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IF YOU FANCY spotting the red planet tonight, Astronomy Ireland have set up giant telescopes at locations across the country for the public to use.
Mars has been visible to the naked eye this week – along with the planets Venus and Jupiter – as the spring constellations bring them close to Earth. With the naked eye it looks like a very bright star with a reddish tinge to it, but Astronomy Ireland says that the powerful telescopes will allow people to see surface features on the planet like the white north polar ice cap and dark markings.
These markings, says Astronomy Ireland chairman David Moore, were mistaken for canals when Mars came even closer to the Earth around 100 years ago and people could see them. This sparked “stories of intelligent Martians which are now such a prominent feature of science fiction stories about aliens”. Moore said:
This is everyone’s chance to use some of the most powerful telescopes in Ireland to see where the stories of Martians came from over a century ago.
The list of locations are at Astronomy Ireland’s website – they are in Athy, Cork, Down, Dublin and Leitrim/Sligo. Future Mars Watch nights are to take place in as yet unnamed venues in Clare, Louth, Mayo, Waterford, Wexford, Tipperary and Donegal.
The site has some tasty facts about Mars to whet your appetite for tonight:
The view from the telescope won’t be quite as spectacular as this but if you can’t make it to a venue tonight, you might enjoy this video of NASA images of the planet, with music by Don Brough:
(Via dgbrough1/Youtube)
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Hi Paul.
I have no sense of humor at 7 in the morning.
please …anybody?
8pm at the Papal Cross car park.
Hi ,
I would like to go. Does anybody know the time for the viewing from Phenix park?
Nighttime.
The pictures on the Internet are clearer. So don’t bother going
Don’t be silly Conor. There’s a lot of difference between seeing a picture on the internet, and watch a planet in real-time..
Hey planet lovers, lighten up. I get your serious science frowns about my comment but for goodness sake cheer up It’s nearly friday. You have to admit though, Cydonias famous face does really look like Bertie or are you looking through a toilet roll again.
I was looking closely at the cydonia region and I’m sure I could see Bertie’s face. Must be on one of his speaking assignments. Obviously the only place they’ll have him now. I could also see, there are lots of leaflets blowing about. Wonder what the household charge rate is?
There’s always one fool who just has to bring it up on a totally unrelated story!!! Well done to you!!!
Why is it every article with no connection to the words “Bertie Ahern” and “household charge” those very words really is getting annoying now!
says from 8pm on astronomy Ireland website.. :)
Mars never looks great, you may spot a few details probably syrtis major, possibly more it all depends on viewing conditions, but it’s a only a few arc minutes so it’s small even in these “giant” telescopes from a lot of the watches (the ones in less populated places) they will probably use a 9.25″, that’s not a giant, trust me I own one, it’s a great scope but a giant would be 14″ (they’ll probably have one in the Phoenix park). The detail you see may be crisp or a blur of a few black patches, it depends on the atmospheric conditions.
The moon on the on the other hand has amazing resolution, especially as the terminator is passing the larger mares (you can even see what looks like a dried up river bed due to the lava freezing, which imprints a flow of water impression) and the southern highlands generally these watches do view other objects, so if you never had a look through a good telescope do it!
“the Terminator is passing” you say…..interesting
I’ll be back!
Would love to know details of times and places in Dublin too.
In the link from astronomy Ireland you will find the places, Dublin:Phenix park, Popes Cross.
If you’re up late at these sessions, it might be better to bring up Saturn which is far more impressive to look at. Mars rarely ever reveals much detail. Loving all these clear skies though! I’ve had my scope out for 3 nights in a row now.
I agree about Saturn. I’ve been out with mine for the past 2 nights. Great skies.
Saturn has been raising too late for me this week though, up too early in the morning.
As an interested but extremely amateur observer can anyone tell me where to point my (basic) telescope N.S.E. or W.? Thanks
Mars is above the horizon now. It comes up in the East.
When it gets dark, draw a line from the moon to directly East. Mars will be the brightest star on that line.
Saturn will rise at 9.27pm tonight. You might need an hour or more to see it above the hills. It will be directly East on the same line as the Moon and Mars.
Enjoy..!
Thanks Danny
Also download stellarium, it will be your greatest advantage.
If you look at the time 0:55 you will see the biggest circle has a smily face in it..
thanks for using my video
It’s really lovely Don – thanks for creating it!
thank you Susan and you are very welcome. I have 10 videos up so far on youtube and I hope to add to them in time, you might enjoy some of the others. All the best.
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