[MIham] Return of the Mars Hoax

[Duane Fischer, W8DBF]

Frank,

Thank you for flattening the farce by using the shovel of facts and the 
Level of logic.

Based upon your distance number, this would place Mars about six times its 
average distance from the Earth. Hardly more than a small point of light, 
only red when viewed with an 8x +/- telescope.

I remember being in northeastern South Dakota in July of 1956 or 1957 and 
seeing Mars in the twilight sky. You did not have to look for it, it was so 
large it caught your attention immediately. It was a dull, but bright, red 
and was about 20 degrees over the horizon. I do not recall if it was as 
large as the Moon during its closest approach, about 200,000 miles, but it 
was certainly big for Mars!

About ten years ago I did some research into the times when the red planet 
would be the largest due to a close approach. There was no mention of the 
years I saw it in the South Dakota skies. I know what I saw, have a near 
photogenic memory and also was quite wise about Astronomy in the fifth 
grade. It has puzzled me ever since how Mars could have appeared so large 
and red and not be closer than normal! It was one of those sights that you 
keep forever because it is so peculiar.

This lasted for several days, then gradually lessened as Mars became farther 
away. Anyone have an idea why it would appear so close and large, when 
perhaps it was not? I did not drink alcohol then, nor do I now! (chuckle)

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "FSK Lists" <fsklists at localnet.com>
To: "MIham" <miham at mailman.qth.net>; "LARC General List" <larc at k8sn.org>; 
"Information List" <Newslist312 at yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, August 06, 2006 1:59 PM
Subject: [MIham] Return of the Mars Hoax


> Space Weather News for August 6, 2006
> http://spaceweather.com
>
> MARS HOAX:  A bogus email is going around the Internet.  It claims that 
> Mars
> will be historically close to Earth on August 27, 2006--so close that Mars
> will look as large as the full Moon. This is not true. Here are the facts:
> On August 27th, Mars will be on the other side of the solar system, about
> 385 million kilometers from Earth. The red planet will look tiny and dim,
> nothing like a full Moon.
>
> The "Mars Hoax" email first appeared in 2003.  On August 27th of that 
> year,
> Mars really did come historically close to Earth. But the email's claim 
> that
> Mars would rival the Moon was grossly exaggerated. Every August since 
> 2003,
> the email has staged a revival.  It's as wrong now as it was then.
>
> SUNNY SATURN:  Looking for Saturn?  Don't.  It could hurt your eyes.  This
> weekend Saturn is passing right by the Sun.  See images of the close
> encounter at http://Spaceweather.com
>
>  Checkout My Place on the Web @ http://www.qsl.net/n8uvi
>
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