Astronomy Days 2007: Exploration through the ages
7-time Space Shuttle Astronaut, special guest
For Immediate Release
January 12 , 2007
It's up, up and away at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences' Astronomy Days 2007. The free, two-day, out-of-this-world event will be held Saturday, January 27 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, January 28, from noon to 5 p.m. and offers dozens of exhibits, along with entertaining and educational hands-on activities and live presentations guaranteed to delight everyone from star-struck kids to novice astronomers to expert stargazers.
Highlights
New additions to Astronomy Days this year include The NASA Magic Planet Projection Sphere, a digital video globe that allows visitors to view and interact with dynamic digital media of the earth and other planets on a spherical screen; The Next Generation Spacecraft Experience comes to the Museum courtesy of the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. and provides a multi-dimensional opportunity for visitors to touch, feel and sit inside a spaceship; and LEGO Robotics Creations from FLL (First LEGO League) clubs across our region. The Triangle area Robotics Club is also bringing a full scale replica of the Mars Rover!
For those ages 8 and older, there will be several presentations in Windows on the World, a small auditorium on the Museum's 3rd floor, including How Space Weather Forecasting Impacts Your Daily Life, sponsored by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).
Past favorites include the Tripoli Rocket Association, who will be on hand once again to show off their amazing high-powered model rockets -- some over 20 feet tall! Visitors can also explore an array of special presentations and exhibits covering weather on other planets, animals of the constellations, demonstrations of astrophotography (taking space photos using basic home equipment like telescopes and tripods) and much more.
Special Guests
Dr. Franklin Chang-Diaz, 7-time Space Shuttle Astronaut and the first Latino astronaut in space will give a presentation
(Saturday only), January 27 at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. entitled, "The Challenges of Space Exploration: An Astronaut's View" in the WRAL HD Digital Theater located on the Museum's first floor.
Dr. Daniel Reichart, Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will give the presentation, "Archaeo-Astronomy: The Stonehenge Observatory" Saturday, January 27 and Sunday, January 28 at 1:00 p.m. Professor Reichart will give another presentation Sunday at 3:00 p.m. entitled, "Gamma Ray Bursts and the Discovery of the Most Distant Explosion in the Universe."
SPACE: A Journey to our Future
The Museum's current traveling exhibit is nearing its end and Astronomy Days weekend marks the final two weeks for "SPACE: A Journey to our Future" which closes Sunday, February 11. The exhibit gives audiences an opportunity to experience past exploration and look to the future of space travel. SPACE also features interactive touch screen stations, pieces of Mars and the Moon that visitors can touch and space- bike visitors can ride which simulates the effects of g-force on the human body. They can also explore a Mars Base Camp while walking through a full-size space habitat and work pod.
Astronomy Days is a free, entertaining and educational event for all ages. A program guide listing events and activity times will be available at the door. Food and beverages will be sold on site. For more information, please call 919-733-7450, ext. 503 or visit the Museum's Web site at http://www.naturalsciences.org. Astronomy Days is co-sponsored by the non-profit Raleigh Astronomy Club. For more information about club activities, visit their Web site at http://rtpnet.org/rac, or call 919-460-7900.
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, in downtown Raleigh, documents and interprets the natural history of the state of North Carolina through exhibits, research, collections, publications, and educational programming. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 9 am to 5 pm, and Sun., noon to 5 pm. Admission is free. Visit the Museum on the Web at naturalsciences.org. The Museum is an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, William G. Ross Jr., Secretary.
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