Earth or Mars? How Southern Utah is a Stand-in for the Red Planet

Park Event · Capitol Reef National Park · Sep 11, 2026 · 4:00 PM–5:00 PM

Heritage StarFest Special Presentation:

Join Cameron Pace, professor of astronomy and physics at Southern Utah University, for a special presentation exploring similarities between the landscapes of Utah and Mars. Have you ever traveled in southern Utah and wondered if you had made it to another planet? What makes Mars look like Kanab or Hanksville?

In this talk, we will discuss similarities and differences between the red planet and the areas in Southern Utah we enjoy exploring. We will discuss the latest discoveries and observations of Mars as well as why that planet has a different past and future than Earth.

Source: National Park Service (public domain).