Will 2 "moons" be visible August 27th due to Mars' closeness to earth?

Question

Someone sent me an email saying that since Mars would be very close to earth on August 27th, its (Mars') brightness would make it look like there were 2 moons in the sky. I just wondered if this
phenomenon will really happen.

Answer 1

Its a hoax:
Have you gotten the Mars email yet? There is a message going around that says "Mars will appear as large as the full moon with the naked eye." People are encouraged to share this with their children and grandchildren.

The message also states.....NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN.

Unfortunately, this is someone's idea of a joke. Here is the link from NASA that addresses the hoax.
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/07jul_marshoax.htm
Here is another link from Earth and Sky
http://www.earthsky.org/skywatching/topstories.php?date=20060719

I do encourage everyone take the time to observe the heaven's, even if Mars will never appear as large as our moon. There are many great objects to enjoy in our sky on a clear night. Here is a great website resource for information about our night sky. http://skyandtelescope.com/

Answer 2

You've been fooled by spam!

Actually, Mars is about as far away in its orbit as it gets from the earth. Right now, it is moving behind the sun as seen from earth, so its distance is earth-to-sun (93 million miles) + Mars to sun, (another140 million miles). There is not going to be anything to see.

If you're in the Northern Hemisphere, you're too late to see Mars for the rest of 2006. In the Southern Hemisphere, you might just catch a glimpse of Mars low in the western sky, if you know exactly where to look and have a cloudless sky and perfect view of the western horizon, about one hour after sunset. The planet disappears into the evening twilight in the second half of August from places like Santiago and Melbourne.

Many have written with questions about your e-mail. (I guess it's a tribute to the breadth of this spam.)

There was a small kernel of truth in the spam. In August 2003 (three years ago) Mars made its closest approach to earth in several thousand years. I remember it well, but it was by no means the spectacular, full-moon sized object that the spammers lead (or led) people to believe. Mars appeared as a very bright ruddy star, but not even close to the normal brilliance of Venus, let alone the full moon.

Chin up, though. Mars will be at its best again around Christmastime, 2007. You need only be patient.

By the way, that business of "2 moons" is total rubbish. Have you ever, ever seen two moons in the sky?

Mars at its brightest can look like a very bright star. But it does not remotely resemble the full moon. Never has! Never will!

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Will 2 "moons" be visible August 27th due to Mars' closeness to earth?
Someone sent me an email saying that since Mars would be very close to earth on August 27th, its (Mars') brightness would make it look like there were 2 moons in the sky. I just wondered if this
phenomenon will really happen.

Answer 4

2 Moons On August 27

Answer 5

That particular myth has been circulating around the internet for years. The only way that Mars could look the size of two moons is if it were at the same distance from the Earth as the moon, which will never happen. Mars will be decent through a telescope, and a VERY strong scope can tease out Mars' two tiny moons; Phobos and Deimos. This rumor just illustrates all too well the dire level of scientific illiteracy among people in the US.

Answer 6

August 27 Two Moons

Answer 7

No, Mars will continue to be at its closet almost 100 million miles
away and the Moon will be at its furtherest considerably less
than 1 million.

I don't know where this rumor comes from, but it surely is
consistant.

Mars will never be more than a point of light seen from Earth
without a telescope.

Answer 8

Total bunk. Mars will be at it's closest, but it will not appear in the sky as more than a twinkle, similar to a star. Venus is often closer than Mars will be, and no one ever claims it looking like a second moon. It will, however, be very easy to view it with a telescope at this time, for one of the best views of it.

Answer 9

"On August 27th, Mars will be as close to the Earth as it's been in 60,000 years.

"It will be very bright in the sky, and only the moon will be brighter in the night sky."

That's the message we keep getting every August. Truth is, it's a hoax. Check out Snopes for the true story: http://www.snopes.com/science/mars.asp

Answer 10

I would love to see that! But no. That email is three years out of date. But.. FYI. I am relatively certain that the moon will be just a crescent moon on the 27th, and appear near Spica, brightest star of the constellation, Virgo.