Social networks wanders sensation that Mars in August are as close as possible to the Ground and will look like a second Moon.

Note that Mars may not look like a second Moon - he's too far away from our planet. Therefore, August 27, Marsa will just brighter than usual.

We now can see that Mars has increased in size. For the "militant planet" best seen at night - this time its reddish glare will be visible better. In the month of August, the red planet will be seen more clearly than other space objects, with the exception of the moon and Venus.

The maximum rapprochement of Mars and Earth will take place August 27 at 12.51 Moscow time. To the naked eye Mars will appear as a small coin at a distance of about 150 meters. Red planet in size twice the moon, but in 145 times the distance it from the Earth, writes 2012over.ru

Earth and Mars "encounter" about every 26 months, following in their orbits around the Sun. Due to the fact that the orbits of the planets little irregular, the minimum distance separating them, ranging from 56 to 101 million km

To observe the surface of Mars will be possible even in the ordinary binoculars. Next time Mars close to Earth so close no earlier than August 29 2287 year.

Author: Eleanor Danilova

Refutation news, popular social networks, was Director of the Ryazan astronomical Observatory Andrey mourtazov. He called "brad gray Mare" the rumor that on the night of 26 to 27 August Mars close to Earth at the distance of the moon.

In a statement posted on a social network "Vkontakte" it was reported (spelling and punctuation preserved): "Promotion "Look at the night sky". This night the planet Mars, will only 34,his. miles from earth. To the naked eye, the planet will be visible as the full moon. It will look like two moons over the earth! Next time when Mars is so close to the Ground will only 2287 year."

"We need to teach astronomy in school. The distance from the Sun to Mars, about 220 million kilometers, and the distance from the sun to the Earth of about 150 million kilometers Thus, the difference between the planets around 70 million km Closer than the distance to Mars come to Earth just can't!", - said Andrey mourtazov. For what would have happened "Mars would have to descend from orbit," added Ryazan astronomer.