Anyone can feel like an astronomer even without equipment, with Mars being clearly visible to the naked eye for the next couple of months.

Typically, Jupiter and Saturn are visible, standing out larger and brighter than stars while also lacking the flicker seen in stars.

Education Specialist for the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory in Priddis, Jennifer Howse, says the Red Planet's visibility really is something special.

"Mars is very close, we call it a close approach. it doesn't happen very often, sometimes there's as much as maybe even a thousand years between one close approach and the next."

Aside from the telling red hue, Howse says there are ways to pinpoint its location amongst the sea of stars.

"If you think about where you saw the sun during the day, think about that arc the sun made from East to West. That arc is called the "ecliptic," and that's where you will find planets in the sky. The cool thing is, if you follow that ecliptic line and look off to the East (at sunset), you're going to be able to see Mars in the sky. It will appear a little bit red to your eye, it's very cool to see."

Mars is making it's closest approach to Earth over the next couple of months which makes it ripe for viewing. Photo courtesy NASA (Facebook).

She says we're in the right spot for stargazing.

"We are very fortunate to be in the Foothills, light pollution is a bigger deal when you start to get into the big cities. It's always nice to be able to go out and find a nice dark spot to be able to do your observing."

Of course, finding an area away from any light pollution is ideal, though Howse says Mars should still be faintly visible from somewhere like Okotoks' downtown streets.

She says it's exciting to think a planet so close to us can still hold so much mystery, with one example being a large amount of water just discovered by satellites.

"There's a really cool satellite orbiting around the planet right now, taking images in such a way that we're essentially seeing the light reflection from Mars, and we're able to see water, and we're also able to see motion from that water underneath the soil!"

Though they're currently closed to the public, the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory is planning on releasing some high-resolution images to their social media pages.

For more information on the observatory, click here.

 

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