It's BAAAAAAACK!!!! That stupid email about Mars looming in our night sky like a big ol' 'nuther Moon is making the rounds again. No! It won't happen!! It can't happen!!!
No, not at all. Or, mostly not at all. This began in 2003, when Mars really did make the closest approach in modern human history. But it still just appeared as a bright red star. The original information was meant for stargazers, not really the general public. Through a telescope, at a magnification of 35 power, Mars would appear through the telescope to be about the same size as the Moon with the naked eye (not through the telescope). Comprehendo? The first time it came around, I think it was an honest misunderstanding. Second time, in 2005, might have been another honest misunderstanding. Third time? I sorta think people are deliberately sending this around.
If Mars ever got close enough to appear naked eye as big as the Moon, like this has led some folk to believe, the gravitational disruption would end human civilization and change Earth's orbit. Bad news, worse than Bush getting a third term.
I wrote about this last year, when it didn't even have the decency to come around at the right time (Mars is on a roughly 2-year close approach cycle thing).
But we like the Moon!