Spring Sale DVD Membership Shop Last Chance to See Mars Close Up for Two Years This month is the last good month for seeing the planet Mars which it is at its closest to Earth. In powerful telescopes you can see ice caps and dark markings that were once thought to be canals on Mars. At 8:30pm on Wednesday April 11th Astronomy Ireland will set up very powerful telescopes at its headquarters in Airside Enterprise Centre, Swords, Co Dublin to show the Red Planet like most people in the world have never seen it. "We want everyone to bring all their friends and family for a literally out of this world experience as very few people have access to really powerful telescopes to see Mars at its best, and this is their last chance for two years." said Mr Moore. Mars can be seen with the naked eye as a brilliant 'star' with a definite red colour. But in the powerful telescopes it will be possible to see surface features like the white north polar ice cap and the dark markings that many thought were canals about 100 years ago when Mars came even closer to Earth. These sparked all the stories of intelligent Martians which are now such a prominent feature of science fiction stories about aliens. For more information on the event, and a simulation of what you should be able to see through a telescope at the Mars Watch, please visit www.astronomy.ie or call (01) 890 11 11. EVENT DETAILS · Date: Wednesday, April 11th · Venue: Unit A8, Airside Enterprise Centre, Swords, Co Dublin · Time: 8:30pm · Tickets: Not necessary, just come along on the night TELESCOPE VOLUNTEERS ALWAYS WANTED We already have several large telescopes for our Nationwide Mars Watch but if you have a medium to large telescope (at least 6-inch, preferably 8-inch or larger) why not bring it along to one of the Watches and share the excitement of the general public as they are amazed by views of Mars? If you want to get involved call us on (01) 890 11 11 or email sec@astronomy.ie. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )