Can Aug 27 be designated as Dope Slap Day?

[BobG]

How many years in a row is this E-Mail going to make the rounds? The E-mail refers to something that happened in 2003, for crying out loud! (And maybe they should at least put the words, "At a modest 75-power magnification " in bold-faced lettering.)

The Red Planet is about to be spectacular! This month and next, Earth is catching up with Mars in an encounter that will culminate in the closest approach between the two planets in recorded history. The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287. Due to the way Jupiter's gravity tugs on Mars and perturbs its orbit, astronomers can only be certain that Mars has not come this close to Earth in the Last 5,000 years, but it may be as long as 60,000 years before it happens again.

The encounter will culminate on August 27th when Mars comes to within 34,649,589 miles of Earth and will be (next to the moon) the brightest object in the night sky. It will attain a magnitude of -2.9 and will appear 25.11 arc seconds wide. At a modest 75-power magnification Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. Mars will be easy to spot. At the beginning of August it will rise in the east at 10 p.m. and reach its azimuth at about 3 a.m.

By the end of August when the two planets are closest, Mars will rise at nightfall and reach its highest point in the sky at 12:30 a.m. That's pretty convenient to see something that no human being has seen in recorded history. So, mark your calendar at the beginning of August to see Mars grow progressively brighter and brighter throughout the month. Share this with your children and grandchildren. NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN

 

[FredGarvin]

I've seen people recently printing off that e-mail so they had a quick reference handy. I do try to let people know that 90% of the e-mails they get are pure BS, but they seem to think that I am just a nay-sayer. Techicalities and details aside.

 

[Evo]

My faith in the utter lack of basic general knowledge of the majority of humans on this planet is re-affirmed daily.

I wonder how many people will be watching this rare occurrence on the 27th and swear they witnessed it.