Astronomy Day will be celebrated 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. April 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the University of Nebraska State Museum in Morrill Hall. The event features prizes, educational laser shows, and activities about space, science and more. Admission is free for UNL faculty, staff, students and immediate family (with a valid NCard).
Participants in Astronomy Day will learn about planets, optics, telescopes, physics, robotics, space travel and nanotechnology. The event will feature information presented by a variety of groups including UNL's Mueller Planetarium, Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Microgravity University team, Chapter of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and Department of Engineering.
Mueller Planetarium will present "Lasers in Astronomy" by Prismatic Magic. This educational laser show explores how state-of-the-art laser technology is helping astronomers better understand the universe. Show times are 11 a.m., noon, 1, 2 and 3 p.m. There will be additional showings on April 21 at 2 and 3 p.m. Tickets must be purchased at the front desk on the day of the event; $3 adults, $2.50 children 18 and under. The show is 40 minutes running time. Sponsorship of this show is provided by the International Society for Optics and Photonics.
All participants can enter to win a telescope or one of three pairs of binoculars from the Prairie Astronomy Club. Entry forms for this local giveaway will be available at the museum's front desk. The drawing will take place at 4 p.m. Visitors need not be present to win. Visitors who do not win the telescope awarded locally will have the opportunity to register to win the grand prize Celestron telescope that will be given away nationally by Astronomy magazine in the weeks following Astronomy Day.
Astronomy Day will conclude with an open house "star party" during the regular open hours (8 to 11 p.m.) of Hyde Memorial Observatory, 3701 S. 70th St. in Holmes Park. There is no admission charge at Hyde Observatory.
Founded in 1973, Astronomy Day is a national celebration started by the Astronomical League to promote awareness of amateur and professional astronomy. Astronomy Day events will take place at hundreds of locations across the globe on this day. Of all the locations, Mueller Planetarium is among a select group of more than 30 planetariums, museums and observatories across the United States to be sponsored by Astronomy magazine and Celestron International as outstanding examples of the spirit of amateur astronomy. Mueller Planetarium is the only site endorsed by these organizations in the state of Nebraska.
For more information on Astronomy Day, contact Jack Dunn, coordinator of Mueller Planetarium, at jdunn1@unl.edu or go to http://www.spacelaser.com/ADay2013.html.