• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Chabot Space & Science Center Celebrates Astronomy Day on Saturday, April 24 With Activites, Opening of New Exhibit One Giant Leap: A Moon Odyssey

Posted on: Saturday, 8 May 2004, 06:00 CDT

OAKLAND, Calif., April 13 (AScribe Newswire) -- Chabot Space & Science Center joins with Astronomy Magazine, Meade Instruments, Corp., and observatories and planetaria throughout the country to celebrate Astronomy Day on Saturday, April 24. Also on that day, Chabot opens its newest exhibit, One Giant Leap: A Moon Odyssey.

ASTRONOMY DAY ACTIVITIES AT CHABOT:

Astronomy Day was founded by astronomers at Chabot more than 30 years ago, and has grown to be a nation-wide celebration that showcases the visually stunning and mind-boggling events of deep space. At Chabot and other venues, astronomy and telescope experts will entertain and engage visitors with an array of hands-on activities, demonstrations, presentations, telescope observing, and more. Astronomy Day activities at Chabot will include the use of solar telescopes; daytime viewing of the Sun, the Moon and Venus; locating birthday stars; telescope making with jello lenses; and learning how telescopes work. Astronomy Day activities will be offered at Chabot on Saturday, April 24, 2004, from 11 am to 5 pm, and are free with General Admission.

Astronomy Day at Chabot will include a drawing for a Meade ETX-90AT telescope, donated by Meade Instruments. The contest entry names from each venue will be collected and entered into a drawing for a grand prize drawing sponsored by Astronomy Magazine: a state-of-the-art Meade 10-inch LX200GPS SmartMount Telescope, signed by astronaut Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11 moonwalker (and member of Astronomy Magazine's editorial board).

The first Astronomy Day was held at Chabot Space & Science Center in 1973, started by Doug Berger, an amateur astronomer who wanted to introduce the public to the hobby and science of astronomy. Thirty years later, hundreds of local astronomy clubs and science organizations celebrate Astronomy Day by reaching out to kids and adults alike to expose them to the infinite wonders of our universe. Berger is currently a member of the EastBay Astronomy Society in Oakland and has been since 1967.

Other organizations participating in this unique and exciting collaboration for 2004 include Rose Center for Earth and Space, Hayden Planetarium, New York; Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum, Chicago; Miami Museum of Science and Planetarium; Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff, Ariz.; and Gary Fujihara's AstroDay on the Big Island of Hawaii. This collaboration of nationally recognized astronomy organizations amplifies the mission, expressed by Fujihara, of "Bringing astronomy to the people." This mission is also shared and carried out at Chabot and by hundreds of astronomy clubs, planetaria, and other observatories throughout the country.

Astronomy Day is part of Astronomy Week (April 19-25) and is a one-day celebration of the tireless efforts put forth every day -- and night -- by the enthusiastic, intelligent, and active members of local astronomy clubs, science museums, planetaria, and observatories, as well as Astronomy Magazine, the best-selling astronomy magazine on the planet. To learn more about Astronomy Day events of local astronomy clubs, visit www.astroleague.org.

ONE GIANT LEAP: A MOON ODYSSEY

Chabot's new exhibit One Giant Leap: A Moon Odyssey gives aspiring astronauts the chance to experience the Moon by climbing into a Mercury capsule, donning a space helmet, landing a lunar module, and stepping into Moon-walking astronauts' footprints for a walk on the lunar surface. The exhibit combines space artifacts and replicas with hands-on interactive experiences and rich imagery of the Moon for a look at our exploration of the Moon, past, present, and future. Visitors will explore legends and science fiction about the Moon, the Space Race and Moon landings, and the Earth-Moon system. See a Moon Rock up close, learn what the Moon is made of, how it affects the Earth, what causes Moon phases, gravity on the Moon, and more. The exhibit includes space artifacts and replicas, from Sputnik and Mercury to Gemini and Apollo.

Interactive components of the exhibit include a full-size climb-in model of a Mercury capsule; a Lunar Landing simulator; interactive displays on Moon gravity, phases, and orbit; and a TV monitor that lets visitors see how they look standing on the Moon. The exhibit also includes full-size models of Explorer 1 and Sputnik 1 and 2; scale models of a Gemini capsule, Apollo Command Module, and Saturn V rocket; a Mercury-era spacesuit, and other artifacts.

"MUSIC UNDER THE STARS" FEATURING AXIS MUNDI WITH AZIGZA

On Astronomy Day evening at 8 pm, Chabot presents "Music Under the Stars," featuring Axis Mundi with Azigza in a performance specially designed for the AskJeeves Planetarium. Symphonic-World-Fusion recording and performance group Azigza will perform hypnotic and exuberant original compositions that tap into the emotive energies of traditional music from around the world. While the simulated night sky swirls above the planetarium dome and celestial projections feed the visual senses, Azigza will take you on a spellbinding musical journey, an unforgettable experience of exotic sight and epic sound. Azigza is known for original compositions, elevated musicianship, multi-cultural influence and sophisticated, dramatic arrangements and orchestration. Their music blends world music traditions of India, Africa, Middle East, Balkans, Celtic and Scandinavia, combined with the sophistication of orchestral-symphonic classical forms, and expresses itself in the dynamic context of a modern rock-n-roll ensemble. Their recordings on the Lionharp Music label have earned both national and international attention. Tickets ($15 Regular, $12 Chabot Members, Children, Seniors and Students) are available at Chabot's Box Office 510-336-7373.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Chabot Space & Science Center is located at 10000 Skyline Blvd. in Oakland's Joaquin Miller Park. Public hours: Friday, 5 pm-10 pm; Saturday, 10 am-10 pm; Sunday, 12 pm-5 pm. General admission, including free parking and a Planetarium show, is $11 for adults, $8 youth and seniors. Children under 3 are admitted free. Students with ID receive a $1 discount. Shows in the MegaDome Theater are $6 adult, and $5 youth and seniors. Telescopes are open for Free Public Viewing Fridays & Saturdays from dusk - 10 pm, weather permitting. Tickets may be purchased at the door, or by calling 510-336-7373. For more information, call 510-336-7300, or visit www.chabotspace.org

More News in this Category