.
Now every August rumors circulate that sky watchers can expect the same thing. Like a good fishing story the fish keeps getting bigger. In huge print, one e-mail claims at the end of this month we can expect to see something, that
”No One Alive Today Will Ever See This Again.”
According to the Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS), the Mars opposition happens when Earth is on its inner orbit then passes between the Sun and Mars. They explain that because of Mars and Earth’s two planets different elliptical orbits Mars gets closer to Earth about every 26 months.
Snopes.com is good for checking out rumors and other incredible e-mails you read. They debunk the rumor and on this subject post, “It won’t be until the year 2287 that Mars will be closer to Earth that it did in 2003.”
So despite what you read in your inbox, Mars will not be as big as the moon in the next few weeks, in fact to most it will not look any brighter or bigger.
Still I encourage you to get outside, away from city lights and do a little stargazing. Like meteorology, there is always something new to explore and learn. It is also something parents and grandparents can do with children. You don’t need a high dollar telescope, just a comfortable chair and time. It’s well worth the stiff neck you have the next day.
If you have a weather question for Dan, send it to: askdan@kjrh.com
