Good news - the UK and @RoyalAstroSoc are going to celebrate National Astronomy Week in November: astronomyweek.org.uk cc @natastroweek.
For a grumpy astronomer take, read on (1/n)
For a grumpy astronomer take, read on (1/n)
@RoyalAstroSoc @NatAstroWeek The reason for choosing November is that it's a great time to see a nice, bright, close apparition of Mars in the evening sky. This is great - seeing Mars through a telescope is cool, and it really makes a difference when Mars is close. (2/n)
@RoyalAstroSoc @NatAstroWeek Mars during the week is about 80 million miles away - it's a few weeks after closest approach. (At closest approach, Mars will look better but it's lower earlier in the evening, which is prime time for family and public events) (3/n)
@RoyalAstroSoc @NatAstroWeek So far so good. But the press release and website make a big point of the fact that Mars won't be closer until 2033 (press release) or 2035 (website) (4/n)
@RoyalAstroSoc @NatAstroWeek It's probably true that the 2020 close approach is closer than any other closest approach until the 30s - but the difference is so small it won't make any difference! (4/n)
@RoyalAstroSoc @NatAstroWeek By giving the 'not until 2035' line prominence, we set people up for disappointment. Because the truth is to anyone who isn't an expert, the view in 2022 will look basically the same (5/n)
@RoyalAstroSoc @NatAstroWeek 'Best until 2035' distracts from what should be a simple message: This is a great time to see Mars! Come see Mars! Everyone should see Mars! I want to spend interviews I do talking about that, not explaining exactly what the difference between one orbit and another is (6/6)
