Astronomer Dr. Claud Lacy and his graduate student Sammy Grimer assembled a 10 inch, $3000 dollar Meade telescope that night for the public to come view the Mars opposition – an event that supposedly takes place once every 300 years. On August 27, 2003, Mars was currently 35 million miles away from earth, but usually it is 55 million years away, according to Grimer. Nearly 250 people stood in line to catch a glimpse of the Red Planet Wednesday night, and due to a misprint in the local paper, about 60 people had come the night before.

“The weather has gone well for us,” said Lacy of both nights. “That was a lucky accident.” The southern ice cap of Mars was clearly visible through the telescope, regardless of light pollution from Fayetteville. “With something that bright, it doesn’t matter,” said Lacy.