Mars

[Lucy]

Hi everybody!

I read now that since the beginning of August there is a wonderful, unique astronomical phenomenon: on 27th August the Mars will be as big as the Moon. We'll have two "Moons" - a silver and a red one.  So please, please Markus, share your wisdom with us, I don't know, in which countries can we see it (out of mine), and please, explain a little! LEPACA MARKUS! 

And please, all other NTSMS friends of mine, tell me what have you heard about it! 

Thanks!
Lucy

[Luth]

I can only say...

LEPACA MARKUS!!!!!

LEPACA MARKUS!!!!!!

LEPACA MARKUS!!!!!!

[Lucy]

Wow! Now, that's an invocation! (I can't hear anything  )

[Markus]

Stirs in dreadful sleep, turns over and keeps sleeping

Stirs again, wakes up with a deafening roar

Who dares awaken me? Who dares to face my wrath?!

Ah, it's you. Hi folks!

Bursts into laughter, then calms down

Sorry to disappoint you, ladies, but that's a hoax. Firstly, the closest approach between Mars and Earth in millennia was in August 2003, so this is a kind of zombie news. But chiefly Mars can never be as big in the skies as our moon: Luna has a diameter of 3.476 km, Mars of 6.788 km - only about twice as big as our moon. But while our moon is only 384.000 km distant on average, Mars always keeps a distance of at least 56 millions of kilometres. So there's no chance ever to see Mars larger than a spot in the sky by the naked eye, distinguishable from the stars only by its brightness, colour and motion.

To top it all, Mars is invisible right now, standing on the other side of the sun.

Cheers, anyway!

Markus Astronomicus

[Lucy]

 

Thanks, anyway! I knew who to ask.