On Saturday, Oct. 5, NASA’s Planetary Mission’s Program Office is hosting International Observe the Moon Night from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center’s Davidson Center for Space Exploration in Huntsville, Alabama. The event is free and open to the public and media.
International Observe the Moon Night is a worldwide public event that encourages observation, appreciation and understanding of our Moon and its connection to NASA exploration and discovery.
NASA is committed to landing American astronauts, including the first woman and the next man, on the Moon by 2024. Through the agency’s Artemis lunar exploration program, NASA will use innovative new technologies and systems to explore more of the Moon than ever before, and use that knowledge to take the next giant leap, sending astronauts to Mars.
This local event will include Moon and solar system exhibits, plus a variety of hands-on activities for children and adults. New York-based performance artists Light Balance will present their hi-tech neon and LED dance show. Janet Ivey, the host of the PBS series “Janet’s Planet,” will give a talk on the future of women on the Moon. Huntsville-based magician Doctor Osborn will perform a science magic show. And Mister Bond & The Science Guys of Nashville will lead space science experiments.
The Von Braun Astronomical Society will be outside with telescopes, providing a guided tour of the Moon, planets and other celestial objects for visitors after the Sun sets. Visitors also can experience a virtual 3D trip to the Moon via the Astronomy Van’s simulated, command-module view of the lunar surface.
NASA scientists and other planetary team members will be available to answer questions from the public and media at the “Ask the Scientist” table. News media interested in covering the event should contact Molly Porter at molly.a.porter@nasa.gov or 256-424-5158 no later than 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4. Guests should enter through the north doors of the Davidson Center beginning at 5:30 p.m.
The U.S. Space & Rocket Center is the official visitor center of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, also in Huntsville. Marshall manages the Planetary Missions Program Office for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington.
For more information about International Observe the Moon Night, visit:
https://moon.nasa.gov/observe-the-moon/annual-event/overview
Molly Porter
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.
256-424-5158
molly.a.porter@nasa.gov