Mars is not back! An email hoax has circled the globe touting that something spectacular will happen in space on August 27. Mars "will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye," so this says. FALSE. Although that would be cool (and frightening), don't buy it. Mars won't be close to us again until 2012 but will never look like the full moon.
The Cincinnati Observatory has seen this email annually since 2003 when Mars was actually closest to the Earth. Pictures and PowerPoints are often added to highlight their errors.
Instead Venus and Jupiter are great right now. Venus is unmistakable in the west after sunset while Jupiter rises like a torch in the east after 11pm.
For more information on the hoax and Mars please contact:
Dean Regas
Outreach Astronomer
Cincinnati Observatory
(513) 321-5186
dean@cincinnatiobservatory.org
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2012 Hoax - The Real Story
The new #1 asked question at the Cincinnati Observatory is, "What will happen December 21, 2012?"
Answer: Nothing.
The world will not end. Forget what you read on websites. Don’t believe the horrible Hollywood movie. The Ancient Mayans knew great things about astronomy, could predict eclipses and cycles of Venus. But their calendars predict neither gloom nor doom. In fact their calendar cites an event to occur 2000 years in the future. They just flip their calendar over and start again every so often (like we do every year). The last time it flipped was August 11, 3114 BC. The world survived that date just fine.
In case you hear otherwise here are some facts:
1) We do not have a second Sun that will come near us called Nibiru
2) No asteroid is scheduled to hit us in 2012
3) The Earth's magnetic field is fine
4) The pole shift may be happening but it takes years and years and won't change anything
5) The continents will not move 1000 miles and Florida will not be on the North Pole
6) The Sun is not crazy-active, nor will it be in 2012
7) The Sun is not lining up with the center of the galaxy (that happened in 1999)
8) The planets will not align on that day
I do have one prediction for December 21, 2012: It will be seasonably cold in Cincinnati. So will the next day. For more information on the 2012 Hoax I am available for questions or interviews.
Dean Regas
Outreach Astronomer
Cincinnati Observatory
(513) 321-5186
deanobservatory@zoomtown.com
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Answer: Nothing.
The world will not end. Forget what you read on websites. Don’t believe the horrible Hollywood movie. The Ancient Mayans knew great things about astronomy, could predict eclipses and cycles of Venus. But their calendars predict neither gloom nor doom. In fact their calendar cites an event to occur 2000 years in the future. They just flip their calendar over and start again every so often (like we do every year). The last time it flipped was August 11, 3114 BC. The world survived that date just fine.
In case you hear otherwise here are some facts:
1) We do not have a second Sun that will come near us called Nibiru
2) No asteroid is scheduled to hit us in 2012
3) The Earth's magnetic field is fine
4) The pole shift may be happening but it takes years and years and won't change anything
5) The continents will not move 1000 miles and Florida will not be on the North Pole
6) The Sun is not crazy-active, nor will it be in 2012
7) The Sun is not lining up with the center of the galaxy (that happened in 1999)
8) The planets will not align on that day
I do have one prediction for December 21, 2012: It will be seasonably cold in Cincinnati. So will the next day. For more information on the 2012 Hoax I am available for questions or interviews.
Dean Regas
Outreach Astronomer
Cincinnati Observatory
(513) 321-5186
deanobservatory@zoomtown.com
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Labels:
2012,
December 21,
End of the World,
Hoax,
Mayan Calendar
Cincinnati Observatory Wins NASA Education Grant
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has selected a proposal from the Cincinnati Observatory to continue and expand astronomy education for the next three years. The program titled, "Future Galileos" would provide 20 quality telescopes and training to 20 teams (for each of the next three years) to reach a wide and diverse audience and further astronomy education in the region. These 60 telescopes and astronomers would join 40 previous recipients. By 2012 there will be 100 telescopes in our community making Cincinnati Telescope Town.
NASA evaluated the proposal as excellent with high intrinsic, scientific, and technical merit. 28 other proposals were selected for funding.
Teachers, students, and community leaders are encouraged to apply for Future Galileos. Applications will be accepted between January 1 and March 31, 2010. For more information please contact:
Dean Regas
Outreach Astronomer
Cincinnati Observatory Center
513-321-5186
deanobservatory@zoomtown.com
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NASA evaluated the proposal as excellent with high intrinsic, scientific, and technical merit. 28 other proposals were selected for funding.
Teachers, students, and community leaders are encouraged to apply for Future Galileos. Applications will be accepted between January 1 and March 31, 2010. For more information please contact:
Dean Regas
Outreach Astronomer
Cincinnati Observatory Center
513-321-5186
deanobservatory@zoomtown.com
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Labels:
Galileo,
NASA,
Telescopes
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