MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact:

Aug. 8, 2003

Shirley Melikian Armbruster (559) 278-5292 or (559) 269-5261

MARS!!

Faculty Experts Available;

Planetarium Offers Shows, Viewing of Red Planet

Two Fresno State physics professors are available for interviews about Mars, which this month is closer to Earth than it has been in 50,000 years.

This month, scientists and amateur astronomers will benefit from the spectacular view of Mars as it appears bigger and brighter than ever before, revealing its reflective south polar cap and whirling dust clouds.

On Aug. 27, the fourth rock from the sun will be less 34.65 million miles away from the Earth. Only six months ago, the Red Planet was about five times that distance from Earth.

Experts available:

Dr. Steven White, physics professor and director of the Downing Planetarium at Fresno State (www.downing-planetarium.org.)
Dr. Frederick Ringwald, assistant professor of physics and director of the campus observatory (http://zimmer.csufresno.edu/~fringwal/index.html).

Planetarium program – “MarsQuest”:

This program traces the history of Mars from the early observations of scientists whose imagined "canals" inspired science fiction stories about Martians, to modern observations and mission findings from Viking, Pathfinder, and Mars Global Surveyor, which have given us new insight into the climate, weather and terrain on the Red Planet.

The show also examines the possibility of human exploration on Mars, examining where on Earth we can prepare for future crewed missions, and what the first landing may be like.

Showings are Fridays, 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 3 p.m. After each Friday show, telescopes to view Mars will be available outside the planetarium, courtesy of Central Valley Astronomers Club members.

To arrange interviews: (559) 278-5292

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