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by Rob_Haswell from FOX 6 Milwaukee

Last Post 2 days, 11 hours Ago


Did you hear the one about Mars?
Aug 27, 2008 | 11:09 AM
Category: Weather
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By now, many of you may have read the email about Mars being close to the earth tonight. Some of the emails even claim it will look like a second moon in the sky!

Well, I am sorry to tell you it won't be happening tonight or really any night as it's described in the email. It is a hoax.

The email has Mars closer to the sun that has been in over 5,000 years and goes on to say that if you look at Mars through a 75-power telescope that it appears as large as the moon does to the naked eye.

Nope. None of that is true.

You see, both planets are on elliptical orbits, with the earth going around the sun twice as fast as Mars so the two are at their closest about every 26 months.

The next time the orbits of Earth and Mars pass their closest is in 2010.

Mars was at its “closest” to the Earth in December 2003 but it can never look like the moon as Moon is always closer to Earth.

Astronomers will tell you that during August 2008 the view of Mars will actually be “at its faintest” after being somewhat closer to Earth during December 2007.


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Member Comments Total Comments: 4
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Joanne_Williams read my blog view my photos
Aug 27, 2008 | 5:19 PM

Oh No!!
I am so disappointed!!
I was looking forward to this spectacular sight in tonight's sky and now all I have to watch are the Harley's rolling into town.

Joanne
ramquad
Aug 27, 2008 | 7:55 PM

Thank-q for clearing that up Rob, thats why they pay you the big bucks !
JAGuse read my blog
Aug 28, 2008 | 4:27 PM

Oh shoot, I thought that at last with the aid of my 75-power telescope I could finally answer the age old question concerning the existence of intelligent life on Mars. Maybe in 2010 my questions will be answered.
loripav read my blog view my photos
Aug 28, 2008 | 8:57 PM

I never heard about the Mars ordeal. How interesting. Like always, all the fox 6 has had very interesting storys. Thanks for that.
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Rob_Haswell

FOX 6 Meteorologist =========================
Rob is an AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist and also holds the National Weather Association Seal of Approval as well as the Endorsement of the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society. =========================
A long, long, time ago in a farmers field far, far away, Rob noticed a change in the wind and became fascinated with the weather. Why you ask? (Pause for you to say "why?") Well, it was at that moment he realized he was downwind of the manure pile on the turkey farm where he grew up! After that he watched the weather very carefully in an effort to save his sense of smell! Okay, that's not entirely true but I did grow up on a turkey farm and I have been fascinated with weather and broadcasting for quite some time. I began my career in radio before making the jump to TV. I worked on Good Morning Toronto. After that, I decided to pursue my dream of living and working in the U.S. and joined Wake Up Rochester in Rochester NY. I spent three years in "Bills Country" before coming to my senses and moving to "Packer-Town!" (GO PACK!) I also spent some time trying to make it big as a comic actor and studied the art of improvisation at Toronto's Second City Theatre with teachers like SCTV's Joe Flaherty! I moved here with my beautiful wife, Tanya, who's the real comedian in the family, my son Noah, who's giving my wife a run for the title of funniest Haswell and my daughter Nyla who is the cutest 2 feet of human being you could ever meet! We're very excited to be living in the great city of Milwaukee and we're looking forward to learning all there is to know about Wisconsin! By the way, where do you buy those cheesehead hats anyway?

Member Since: 8/24/2006


 

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