All Fun: Red Planet Day Brought to you by Stonewall Insurance Agency: Each November 28 is celebrated as “Red Planet Day.” Red Planet Day commemorates the launch of the Spacecraft Mariner 4 on November 28, 1964. Its 228-day mission brought the spacecraft within 6,118 miles of Mars on July 14, 1965, sending us back the first close-up photos of the red planet.Mars is a very bright planet, and when it’s in range, you can usually see it without a telescope. Of course, if you have a telescope—or binoculars—you will get a better look. Fortunately, in November the skies are usually clear, and Mars can sometimes be seen in the early morning. With the Internet, you can find a star chart or other guide to show you where the planets should be in the night sky.
