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GUJARAT COUNCIL OF SCIENCE CITY
Dept of Science & Technology, Govt of Gujarat
Mars will be closer, bigger and brighter on Monday
Earth and Mars are converging for a close encounter in Monday, this month.
The red planet is already an appealing target for sky watchers.
Draft Press Release
It is a summer bonanza for sky watchers as all can see the planet Mars, the red planet at the
closest point to Earth on 30th May 2016 night. Once you miss the golden position of the Red
plant you have to wait till July 31, 2018.
Mars is the fourth planet in our solar system and named in ancient times after the Roman
god of war. Although no one has ever visited this red planet, we know a lot about it.
In 2016, the planet Mars is appearing brighter from May 18 and will continue till June 3. Mars
was in opposition to the Sun on May 22, and is going to be closest to Earth on May 30. At is
brightest; Mars shines some 80 times more brilliantly than at its faintest.
Mars is similar to Earth in that it has four seasons, exhibits global climates, changing
weather patterns, annual thawing and growing of polar caps, storm clouds of water ice,
howling dusty winds, and a variety of surface features that predictably change in colour and
size and appear to shift position over extended periods of time.
Mars Close Approach is May 30, 2016. That is the point in Mars' orbit when it comes closest
to Earth. Mars will be at a distance of 75.3 million kilometers. Mars reaches its highest point
around midnight -- about 35 degrees above the southern horizon, or one third of the distance
between the horizon and overhead. Mars will be visible for much of the night.
By mid-June, Mars will become fainter as Mars and Earth travel farther away from each
other in their orbits around the Sun.
Mars is more like Earth than any other planet in our solar system. Mars has a 24-hour day, a
rocky crust, canyons, volcanoes, polar ice caps and seasons. But Earth and the “4th rock
from the Sun” are hardly twins.
Mars is half as big as Earth and has less gravity. It has two moons and very little
atmosphere. The surface of Mars has no lakes or oceans, plants or animals. No place on
Earth gets as cold as Mars. The lack of life on the surface of Mars isn't surprising,
considering the bone dry environment.
Close approach is when Mars and Earth come nearest to each other in their orbits around
the sun. Close is a relative term. The minimum distance from the Earth to Mars is about 54.6
million kilometers. However, that doesn't happen very often.
If Earth and Mars had perfectly circular orbits, their minimum distance would always be the
same. However, they have elliptical (egg-shaped) paths. In addition, gravitational tugging by
planets constantly changes the shape of their orbits a little bit. Giant Jupiter especially
influences the orbit of Mars.
The orbits of Mars and Earth are also slightly tilted with respect to each other. All of these
factors mean that not all close encounters are equal. In 2003, Mars made its closest
approach to Earth in nearly 60,000 years! It won't be that close again until the year 2287.
Speaking on this occasion, Shri Govindbhai Patel, Hon’ble Minister of State for Science &
Technology, Government of Gujarat informed that, Mars as always an intriguing world offers
both casual and serious observers many challenges and delights. It also provides
astronomers a laboratory to study the atmosphere and surface of another planet, including
the behaviour of condensates and their effects on its atmosphere and surface. Our Mission
to Mars (MoM) is an inspiring example to reach out at the red planet.
Shri Dhananjay Dwivedi, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology expressed that
observing celestial objects including sun and its planets, stars, comets, eclipse and transits
and so on inspire curiosity for a life-ling learning and exploration to the universe. Astronomy
is one of the few sciences where amateurs can still play an active role, especially in the
discovery and observation of transient phenomena. Amateur astronomers have made and
contributed to many important astronomical discoveries.
In order to provide a glimpse of this celestial happening, Gujarat Science City has organised
a special Mars observation and outreach programme on Monday, May 30, 2016 from 7.30
pm onwards. The programme will be organised in Amphitheatre and will be open for school
students and general visitors.
Students and sky lovers can zoom into the red planet through telescopes and LED screen.
Besides, there will be interactive sessions by eminent experts and scientists, screening of
Mars films and images, cultural programmes. The programme will be live till mid night. Along
with Mars, visitors can see Jupiter and Saturn in a magnificent way.
Similar programmes and activities are also planned and organised at the Community
Science Centres across the State.