Email Hoax - Planet Mars at closest distance to earth
The August 4, 2007 daily newsletter from www.spaceweather.com warns of the continued circulation of a hoax from 2003 claiming that the Earth is nearing it's closest approach to Mars ever. While true in 2003, the claims were unfounded and annually in August the email hoax resurfaces.
This is one more example of why these alarming messages should not be forwarded to everyone you know. Folks should verify these types of messages to ensure all information is accurate. In most cases, when an email says to "pass it on" to your friends, you should pass it to the recycling bin instead.
Email Hoax - Planet Mars is at closest distance to earth
http://spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=04&month=08&year=2007
Additional links on Mars email hoax
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/07jul_marshoax.htm
http://www.snopes.com/science/mars.asp
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=mars+email+hoax
QUOTE: BEWARE THE MARS HOAX: It's August, which means it's time for the annual Mars Hoax. An email is going around claiming that Mars will approach Earth on August 27th; the encounter will be so close, the email states, that Mars will rival the full Moon in size and brightness. (Imagine the tides!) 
Don't believe it.
The Mars Hoax email first appeared in 2003. On August 27th of that year, Mars really did come historically close to Earth. But the email's claim that Mars would rival the Moon was grossly exaggerated. Every August since 2003, the email has staged a revival.
Here's something that is true: Mars is having a close encounter with the Pleiades star cluster, easily seen in the eastern sky before sunrise. Especially good mornings to look are August 6th and 7th when the crescent Moon joins the planet and the cluster to form a pretty celestial triangle. Set your alarm!