Ask an Astronomer: Mars and the Moon on August 27

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SUMMARY

On August 27, observers will see Mars positioned adjacent to the Moon around 1 - 2 AM. However, the distance disparity is significant, with Mars being 37 million miles away compared to the Moon's 1/4 million miles, resulting in a 75:1 ratio in subtended arcs. This discussion references the annual "Mars will look as big as the Moon" hoax, which resurfaces each August. Currently, Mars is not near opposition, located on the opposite side of the Sun, approximately 200 million miles away.

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stevmg
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On August 27 we are supposed to see Mars adjacent to the Moon about 1 - 2 AM so it looks like this picture.

Doesn't make sense. Mars is 37 million miles away while the moon is 1/4 million miles away. That makes the subtended arcs in a 75:1 ratio Moon:Mars (because Mars is twice the diameter of the moon.)

Any comments from anyone?
 

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Ugh, I can't believe this is coming back again. Mars isn't even anywhere near opposition right now - it is on the other side of the sun from us, some 200 million miles away.

About 7 years ago (August, 2003), Mars was closer than it usually gets - by a few percent - and it was probably due to some, some sloppy reporter misunderstanding an astronomer when told that Mars would look as big through an amatuer telescope as the Moon does to the naked eye.

http://www.snopes.com/science/astronomy/brightmars.asp
 
Muchas Gracias!

I thought I was right...

stevmg
 

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