On August 27, 2003 at 5:51 a.m. EDT, the planet Mars was (slightly) closer to the Earth than at any time in all of recorded history. At that moment, the centers of Earth and Mars were 34,646,418 miles apart. The last time Mars came this close was in 57,617 B.C. It will not be this close again until August 28, 2287 A.D. Since the distance between Mars and the Earth changes slowly, the best viewing occured between mid-August to mid-September 2003.

To celebrate this event, and to allow the residents of Virginia to see Mars as it has never been seen before, the Astronomy Department at the University of Virginia held a series of special events at the Leander McCormick Observatory. The events included lectures, movies, displays, and observing.

Visiting the Leander McCormick Observatory Museum

While Mars is no longer as prominent in the evening sky, it is still possible to view the following exhibits at the Leander McCormick Observatory Museum, during scheduled public nights.

Directions and Parking

Directions to the Observatory can be found here. Parking at the Observatory is limited.

Other Links of Interest:

  • Mars at Its All-Time Finest from Sky & Telescope magazine
  • A Mars Record for the Ages from Sky & Telescope magazine
  • NASA's Mars Exploration Program
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