You and I were on the same wavelength, Eric...I also wondered about that
assertion...that you'd have to look for it but that it'd be as large as
the full moon?  So I went to the trusty stardate.org website where there
was not a thing mentioned about this event, and in about 2 seconds
reached the same conclusion you did.

Thanks for reminding us not to believe everything we read,
Lisa at the PTJ:RS 

-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Eric Johnson
Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2005 8:52 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Site to Check Out Before You Publish

Alas, the Mars event referred to below is apparently an Internet hoax,
or an outgrowth of an actual event from 2003 that took on a life of its
own.  I got excited at the notion, but then I wondered about the "Mars
will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye" statement so I did
some poking that unveiled these articles:

http://www.herald-sun.com/orange/10-620211.html

http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/columnists/bogert/articles/1631637.html

Now back to your regularly-scheduled discussions of Virginia history.
;)

All my best,

--Eric

Eric D. M. Johnson
Proprietor
The Village Factsmith Historical Research & Consulting
http://www.factsmith.com/ [log in to unmask]


----- Original Message -----
From: <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2005 7:53 AM
Subject: Re: Site to Check Out Before You Publish


In a message dated 6/29/05 9:08:29 AM, [log in to unmask] writes:

- - - - - - - - - -

[Sorry, I can't source this article. A friend sent it to me.]

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.

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