According to the latest version of an email rumor circulating since 2003, August 27 will bring the closest 'encounter' between Mars and Earth in recorded history, and it will look as if there are two moons in the night sky
Description: Email rumor / Hoax
Circulating since: 2006
Status: False
Email example contributed by Susan T., 25 July 2007:
FW: Two moonsMARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THIS
** Two moon on 27 August ***
27th Aug the Whole World is waiting for.............
Planet Mars will be the brightest in the night sky Starting August.
It will look as large as the full moon to the naked Eye. This will happen On Aug. 27 when Mars comes within 34.65M miles of earth. Be sure to watch The sky on Aug. 27 12:30 am. It will look like the earth has 2 moons. The Next time Mars may come this close is in 2287.
Share this with your friends as NO ONE ALIVE TODAY Will ever see it again.
Comments: The text of this rumor was roughly accurate when a version of it first began circulating in the summer of 2003, outdated when it went around again in 2005, and just plain false when it appeared for the third time in 2006. It is now 2007, and making the email rounds again. How many times can a "once in a lifetime" event occur?
The oscillating orbits of Mars and Earth did, in fact, bring the two planets closer together on August 27, 2003 than at any other time during the past 50,000 years. Though Mars never actually appeared "as large as the full moon" -- not even close -- it was indeed, for a few days in 2003, among the brightest objects in the night sky.
In October 2005 another well-publicized "close encounter" occurred, though in that case the planets were about 13 million kilometers further apart than during the 2003 event.
Nothing so spectacular is predicted for 2007.
Previously:
Close Encounter with Mars on August 27 (2003)
Netlore Archive, July 2003Mars Spectacular on August 27 (2006)
Netlore Archive, July 2006
Last updated: 07/26/07
