Mars Spectacular a Bit Overrated

If you live on planet Earth and are connected to a computer or know someone who is, you've probably received the e-mail.

"The Red Planet is about to be spectacular," the e-Mail reads. "On Aug. 27, Mars will look as large as the full moon." People are buying up binoculars and telescopes in anticipation of sharing with parents, grandparents, children and grandchildren a celestial event that "no one alive today will ever see again."

The only trouble is - most of it is bunk! What you've been receiving is information that's being recirculated from the close approach of Mars in August 2003, along with some bogus information thrown in for good measure.

So what's true and what's false? Well, the only thing that's true is that Mars will appear beautiful in our sky, and not in August, but October. Mars and Earth are approaching each other in their orbits, and the Red Planet will reach its closest point in late October. At that time, Mars will be quite brilliant in our sky - being outshone by only the sun, moon and Venus - and appearing every bit as spectacular as it did two years ago.

But as large as the full moon? Well, let's think that one out. For Mars to appear that large in our sky, it would have to approach to (assuming my math is correct) within 484,000 miles - or only twice the distance of the moon itself. That would indeed be impressive but, if it were to do so, its gravitational pull would - at the very least - raise tremendously destructive tides on our planet, enough to smear Corpus Christi, Los Angeles, San Francsico, and New York, and literally obiviate the sub-sea level New Orleans! Also, a shift in the Earth's gravitational field might cause it to move in or out of normal orbit, casuing shattering extremes in temperature, casuing either extreme drought, or another ice age. You cannot rule out, also, that if such large masses were to come that close, their graviational attraction creates the potential of collision. Um...

No, even at its closest this October, Mars will remain at a safe distance of 42.9 million miles and will appear as a brilliant red "star" in the evening sky. More information at Snopes.com. The planet will still be brilliant, but spare us the catastrophic coastal flooding of coming too close.

It is amazing that this e-mail about Mars has showed up in just about every inbox on every computer on Earth. And, with the Internet being what it is, expect to receive it again every summer from now until the sun burns out!