Special Programs for the Emory Community

“Here Comes Mars” Planetarium Shows and Deck Party
Saturday, August 23, 2003
8:30 to 11:30 PM

• Emory faculty, staff, their family and friends are cordially invited to a deck party and planetarium show to note and observe the closest passage of Mars to Earth in the past 59,000 years. (Don't miss it this time!)
  
• Bring your own deck chair and cooler (no alcoholic beverages please) and gather on the big terrace in front of the entrance to the planetarium--weather permitting on Saturday evening, starting at 8:30 PM.
  Location: 400 Dowman Drive.
  
• Planetarium shows "Here Comes Mars!" start at 9:00, 9:30, 10:00 and 10:30.
  
• The deck party is weather permitting. Planetarium shows will take place rain or shine; there is no reserved seating.
  
• As Mars approaches, Emory astronomers will image the “peach planet” with our DFM 24-inch diameter telescope and digital camera equipment. These images will be captured on video and also sometimes transmitted from the rooftop observatory into the planetarium where they will be projected live. From 11:00 to 11:30 PM, Saturday night, the planetarium will be open for drop-in viewing of the live videofeed of Mars—weather permitting.
  

“Hello Mars”
Planetarium Drop-In
Tuesday, August 26, 2003
10:00 PM to 1:00AM

• As Mars get closer, Emory astronomers will continue to image Mars with our 24-inch Cassegrain telescope and digital camera equipment.
  
• Students, faculty and staff are invited to drop into the planetarium between 10:00 PM, Tuesday night and 1:00 AM, Wednesday morning to see a live video feed (weather permitting) direct from the telescope into the planetarium.
  
• Even though we will not be able to show Mars through an eyepiece at the telescope, we cordially invite you to view the live, closed circuit images from the telescope which will be projected into the planetarium.
  
• The live video feed is weather permitting, of course. Otherwise you will get to enjoy some of the previously recorded video from the observatory. This is not a planetarium show; just drop in to see the live image of Mars as it pays us its closest visit in the last 59,000 years or so.
  
• Due to the size of our rooftop facility, we cannot offer viewing through the eyepiece of the telescope to crowds of people. For that, we recommend Fernbank Science Center. For more information, visit http://fsc.fernbank.edu/mars.html