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December 2, 2009

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Red Planet close-up

Kirk Baird

Monday, Aug. 25, 2003 | 8:45 a.m.

At nearly 34.6 million miles away, Wednesday will mark the closest Mars has been in 60,000 years.

The Red Planet can clearly be seen in the night sky -- the brightest heavenly body other than the moon.

For those wanting a closer look at the Red Planet, though, the planetarium at the Community College of Southern Nevada's Cheyenne Avenue campus will have telescopes available for public viewing from Tuesday through Thursday.

The viewing will begin at 9 p.m. each night and is free to the public.

"With a telescope you can see the polarized caps. And depending on how calm the atmosphere is, you can sometimes see shadowing on the planet," Robert Pippin, planetarium manager, said. "Mars looks bigger in the telescope and to the unaided eye it just looks brighter."

The planetarium will also show the "Extraterrestrial Files" beginning at 8 p.m. each night. Tickets are $4 for adults and $2.50 for children under 12.

For more information call 651-4138 or visit ccsn.nevada.edu/planetarium/

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