Several requests were received recently in connection to widely circulated Emails containing a combination of statements like the following:-



* In August, the planet Mars will be the “brightest object in the night sky” (except the Moon).



* On 27 August, Mars will look “as big as the full moon” – will in fact be a “second moon” (for one day).



* Mars will be “spectacular” and easy to “spot”, “no one alive will ever see this again”, and so on.



None of these statements are entirely false, but unfortunately also not true to the extent that they are reflected here (and in the E-mails).



Earth made a very close approach to Mars in August 2003, which resulted in it appearing unusually bright, the best on 27 August 2003. Approaches like these are repeated roughly every two years so later this year, the next close approach is due. However, it will not be on the exact same date (5/6 November 2005), and not quite to the same effect (although Mars will still be appearing brighter than it usually does).



In August 2003, when viewed through an optical aid (telescope or binoculars) having a magnification of about 75 times, Mars indeed appeared to be the same size as the full moon viewed without the optical aid. This important qualification was omitted in most of the circulated E-mails, leaving the impression that the two celestial objects will appear to be the same size this year, both viewed without any optical aid. This is not true at all, and can never be true unless a major catastrophe happens.



So, Mars will be brighter than usual in 2005, and is in fact already a bright object in the morning sky, but will not be as spectacular as the widely circulated Emails were suggesting.

Ah, a smart guy, eh?

relax, i pulled that from some site. I didn't come up with that my self.

Curly: Well, me and my pals, we're musicians. We were tearin' up some hot swing music in the York Esther. Gail over there was swingin' her fans. Her sweetie Koik Robin was inhalin' a bottle of hooch over at a table. And a hoofer by the name of Buck Wing was gettin' ready to shake his tootsies.





Defense attorney: Kindly speak English and drop the vernacular.

Curly: [Holding his Derby hat] Vernaculah? That's a doiby!



Defense attorney: Drop the vernacular!



[Curly drops his hat]



Defense attorney: No, no, not that! I mean talk so the jury can understand!



Curly: Is everybody dumb?

[quote name='Rob x-7' date='Aug 9 2005, 07:56 PM']Curly: Well, me and my pals, we're musicians. We were tearin' up some hot swing music in the York Esther. Gail over there was swingin' her fans. Her sweetie Koik Robin was inhalin' a bottle of hooch over at a table. And a hoofer by the name of Buck Wing was gettin' ready to shake his tootsies.

Defense attorney: Kindly speak English and drop the vernacular.

Curly: [Holding his Derby hat] Vernaculah? That's a doiby!



Defense attorney: Drop the vernacular!



[Curly drops his hat]



Defense attorney: No, no, not that! I mean talk so the jury can understand!



Curly: Is everybody dumb?


[/quote]

ROFL