The oscillating orbits of Mars and Earth did, in fact, bring the
two planets closer together on August 27, 2003 than at any other
time during the past 50,000 years. Though Mars never actually
appeared "as large as the full moon" -- not even close -- it was
indeed, for a few days in 2003, among the brightest objects in the
night sky.
In October 2005 another well-publicized "close encounter" occurred,
though in that case the planets were about 13 million kilometers
further apart than during the 2003 event.
Nothing so spectacular is predicted for 2007.
