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whadu · Level 49: GameShark **Posts:** 37005 **Timestamp:** Thu Aug 28, 08 12:00 AM

indiatimes: CHENNAI: "Two moons may shine in the sky on August 27" screams the e-mail in bold blue letters, and people are reacting in myriad ways. While some are getting ready to spot the moons in the night sky, others are gearing up to do homams on such an auspicious day.

But the 'two moons phenomenon ' is just a hoax says Soundararaja Perumal, joint director, Birla Planetarium.

He says that in 2003, Mars came very close on August 27, and when seen through a powerful telescope the angular size of the planet was half degree on that day.

The moon when seen with the naked eye is also half degree . So NASA issued a message calling the phenomenon 'two moons.'

"Since that year people have been editing the same message and sending it on every August 27. This year Mars is far away and it is very difficult to see it," he says. He supports the view of other astronomers who call it 'The Great Mars Hoax.'

News that this is not a onein-150-years phenomenon, could come as a dampener to many.

P Vijaylakshmi, a resident of Indira Nagar, says she has paid Rs 200 for a 'Samishti Homam' at the Ratnagirishwarar Temple in Besant Nagar .

"I wanted to register for the 'Sankalpam Homam' , but I happened to get this pamphlet by chance and didn't have enough money with me at that time so I signed up for this one," she said.

P Raju, student of M Ct M School in Vepery, says his parents told him not to go to school today. "So I can relax at home, watch TV and do some gaming as my parents will probably not allow me to go out anywhere," he says. Two moons or none, some people are out to have some fun. For most, however, it's just another day.

Source: indiatimes.com

Moons,

Hoax

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