To celebrate Earth and Mars being so close to each other, this year's National Astronomy week has been timed to coincide with the event. National Astronomy Week falls on 23 - 30 August and is an event organised each year to try to promote astronomy to the general public. This month, Earth and Mars are only 56 million km (35 million miles) apart and this is the first time they have been so near to each other for thousands of years. Mars is half the diameter and 1/10 the mass of Earth and is 55 million km further away from Earth than the moon. 
Mars can be seen with the naked eye |
Because Mars will be so near to Earth, you will be able to see the red planet with the naked eye, although for the best view you will still need a good telescope to see any detail. Mars will be the brightest object in the sky, appearing orange red. There are dozens of events planned around the county for this year's astronomy week and if you've never looked through a telescope before, now is your chance.  Norwich Astronomical Society
The Norwich Astronomical Society have a kids' astronomy event on Saturday 23 August from 2pm to 5pm. They have organised plenty of fun activities including a portable planetarium, how to make a comet, pin the tail on the comet and making model rockets. From 7pm till 11pm everyone will be allowed to look through the through the society's various telescopes. 
Ice cap on Mars |
There are also open evenings for the public on 27, 29 and 30 August from 8pm to 11pm. Norfolk Online's astronomer Mark Lawrik-Thompson FRAS will be presenting A Martian Odyssey and using the observatory telescopes. All events will be held at the society observatory at Seething. More details including directions and contact information can be found on their website: www.norwich.astronomicalsociety.org.uk. Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth Astronomical Society This society in the east of Norfolk will be presenting a talk on Mars Global Surveyor by Jerry Workman on Wednesday 27 August. Held at 7.30pm at the Octagon Room, Sports Centre, there will be viewing afterwards at the Kirkley Observatory, Kirkley Run, Lowestoft. For more details visit their website at:
www.lyra-uk.co.uk. Breckland Astronomical Society IT expert Rod Crockford will give a presentation on the uses of the Internet in Astronomy at Great Ellingham Recreation Centre Friday 8 August at 7.30 pm. To celebrate the closest approach of the planet Mars to Earth for thousands of years, from 23 to 30 August, during National Astronomy Week, the observatory at Great Ellingham will be open to the public every night from 8pm. The main feature of these open nights will be to give the public information about Mars. If the skies are clear, you will be given the opportunity to see Mars through their 20 inch computer controlled telescope. For more details visit their website at: www.breckastro.supanet.com. Read more: Explore space with our astronomer» | 
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