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The Planetary Society Shares Media Resources for Mars Opposition
Media Advisory
July 27, 2018
Contact
Danielle Gunn
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +1-626-793-5100
WHY: On July 31, 2018, Mars will be closer, and therefore brighter, than it has been since 2003, and closer and brighter than it will be again until 2035. Appearing as a bright orange-red star, Mars at opposition will dazzle night sky viewers around the globe. The Planetary Society is pleased to provide information, expert analysis and resources to journalists for this unique event.
WHO:
- Bruce Betts, chief scientist, provides comprehensive details on what to expect during opposition and close approach: http://www.planetary.org/blogs/bruce-betts/mars-opposition-lunar-eclipse.html
WHAT: Resources for journalists covering Mars Opposition beginning July 27th, 2018.
- Experts: Bruce Betts, chief scientist, available for interviews
- Images: Stunning Mars images and animations, including many not available on NASA websites, can be found on our Bruce Murray Space Image Library
- Blog: See Mars at its closest in 15 years
- Multimedia:
Carl Sagan's Message to Mars In 1996, Carl Sagan recorded this audio for future astronauts who will one day walk on Mars. In 2008, Sagan's greeting to future explorers made it to the surface of Mars thanks to The Planetary Society's “Visions of Mars” mini-DVD, which is attached to the Phoenix lander. This audio of Sagan is actually on Mars, so you will see its home when whenever you look up at the bright, orange light that is the Red Planet in the night sky.
WHEN: Available now. Planetary Society media resources, including blog content and multimedia, are available to journalists to support news coverage. Please link to and/or cite the original source and attribution as applicable.
WHERE: These online resources are available to journalists globally.
Interviews with expert spokespeople available upon request. To schedule, please contact [email protected]
About The Planetary Society
With a global community of more than 2 million space enthusiasts, The Planetary Society is the world’s largest and most influential space advocacy organization. Founded in 1980 by Carl Sagan, Bruce Murray, and Louis Friedman and today led by CEO Bill Nye, we empower the public to take a meaningful role in advancing space exploration through advocacy, education outreach, scientific innovation, and global collaboration. Together with our members and supporters, we’re on a mission to explore worlds, find life off Earth, and protect our planet from dangerous asteroids. To learn more, visit www.planetary.org.
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