Two Moons On The Same Day - The Latest 'Old' Hoax
2007-12-19 23:09:24 · 6 answers · asked by Rhine 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Usually this refers to "Mars being as big as the Moon".
In 2003 (night of August 26-27), Mars was in opposition (directly opposite the Sun in direction). This usually marks the best viewing period to see Mars.
In 2003, it was the closest approach between Mars and Earth, where the apparent diameter of Mars would be as large as 25" (25 seconds of arc = 1/144 of a degree). By comparison, the Moon is around 1800" (half a degree!).
This prompted as astronomer to state that if you were to view Mars in a telescope with 75x magnification (very common for small telescopes), it would appear -- through the telescope --as large as the Full Moon does to the naked eye.
Someone reporting this dropped the pesky requirement for a telescope and simply stated that Mars was to be as large as the Full Moon.
Which, of course, it can never be.
However, every year since 2003, some idiots repeat the same thing (changing the year but not the date) and send it out as an "announcement".
Maybe, this year, they thought about checking the real date of this year's opposition (December 24-25) and are now sending it out.
The fact that Mars will be in opposition on December 24, 2007 is true. However, it is not a very favorable one (the distance between Mars and Earth being much larger than in 2003) and Mars will only appear to be 16" (1/225 of a degree).
Furthermore, the Full Moon will appear very close, in the sky, to Mars on the night of December 23-24. Some people may get to see an occultation (the Moon passing in front of Mars, hiding it). The occultation will be visible in Northwestern Canada, in Alaska, in Northern Russia and in the Northern parts of Europe. The rest of us still get to see the Moon and Mars very close together.
It will be clear that Mars is nowhere as big as the Full Moon: the Moon's apparent diameter will be 115 times that of Mars.
2007-12-20 01:02:07 · answer #1 · answered by Raymond 7 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Every so often, Mars or Venus can appear almost as big and bright as the full moon (actually nothing like as bright in terms of actual watts per square metre; but due to the way human eyes work, and the fact that there is nothing else remotely as bright about, it looks it). That is a real astronomical fact. It is, however, a lot more common than the e-mail makes out, occurring every year or two. Hence the hoax bit -- many people alive today will survive to see it again (and again, and again, and again .....)
The really rare astronomical event was the Transit of Venus in 2004 (there will be another in 2012, then not again until 2117). If we get a staffed mission to Mars before 2084, it will be possible to observe a Transit of Earth from there.
2007-12-20 01:13:43 · answer #2 · answered by sparky_dy 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
the e-mail is junk mail and is a hoax. Mars has on no account regarded an identical length as a results of fact the moon and on no account will see you later as a results of fact the earth, moon and Mars stay in thier orbits. i do no longer assume there replaced right into a hyperlink on that email replaced into there? the different website in all hazard had a sponsor that paide a pair of pennies for each hit. it is the reason the style of super form of of this idiotic emails get despatched out.
2016-12-18 05:27:01 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thats a fake mail noting that mars will become as bright as full moon and it will seem that there are two moons in the sky....
Such mails are really fake and dont belive on them...
thank you.
2007-12-19 23:14:08 · answer #4 · answered by Vipul C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The moon in the sky & the moon with you in hany.
2007-12-19 23:20:08 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Never been mooned by twins?
2007-12-19 23:51:07 · answer #6 · answered by Kes 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋