Does anyone have time to verify this?

[Dee Bee]

I received this as a forward today. I have no idea what the source was. Does anyone here have time to verify it? Thanks!

MARS SPECTACULAR!

The Red Planet is about to be spectacular! This month and next, Earth is catching up with Mars in an encounter that will culminate in the closest
approach between the two planets in recorded history. The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287. Due to the way Jupiter's gravity tugs on Mars and perturbs its orbit, astronomers can only be certain that Mars has not come this close to Earth in the Last 5,000 years, but it may be as long as 60,000 years before it happens again.

The encounter will culminate on August 27th when Mars comes to within 34,649,589 miles of Earth and will be (next to the moon) the brightest object in the night sky. It will attain a magnitude of -2.9 and will appear 25.11 arc seconds wide. At a modest 75-power magnification

Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. Mars will be easy to spot. At the beginning of August it will rise in the east at 10p.m. and reach its azimuth at about 3 a.m.

By the end of August when the two planets are closest, Mars will rise at nightfall and reach its highest point in the sky at 12:30a.m. That's pretty convenient to see something that no human being has seen in recorded history. So, mark your calendar at the beginning of August to see Mars grow progressively brighter and brighter throughout the month.


Share this with your children and grandchildren. NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN

[streetsoldier]

I wonder if Jack Horkheimer (astromony nut, PBS years ago) has a website?

[Dee Bee]

I solved the mystery!

Rather than start on housework (I just got home from work @1:15), I decided to google "Mars-Earth encounter." Amazingly, the top hit matched up with the forward -- but TWO YEARS AGO! Here's the url for the original story:

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2003/aug/2 ... earth_get/


I'd label this as a prime example of (a)how forwards re-circulate and (b)how false info/rumors are electronically born and perpetuated....

[Cookiely]

I solved the mystery!

Rather than start on housework (I just got home from work @1:15), I decided to google "Mars-Earth encounter." Amazingly, the top hit matched up with the forward -- but TWO YEARS AGO! Here's the url for the original story:

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2003/aug/2 ... earth_get/


I'd label this as a prime example of (a)how forwards re-circulate and (b)how false info/rumors are electronically born and perpetuated....

Those good old urban legends.