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Mars mania leaves observation camps spaceless

By Dilrukshi Handunnetti

It was the red planet that captured all imagination and grabbed the world's attention last week.

With many a country having made special arrangements to ensure that the spectacular sight is made a shared experience and not exclusive to space scientists and astronomers, the sighting of Mars on August 27 turned out to be much more than a shining ball of red decorating the evening sky.

Reports claimed that Mars was expected to appear six times larger and 85 times brighter and that the phenomenon takes place only once in 60,000 years.

While astronomers and astrologers the world over were kept busy analysing the sight according to their respective sciences, in Sri Lanka the unprecedented turn out of people at various observation camps left the organisers speechless and the eager observers, spaceless.

"Eventually, we couldn't accommodate them all" says Colombo University's Head of the Physics Department, Prof. Chandana Jayaratne. But the University staff did their best to accommodate the crowds and removed some of the expensive telescopes to create space for the thronging crowds.

The Mathematical and Astronomical Society of the University of Colombo put up several camps from August 25-29 to view the red planet, which was observed in the eastern skies throughout last week and appeared brighter and clearer on August 27.

Jayaratne said that reflector telescopes and other smaller telescopes were used at the camps and the images were projected on a giant screen for those who could not get to a telescope for an individual peek.

 Prof. Jayaratne attributes the unprecedented crowds who gathered to catch a glimpse of the fabled planet due to the media hype created. " The beneficial aspect of this entire episode is that I feel now they would be able to distinguish between the two planets, Mercury and Mars without a problem," he said.

"It is not just the desire to see the planet for curiosity purposes," says renowned astrologer and writer Piyasena Ratuwithana. " Here, it had lots to do with a fearful need to see a planet that has such a tremendous impact on people's birth charts. Mars is a crucial planet having significant astrological implications on a person's horoscope and this gives the red planet a significant place in the people's psyche," says Ratuwithana.

Space scientist and renowned writer D. Arthur C. Clarke remains unmoved by all the hype created regarding the sighting of Mars. And he was quick to squash any belief that Mars would shine some 85 times brighter and appear six times bigger on August 27, but went on record saying that the appearance would be a ' great one'.

 And Clarke has rejected the 60,000 years after theory, stating that Mars does get close to Earth every two to three years. Somehow, none of that dampened the spirit of those who wished to get a better view of the planet. Due to popular demand, observation camps were held on Friday, August 29 too at the Colombo University, though Mars would remain visible until today (31).

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