Party To Give Stellar Glimpse Of Mars

When “Mars Attacks” on Saturday (Nov. 5), it will be a stellar sight, according to Renee James, assistant professor of physics.

Because the planet will be at its biggest and brightest until 2018 on that day, SHSU’s Society of Physics Students will host a “Mars Attacks” star party from 5:30-10 p.m. at the SHSU observatory near Country Campus on Highway 19.

“Mars is going to look like a bright orange 'dot' (looks like a star) rising in the eastern sky around sunset on the 5th,” James said. “Contrary to a popular e-mail that has been circulating for several months, Mars will not be the size of the full moon, nor is it brighter than it has been for 50,000 years.

“The most impressive apparition of Mars occurred two years ago, in fact, and that once-in-a-lifetime event was clouded out in Huntsville,” she said.

What makes Nov. 5 so special is that the planet will be easier to see that day as an “opposition Mars” because it will be higher in the sky than it was in 2003.

“What makes an opposition special is that Mars will be 'opposite' the sky from the sun, in the same basic alignment that gives us a full moon,” James said. “So an opposition gives us a full Mars.”

The way the planets' orbits are, this also means that Mars is at its closest approach to Earth, although not as close as it was in August 2003, which gave star-gazers the best opposition in over 50,000 years, according to James.

“But this one is going to be pretty impressive, the best til 2018,” she said. “At opposition, the planet looks its best and brightest and presents telescopes with a nice view.

“At the observatory, we have telescopes that will be able to show features like the Martian polar caps and some light and dark areas on its face,” she said.

To make the evening even more impressive, the moon will be a slender crescent in the western sky as Mars rises in the eastern sky. The bright planet Venus will accompany the moon in the west, and through a telescope it will appear as a crescent as well, James said.

In addition to the viewing, which is open to the public, the SPS will sell refreshments and raffle tickets, host space-themed games, show an astronomical slide show and give out door prizes.

The group will also host a space-themed art contest for children ages 4-10, which will include any space-related artwork that will be judged by local artist Lee Jamison.

There is a $2 entry fee for the art contest, and prizes will be awarded based on age, originality, scientific accuracy and other categories.

For those interested, Mars is actually visible now, rising a bit after sunset, and it will remain visible throughout the rest of the autumn, James said.

The observatory can be found by traveling east on 11th street to Highway 19, then following Highway 19 northwest. It will be on the right. For a map to the observatory, visit the physics department Web site http://www.shsu.edu/~phy_www/map.pdf.

For additional information, contact James, SPS faculty adviser, at phy_crj@shsu.edu or SPS president Patrick Ferguson at stdppf11@shsu.edu.

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SHSU Media Contact: Jennifer Gauntt
Oct. 25, 2005
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