Want to see Mars? YSU to set up sites

YOUNGSTOWN -- The Department of Physics & amp; Astronomy at Youngstown State University will host a public Mars observing night on Wednesday at the Mill Creek MetroParks Farm, located on state Route 46 across from the Canfield Fairgrounds. Telescopes will be set up at the campfire area near the pond, and signs will be posted leading visitors from the parking lot. Observing will begin at dusk. Telescopes will find other familiar objects in the sky until Mars is visible above trees about 10 p.m., reaching its highest point in the sky by 11:52 p.m.
If skies are cloudy, observing will be Thursday. Directions, more information and up-to-date weather information are available at the Ward Beecher Planetarium Web site at www.cc.ysu.edu/physics-astro.
A second observing session will be offered by the Mahoning Valley Astronomical Society on Saturday at Scenic Vista Park west of Lisbon. Again, observing will begin at dusk. There is no alternative date if the skies are cloudy.