Astronomy Day

Are you fascinated by the wonders of our solar system and by the mysterious exoplanets that fill our galaxy?  Have you ever wondered what it’s like to live and work on the International Space Station (ISS)?  Feed your curiosity at TWC’s Astronomy Day!

There will be guest speakers, hands-on planet learning activities, planet and moon planetarium shows throughout the day, and fun planet crafts for the kids to take home.  You’ll be able to enjoy a “Walk Through the Solar System” on the Pond Trail.  And, if the weather permits, solar observation during the day and when the stars come out, a Star Watch in TWC’s observatory.

Planetarium Show Information:

• Seating is limited – reserve your spots at the Gift Shop Counter, and you’ll receive a ticket for the show of your choice
• The Planetarium is in the Astronomy Education Building – just down from the trail head on the Pond trail

Astronomy Day Schedule:

9:45 am: Welcome & Planetarium Show Registration Opens

10:00 am – 4:00 pm: Drop-In Crafts and Space Science Demonstrations, Solar System Walk (Pond Trail)

10:00 – 11:00 am: One Planet, Two Planets, Red Planets, Blue Planets: Exoplanets Right Next Door

Speaker: Dr. Darren Williams, Penn State University. Learn how the discovery and exploration of exoplanets have led us to know that some of them may be homes for life!

11:15 am – 12:15 pm: Planetarium Show: Moons: Worlds of Mystery

Join us as we explore the little worlds of our solar system.  Learn how our own Moon was born and the role it has played in making Earth a planet habitable for life.  Explore the diversity of Jupiter’s four Galilean moons, Saturn’s moon Titan and moons orbiting asteroids and Kuiper Belt objects like Pluto.  Speculate on the possibility that some of these moons might support life.  Our solar system has an incredible diversity of worlds, both large and small, and sometimes it’s the smallest places that teach us the most amazing things. A “Tonight’s Sky” program showing seasonal constellations and planets currently in the night sky will follow the show.

1:00 – 2:00 pm: Living in Space

Speaker: Tom Benson, Retired Senior Research Engineer, NASA Glenn Research Center. Humans have had a continuous presence in space for the last 25 years! Take a virtual tour and learn what life is like aboard the ISS.

2:15 – 3:15 pm: Planetarium Show: Discovering New Worlds

Discovering alien worlds is no longer science fiction! Join teams of astronomers around the world who are searching for exoplanets. Learn the methods they use to detect these worlds, such as studying the minute “wobbles” of stars and detecting flickers in a star’s brightness. Thousands of extrasolar planets have now been discovered ranging from hot Jupiters to super-Earths. Is there life on any of these planets? Follow the tantalizing clues in our own solar system as to where life might exist other than Earth and what this life might look like.

3:30 – 4:30 pm: Are we Alone? The Search for Signs of Life in Our Backyard

Speaker: David Gill, TWV Astronomy Club President. Explore how and what scientists look for in the search for life outside of Earth and learn more about what the future of this research looks like.

4:45 – 5:45 pm: Planetarium Show: Living Worlds

Whether earthly or alien, all life leaves a trace. Journey through space and time as we explore the co-evolution of life and our planet. Discover the ways life has transformed Earth’s surface and atmosphere over billions of years making our planet livable. Then contemplate what life might look like and where it may be found elsewhere in our solar system and in the cosmos beyond. Learn how light and color are used to see other living worlds across great distances. Develop a new appreciation for the one-of-a-kind planet we call home. A “Tonight’s Sky” program showing seasonal constellations and planets currently in the night sky will follow the show.

8:00 pm: Planetarium Show: Tonight’s Sky

Take a tour of the spring night sky with Robin, our Astronomy Education Specialist. Learn what constellations and bright stars are in the night sky this time of year and what planets we can see. Experience some of the incredible deep sky objects this sky has to offer including galaxies, star clusters, and more. And hear some star stories along the way. Come, be inspired, and enjoy the wonders of the night sky.

9:00 pm: Star Watch (weather permitting)