Frank Reddy, author of Celestial
Delights, created this animation show how Mars will swell in size between
June and August 2003.
Click here to view the
complete movies spanning all of 2003.
The Northern Arizona Astronomy Association opens the NAU Campus observatory on Wednesay, August 27 from 9:00pm to midnight to observer Mars at closest approach. Admission is free, donations are greatly appreciated. Coffee/tea/hot-chocolate will be available. Dress for chilly weather!!!
Much has been made of the fact that the August 27th encounter with Mars
is the closest in some 60,000 years. Neanderthals were the last to observer
Mars so famously placed. This is true. It's also a bit of hype. Mars and
Earth have been almost this close may times in recent history"
---- NASA Science News, June 18, 2003
The NAU observatory is located on the NAU campus, just off San Francisco Street. The easily recognized, dome shaped building lies between McConnell Dr. and Butler Ave., approximately 1/2 mile north of the Walkup Skydome. The map below shows the route (in blue) to take from Milton Road (off the map on the left) to the observatory. The observatory (labeled 47 on the map) is circled in blue.
More information about this event can be found here.