MARS — It doesn't rain on the planet Mars because of the Red Planet's thin atmosphere.

However, the borough is no stranger to summer storms, and it experienced them Saturday during the final day of its Mars New Year celebration.

But sizable crowds still gathered at the event despite the scattered showers that forced some of the speakers away from the main stage and inside the library.

The day featured multiple astronomers speaking about the future of space exploration. NASA hopes to send humans to Mars by the 2030s, and Diane Turnshek, an astronomer at Carnegie Mellon University, may know the struggles of what humans would deal with on the planet as well as anyone.

Turnshek spent two weeks in December 2012 at a Mars simulation colony in the deserts of Utah.

“They were studying the human factors of sending people to Mars,” she said, adding isolation, water rationing and working outside in a space suit were top focuses.

She said the interpersonal relationships with astronauts who would travel to Mars is a major concern for scientists.

“They took six of us and stuck us in a tin can,” she said of the colony. “At times it was uncomfortable and awkward.”

Rick Davis of NASA spoke about the different challenges humans would need to overcome to land on Mars.

Those challenges include landing a spacecraft large enough to carry humans on the planet, finding a habitable spot that lends itself well to exploration and surviving on the vastly different planet for extended periods of time.

While the technology isn't quite where it needs to be to send humans to Mars, Davis said NASA's rovers are among mankind's greatest accomplishments.

“They're pushing the limits of what humans know how to do,” he said.

Turnshek said a trip to Mars would be much more beneficial than trips to the moon.

She said the country's lunar journeys served no great purpose other than to prove it could be done.

“To go to Mars would be very different,” she said. “It would be a sustainable colony.”

Jim Green, the director of planetary science with NASA, said the planet would have been more fitting for humans three billion years ago.

“Mars had a significant amount of water, mostly in its northern hemisphere,” he said. “Its oceans were a mile deep in some spots.”

The planet at the time had clouds and rain.

“It had weather similar to what we've experienced in Mars, Pennsylvania, over the past 24 hours,” he said.

Today the planet is arid, but scientists believe there is plenty of ice beneath the planet's dusty surface.

Finding that ice will be key to human exploration.

“There is a significant amount of water underground,” he said. “It's important for us to find it.”

Reflecting on the community celebration, Mayor Gregg Hartung said the event was a big success.

“People are amazed we could do an event like this,” he said. “To work with NASA has been great.”

He said the New Year's event was fitting for the borough.

“The community feels like we have something to offer,” he said. “There's a sense of pride to it.”

Hartung said there are no definitive plans for a future celebration, but said there is interest.

“NASA is already talking about the possibility,” he said.

Dayle Ferguson, president of the Mars School Board, said the event was great for promoting science education to people of all ages.

“The community has come together in the name of education, science and service,” she said.

Ferguson said the borough's name provided a great opportunity for the region.

“It's a great opportunity to connect our hometown and our solar companion outside the classroom,” she said.

Hartung read a proclamation declaring Saturday as NASA Day in the borough. He and state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-12th, presented the proclamation to Green, who said everyone with NASA enjoyed the time in the borough.

“It was a blast,” he said.

Sisters Jess and Kris Rogers, Mars natives, said the event was great for their hometown.

“It was amazing,” Jess Rogers said of the event. “You always see festivals about art and stuff, but never about science.”

The siblings, along with their friends Sarah Untch, a native of Mars, and Kat Wintersteen of Pittsburgh, rushed to get Green's autograph after he spoke.

“They definitely should do this again,” Kris Rogers said.