Eyes On Mars

Eyes on Mars aims to raise awareness of the UK’s involvement in Mars exploration, with an emphasis on the PanCam instrument onboard the Rosalind Franklin Rover, due to launch in 2028.

What is Eyes on Mars?

Eyes on Mars is a public engagement project that was funded from 2021 – 2024 by the Royal Astronomical Society and Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)’s Sparks Award, led by Dr Catherine Regan.

Eyes on Mars aims to raise awareness of the UK’s involvement in Mars exploration, with an emphasis on the PanCam (Panoramic Camera) instrument onboard the Rosalind Franklin Rover, due to launch in 2028. This has been achieved through a craft activity, and social media platform.

The craft activity has participants create their own filter wheel, inspired by the two inside the PanCam instrument. Resources are publicly available for this activity, including instructional videos, risk assessments and a lesson plan.

Eyes on Mars was founded by two PhD students at MSSL, who have now graduated. Catherine Regan and Priya Patel both completed their PhD’s on Mars in 2024 and are now working as postdoctoral researchers in the USA, continuing their research on Mars.

Resources for activities

Although the project funding has now ended, the resources are still available to be downloaded and used freely. We ask to please email eyesonmarsuk@gmail.com to let us know if you plan to do the activity so we can keep track of our reach!

Project Succeses

As of January 2025, over 8000 young people have created their own filter wheel. It has been highlighted at a number of events, including New Scientist Live! in October 2023.

We were invited to give a talk at the Royal Astronomical Society in 2024 about the project, which can be found on YouTube.

The project has been recognized by a number of awards:

Institute of Physics Jocelyn Bell Burnell Award 2024
- Awarded to Catherine Regan
Runner-up – Sir Arthur Clarke Awards for Space Achievement – Student Award
- Finalist – Catherine Regan
Outreach Project Award – Centre for Planetary Sciences Award 2023
Individual Award for Public Engagement – Centre for Planetary Sciences Award 2023
- Awarded to Catherine Regan
Elizabeth Puchnaweicz Award for Outstanding Contribution to Public Outreach
- Awarded to Catherine Regan