MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) branded yesterday as a hoax a report spreading by email that the planets Earth and Mars would have their “closest encounter” today.
Jose Mendoza, Pagasa weather specialist II, said the report has been circulating in emails and text messages since 2003.
The report states that “on Aug. 27, the Earth would catch up with Mars for the closest encounter of the two planets in recorded history.”
The report claimed that Mars would be 34.65 million miles away from Earth today.
Mendoza said Pagasa issued a statement as early as 2005 declaring the report a hoax.
He said the Earth and Mars had their closest encounter on Aug. 27, 2003 where Mars was just about 56 million kilometers away from Earth. The normal distance of Mars from Earth is 225 million kilometers. – Helen Flores