Planetary sciences graduate student Sarah Braden points to a video monitor displaying photos of a lunar volcanic crater Thursday in the visitor gallery of the ISTB A building on the Tempe campus. (Photo by Aaron Lavinsky)ASU will partner with the Arizona Museum of Natural History to celebrate International Observe the Moon Night on Saturday.
The museum’s “A Night with the Stars” event is focused on public outreach.
Members from the Astro Devils astronomy club, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera team, ASU biogeochemistry professor Ariel Anbar and the ASU geology club will provide hands-on demonstrations and live presentations about the moon and life in space.
Kathy Eastman, curator of education at the museum, said the evening's events are a fun way to engage the public.
"It's science a layperson, someone without a background, can appreciate," she said.
The Astro Devils plan on setting up craft stations for kids, including constellation binder decorating, galaxy puzzles and playdough planets, club adviser Teresa Ashcraft said.
“This is a chance for us to give back to the community and get kids excited about science,” Ashcraft said. “It’s important to the kids and good experience for us as well.”
LROC planned a cratering activity for attendees to learn about types of craters and how they form.
Mark Robinson, principal investigator for LROC, said the LROC team, which is part of NASA’s extended mission to return to the moon, will have high-resolution prints of the moon's surface on display.
"We want to spread the word about what LROC and (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter) are doing by showing people how cool the moon is," Robinson said.
Anbar will give a presentation on the search for life on other planets.
“This is a topic that used to be Sci-Fi,” he said. “Now the search for life is increasingly entering into the sphere of real, honest-to-God science.”
Visitors will also be able to walk through the museum’s Origins gallery, which depicts the history of the universe through pictures of galaxies.
ASU graduate students will be available to interpret the images for guests.
ASU will also provide a portable planetarium for the event. The inflatable dome can hold around 30 people, and graduate students will teach visitors about the constellations that are visible now.
In addition to the activities provided by ASU, the East Valley Astronomy Club will have telescopes set up for stargazing and the Desert Rivers Audubon Society will have bird skulls and eggs on display.
Reach the contributor at klhwang@asu.edu
