Mars Close Approach from Griffith Observatory

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NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, has long been a home to Mars exploration. But on July 31, 2018, several JPL scientists and engineers are bringing the excitement of space and exploring Mars to Griffith Observatory. These "Martians" interacted with the public during a free Observatory stargazing party for the Red Planet’s closest approach to Earth for the next 17 years. At closest approach Earth and Mars was 35.8 million miles (57.6 million kilometers) from each other, the closest they have been since the historic 34.6-million-mile (55.6 million kilometers) close approach in August 2003. The moment of closest approach was 12:45 a.m., Tuesday, July 31. By a celestial coincidence, at the moment of closest approach, Mars was at its very best position for viewing through a telescope from Los Angeles. It crossed the meridian and appeared highest in the southern sky at that time. The next similar close approach won’t happen until September 11, 2035, when Mars will be 35.4 million miles (56.9 million kilometers) away. Unlike an eclipse, Mars will not change appearance during the evening. Members of JPL Mars missions were available for interviews and participated in the Observatory’s LiveStream broadcast. A few of them include:  Rich Zurek, Chief Scientist for JPL's Mars Program Office  Farah Alibay, engineer for NASA's InSight and MarCO missions  Keri Bean, engineer for NASA's Opportunity rover Models of NASA's next mission to Mars, InSight, were als

Published 2018-08-01 · Watch on YouTube ↗
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