a friend told me that in December mars would be visible from earth and that it would be the size of a penny if the moon is the size of a half dollar is that true and if not will any other planet ever be visible like this?
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1. The Earth IS a planet itself. All the planets are visible from Earth all the time, except for brief periods when they are too close to the Sun to be seen.
2. The closest a planet can ever come to Earth happened 3 weeks ago on June 5, when Venus was as close to Earth as any planet can ever be. It was just large enough to be visible silhouetted against the Sun, about 1/30 of the diameter of the Sun or Moon, and MUCH smaller than a penny is in comparison to a half dollar.
3. Mars never gets as close to Earth as Venus did on June 5, plus it is a smaller planet than Venus. Mars NEVER appears larger than a pinpoint of light, except through a telescope.
4. In December Mars will be far from the Earth, almost as far as it can ever get, on the far side of the Sun. It was last close to Earth on March 5 2012, and won't be close again until May 2014.
5. In short, everything your friend told you is false.
2. The closest a planet can ever come to Earth happened 3 weeks ago on June 5, when Venus was as close to Earth as any planet can ever be. It was just large enough to be visible silhouetted against the Sun, about 1/30 of the diameter of the Sun or Moon, and MUCH smaller than a penny is in comparison to a half dollar.
3. Mars never gets as close to Earth as Venus did on June 5, plus it is a smaller planet than Venus. Mars NEVER appears larger than a pinpoint of light, except through a telescope.
4. In December Mars will be far from the Earth, almost as far as it can ever get, on the far side of the Sun. It was last close to Earth on March 5 2012, and won't be close again until May 2014.
5. In short, everything your friend told you is false.
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Yeah, and it would take a pretty good telescope to see Mars like that.
Saw Mars when it was closest in the last 55,600 years during a very near passage of only 35,000,000 miles in August--September 2003. Will not get closer for another few thousand years.
Saw Mars when it was closest in the last 55,600 years during a very near passage of only 35,000,000 miles in August--September 2003. Will not get closer for another few thousand years.
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Mars is already visible from Earth. The only time it is not visible is the brief time it is lost in the sun's glare. It never looks as big as you describe. Mars looks like a bright red colored star to the naked eye.
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That better not happen. But there is no known event going on that would cause Mars to so close. Your friend is wrong.
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Your friend is wrong. It will be visible, but only a red dot.
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We already see mars its the size of a dot