Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Mars will NOT be as big as the Moon... E-mail hoaks

Image represents about 4 am CST from San Antonio, Texas looking West on Jan. 29th.

No the planet Mars will not be as big as the moon. You'd be amazed at how many times people at public star parties come up to me and say with complete confidence that Mars will be as large, as close as the moon. I don't know who started this rumor but I've been hearing that line from the general public at star parties for years. On January 29, 2009 Mars will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. This is the best time to view and photograph Mars. But sorry is isn't going to be as big as the moon in the sky.

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