Boise State helps you meet Mars, up close and personal

Mars will make its closest approach to Earth in more than a decade on Tuesday, May 31.

Boise State’s physics department will make it possible for local residents to get an up-close look at the famous red planet. The department hosts an astronomical viewing party to celebrate from 8:30 to 11 p.m. The evening will begin with a public talk on the latest news from Mars at 8:30 p.m. in the Multipurpose Classroom Building with scientist Josh Bandfield from the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colo.

At 9:30 p.m., the party will continue at the Boise State Quad north of the Administration Building where telescopes will be set up to view not only Mars, but Jupiter and Saturn as well. All the festivities are free and open to the public.

“At the end of May and going into June, Mars will be the closest and brightest that it’s been in a decade as seen from the Earth,” said Brian Jackson, assistant professor of physics and event organizer. “This celestial alignment won’t happen again for two years, so the event will be an unusually good time to view our sister planet.”

This story was originally published May 31, 2016 at 10:06 AM with the headline "Boise State helps you meet Mars, up close and personal."