Maybe you've heard the story. In one of those emails passed around from friend to friend. About Mars appearing like a full moon come August 27th. Sorry to disappoint you, but it's a hoax.
For the 6th year in a row, the emails have been flying about Mars being "really really big" this year. As with most stories, there is a element of truth to it. Way back in 2003, August 27th to be exact, Mars reached the closest it would get to Earth in 60,000 years. It appeared in the sky 6 times larger and 85 times brighter than it usually does, but not anywhere near the size of a full moon. Even with my small telescope, one could make out the frozen poles on the Martian surface.
Anyway, no chance of that this year.
-Colonel Steve
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