Chat Now!
You can begin chatting right away using the Java IRC client on this page.
Instructions
Type in the NickName you want to be known as and hit "Connect!" Click "Grant" if you're asked for permission to run this Java applet. If you're viewing this page on a Unix computer, click the "Unix" button first. (If you're not sure, you're probably not using Unix, so don't worry about it.)
The Mars Society IRC Chat Rooms are hosted by the SuperChat IRC Network and Cyberteams. IRC is Internet Relay Chat, a popular chat room standard that has been used for over 10 years.
Here are some Common IRC Commands
Internet Relay Chat RFC 1459 - May 1993
Chat Rooms
There are several Mars Society chat rooms (also known as channels):
Channel Purpose To enter, type:
------- ------- ---------------
#Mars General Mars Society Discussions (default channel)
#Mars2 Meeting Room #2 - (No limit) /join #mars2
#Mars3 Meeting Room #3 - Limited to 8 people /join #mars3
#Mars4 Meeting Room #4 - Limited to 8 people /join #mars4
#Mars5 Room #5 - Auditorium (moderated) /join #mars5
If you use our Java client, you will automatically be taken to #Mars, the main channel.
To enter a channel, type "/join <channel>". For example, to join a chat going on in #Mars2, you would type "/join #mars2" (without the quotes).
To leave a channel, type "/part <channel>". You can be joined to more than one channel at once.
Mars Society Chat Room "Bots"
Our chat room features Athena and Ares, two IRC bots. Bots are programmable robots that will respond to visitors and perform maintainance on the IRC chat rooms. Ares will answer questions in the form of:
Ares, <question> (comma optional)
For example:
<jburk> Ares, Hello!
<Ares> Hello, jburk!
<jburk> Ares, Who are you?
<Ares> jburk, I am Ares, the Mars Society chat room bot.
<jburk> Ares, What is the Mars Society?
<Ares>
jburk, The Mars Society furthers the goal of the exploration and settlement of the red planet
<jburk> Ares Goodbye!
<Ares> Goodbye, jburk!
Other IRC Clients
If you enjoy chatting in the Mars Society chat room, download the mIRC client. It offers more
features and lets you participate in more than one chat room. Click here to read the mIRC FAQ. To join the Mars Society chat room with an IRC client:
Connect to: irc.superchat.org port 6667
Type: /join #mars
To report problems, if you'd like to have operator access, or want to help out with the development of an advanced bot for the chat room, contact us at chat@marsnews.com
