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Catch a Closer Look at the Red PlanetOn Mars Day, October 29, 2005
The last close approach of Mars occurred August 27, 2003, when Mars traveled within 34,646,418 miles of Earth – the closest it had been in over 60,000 years. On October 29, Earth will be 43,162,788 miles from the red planet … not exactly next door, but close enough to notice that Mars is one of the brightest objects in the sky. And, because we’re closer than usual, Mars will look much bigger. Think of Earth and Mars as two runners on a track. Earth, running fast on the inside lane, circles the track in 12 months, while Mars takes about 26 Earth months. Every 780 days, Earth catches Mars from behind and laps it. And this year’s lap takes Earth closer than normal. To celebrate Mars Day this year, the Noble Planetarium will offer special programming in partnership with the Fort Worth Astronomical Society. At 6:45, 7:30 and 8:15 p.m., the Noble Planetarium will present Mars At Its Best, a live discussion about the planet’s approach. Visitors will learn about ongoing missions studying Mars, feel some simulated Mars soil obtained from NASA, and see what Mars’ geology is all about. The Fort Worth Astronomical Society will set up their telescopes and video monitor on the Museum’s north lawn beginning at 7:30 p.m. Its members will be on hand to answer questions. Museum guests can begin their “Mars watch” by looking at other objects in the sky until Mars rises above Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum, from where Museum guests are standing, at about 8:30 PM. You’re a little closer already. While you’ve been reading, Earth is 588 miles closer to Mars, traveling about 23,500 miles per hour. The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History is located at 1501 Montgomery Street in Fort Worth’s Cultural District. For more information, call 817-255-9300 or go to www.fortworthmuseum.org. Edited by Erika Wright |
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TM
To get
a close look at the planet Mars, visit the Fort Worth Museum of Science and
History for Mars Day on Saturday, October 29.
