National Space Society Blog

Explore the Universe
Saturday, April 04
10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Throughout the National Mall building
Admission: Free

Learn about the universe by participating in an array of family friendly hands-on activities, listen to the cosmic sounds of The Chromatics and talk to Museum staff and local experts about choosing, using, and caring for telescopes and other astronomical instruments.

Schedule of events and activities

10:05 and 11:30 AM
Two Pieces of Glass — a Planetarium Show for the International Year of Astronomy

11:00 AM and 1:30 PM
Listen to the The Chromatics sing about the Universe

11:00 AM and 1:30 PM
Go to a Story time (recommended for children ages 3 and older)
There Once Was a Sky Full of Stars written by Bob Crelin

12:30 PM
Observe the stars of astronomy who will talk about their work and why they love astronomy
* Dr. Vera Rubin–proved Dark Matter exists
* Dr. Nancy Roman–made the Hubble Space Telescope happen
* Dr. George Carruthers–put the first telescope on the moon

2:30 PM
Take a family tour about Women in Astronomy

All Day Activities

Build your own refracting telescope (free with timed-ticket available at the activity table)
Recommended for children ages 8 and older

Make a pocket solar clock
Recommended for children ages 5 and older

Find out about your sun sign and make a constellation
Recommended for children ages 3 and older

Chat with amateur astronomers
Learn about star parties and the International Year of Astronomy

Learn how to help save the night sky
Talk to members of the International Dark Sky Association

** Schedule of events and activities is subject to change **

This event is made possible by the generous support of the Northrop Grumman Corporation.

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 2nd, 2009 at 1:15 pm and is filed under Education, Event, Science. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.