Flandrau Star Party Celebrates World Space Week with White House
Event: Star Party on UA Mall
Date/Time: Wednesday, October 7th, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Location: 1601 E. University Blvd., University of Arizona Campus in Tucson, AZ
Activities: Public viewing of Jupiter, the moon and celestial objects with Flandrau’s 16-inch observatory telescope along with portable telescopes on the UA Mall and virtual planetarium demonstrations
Admission: Telescope viewing is free; donations encouraged in our observatory and for entry to the Mineral Museum to support astronomy education in the community
 Flandrau UA mall star parties are a community favorite  Flandrau UA mall star parties feature large telescopes  See demonstrations with our outreach 'virtual planetarium' |
Flandrau: The UA Science Center will host a star party on Wednesday, October 7, 2009 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on the UA Mall to join the White House in an international celebration of World Space Week. The public is invited for a special free telescope viewing of Jupiter and various celestial objects from Flandrau’s 16-inch observatory telescope and portable telescopes on the UA Mall. Flandrau will also provide and demonstrate outside its virtual planetarium (weather permitting), or indoors if clouds interfere. Assisting Flandrau will be astronomers from the University of Arizona chapter of SEDS (Society for the Exploration & Development of Space) and the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association (TAAA). In addition, the Flandrau facility will be open to view its meteorite collections, as well as specimens the UA Mineral Museum.
“We’re very excited that President Obama is demonstrating his support for science education, and astronomy in particular, by hosting the first ever star party at the White House,” said Alexis R. Faust, Executive Director for Flandrau: The UA Science Center. “Star parties are a unique way to connect the importance of space and planetary science research at the UA to families and children in our community.”
World Space Week began Sunday with celebrations in over 50 nations and an announcement that President Obama will host the first ever “Star Party” on the White House lawn this Wednesday evening. The White House event for middle-school students will include 20 telescopes and various hands-on activities that will “highlight the President’s commitment to science, engineering and math education as the foundation of this nation’s global technological and economic leadership,” according to a White House statement. The UN-declared World Space Week, October 4-10, is the largest annual space event on Earth, according to the World Space Week Association.
Tucson scientist Dara Norman, Ph.D, Assistant Scientist, NGSC and Diversity Co-Advocate at the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) is one of several hand-selected NOAO scientists that will give the First Family, along with 150 children from selected middle schools, a tour of the heavens from the White House South Lawn. They will assist the White House guests in gaining a greater understanding and appreciation of the beauty and mysteries of the night sky. “Astronomy is a great way to motivate the study of math and science,” said Dr. Dara Norman. “It’s a great honor to share my interest in astronomy with students at the White House and to tell them how rewarding it is to work at the national observatory.”
During Flandrau’s star party, the planet Jupiter along with star clusters and double stars will be just some of the observing highlights for the event.
Flandrau: The UA Science Center is located on the University of Arizona campus on the northeast corner of Cherry Avenue and University Boulevard. The Flandrau Observatory remains open for viewing during public hours from 7-10 p.m., weather permitting, Wednesday through Saturday nights (excluding select holidays). There is fee parking available at various University of Arizona campus garages, as well as, limited meter street parking. Information about the night sky and planetarium shows is available by calling 621-STAR (7827) or at the Flandrau Web site at http://www.UAsciencecenter.org in the astronomy section.