On Saturday, Oct. 28, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. the public and media are invited to attend the 7th annual International Observe the Moon Night celebration at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. The free event will be in the U.S. Space & Rocket Center’s Shuttle Park, under the Pathfinder Space Shuttle, in Huntsville, Alabama. The U.S. Space & Rocket Center is the official visitor center for Marshall.
Saturday’s event will include Moon-related and solar system exhibits and hands-on activities for children and adults. Activities will include Doctor Osborn’s Science Magic Show, a face painting station, and a meet and greet with Janet Ivey from the PBS show “Janet’s Planet.” Live music will be provided by DJ Shell. Several large amateur telescopes will be set up to view the Moon, stars, and other visible planets. Visitors also can take a virtual 3-D trip to the Moon with the astronomy van, offering a magnified, command-module-like view of the lunar surface. The family movie, “Scooby-Doo Moon Monster Madness,” will begin at dusk.
The event is hosted by the Planetary Missions Program at Marshall and encourages the observation and appreciation of the Moon. All are invited to learn more about the Moon and its connection to NASA planetary science and exploration, as well as our cultural and personal connections to it.
Dr. Renee Weber, a planetary scientist, and other NASA planetary team members will be available to answer questions from the public and media from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the “Ask the Scientist” table.
News media interested in covering the event should contact Shannon Ridinger in the Office of Communications at 256-544-3774 no later than 3 p.m. CDT Oct. 27. Media participating in the event should come through the gate located by the Pathfinder Space Shuttle.
For more information on NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/home/index.html.
For more information on the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, visit:
http://rocketcenter.com.
