NATIONAL ASTRONOMY WEEK

August 23rd to August 30th 2003

Affiliated to The British Association for the Advancement of Science

MARS IS APPROACHING

At opposition on August 28th, Mars will be just .37 AU. (about 34.4 million miles) from Earth, the closest approach during the last 60,000 years. It will be seen at magnitude -2.9 and apart from the sun and moon will be the brightest object in the sky.

We hope to open the observatory on every CLEAR night between the 25th and the 30th of August, from 10pm until 11pm, specifically to view Mars.

It has to be later opening as Mars is still fairly low in the sky at that time.

To confirm that the observatory will be open, please contact Doug Daniels during that week on
020 8346 1056
or astronomy@hampsteadscience.ac.uk
Hampstead Scientific Society Astronomy Section Secretary
Click on picture for full version of a recent drawing of Mars by Doug

Or find out about MARS THE MYSTERIOUS here

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Last updated by Julie Atkinson   12-Aug-2003