DANIELLE MALOTT/ Arizona Daily Wildcat Astronomy Department Head Tom Flemming demonstrates how to use the 21-inch diameter telescope in the Steward Observatory.

Put your nightcap on ÷ the UA's Steward Observatory will be open late to view Mars as it reaches its closest position to Earth in over 60,000 years.

With the fiery red planet hovering just 34.65 million miles away beginning tonight, the view will be spectacular, said Tom Fleming, head of the astronomy department.

To the naked eye the planet might look like a spec in the sky, but with the aid of merely a household telescope, its southern ice cap should be easily detectable, he added.

Approximately every two years Earth laps Mars, but with Earth at its furthest point from the Sun in its elliptical orbit and Mars at its closest point, the two planets will be unusually close to one another.

Though it came close in 1988, this phenomenon has not occurred since 57,617 B.C., when Neanderthals still roamed the earth.

It will not occur again until August 28, 2287, according to Sky and Telescope Magazine.

To take full advantage of this once in a lifetime display, the Steward Observatory's 21-inch telescope will be open from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday for all to view the planet at no cost.

The telescope, which is the largest on campus, will provide an image of Mars that is magnified 1,000 times.

"The view should be great," Fleming said. "We are going to use different lenses, which will allow us to see Mars at its full potential."

"A green lens will reflect the southern ice cap and it should look amazing," he added

Mars will be nearest to Earth Thursday at 2:51 a.m., but the sight will be just as spectacular for weeks to come, Fleming said.

For enthusiasts with an early bedtime, the Flandrau Science Center and the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association will have large portable telescopes set up on the UA mall from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Aug. 27 through Aug. 30, as part of its "Mars Invades Flandrau Week", said Mike Terenzoni, astronomy coordinator for Flandrau Science Center.

Also, David Levy, science editor of Parade magazine, will be at the center Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. to speak about the history of Mars and the possibilities for life on the red planet.

The Flandrau Science Center's 16-inch telescope, which is usually closed on Wednesdays due to budget cuts, will be up and running for this special event, Terenzoni said.

For those stargazers that can't make their way down to the UA, a pair of binoculars should be sufficient for observing the planet's signature orange-red hue, caused by its rust-like iron compounds, Fleming said.

"As long as the weather permits this should be a wonderful chance for people to see Mars," Fleming said.

The National Weather Service is predicting scattered thunderstorms for Wednesday and Thursday night.

The Steward Observatory will not be open if it is overcast or raining, but there may be extended observing hours later in the week.

The Flandrau Science Center will be open Friday evening for viewing and the weather forecast looks promising.