Special program on Mars rovers at Ritchie Observatory

Published 8:37 am Friday, August 10, 2012

Ritchie Observatory presents the planetarium show “Mars: A Tale of Three and a Half Rovers” at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11.

Dave Fong will share the story of how two-and-a-half rovers have changed our understanding of Mars, and will describe the challenges that the brand new rover Curiosity will face as it embarks on a mission to probe the Red Planet’s habitability.

If the sky is clear, astronomers will also be on hand with telescopes.

The presentation is free to members; a $2 donation is suggested for nonmembers, $5 for families.

The evening is made possible by the Battle Point Astronomical Association, a nonprofit amateur astronomy organization that operates the Edwin E. Ritchie Observatory and John H. Rudolph Planetarium in the Helix House at Battle Point Park.

For more information, call 206-842-9152 or visit www.bpastro.org.