PLANET MARS NEAR EARTH

PLANET MARS ON AUGUST 27, 2003
7:00 p.m. Alfonso, Cavite

Nothing twinkles in the sky. It was cloudy all over due to a lingering typhoon. A friend texted me: “Mars is already visible. We are at Mico’s deck”. I quickly went to the place which was only a stone’s throw from my house. From there I saw a non-twinkling reddish-yellow light at the southeastern portion of the sky. It was like planet Venus, the evening star, during its brightest moment.

The reddish-yellow object dominating the cloudy sky was planet Mars now nearest to earth at only around 50 million kilometer distance (usually around 250 million kilometers).

The phenomenon that occurred 60,000 years ago and estimated by scientists to occur again in the year 2287 is truly spectacular.

I knew millions all over the world are staring at Mars, the next planet to earth from the sun. It is also considered the planet of war. Does the close encounter signify anything?

A lot of war is presently ongoing. War against poverty, war against vices, especially drug addiction. war against the NPA, the MNLF, the Abu-Sayyaf, the underground elements, the terrorists, the kidnappers, etc., etc.

Was it the coming closer of the war planet that caused all these wars or was it all these wars that attracted the war planet to come closer?

Some feared that the earth’s gravity might be strong enough to pull Mars to collide to Earth. Should that happen that would certainly end our world, which, could after all, be the best solution to all the turmoil we are now experiencing.

I waited until 1:30 a.m. the following morning hoping to see Mars on its brightest which, according to scientific reports should be as bright as half the full moon. I didn’t see such spectacle even with the aid of my binoculars. I breathed a sigh of relief and thanked God that Mars didn’t collide to earth.

No one living today would have another chance to observe such a wonderful heavenly event and I am so lucky to be a witness of this phenomenon.