Mars observing open house

BOWLING GREEN, O. — The Bowling Green State University Planetarium and Observatory are sponsoring two "Mars Nights," the first on Friday (Aug. 29) and the second, Saturday (Aug. 30).

On each night, visitors will be able to view the red planet Mars through the observatory's telescopes and see the multimedia show “MarsQuest” in the planetarium.

Mars comes closer to the Earth this month than at any other time in the past 59,000 years, so it appears especially large and bright. Telescopes will reveal more surface features than usual, including the polar ice caps and dark areas in Mars' planet-wide deserts.

If the sky is clear, the observatory will be open each night beginning at 11:30 p.m., when Mars first becomes clearly visible, and will remain open until about 1 a.m.

A recorded message telling if the observatory is open or has been closed due to cloudy weather will be available at 419-372-8831. Visitors should come to the lobby of the planetarium and will be guided to the observatory from there.

The planetarium show “MarsQuest” will be presented at 10 p.m. and again at 11:30 p.m. both nights, even if skies are cloudy. A $1 donation is suggested for the planetarium show.

(Posted August 25, 2003)