NASA Star Party at EMU

To the Moon and beyond - Make sure to take your family to the
NASA Star Party at EMU on August 16-17.

The moon is coming to Ypsilanti August 16-17, as the NASA Journey to Tomorrow exhibit arrives at Eastern Michigan University. As part of the exhibit, Star Party 2013 contains a real moon rock from the Apollo 17 mission, which is available for viewing noon-8:00 p.m. each day.

Families can see the exhibit, visit the Eastern Michigan University planetarium, and see a full size inflatable model of the Curiosity Mars rover in the atrium. The exhibit has plenty of family friendly educational activities too.

• Experience what it's like landing on the moon with a lunar landing simulator 
• Participate in a glove box activity where kids can see what it's like working in a space suit
• See a dynamic planet display of the solar system
• View a model of the new Orion manned spacecraft
• And check out the Mars landing Xbox game

Families can also take a photo in the Picture Yourself in Space photo-kiosk and receive a free photo souvenir of themselves as an astronaut in space, on the Moon, or on Mars! Later in the day, as part of a special show Observatory Director Norbert Vance, families can take a tour of the Ypsilanti night sky where they will learn some of the constellations, individual stars, and planets visible now, and over the coming months.

Friday evening, weather permitting, families can ascend to the roof of Sherzer Hall for a look through powerful telescopes at objects in the night sky. Viewings typically start around 10:00 p.m. 

The Star Party 2013 Journey to Tomorrow exhibit will be open noon until 8:00 p.m. each day. The planetarium will have several showings throughout the 2 days, including a special 9:00 p.m. late show on Friday, before the sky viewing at Sherzer Hall. All activities are wheelchair accessible, except for the Sherzer Hall roof.

The location of the exhibit and planetarium is the corner of Washtenaw and Oakwood on the Eastern Michigan University campus. All events are free to the public. For more details, go to www.SpaceYpsi.com, or www.facebook.com/EMUPlanetarium.