Mars To Star This Fall At

WCSU Observatory & Planetarium

DANBURY — Mars will become the star attraction at the Western Connecticut State University Observatory and Planetarium in a series of shows and observations offering sky watchers a close encounter with the red planet during October and November.

Astronomy Professor Dr Dennis Dawson, director of the WCSU Observatory and Planetarium, said Mars will receive top billing this autumn as it makes its nearest approach to Earth in more than two years. The minimum distance of 43 million miles that will be reached on October 29 still will place the planet roughly 9 million miles farther from Earth than in 2003 — its closest approach in 60,000 years — but Dr Dawson noted Mars’ higher position in the autumnal sky will offer better viewing conditions this year.

“The next time you’re going to see Mars this close in the sky is in the year 2020,” said Dr Dawson. “That’s a good reason to come out and look at it now.”

The Mars programs are part of a busy schedule of public nights for sky viewings during the 2005-06 academic year at WCSU Observatory and Planetarium on the university’s Westside campus, Lake Avenue Extension in Danbury.

The planetarium will present “Mysteries of Mars” in hourlong shows starting at 6:30 pm on Saturday, October 8; at 6 pm on Thursdays, October 13 and October 20, Saturdays, October 22 and October 29; and at 5 pm on Saturday, November 5.

The fall schedule also will feature “Exploring the Autumn Sky” shows starting at 6 pm on Saturday, October 15, and Thursday, October 27; and at 5 pm on Thursday, November 10, and Saturday, November 12.

All shows will be followed by viewings of Mars and other celestial highlights with the observatory’s 20-inch computer-controlled Ritchey-Chretien reflector telescope.

Dr Dawson said the focus on Mars is especially timely given the flurry of recent scientific discoveries by the Mars Global Surveyor and Exploration Rover missions revealing unmistakable evidence that water is present on the red planet. High-resolution photographs have confirmed features that appear to have been formed by water flows and eruptions in the past, and even patterns that suggest continued water activity on the martian surface.

“The interest for the general public is the whole history of people investigating the possibilities of life on Mars,” he said. “With today’s technology, we are able to evaluate and map out the presence of minerals and water in incredible detail.”

Planetarium shows later in the 2005-6 season will include “Spectacular Saturn” in January and February, with each show followed by observatory viewings of the ringed planet.

The planetarium also will offer continuing presentations introducing the brightest planets, stars and constellations visible in each season. “Jewels of the Winter Sky” will be presented in December.

The schedule for winter and spring 2006 will feature one public night each week on alternating Thursdays and Saturdays from late January to mid-May 20.

A complete listing of planetarium shows and observatory viewings for the current season is available at www.wcsu.edu/StarWatch.

Planetarium shows will be held as scheduled regardless of weather conditions unless poor conditions force closure of the observatory road. Telescope viewings are subject to cancellation in the event of cloud cover and inclement weather. Admission is free for all events. Donations to support operations and maintenance of the planetarium and observatory will be accepted.

For more information, call the observatory at 837-8672 or the WCSU Office of Public Relations at 837-8486.

The WCSU Observatory and Planetarium is on the university’s westside campus, on University Boulevard.