Astronomy department hosts open house for viewing of Mars

November 4, 2005

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The University of Florida Department of Astronomy will host a special open house at the Campus Teaching Observatory from 8:30 to 11 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, to celebrate Mars’ closest approach for the next 13 years.

Mars, the moon and other celestial objects will be shown during the evening with telescopes such as the historic 8-inch Clark refractor and a 12-inch Meade LX200. Visible features on the disk of Mars are the southern polar cap, cloud formations and dark patches.

The public will also have the chance to talk to the UF astronomers, watch the presentation, “The Red Planet: Facts and Fictions,” and see the process of getting color images of Mars with one of the telescopes. A live color video image of the planet obtained with one of the telescopes will be displayed on a television screen.

Maps and directions to the UF Teaching Observatory can be found at http://www.astro.ufl.edu/tobsmaps.html. Parking will be available in the lot south of Museum Road, across from the University of Florida Bookstore.

The event is free, open to the public and subject to weather conditions.

For more information, call the Astronomy Department, (352) 392-2052, ext. 201.