Mars will be at its closest approach on Tuesday July 31, 2018. We will have telescopes operating if you want to get a better view of the Red Planet, as the earth's orbit shifts between Mars and the Sun. For each one year orbit that the Earth takes to round the Sun, Mars takes about two years to orbit once. Opposition for Mars is when Earth passes between Mars and the Sun this occurs once every two years and fifty days. The result is that Mars will outshine Jupiter by 1.8 times. This July is a 'perihelic apparition', when Mars reaches it closest point to the sun. The 2018 perihelic apparition of Mars will prove to be one of the most favorable since the 2003 apparition when the red planet came closest to Earth in 59,635 years (the year 57,617 B.C.), according to the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (ALPO).
Gates open at 10pm until 1am
Entrance Fee: donation to the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory educational programs.
This is a fair weather event. If there is too much cloud cover or rain, event will be cancelled. Please check our website and twitter for up to the minute weather reports.
Please note that is an observing event. We will have the observatory and Interpretive Centre open, but no formal program.
https://twitter.com/RAOastronomy
Disabled Access:
YesEntry Fee:
YesLocation:
Hwy 22 south
