Upcoming Mars Education Events

Compiled by Ken Edgett, Arizona State University


Dates in 1997:

• May 1:
  K-12 Teacher Open House. MGS TES facility at ASU, 4-5 p.m. K-12 teachers from the Phoenix area are invited.

• July 2:
  Mars Day at the Arizona Science Center, Phoenix, Arizona. Events are being planned to preced the Mars Pathfinder landing. Contact (602) 716-2000.

• July 3-6:
  Planetfest '97. Celebrate Mars Pathfinder's landing LIVE in Pasadena, California-- near JPL! Planetfest '97 is sponsored by The Planetary Society and will include a series of public and educational events. Planetfest '97 will also celebrate the June 1997 NEAR encounter with asteroid Matilde and Galileo's continuing Jupiter mission! The Planetary Society, (818) 793-5100.

• July 4:
  Mars Pathfinder landing on Mars. Check local TV listings for live coverage of events, including Passport to Knowledge "Live from Mars" on PBS. IMPORTANT: The "Live from Mars" telescasts are scheduled for July 6 and July 9 (2 programs). Watch for other coverage (e.g., CNN News) on July 4 and 5.

• September 12:
  Mars Global Surveyor goes into orbit. Expect an Open House event at the ASU TES facility. IMPORTANT: In Arizona, the Mars Orbit Insertion occurs just before 6:30 p.m. on September 11th!!

• September 13:
  Arizona Mars K-12 Teacher Workshop at Arizona State University. Workshop for teachers only.

• in October:
  Passport to Knowledge "Live from Mars" telecast.

• in November:
  Passport to Knowledge "Live from Mars" telecast.

• March 15, 1998:
  Mars Global Surveyor begins Mapping Phase. Mapping will occur for 1 Mars year (through January 2000).