RED PLANET

Mars will not kill you, say astronomers

On Aug. 27, Mars will be closer to Earth than in nearly 60,000 years. This 'close approach,' as it's being billed, has some folks worried about potential dangers here on our planet.
Planetary doom prognostications pop up again and again because a handful of astrologers and self-anointed visionaries persist in disseminating garbage about how the positions of the planets can affect Earth by generating earthquakes, storms or other catastrophes. The Internet has made publishing of these false claims easy and more frequent.
"Only those who are foolish enough to think the motions of the planets have a bearing on their lives believe in this pseudo-science," says Joe Rao, SPACE.com's Night Sky columnist. He has been getting e-mail about this, too.

[The headline and opinions above are not necessarily those of the editor. In short the editor labours under the belief that there is a deep connection between us and the cosmos and that there is always the possibility that Mars will some day, some how effect your/my demise ... so be warned!]