According to reports, an unverified WhatsApp message is being sent by users to each other, which says that Mars will approach Earth on August 28, 2015. As per the hoax, the Red Planet’s rays will be straight and closer than ever before.

According to the broadly circulated message, NASA has warned all mobile users to keep their mobiles away while sleeping between 12:30 am to 3:30 am IST on August 28. The message said that the reason behind it is that the red planet approaches Earth and could release large amount of radiation.

Every August, these types of mobile messages, or prank e-mails, circulate and make people attentive or threaten them at the doomsday prophecy. According to the United States space agency, the messages are annoying and not needed to be answered.

On July 7, 2005, a similar message was circulated which said, “Earth is catching up with Mars [for] the closest approach between the two planets in recorded history. On August 27th … Mars will look as large as the full moon. NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN”.

The message was reported to be a big prank. The red planet was closest to our planet at 56 million kilometers. It was nearest ever and was seen even with naked eye. Mars appears similar to a big star when it approaches nearly 56 to 70 million KM; however, it is definitely not as big as the moon.