NASA will celebrate the 42nd anniversary of Earth Day this week with several live and online activities to engage the public about the agency’s mission to use space to explore and better understand our planet.

NASA will host three days of displays and presentations open to the public on the National Mall in Washington from Friday, April 20, through Earth Day, Sunday, April 22. A live video chat with NASA Earth scientists about new insights into our complex planet will be part of these events on April 21.

For details on NASA Earth Day activities and agency programs dedicated to expanding our knowledge of Earth, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/earthday

Earth Day in the Nation’s Capital

Friday, April 20 (11 a.m.-3 p.m. EDT); Saturday, April 21 (12-5 p.m. EDT); Sunday, April 22 (11 a.m.-5 p.m. EDT) — The “NASA Village” on the National Mall will contain activities and exhibits in three tents highlighting the use of NASA science and technology to advance knowledge and awareness of our planet. On April 22, a performance stage hosted by the Earth Day Network will feature presentations by NASA with a wide variety of entertainment. The area is located at 12th Street and Jefferson Drive SW. http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/ed-2012-dc.html

Live Web Broadcast and Chat: A High-Tech Checkup of Earth’s Vital Signs

Saturday, April 21 (1-2 p.m. EDT) — NASA scientists take you on a world tour from the vantage point of space to show you some of the new insights into our changing planet made possible by our orbiting high-tech sensors. This live event in the “NASA Village” on the National Mall will be streamed online via Ustream. Scientists will take questions from the live audience and those viewing online. http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-hq

NASA Earth Day Video Contest 2012

Share your vision of what NASA’s exploration of Earth means to you by creating a short YouTube video. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., announced today a contest for the best video about discoveries or real-world benefits resulting from NASA’s Earth science program. Producers are encouraged to draw from NASA’s extensive collection of public domain Earth imagery. Submissions are due by May 31. http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/earthday-vid-2012.html

NASA Center Activities

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., Saturday-Sunday, April 21-22 (9 a.m. – 5 p.m. PDT) — An exhibit on JPL’s Earth science research will be part of the Earth Day celebration at the Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach, Calif. Attendees will learn how they can help our ocean planet. The event includes hands-on learning demonstrations for all ages.