Hello everyone, these programs have been cancelled due to ice conditions on the Observatory dome and very cold and windy conditions forecast for the next few nights. Please keep an eye on this blog for other observing opportunities, Mars will be relatively close for a few weeks so we'll try again soon!
On Wednesday, January 27th Mars will reach its closest opposition with Earth during the 2008-2012 period at a distance of just 62 million miles. An opposition of a planet occurs when that planet is opposite the Sun as viewed from Earth. It will rise in the East roughly at sunset, occur when the Earth and that planet are closest in their orbits, and thus appear relatively larger and brighter being fully illuminated (like a full moon) by the Sun. The red planet has been steadily growing in brightness and color, standing out as a brilliant red “star” in the night sky. Through backyard telescopes a myriad of surface detail and a polar ice cap are easily visible.
The club has been watching and observing Mars as it approaches opposition and we invite you to join us! IF IT IS CLEAR, this Friday and Saturday nights, January 29th and 30th will be our Mars Opposition observing nights. We will be opening the 18 inch Clark Refractor at the Amherst College Wilder Observatory at 7 PM both nights. This is 6 TON telescope that’s as long as a bus! Also on hand will be some member telescopes set up on the Observatory grounds for different views of Mars and other objects in the sky. Have you ever seen the Moon through a telescope?!?!
For directions and details about the Observatory please click HERE for our Observatory details page. You can also email or call us using the link and/or information at the bottom of our homepage.
Lastly, please check this blog AFTER 3 PM on Friday and Saturday afternoons for the latest status of these programs based on the weather.
Hope to see you at opposition!!!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
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