Celebrate National Astronomy Day at Challenger Space Center!

On National Astronomy Day, Challenger Space Center Arizona will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for tours and exhibits, simulated space missions, planetarium shows, science demonstrations and more. 

Then, from 6-9 p.m., the Center will host a special Family STAR Night with professional stargazer Tony LaConte, including an informative presentation and telescope viewing using large GPS-computer-controlled telescopes. Everyone attending Family STAR Night and staying for the telescope viewing will receive a free sky map.  Visitors who bring a digital camera will be assisted in taking pictures of the Moon and Saturn through the telescopes and will be able to get the rings of Saturn in their photos.

Schedule of Day Activities between 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. :

10 a.m. – Doors open; general admission rates (see below).

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.:  Throughout the day, the following events will take place at specific times and are included with general admission, except as indicated.  A printed schedule of events will be available upon arrival.

–         Giant inflatable planets.  Visitors of all ages can discover and visualize the size and scale of planets in our solar system with this display consisting of a full-color inflatable Jupiter, 15-feet in diameter, the planets Earth and Neptune, and Earth’s moon.  Free with general admission.

–         Guided and self-guided tours including exhibits and displays.  Featured are the Smithsonian exhibit, “An Astronauts Life, Articles Flown in Space,” on-loan from the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., and items from the personal collection of former NASA Space Shuttle Astronaut William Gregory.  Free with general admission.

–         Megawatt Show.  This interactive demonstration of light and electricity includes the spectacular Tesla coil, which provides a safe way to demonstrate high-voltage phenomena.  The Tesla coil is the most spectacular of all electrical demonstrations!  Free with general admission.

–         “My Solar System.”  Children of all ages will enjoy this interactive exhibit as they jump up and “catch” planets in a colorful moving display.  Using motion detection technology, kids who successfully capture a planet will be rewarded with a fun fact about that planet.  Free with general admission.

–         The History Channel movie, “Seven Wonders of the Solar System” will be shown in the theater.  Free with general admission.

–         Hands-on activities for all ages including balloon rockets, create-a-planet, 3-D object building, coloring pages and more.  Free with general admission.

11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.:  Indoor Giant StarLab Planetarium program with professional stargazer Tony LaConte.  Inside the dome, visitors are transported into a night sky environment perfect for learning about upcoming sky events, the stars, the moon, constellations, planets, deep space objects, celestial coordinates, the seasons, multicultural folklore, and mythology.  Each 40-minute program will highlight the upcoming May 20th solar eclipse and June 5th Venus transit events, which will also be commemorated at Challenger Space Center.  The May 20th Solar Eclipse is the best solar eclipse visible in the Valley until September of 2071 and the June 5th Venus transit is the last one until December of 2117, truly a once in a lifetime event!  Planetarium Fee:  $4 per person (plus the cost of general admission); 25% discount for Challenger members.

1:00 p.m.:  Fly a simulated space mission to “Rendezvous with a Comet.”  During the space mission, team members in both the Spacecraft and Mission Control will take a daring trek into space to rendezvous with a comet’s tail and successfully launch a scientific probe.  Prepaid reservations are required by calling 623-322-2001 or online at www.azchallenger.org.  Simulated space missions are not suitable for 2nd grade and under; students in 3rd and 4th grade must be partnered with a ticketed adult.  Fee:  Mission boarding passes are $22.50 for adults, $19.50 for students and seniors, and include general admission to the Center.

General admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors (55+) and military, $5 for students (4-18), free for children ages 3 and under and Challenger Members.  Challenger Space Center is open from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. seven days a week.

Special Evening Event: Family STAR Night Celebrates National Astronomy Day
Sat. April 28, 6 – 9 p.m.:

Challenger Space Center Arizona is hosting a special Family STAR Night in celebration of National Astronomy Day, Saturday, April 28, 6 – 9 p.m.  Fee:  $7 per person, children 3 and under free; 25% discount for Challenger Members.  Please call ahead to reserve Scout Activity Packets, 623-322-2001. 

6 – 9 p.m.:  Inside the Center, enjoy a simulated space launch in the Earth-Space Transit Module, arts and crafts activities, and “Scout Corner.” 

Giant inflatable planets.  Visitors of all ages can discover and visualize the size and scale of planets in our solar system with this display consisting of a full-color inflatable Jupiter, 15-feet in diameter, the planets Earth and Neptune, and Earth’s moon. (weather permitting)

7:30 p.m.:  Professional stargazer Tony LaConte will present an amazing interactive slide presentation on constellations, planets, and upcoming sky events, including a preview of the May 20th solar eclipse and June 5th Venus transit events.  This special Astronomy Night event includes the presentation, “The History of Telescopes,” along with telescope viewing (as weather permits) using large GPS-computer-controlled telescopes.  Visitors will view the Moon, Mars, Saturn, star clusters, nebula, exploded stars and galaxies.

Everyone attending Family STAR Night and staying for the telescope viewing will receive a free sky map.  Visitors who bring a digital camera will be assisted in taking pictures of the Moon and Saturn through the telescopes and will be able to get the rings of Saturn in their photos.

The presentation and telescope viewing is appropriate for people of all ages and a wheelchair-accessible telescope will be available.

The Galaxy Gift Shop will be open during the daytime and evening events with a unique collection of space-related games, toys, books, posters, t-shirts and much more … don’t forget the astronaut ice cream!  There is no sales tax on gift shop purchases and all revenues help the Challenger Space Center, a non-profit organization improving educational opportunities for all.

About Astronomy Day:  Astronomy Day is a grass roots movement designed to share the joy of astronomy with the general population – “Bringing Astronomy to the People.”  On Astronomy Day, thousands of people who have never looked through a telescope will have an opportunity to see first hand what has so many amateur and professional astronomers all excited.  Astronomy clubs, science museums, observatories, universities, planetariums, laboratories, libraries, and nature centers host special events and activities to acquaint their population with local astronomical resources and facilities.  Many of these events are located at non-astronomical sites; shopping malls, parks, urban centers—truly Bringing Astronomy to the People.  It is an astronomical PR event that helps highlight ways the general public can get involved with astronomy – or at least get some of their questions about astronomy answered.