Astronauts in space see a giant lit circle, they are just incorrect about it being spherical. Easy mistake - no conspiracy.
Are the "astronauts" orbiting something? Or are they flying in circles ?
they are circling the earth, just as the sun/moon/planets ect do...
and if the sun is only 32 miles across, Mars, only 100 miles above the sun has to be very small.
no more than 1/4 miles in diameter