Bajafun777 - 7-31-2007 at 11:57 PM
Had a friend tell me on August 27th in the evening that the Moon and I believe he said Mars will line up just so as to make it appear that two moons
are in Heaven above, any truth to this??? Suppose to be the only time in any of our lifetimes that we will be able to see this occur. So, who are
the stars folks that know about these things???
bajafun777
BornFisher - 8-1-2007 at 07:54 AM
nonsense!! No planet could ever appear as large as the moon!!!
"As large as the moon?"
thebajarunner - 8-1-2007 at 08:50 AM
This all got started some time back - it is just another case of internet "whacko"
What was posted by astronomers was the fact that, indeed, the planet Mars is as close to Earth as it ever gets.
And, if view through a serious scope (I forget the magnification, I think it was like 60x) then Mars would appear the same size as the moon,
unmagnified.
Well, apparently it got edited down, the magnification part got excluded and.....
voila....
you got Mars and the Moon the same apparent size, as viewed from Earth.
Does this help? Or just further confuse things...
elizabeth - 8-1-2007 at 01:55 PM
"According to a widely forwarded email, August 27 will bring the closest encounter between Mars and Earth in recorded history. Unfortunately, this
'once in a lifetime event' already came and went in 2003."
This from urbanlegends.com. I looked it up when someone sent me the e-mail!!!
Here's the link to
BMG - 8-1-2007 at 02:01 PM
Snopes
Good site to check on urban legends when you're in doubt.
Bajafun777 - 8-1-2007 at 09:58 PM
Well, at least I do not have to go outside to look up at anything but one moon. My friend still doesn't believe it is not true. Maybe if he drinks
enough cold ones he could see four, and even if he did not, it would still not be wasted drinking time. Later---------------bajafun777
Here, I'll save your friend the effort
BMG - 8-1-2007 at 10:03 PM
I was taking a picture of the 'blue moon' in La Paz on May 31. Didn't even notice the planet that came out pretty clear in the pic. Does anyone know
if that is Mars? Jupiter? UFO? Seven Sisters?
Probably Jupiter
thebajarunner - 8-1-2007 at 10:23 PM
I am too lazy to dig out May star charts, but likely it is Jupiter, which was the main planet aloft then.
Cannot be Venus, because Venus was the "Evening Star" then (and now) and only a crescent Moon would be there in the evening sky.
P.S.
thebajarunner - 8-1-2007 at 10:25 PM
Nice Shot!!