NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

April 22, 2010 marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. NASA and the Earth Day Network are recognizing this milestone with an entire Earth Day Week.

Throughout Earth Day Week, April 17 through April 25, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., NASA will have presentations and demonstrations at the impressive NASA Village. The Village, adjacent to the Smithsonian Metro station, consists of tents full of high-impact, visually engaging exhibits; presentations; and opportunities to meet NASA Earth scientists. Many other agencies and organizations will be represented through performances and programs on the Earth Day stage.

On April 22, Earth Day will also be Student Day as NASA will host more than 350 middle and high school students from area schools who will get to participate and interact with our scientists, engineers, and educators.

Begun in 1970, Earth Day is the annual celebration of the environment and a time to assess work still needed to protect the natural resources of our planet. NASA maintains the world's largest contingent of dedicated Earth scientists and engineers that lead and assist other agencies in preserving the planet's environment.

For a comprehensive listing of NASA's Earth Day activities, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/earthday

Image Sampling from NASA Village

On April 17, 2010, NASA celebrated the 40th Earth Day with a ribbon cutting ceremony on the National Mall. Dr. Jack Kaye (center with microphone), associate director of the Earth Science Division, NASA Headquarters, cut the ribbon to begin the week's events at the NASA Village. The NASA officials pictured behind Dr. Kaye are (left to right): Ruth Netting, NASA Headquarters; James Balog, director of the Extreme Ice Survey; Brent Holben, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center; Ming-Ying Wei, NASA Headquarters; Kevin Hussey, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory; and Steve Platnick, project scientist for the Earth Observing System. Also pictured are students from the Earth Day Network family, who volunteered to assist with NASA Village outreach activities. Credit: NASA/Ryan Barker
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An astronaut suit on display in the Technology Tent was a popular photo-op for NASA Village guests. Credit: NASA/Christopher Chrissotimos
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Landsat Education and Public Outreach Lead Anita Davis (center, holding paper), from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., shows guests a large-scale Landsat image showing the Chesapeake Bay and the surrounding area. Credit: NASA/Christopher Chrissotimos
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The NASA Village science tents features many "hands on" demonstrations, activities, and handouts to illustrate the capabilities of Earth Science Research. Credit: NASA/Christopher Chrissotimos
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Jennifer Collings from NASA's Langley Research Center demonstrates how satellite lidar is used to "see" through the atmosphere in the NASA Village science tent. Credit: NASA/Christopher Chrissotimos
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Visitors to the NASA Village science tent spend some time putting together puzzles of the Earth using binary code, similar to how data from satellites is processed to create visualizations. Credit: NASA/Christopher Chrissotimos

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Cryosphere Program Manager Tom Wagner presents on the 12th Street stage some of the latest observations and research findings on shrinking Arctic sea ice, and the rapidly-changing Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. Credit: NASA/Christopher Chrissotimos
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View of the line of visitors to the NASA Village exhibits. The Washington Monument is visible in the background. Credit: NASA/Christopher Chrissotimos
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More images are available on Flickr from ScienceAtNASA and NASA Goddard. John Putman
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center