Phoenix Magoo » Mars http://phoenixmagoo.com a Collective Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:45:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 en hourly 1 Mars will NOT be as large in the sky as the Moon http://phoenixmagoo.com/2009/06/05/mars-will-not-be-as-large-in-the-sky-as-the-moon/ http://phoenixmagoo.com/2009/06/05/mars-will-not-be-as-large-in-the-sky-as-the-moon/#comments Fri, 05 Jun 2009 20:56:53 +0000 DrNecropolis http://phoenixmagoo.com/?p=635
Earth, Moon and Mars to scale
Earth, Moon and Mars to scale

It’s that time of the year again.  Every year during some point in the summer, a ridiculous e-mail begins it’s circulation.  This email goes to great lengths to show how during X month this summer, Mars will appear in the sky larger than the Moon.  This is completely fallacious, it impossible for Mars to appear bigger than the Moon from Earth.  Yes, Mars is bigger than the Moon, but it is also  ~55 million km away at its closest point.  So no matter how you cut it, from this distance Mars looks small.  Some of you will inevitably hear about this, be sure to tell the person who sent it to you…NO!  You’re Wrong!!!

For more info check out the Bad Astronomy Blog

Thanks to Bluedharma for the image

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