Stargazers checks the proximity of Mars to the Griffith Observatory

GRIFFITH PARK, LOS ANGELES (KABC) –

The Griffith Observatory is usually closed on Mondays, but this time it has organized a party on the Red Planet while Mars is unusually close to the ground.

The observatory is waiting a few thousand people will stop and use their telescopes to see the red planet. Fifty of them were available outside and provided by local scientists, including JPL staff. The extents were scattered on the front lawn until 2 am.

Astronaut Buzz Aldrin was on site earlier, talking about his love for Mars and his curiosity for the planet. Now Mars is half of the Earth.

On average, Mars is about 50 million miles from our planet, but at 12:25 on Thursday, it will be at 35.8 million miles, which is the closest since 2003. Unlike Eclipse, Mars will not change d & # 39; appearance.

"Mars is invading us tonight, it's actually the closest approach to Mars since 2003. In fact, we were not even there in 2003. We were at the satellite, In exile, while the construction was going on (at Griffith's), we showed Mars to more people through a telescope there than anywhere else on the planet, we want to do it again tonight, "said Ed Krupp, Director of the Observatory

The close-up approach gives us a better chance of seeing surface details on Mars.This includes the Mars Polar Cap, the tip of the largest volcano in the solar system and the storm of The next approach will not be done until 2035.

For those who want to stay in bed or who do not have energy on Monday night to go out and look up, the red planet will be visible in the night sky in the coming months