The "Closest-Ever Mars" Hysteria-Hype

On Sun, 24 Aug 2003 12:57:50 GMT, "James Oberg"
wrote:

Is anybody else fed up with the "closest to Earth since Neanderthals"
hype about Mars? Is this supposed to get the public panicked or
freaked out, and make them all astronomy buffs -- until they
ACTUALLY go to a telescope, see the image -- nice but
not "as big as the MOON" in the viewer -- and feel conned.

Several of these type things have come out in recent years. What most
people don't realize is that the approach isn't that much closer than
others. It was 12,000 miles more distant than this close approach in
1924; 1.9 million miles for the closest approach 15 years ago.

I suspect that someone may discover these things and put them out for
fun, and they mushroom because most people don't realize that the
event isn't spectacular compared to others of its kind.

Jan Philips wrote:
Several of these type things have come out in recent years. What most
people don't realize is that the approach isn't that much closer than
others. It was 12,000 miles more distant than this close approach in
1924; 1.9 million miles for the closest approach 15 years ago.

I suspect that someone may discover these things and put them out for
fun, and they mushroom because most people don't realize that the
event isn't spectacular compared to others of its kind.

One real problem is the modern media. The 24 hour news channels have
to have something, *anything*, to fill the air, and Mars, along with
JLo, got grabbed.

D.
--
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Corrections, comments, and additions should be
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discussion.

"Derek Lyons" wrote in message
...
Jan Philips wrote:
Several of these type things have come out in recent years. What most
people don't realize is that the approach isn't that much closer than
others. It was 12,000 miles more distant than this close approach in
1924; 1.9 million miles for the closest approach 15 years ago.

I suspect that someone may discover these things and put them out for
fun, and they mushroom because most people don't realize that the
event isn't spectacular compared to others of its kind.

One real problem is the modern media. The 24 hour news channels have
to have something, *anything*, to fill the air, and Mars, along with
JLo, got grabbed.

Over here in the Netherlands, the mars opposition is not hyped, but then, we
don't have 24 hour news channels either :-)

On Sun, 24 Aug 2003 16:49:27 -0400, Jan Philips
wrote:

I suspect that someone may discover these things and put them out for
fun, and they mushroom because most people don't realize that the
event isn't spectacular compared to others of its kind.

Even my bridge club has put up a poster about the Mars close approach
(approx 16"x20")

"username" e-mail@adress wrote in message news:3f493faa$0$49104
Over here in the Netherlands, the mars opposition is not hyped, but then,
we
don't have 24 hour news channels either :-)

Yeah, and you only have two clear nights per year, I've heard. Come on over
here!

"James Oberg" wrote in message
...

"username" e-mail@adress wrote in message news:3f493faa$0$49104
Over here in the Netherlands, the mars opposition is not hyped, but
then,
we
don't have 24 hour news channels either :-)

Yeah, and you only have two clear nights per year, I've heard. Come on
over
here!

well, you've heard wrong, but indeed the wheather can be bad here. light
pollution is worse though.