More Mars viewings at IU Kokomo
November 10, 2005
KOKOMO, Ind.—Additional opportunities to see the Mars-Earth opposition through the IU Kokomo Observatory telescope have been scheduled on Friday and Saturday, November 11 and 12. The Observatory will be open from 7–10 p.m. Members of the Kokomo Astronomy Club will set up smaller telescopes around the Observatory for additional viewing. Admission is free.
During opposition, celestial bodies come into relatively close positions, standing “opposite” in their individual orbits around the sun. Currently, Mars has moved within 43 million miles of Earth.
According to Associate Professor of Physics Rick Steldt, Ph.D., some 200–300 people came out for a November 4 Observatory open house. A viewing planned on November 5 was cancelled when clouds obscured the sky, so Steldt and Kokomo Astronomy Club members agreed to host additional open hours this weekend.
If the sky over Kokomo is overcast at 7 p.m. on either November 11 or 12, that evening's session will be canceled, Steldt said.
