First off, the reference to "August 27th" doesn't refer to this year. It actually refers to August 27, 2003. Mars did come historically close to Earth on that date. Now Mars will put on a fine show this year, but it will actually be during the months of October and November. It will look like a bright, red or rust colored star, but hardly as big as the full moon.

But you don't have to wait until this autumn. Look to the northeast-Mars will gleam like a bright red star near the Moon. As for the chain e-mail on Mars. Dump it in your delete file and don't pass it on. This e-mail is not worth the electrons it's written with.