Mars Events for Florida, USA

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Boca Raton

  • Children's Science Explorium, 300 S. Military Trail - 10:00 pm, August 29 - Come to the Children's Science Exploriumand look through the professional grade, 16" Meade LX200 Schmidt-Cassegrain,computer driven telescope with a digital camera. More info

Cape Coral

  • 2915 NE Pine Road - sunset, Aug. 22, 23, 27,29,30, & Sept. 26,27 - Events listed above will be held at the Children's Science Center. Admission cost is $2.00 and parking is free. We will also be sponsoring events at the Florida Gulf Coast University in South Fort Myers on Aug. 29th and 30th, and at the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium in Fort Myers on Aug. 26th. More info

Cocoa

  • Brevard Community College - 7:00 pm, August 22, 23, 27 - Observatory to remain open until midnight for Mars viewing. Special performances of planetarium program "MarsQuest" More info

Fort Lauderdale

  • 16001 West SR-84 Sunrise FL - 8:00 pm, Aug 26 - 30 - The Fox Astronomical Observatory, one of the largest amateur operated installations of its kind in the southeast, is located at 16001 West SR-84, in Sunrise FL. The observatory is just inside the entrance to Markham Park, 12.4 miles west of I-95, on the north side of SR-84. More info

Fort Myers

  • Calusa Nature Center Planetarium - Various Times, August 26/27 - Learn all about Mars - past, present, and future, including what scientists know and what they hope to learn using the spacecraft currently en route to the Red Planet. After the show, observe Mars and other celestial objects through a telescope (weather permitting). August 27, come dressed as your favorite Martian. More info

Fort Pierce

  • Hallstrom Planetarium - 8:00 pm, August 26/29 - Treasure Coast Astronomical Society and its members, along with Hallstrom Planetarium Director Jon U. Bell, will host this event.

Gainesville

  • Powell Hall: Florida Museum of Natural History - 11:00 pm, August 30, Sept. 6, 13 & 20 - "Go to dinner, see a movie then come observe Mars" is the theme of a series of four, consecuative Saturday night public star parties beginning August 30 and hosted by the Alachua Astronomy Club, Inc. and the Florida Museum of Natural History. The events run from 11:30 pm to 12:30 am. The Museum is located at at SW 34 St. & Hull Rd. on the University of Florida campus. More info

Jacksonville

  • Museum of Science and History - 8:30 pm, August 27/30 - MOSH will be putting on a Mars planetarium show beginning at 8:30pm, followed by observing from the roof of the museum. Members of the Northeast Florida Astronomical Society will setup telescopes to let people view through on Wednesday and Saturday until 11pm. More info

Miami

  • The M.O.S.H., Downtown Jacksonville - 8:00 pm, August 27 - Join us on this special evening when Mars is closest to the Earth! Beginning at 8:00 p.m. with a live star show by Jack Horkheimer; at 8:30 p.m. a Mars talk by Astro-photographer Dr. Donald Parker; a raffle of 4 Meade telescopes and “Best Dressed Martian” contest, all part of the fun! Observatory is open from 9:30 p.m. to midnight. Cost: Free to the public. More info

Orlando

  • East Orange Community Center - 6:00 pm, August 23/30 - Everyone has been waiting for Mars, and the time is almost here! So don’t miss this one! And guess what, we are going to do it twice! First on august 23rd and then again on the 30th! We are going to use the East Orange Community Center for both star parties due to the easy location, great parking and the very large grass field. We will have our scopes out in force and feel free to bring your own. If the conditions are right we will even look at Uranus and Neptune! First on the 23rd from 8:30 till 2am, we will have some scopes set up for everyone to get a good look. Then on the 30th starting at 6pm Astroguides will be handing out free door prizes. We will have some displays set up for your enjoyment, A CAN-FOOD drive for the needy, A fund-raising raffle on a very nice outdoor stainless steel table top gas grill! The boy Scouts will even have a concession stand set up so you wont go hungry and all proceeds will go to a good cause! More info
  • Orlando Science Center, 777 E. Princeton St - 7:00 pm, August 27 - Catch a screening of the MarsQuest planetarium show at 7:30 p.m. (seating limited so arrive early) while waiting for Mars to rise in the sky, which will begin around 8:13 p.m. with best views around 8:45 p.m. More info

Pensacola

  • PJC Planetarium - 8:45 pm, August 27 - Presentation of "Mars Quest" planetarium show and public stargaze to see Mars at its best with telescopes of the EAAA. More info

Port St. Lucie

  • Thomas J. White Stadium - 7:00 pm, August 29 - Public is welcome to join the Treasure Coast Astronomical Society for a Mars night. More info

Tallahassee

  • Challenger Learning Center - 9:00 pm, August 29 - Also Sept 5 at Lake Ella. More info

West Palm Beach

  • South Florida Science Museum - 9:00 pm, August 29 - Mars Madness at the Science Museum (August 29, 2003). We will be hosting a Mars Madness planet viewing session this Friday evening. Instead of using the single telescope in the observatory, several of us will be setting up our own personal telescopes in the grassy field behind the museum. All members (with or without their scopes) are encouraged to attend. The museum hours will be extended till 11 PM for this event. The use of mosquito repellent is highly recommended. More info