SPACE WIRE
Mars movements spark huge rise in German "UFO sightings"
MANNHEIM, Germany (AFP) Aug 27, 2003
As the planet Mars has moved to its closest point to Earth in around 60,000 years, the number of "UFO sightings" in Germany has soared, a researcher said Wednesday.

"I'm hearing some of the most outrageous claims at the moment," said Werner Walter, who heads Germany's CENAP centre tasked with investigating reports about unidentified flying objects.

On Wednesday, Mars moved its closest to Earth since Neanderthals walked the planet -- an estimated 55.76 million kilometres (34.65 million miles) away.

The fourth planet from the Sun, Mars appeared red and orange and as bright as Jupiter, the giant of our solar system, as it made the rare orbital rendezvous with the Earth.

A retired German couple said their car had been followed for about two hours by an orange UFO only about 500 metres (yards) from them on August 13. Another caller recently said that the moon had been "followed by something" for hours.

"Mars, with its fiery colour, could easily fool people who are not too well informed into believing they are witnessing the arrival of a UFO," Walter said.

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