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arcane1

(38,613 posts) Thu Aug 27, 2015, 04:59 PM Aug 2015

I can't believe Snopes had to waste time debunking this

But sure enough, one of my friends posted this to Facebook and thought it was real.

This is why we can't have nice things.

Mid-August 2015 saw the circulation of the meme displayed above, one reporting that the moon will “inexplicably duplicate 37 times and will be visible from Earth” on 5 September 2015, an event that will not recur until the year 2274.

This is one of those items that even we didn’t think would require debunking, but so many readers have since inquired about it that we have to take a stab at explaining it:

Read more at http://m.snopes.com/many-moons/#ylLZOLr4rYD7zBIZ.99

17 replies

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Highlight:

I can't believe Snopes had to waste time debunking this (Original Post) arcane1 Aug 2015 OP

The astronomy group I'm with spends a lot of time... TreasonousBastard Aug 2015 #1

There was one recently that said the moon & Mars will be the same size on some date arcane1 Aug 2015 #3

Oh, man, did we get calls about that moon and mars thing... TreasonousBastard Aug 2015 #5

It's heartening to know some people are actually taking time to find out! arcane1 Aug 2015 #7

Do you mean the local astronomy group in New York ? BlueJazz Aug 2015 #4

One of several... TreasonousBastard Aug 2015 #8

Thank you. The South Florida one is a little too far...for me. BlueJazz Aug 2015 #10

September 5th... sarisataka Aug 2015 #2

I'm half-tempted to reply that it's only visible in the southern hemisphere arcane1 Aug 2015 #6

Obviously sarisataka Aug 2015 #9

I've heard it (they) will only be visible in the Eastern Hemisphere Art_from_Ark Aug 2015 #13

how can you debunk that? Enrique Aug 2015 #11

We can make it happen pintobean Aug 2015 #12

Yes, that will definitely multiply any perceived object! arcane1 Aug 2015 #14

Is this also the date of The Rapture???? SwissTony Aug 2015 #15

it's absolutely true though azurnoir Aug 2015 #16

I heard from authoritative sources that the tides will be massively impacted by this magical thyme Aug 2015 #17

TreasonousBastard

(43,049 posts)

1. The astronomy group I'm with spends a lot of time...

Reply to arcane1 (Original post)

Thu Aug 27, 2015, 05:02 PM

Aug 2015

debunking bullshit like this. But, not that many are interested in the real stuff up there in space.

Go figure.

arcane1

(38,613 posts)

3. There was one recently that said the moon & Mars will be the same size on some date

Reply to TreasonousBastard (Reply #1)

Thu Aug 27, 2015, 05:15 PM

Aug 2015

People fell for that too. Funny how nobody ever comes back and says "That thing I posted was bullshit".

There's one going around recently that said Mars will merely be visible on some date, and never again for several hundred years.

The "picture with text" form of communication can be very effective, but it seems to be mostly used in spreading nonsense.

TreasonousBastard

(43,049 posts)

5. Oh, man, did we get calls about that moon and mars thing...

Reply to arcane1 (Reply #3)

Thu Aug 27, 2015, 05:19 PM

Aug 2015

more than about the meteor showers. The good news is that most people were at least a little skeptical and calling for reassurance.

Bottom line is that science education sucks. Or, maybe students suck for not being interested in science education.

arcane1

(38,613 posts)

7. It's heartening to know some people are actually taking time to find out!

Reply to TreasonousBastard (Reply #5)

Thu Aug 27, 2015, 05:25 PM

Aug 2015

I think part of it is also a tendency to believe anything that appears on a screen

BlueJazz

(25,348 posts)

4. Do you mean the local astronomy group in New York ?

Reply to TreasonousBastard (Reply #1)

Thu Aug 27, 2015, 05:17 PM

Aug 2015

Just curious, I'm an amateur astronomer (here in Sarasota, Fl.) Never joined a group...yet.

TreasonousBastard

(43,049 posts)

8. One of several...

Reply to BlueJazz (Reply #4)

Thu Aug 27, 2015, 05:29 PM

Aug 2015

Custer Institute, AOS, ASLI, Montauk Observatory... all on Long Island although AOS and ASLI are LI branches.

Where's Markham-- this looks like a good one: http://www.sfaaa.com/

google "sarasota amateur astronomy" and find some more

Astronomy groups are all over the country-- happy viewing.

BlueJazz

(25,348 posts)

10. Thank you. The South Florida one is a little too far...for me.

Reply to TreasonousBastard (Reply #8)

Thu Aug 27, 2015, 05:49 PM

Aug 2015

sarisataka

(18,655 posts)

2. September 5th...

Reply to arcane1 (Original post)

Thu Aug 27, 2015, 05:04 PM

Aug 2015

got it. Will it be visible in the Northern hemisphere?

arcane1

(38,613 posts)

6. I'm half-tempted to reply that it's only visible in the southern hemisphere

Reply to sarisataka (Reply #2)

Thu Aug 27, 2015, 05:24 PM

Aug 2015

Just to see what the reaction would be

sarisataka

(18,655 posts)

9. Obviously

Reply to arcane1 (Reply #6)

Thu Aug 27, 2015, 05:33 PM

Aug 2015

I'd buy a plane ticket to Australia

Art_from_Ark

(27,247 posts)

13. I've heard it (they) will only be visible in the Eastern Hemisphere

Reply to arcane1 (Reply #6)

Thu Aug 27, 2015, 10:31 PM

Aug 2015

So you guys in the Western Hemisphere will be out of luck

Enrique

(27,461 posts)

11. how can you debunk that?

Reply to arcane1 (Original post)

Thu Aug 27, 2015, 06:53 PM

Aug 2015

all you can say is, no that is not going to happen.

pintobean

(18,101 posts)

12. We can make it happen

Reply to arcane1 (Original post)

Thu Aug 27, 2015, 07:45 PM

Aug 2015

arcane1

(38,613 posts)

14. Yes, that will definitely multiply any perceived object!

Reply to pintobean (Reply #12)

Thu Aug 27, 2015, 11:31 PM

Aug 2015

Science wins again!

SwissTony

(2,560 posts)

15. Is this also the date of The Rapture????

Reply to arcane1 (Original post)

Fri Aug 28, 2015, 05:21 AM

Aug 2015

azurnoir

(45,850 posts)

16. it's absolutely true though

Reply to arcane1 (Original post)

Fri Aug 28, 2015, 06:27 AM

Aug 2015

well if you're an insect that is, call it the 'bugs eye view'

magical thyme

(14,881 posts)

17. I heard from authoritative sources that the tides will be massively impacted by this

Reply to arcane1 (Original post)

Fri Aug 28, 2015, 09:21 AM

Aug 2015

Make sure you stay on high ground. The sea will be sloshing around every which way until it sorts itself out. Nobody can be sure where the new seashores are going to be, though. Also, high tide and low tide will be everywhere, all the time.

They told me to imagine a whisk beating eggs and milk around a bowl. The turbulence. The frothiness. That will be the ocean from Sept. 5 on out.

Sept. 5th -- oh shit! Now I get it!!!! That's my last day at work!!!!! Craps. That's why they dropped me from the schedule. I'll be working right by the docks that day....until I'm gone

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