Rumours of giant planet a hoax, says astronomer
Last Updated: Monday, July 17, 2006 | 4:47 PM CT
CBC News
Astronomers at the Manitoba Museum's planetarium have been fielding calls about an internet-based rumour that the planet Mars will appear as large as the moon this summer.
"The story goes that Mars will be at its closest point to Earth ever and that it will appear as big as the full moon in the sky," said astronomer Scott Young.
"They think it's an event they might want to see. They want to maybe go buy a telescope for it or know how to view it, and so we have to tell them it's not going to happen," he added.
"A few people who called have been concerned because they know enough that, you know, that's not supposed to happen, so [they're asking], 'Are there gravitational effects? Will there be larger tides?' People have some fairly sophisticated questions built on their understanding of the solar system."
Young said the hoax may be based on a real event in the summer of 2003, when Mars was the closest it's been to Earth in 60,000 years.
Even then, however, the planet appeared in the sky as only a bright star.
While Manitobans won't get to see a giant planet, Young said there will be some great sights in the night sky this year.
Later this year, the moon will pass through the Pleiades or Seven Sisters star cluster, and will block, or occult, several of the brighter stars in the cluster as seen from Manitoba.
Also, a minor meteor shower will peak on the night of July 27, producing as many as 20 shooting stars per hour.
