SOLARVIEWS.COMWith the long lines twisting down the steep spiral staircase of Crow Observatory atop Crow Hall last week, many Washington University students and community members took the opportunity to view Mars at its closest distance to Earth in 60,000 years. If you missed the opportunity to view the rare astronomical event last week, don’t worry; there will be another viewing right around the corner in the year 2287.
The Red Planet reached the closest point to Earth in its orbit last Wednesday, Aug. 27 at 4:46 a.m. Spectators crowded into Crow Observatory shortly after dusk several days last week to witness the event. Many of the observers were avid sky watchers, but few had seen Mars at this close distance. Mars usually averages a distance of about 140 million miles away, but Wednesday it was only 34.6 million miles from Earth.
“It was really exciting that Mars was this close,” said freshman Dianna Lo. “I went to see it because I really enjoy astronomy and I could never get a chance to see something like this back in Hong Kong.”
Many other students caught a glimpse of Mars last week without the aid of a telescope. For several days last week, Mars was not only viewable by the naked eye, it was the brightest object in the night sky besides the moon.
Early in the week there were reports that the planet would not be visible due to overcast skies, but for the most part, the weather cooperated. With the wait at Crow reaching two hours on some nights, many students hoping to get a look at Mars settled for a glimpse from the South 40.
“I just wanted to see Mars while it was this close, because I will never get the chance again,” said freshman Erin McCarty.
Although everyone who decided to look up at the bright, glowing red ball in the sky got a good view of the planet, those that used the telescope in Crow Observatory saw the celestial object in a whole new way. They saw the dusty red southern hemisphere of the planet, as well as its polar ice caps.
“Mars was a yellowish-orange color with a white polar ice cap at the top,” said Lo. “I could also see that it had a lot of craters, but I couldn’t make out any of the moons.”
Scientists report that dust storms associated with the changing of the Martian seasons may be responsible for obscuring the view of the moons of Mars.
The event does, however, have scientific significance beyond enjoyment for the backyard astronomer. NASA, the European Space Agency, and other space programs are taking advantage of the close proximity of Mars. This optimal positioning of Mars and Earth helps space agencies save on fuel. Several missions from several different countries will be arriving on Mars later this year, probably around December. One of the missions will be the next of NASA’s rover missions, which will explore two regions of Mars.
The paths of Mars and Earth come so close to each other this year because of their elliptical orbits. When Earth is more distant in its orbit in relation to the sun, and Mars is close to the sun in its orbit, the two planets are closer to each other.
Anyone that missed the opportunity to see Mars close up this week still has another chance. Throughout Sept., Mars should remain bright and then slowly fade back to normal. However, those wishing to see Mars at the distance of its close approach last Wednesday will have to wait another 283 years.