Earth - Mars distance and affects

Free Flight

Hi

I received an email today about Mars and how it is moving into the closest position to the earth which is a rare event (apparently occurring somewhere between 5000 and 60000 years!)

So to the astrologers here who are so knowledgeable, is this true?
I would imagine if it is it would have a massive effect? What would this be?

thanks
FF

this is what the email says

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.

The encounter will culminate on August 27th when
Mars comes to within 34,649,589 miles of Earth and
will be (next to the moon) the brightest object in
the night sky. It will attain a magnitude of -2.9
and will appear 25.11 arc seconds wide. At a modest
75-power magnification


Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye.
Mars will be easy to spot. At the
beginning of August it will rise in the east at 10p.m.
and reach its azimuth at about 3 a.m.

By the end of August when the two planets are
closest, Mars will rise at nightfall and reach its
highest point in the sky at 12:30a.m. That's pretty
convenient to see something that no human being has
seen in recorded history. So, mark your calendar at
the beginning of August to see Mars grow
progressively brighter and brighter throughout the
month.
Share this with your children and grandchildren.

NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN
 

GeorgiePorgie

Hi FreeFlight

I don't "do" astrology, but there is an article here that you may want to read.

Not sure if that is helpful, correct, otherwise :)
 

Free Flight

oops!
 

Fulgour

AU Definition:

An Astronomical Unit is approximately the mean distance between
the Earth and the Sun. It is a derived constant and used to indicate
distances within the solar system.

1 AU = 149,597,870.691 kilometers

At 2.47 AU Mars is now 369,506,730 kilometers from the Earth.
In October Mars will be 2.58 AU from Earth... it's moving away.
 

star-lover

i remember reading this in jonathan cainer's site, but was in 2003!

off topic, but this reminded of it now, what happened in 2004 was venus transiting over the sun - not seen before by anyone alive now

did anyone here find the love of their lives that summer then? or since? a once in a lifetime apparently opportunity? if not, then >>>>

it will happen again in 6 years time !! :)

i still have my picture of it somewhere, was awesome