Wouldn't it also do bad things to our tides?

Depends. If the Moon and Mars lined up at that time, yes. If they were at 90 degrees to each other at that moment, they would largely cancel out, like the Sun and Moon do for neap tides. Haven't figured out yet which would have the stronger pull, Mars or the Moon, if they are at equal apparent diameter.

Uh...if you are looking at it under 75x magnification, how, uh, can you be said to be looking at it with the naked eye?

Naked eye = nothing in front of it.
75x mag = Telescope in front of it.

Duh?

You're asking the wrong guy. I don't get any of it.

The point is, the e-mail says that undeer 75x magninifation it looks as big as the moon to the naked eye, but every single person who has mentioned the e-mail to me says that Mars will be as big as the Moon and it's obvious they've missed the magnification part. If you read it carefully, it is as you said perfectly clear--but somehow a lot of people are getting it mixed up. I suspect it is much more word of mouth than people actually reading the e-mail.

so did anybody see mars?

I put this image together for a friend who was asking about the email that was circulating. Keeping in mind that this started circulating in 2003 (which is when the event actually happened) and in August of 2003, Mars was indeed quite close.

If the moon had been full and visible on the night, this is the correct Mars/Moon scale for this "life changing" event.
Moon and Mars image

Well, people probably read the sentence wrong. It should have been read as," At a modest 75-power magnification Mars will look *as large as the full moon to the naked eye*." Not,"At a modest 75-power magnification Mars will look *as large as the full moon* to the naked eye." Booyah, grammar strikes again!

This is good info! Where else can if ind out more?? Who runs this joint too? Keep up the good work :)

inordinate logbook you've chalk up

Love all the opinions expressed here! How is everyone? Love how everyone expresses whatr they feel :)

Love all the opinions expressed here! How is everyone? Love how everyone expresses whatr they feel :)

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