Statewide Star Party 2020

Protecting and Celebrating our Night Sky

GLOBE at Night
Participate in the citizen-science campaign to measure light pollution.

GLOBE at Night WebApp
Direct link to the Globe at Night WebApp, where we will submit our observational data on Friday, November 13, and Saturday, November 14.

International Dark-Sky Association (IDA)
Resources and activities on light pollution, including free check out of popup displays on connections with wildlife, human health, energy, and safety

International Dark Sky Place Program with the IDA
Learn about the IDA’s International Dark Sky Place program, a way for communities, parks and protected areas around the world to preserve and protect dark sites through responsible lighting policies and public education.

National Park Service Night Skies
See the work done by the National Park Service to protect and preserve the night sky.

Minnesota/Canada Partnership towards becoming a Dark Sky Region

Quetico Provincial Park
Superior National Forest – Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness
Voyageurs National Park
La Verendrye Provincial Park

Explore the Minnesota Night Sky

Minnesota Astronomical Society
Learn about one of the largest most active amateur astronomy organizations in the country. Explore their resources and see if there are any groups or events happening in your area.

Mike Shaw Photography
Explore the beauty of our night skies photographed by Mike Shaw, resident artist at the Bell Museum.

Explore the Night Sky with Bob King
Follow Bob “Astrobob” King’s blog with Sky and Telescope magazine where he explores the night sky and all the wonderful topics that come with it.

Minnesota Institute of Astrophysics (MiFA) University @ Home Series
A series of virtual events that are intended to introduce the study of space and our Universe in a fun and engaging way, while providing a “peek behind the curtain” at modern research in astrophysics.

The Astronomical League
An organization that consists of over 280 astronomy societies across the country, their observation programs are a great way to learn more about the night sky and become a better night sky observer.

Bell Museum’s Constellation Hunter Series
Follow along with the Bell Museum’s planetarium team as they teach you how to locate and sketch constellations in the Northern Hemisphere. Constellation Hunters is an Astronomical League Observing Program.

Tonight’s Sky

Spot the International Space Station
When can you see the ISS? Sign up for alerts.

Clear Sky Charts
Will tonight’s sky be clear? Find a chart for your location.

Time and Date
Astronomical information for various locations, including rise and set times for Sun, Moon, planets

Heavens-Above.com
Star charts for any location, date, and time—be sure to specify your observing location

Educator Resources

SpacePlace: NASA in the 50 states
Click on Minnesota to see NASA info from our state.

Stellarium
Download free planetarium software for your computer.

StarDate’s Moon page
Illustrations of lunar phases for a given month, Moon FAQs

NASA Night Sky Network
Excellent activities—click “Outreach Resources”

NASA Wavelength
A “full spectrum” of NASA resources for Earth and space science education

NASA’s Solar System Exploration
Facts, images, news, space missions

Astronomy Picture of the Day
Makes a great home page

Choosing a Telescope
What telescope should you buy? Read advice from amateur astronomers.

Children’s Reading List

The Stars Just Up the Street
Mabel loves stars. She counts five from her window and thirty-seven from her backyard. But her grandfather tells her that, as a child, he could see thousands. Could it be true? Mabel climbs a hill looking for more stars—only to discover that the glow from the nearby town makes them hard to see. What would it take for her neighbors to turn off their lights, just for one night, so that everyone could see the starlit sky? Written by Sue Soltis, illustrated by Christine Davenier, Candlewick 2020, Ages 4 – 8.

How the Stars Fell into the Sky: A Navajo Legend
This retelling of a Navajo folktale explains how First Woman tried to write the laws of the land using stars in the sky, only to be thwarted by the trickster Coyote. Written by Jerrie Oughton, illustrated by Lisa Desimini, HMH Books for Young Readers 1992, Ages 4–7.

While the World is Sleeping
An owl’s guided tour of the outdoors at night, focusing on what animals do while people sleep. Written by Pamela Duncan Edwards, illustrated by Daniel Kirk, Orchard Books 2010, Ages 4 and up.

Through the Night Sky: A Collection of Amazing Adventures Under the Stars
Beginning with a sunset and ending at dawn, Through the Night Sky shines a light on the magical events taking place in the darkness above. Unlike an astronomy book that focuses on eye-popping facts and figures about the universe, Through the Night Sky features a series of incredible stories that take place in the sky at night. Track a colony of bats as they fly through the twilight to pollinate the flowers of the mysterious baobab tree, follow a family into the wilderness to gaze at the constellations, watch whales swimming through chilly Arctic waters under the gentle glow of the Northern Lights, then chart the journey of a ship navigating by the stars. Written by Anita Ganeri, Dorling Kindersley Limited 2020, Ages 4–8.

Bright Sky, Starry City
Phoebe helps her dad set up telescopes on the sidewalk outside his store. It’s a special night Saturn and Mars are going to appear together in the sky. But will Phoebe be able to see them with all the city lights? Raindrops begin to fall, followed by lightning and thunder. Phoebe is filled with disappointment as she and her father hurry inside to wait out the storm. But suddenly the power fails and then, amazingly, the rain and clouds disappear. Phoebe and her dad and all kinds of people spill into the street. And there, in the bright night sky, the splendor of the planets and a multitude of stars are revealed for all to see. Written by Uma Krishnaswami, Groundwood Books 2015, Ages 5–9.

Adult Reading List

The Last Stargazers: The Enduring Story of Astronomy’s Vanishing Explorers
From the lonely quiet of midnight stargazing to tall tales of wild bears loose in the observatory, The Last Stargazers is a love letter to astronomy and an affirmation of the crucial role that humans can and must play in the future of scientific discovery. In this sweeping work of narrative science, Levesque shows how astronomers in this scrappy and evolving field are going beyond the machines to infuse creativity and passion into the stars and space and inspires us all to peer skyward in pursuit of the universe’s secrets. Written by Emily Levesque, Sourcebooks, 2020.

How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming
The solar system most of us grew up with included nine planets, with Mercury closest to the sun and Pluto at the outer edge. Then, in 2005, astronomer Mike Brown made the discovery of a lifetime: a tenth planet, Eris, slightly bigger than Pluto. But instead of adding one more planet to our solar system, Brown’s find ignited a firestorm of controversy that culminated in the demotion of Pluto from real planet to the newly coined category of “dwarf” planet. Suddenly Brown was receiving hate mail from schoolchildren and being bombarded by TV reporters—all because of the discovery he had spent years searching for and a lifetime dreaming about. Written by Mike Brown, Random House 2012.

Death by Black Hole and Other Cosmic Quandaries
Death by Black Hole explores a myriad of cosmic topics, from what it would be like to be inside a black hole to the movie industry’s feeble efforts to get its night skies right. One of America’s best-known astrophysicists, Tyson is a natural teacher who simplifies the complexities of astrophysics while sharing his infectious fascination for our universe. Written by Neil DeGrasse Tyson, W. W. Norton and Company, 2014.

We have a variety of related activities for various ages and skill levels! Check them out here:

3D Constellation

Suggested age range: 9+

Activity level: intermediate

Activity duration: 20 min

Globe at Night – A Citizen Science Project 

Suggested age range: 10+

Activity level: advanced

Activity duration: 5 min (+20–30min prep)

Community Night Sky Mural

Suggested age range: all ages

Activity level: easy

Activity duration: 5 minutes

Night Sky Scavenger Hunt

Suggested age range: ages 5+

Activity level: beginner to intermediate

Activity duration: 10–20 minutes

There are many great astronomy books and websites. Here are just a few recommendations.

Websites

Aboriginal Astronomy.com.au
This website has much information about current research in Aboriginal astronomy and contains a plethora of resources in a user-friendly format.

Native Skywatchers.com: Indigenous Astronomy Revitalization
This initiative is focused on revitalizing indigenous sky and earth knowledge. The website has information on upcoming workshops and other events focused on science, art, and culture, as well as downloadable educator resources.

Skymaps.com 
You can download free star maps for the current month on this website. This website also has an extensive selection of planispheres, books, and other stargazing items.

Stellarium

Free planetarium software that you can download on your computer. There is also an app available for iPhone and Android.

Introductory Books About Cultural Astronomy

Ancient Astronomers, by Anthony Aveni
An introduction to the field of archaeoastronomy—contains many photos, maps, and images.

Astrology and Cosmology in the World’s Religions, by Nicholas Campion
Discusses the role of the sky in religions and cultures from around the world.

People and the Sky: Our Ancestors and the Cosmos, by Anthony Aveni
Discusses the many ways people in diverse cultures have engaged with the sky, by focusing on “walks of life” and exploring “the sailor’s sky,” “the farmer’s sky,” etc.

Books About Indigenous Astronomy

Emu Dreaming: An Introduction to Aboriginal Astronomy, by Ray and Cilla Norris
A short booklet with many images, giving an introductory overview Aboriginal knowledge and perspectives on the night sky.

Dakota/Lakota Star Map Constellation Guidebook: An
Introduction to D(L)akota Star Knowledge, by Annette S. Lee, Jim Rock, and Charlene O’Rourke
Discusses D(L)akota teachings on the stars as well as Western astronomy.

Ojibwe Sky Star Map—Constellation Guidebook: An Introduction to Ojibwe Star Knowledge, by Annette S. Lee, William Wilson, Jeffrey Tibbets, and Carl Gawboy
Discusses Ojibwe teachings on the stars as well as Western astronomy.

Sharing the Skies: Navajo Astronomy, by Nancy C. Maryboy and David Begay
Discusses the night sky, constellations, and celestial objects from both Diné (Navajo) and Western perspectives.

Talking Sky: Ojibwe Constellations as a Reflection of Life on the Land, by Carl Gawboy and Ron Morton
Contains many Ojibwe star stories and extensive discussion about how these constellations were an integral part of Ojibwe daily life.

Books about Light Pollution

Dark Matters: Nature’s Reaction to Light Pollution, by Joan Galat
A children’s book (geared towards grades 5–8) which explores the many ways in which various species of wildlife are affected by artificial light at night.

Fighting Light Pollution, by the International Dark Sky Association
A thorough introduction to what light pollution is, the many reasons why it’s a cause for concern, and solutions to these issues.

The End of Night: Searching for Natural Darkness in an Age of
Artificial Light, by Paul Bogard
Science, natural history and travelogue about
dark skies, light pollution and humans’ interaction with the sky.

Sark in the Dark, by Ada Blair
Discusses the importance of dark skies for well-being. In this book, Blair discusses her research, interviewing individuals on the Dark Sky Island of Sark to learn more about what access to a truly dark sky means to the residents of this island.

Books on Stargazing

Binocular Highlights: 99 Celestial Sights for Binocular Users, by Gary Seronik
Once you are familiar with how to find some the constellations, this is a great book to help you locate galaxies, clusters, and other objects which show up well with binoculars.

Night Sky: A Field Guide to the Constellations, by Jonathan
Poppele
Organizes the constellations by season in which they are most easily seen and also contains information about the origins of many stars’ common names as well as some constellation mythology.

Monday, November 9
7–9:30 pm

7 pm: Come to the Dark Side: Protecting Your Starry Night Sky

Dr. Connie Walker | Scientist at NSF’s NOIRLab and Director of Globe at Night

Dr. Walker will kick off our Statewide Star Party by discussing the citizen science project Globe at Night, the importance of protecting our night skies, how it can be done, and our individual contributions to ending light pollution.

Dr. Connie Walker has worked for 14 years regionally, nationally, and internationally on light pollution issues. Interest began 14 years ago as a joint project of students in Tucson, Arizona, and La Serena, Chile, which became the monthly international citizen science campaign Globe at Night today. Along the way, Connie has been on the board of directors for the International Dark-Sky Association for six years. She is currently the president of the International Astronomical Union’s Commission on Observatory Site Protection (e.g., light pollution issues). She is also currently co-hosting several workshops/sessions/conferences on the hot topic of the impact of satellite constellations on astronomy—a new type of light pollution. Cool fact: She has an asteroid discovered and named by Carolyn Shoemaker and David Levy (discoverers of Shoemaker-Levy 9 that smashed into Jupiter). They named asteroid 29292 connie_walker for her contributions to outreach in astronomy. She has a wonderful husband, daughter, son and cat who all tolerate her interests in the dark side of astronomy.

8 pm: Launch of Globe at Night, A Citizen Science Project, for Minnesota.

In an attempt to set a record number of submissions for Minnesota, tune in to learn more about how you can participate in the Globe at Night citizen science project, joining others in collecting and submitting important data from all across the state!

8:30 pm: Live Telescope Observing from the Bell Museum Observation Deck

Grab your star map, sit back, and enjoy a tour of the night sky—live! Virtual star parties, happening every night this week, will allow you to see the wonders of the night sky from telescopes directly broadcasted to your screens. Our team and partners around the state will take you on a tour of the night sky and show you celestial objects from our solar system and beyond!

Tuesday, November 10
7–10 pm

7 pm: The National Park Service Night Skies Program: Working to Preserve and Restore a Universal Resource

Bob Meadows | Physical scientist at the National Park Service

Scientists at the National Park Service study light and sound pollution in our country’s most remote and wild places. What can we learn from their research on how to preserve the night sky?

Bob Meadows is a physical scientist with the National Park Service, Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division (NSNSD). His current responsibilities include managing the 19 years of sky quality data from more than 125 park units, conducting measurements and assessing sky quality in the field, and working with parks to evaluate their lighting for efficiency and ecological impacts to the nighttime environment. Bob also works with other partners in the scientific community in collaborative efforts to further our mutual goals of restoration and preservation of our night skies. Bob holds a bachelor’s degree in geography from California State University, Chico. He has worked in the Night Skies Program since 2011. Prior to that his professional experience included almost 25 years working in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park. He was a wilderness ranger for eight years before moving into the division of resources management and science, working in forestry, GIS, restoration, invasive plant management, fire ecology and meadow management.

8 pm: Becoming a Dark Sky Region: A Conversation with Partnerships Up North

Trevor Gibb | Superintendent of Quetico Provincial Park

Ann Schwaller | Forest program manager for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

Bob DeGross | Superintendent of Voyageurs National Park

Adam Dalton | Dark Sky Places manager at the International Dark Sky Association 

Four public lands are in the process of applying for Dark Sky Place status from the International Dark Sky Association: Voyageurs National Park, Quetico Provincial Park, Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and La Verendrye Provincial Park. Join us in this moderated discussion with land managers from each region to learn more about the application process of becoming a Dark Sky Place and what that means.

Trevor Gibb is the superintendent of Quetico Provincial Park. He has held positions as the assistant superintendent of 29 parks in Northeastern Ontario including Polar Bear Provincial Park, and backcountry warden at Killarney Provincial Park. He has also lived in the Canadian Arctic as a high school teacher. In his spare time it is not uncommon to find him bobbing around Quetico in his old canoe.

Bob DeGross started as superintendent of Voyageurs National Park in late December 2016. He has worked with the National Park Service since 1989 in a variety of park units across the country. He is dedicated to the mission of the National Park Service, preserving and protecting the special places the agency is entrusted to care for, while also ensuring the public has the opportunity to enjoy and connect to those special places. Bob has always had a deep connection to the northern woods of the midwest, growing up reading authors such as Sigurd Olson and Aldo Leopold. Bob finds it a privilege to work at Voyageurs National Park, a place where people like Olson and many others worked diligently to protect for all to enjoy.

Ann Schwaller is currently the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness program manager on the Superior National Forest in Duluth. Ann has worked in parks and wilderness areas in Washington, Colorado, Montana, Idaho, Arizona, and Florida. Her jobs with these organizations included wilderness ranger, trail crew, firefighter, visitor center manager, and wilderness & recreation planner. Life before the government included freelance photographer for the Palm Beach Post, Miami Herald, University of Florida and Florida State Parks. Ann grew up on the wild and scenic Loxahatchee River in southeast Florida where most weekends were spent on the river, in the woods, or in the ocean. Ann spends her free time traveling, hiking the Superior Trail, kayaking Lake Superior and of course paddling in the Boundary Waters and Voyageurs National Park.

Adam Dalton: An Iowa native, Adam’s passion and awe of the night sky fully developed following his move to the Intermountain-West in 2016. A recent graduate of the University of Utah’s Master of City and Metropolitan Planning Program, he specialized in ecological planning and interdisciplinary sustainability. While at Utah, he worked closely with the university’s Consortium for Dark-Sky Studies to conduct comprehensive dark-sky lighting inventories for various municipalities. His main professional goal is facilitation of inclusive social justice through environmental justice. When not at work, Adam is an avid runner, outdoorsman, Minnesota professional sports fan, and the lead singer/guitarist of a punk rock band.

9 pm: Live Telescope Observing: Guest Host Mark Job

Mark Job | Member at the Minnesota Astronomical Society

Grab your star map, sit back, and enjoy a tour of the night sky – live! Virtual star parties, happening every night this week, will allow you to see the wonders of the night sky from telescopes directly broadcasted to your screens. Our team and partners around the state will take you on a tour of the night sky and show you celestial objects from our solar system and beyond!

Wednesday, November 11
7–10 pm

7 pm: In Search of Minnesota’s Dark Skies

Dr. Mike Shaw | Resident artist at the Bell Museum

Most Minnesotans aren’t able to fully experience a naturally dark night sky since they live in regions that experience significant skyglow. However, the quantity and visibility of night sky objects dramatically increases in areas with lower levels of skyglow. In this presentation, Shaw will illustrate the origins and effects of skyglow across the state of Minnesota with the aid of stunning night sky images, breath-taking time-lapses and quantitative darkness measurements. He will introduce virtual reality (VR) imagery as an immersive way to experience the variety of Minnesota’s precious night skies. Finally, he will present steps anyone can take to help mitigate skyglow.

The Bell’s Resident Artist Research Project program is made possible in part thanks to generous support provided by the McKnight Foundation.

Mike Shaw is an award-winning photographer, author, and speaker based in St. Paul. He holds a Ph.D. in materials engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara, an M.S. in ceramic engineering from the Ohio State University, and a B.S. in materials science and engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. He spent two years as a postdoctoral research scientist at Cambridge University, England.

His books Composite Nightscapes and Time-Lapses and The Complete Guide to Landscape Astrophotography  are indispensable guides to astrophotography, and his field workshops take him and his students around the globe in search of the darkest, clearest skies. Shaw is a 2019-2020 Bell resident artist, focusing on dark skies science and imagery.

8 pm: Universe @ Home—Cosmology and Large-Scale Structure: Why Nothing Really Matters

Darcy Ballantyne | Planetarium education assistant at the Bell and astrophysics student at the University of Minnesota

Ann Isaacs | Graduate student at the University of Minnesota, Minnesota Institute of Astrophysics.

Alexander Criswell | Graduate student at the University of Minnesota, Minnesota Institute of Astrophysics.

The universe is not uniform! It is made of huge structures, massive superclusters and voids thousands of lightyears across. This is the story of how those structures formed, why we see them, and what it means for us on our tiny blue dot.

9 pm: Live Telescope Observing from the Bell Museum Observation Deck

Grab your star map, sit back, and enjoy a tour of the night sky—live! Virtual star parties, happening every night this week, will allow you to see the wonders of the night sky from telescopes directly broadcasted to your screens. Our team and partners around the state will take you on a tour of the night sky and show you celestial objects from our solar system and beyond!

Thursday, November 12
7–9 pm

7 pm: Cultural Astronomy: the Importance of Starry Night Skies for People Across Time and Place

Jessica Heim | Astronomy educator and cultural astronomy graduate student at the University of Wales Trinity St. David

A view of the starry heavens has been an integral part of the human experience since time immemorial. Come and discover some of the ways the stars have played an important role in the lives of people around the world while learning about cultural astronomy—a branch of inquiry focused upon the connection between people and the sky. This talk will focus not only on the role of dark, starry skies in times past, but also, on the value such skies have for people today. There will be time for Q & A, so bring your questions!

Jessica Heim is currently pursuing graduate studies in cultural astronomy through the University of Wales Trinity St. David. In her dissertation research, she is studying community processes relating to dark sky friendly LED retrofits, examining lighting plans and policies, as well as gaining insight into the thoughts of stakeholders and community members about dark skies and lighting changes in their communities. Jessica enjoys engaging in collaborative educational outreach which allows participants to learn more about the connections between culture, science, and the night sky. She is a team member of Native Skywatchers, an initiative led by Professor Annette Lee, which seeks to remember and revitalize indigenous star and earth knowledge. Jessica’s research interests involve exploring human relationships with both sky and land, not only as pertaining to dark skies, but also in regard to ethics and policy issues associated with space exploration and development. She graduated magna cum laude from the College of St. Benedict, double majoring in environmental studies and music. In addition to her work with dark skies, she maintains a private piano studio, teaching students of all ages. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, bird watching, and otherwise spending time in the natural world.

8 pm: Live Telescope Observing: Guest Host Mark Job

Mark Job | Member at the Minnesota Astronomical Society

Grab your star map, sit back, and enjoy a tour of the night sky—live! Virtual star parties, happening every night this week, will allow you to see the wonders of the night sky from telescopes directly broadcasted to your screens. Our team and partners around the state will take you on a tour of the night sky and show you celestial objects from our solar system and beyond!

Friday, November 13
7–9:45 pm

7 pm: Out with a Bang! Year-end Sky Delights for 2020

Bob King ‘Astrobob’ | Amateur astronomer and writer

Some of the best and brightest sky happenings lie ahead including a lunar eclipse, the Geminid meteor shower and the closest conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn since 1623. We’ll talk about how best to see and enjoy them.

Bob King fell in love with the night sky and astronomy when he was a kid growing up in Illinois and loves to share his passion with people of all ages. Bob was a photographer and photo editor at the Duluth News Tribune for 39 years before retiring from the paper in 2018. When he’s not outside looking at comets and galaxies, he writes the astronomy blog Astro Bob as well as articles for Sky & Telescope magazine and its website. He’s taught community education astronomy classes at the University of Minnesota-Duluth planetarium for many years.

His books Night Sky with the Naked Eye and Wonders of the Night Sky You Must See Before You Die describe the joys of skywatching. Bob’s third book, Urban Legends of Space, examines science vs. pseudoscience in astronomy. “The greatest wilderness is the one over your head — you only need to look up.”

8 pm: Family Story Time and Activities

Rachel Heinrich | Ely Public Library

Dee Mclellan | NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador

Join us for a reading of The Stars Just Up the Street by Sue Soltis, by our partners from the Ely Public Library. Afterward, Dee Mclellan, a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador, will show us how to put together a 3D constellation mobile. Check out the activity under the activities tab and prepare your materials ahead of time so that you and your family can make it along with us!

8:45 pm: Live Telescope Observing: Guest Host Jessica Rogers

Jessica Rogers| Director at University of Minnesota – Duluth’s Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium

Grab your star map, sit back, and enjoy a tour of the night sky—live! Virtual star parties, happening every night this week, will allow you to see the wonders of the night sky from telescopes directly broadcasted to your screens. Our team and partners around the state will take you on a tour of the night sky and show you celestial objects from our solar system and beyond!

Saturday, November 14
7–10 pm

7 pm: Saving the Dark Watch Party

Documentary by Sriram Murali

Eighty percent of the world’s population live under light polluted skies. What do we lose when we lose sight of the stars? Excessive and improper lighting robs us of our night skies, disrupts our sleep patterns and endangers nocturnal habitats. Saving the Dark explores the need to preserve night skies and ways to combat light pollution.

Saving the Dark documentary will be streamed live via Zoom. All you need to do is join our watch party, sit back, watch, and learn what it takes to protect our dark skies.

8 pm: Using Sketching to See Deeper

Jerry Jones | Astronomical League Coordinator for the Minnesota Astronomical Society
Sarah Komperud | Bell Museum Planetarium Programs Coordinator

Sketching isn’t always about artistic skill, technique, or aesthetics. The act of sketching can be a tool to learn how to observe and see more than you thought you could see. Join in, observe, and sketch with us as Jerry and Sarah chat, observe, and sketch what they see in the constellations of Auriga and Persesus.

Download a sketching worksheet! 
Check out our Constellation Hunter Sketching series.

8:30 pm: Student Showcase

The Bell Museum’s student employees are exceptional. They come from a wide range of majors and backgrounds, and are involved in some really interesting projects on and off campus. Two of the planetarium student staff will share with you their recent projects.

Meredith Wieber, fourth year, astrophysics and physics

Interning with NASA: A Mission to the Ice Giants
During the spring 2020 semester, I had the chance to travel to the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center for an internship. While there I assisted a team of scientists in the development of an atmospheric probe that is proposed to fly on a satellite mission to one of the ice giant planets (Uranus or Neptune). A mission like this is important because the ice giants are the two planets we know arguably the least about; the closest we’ve observed them is with the Voyager 2 flyby in 1986!

Andrew Surine, second year, astrophysics and entomology

Insect farming and challenges of living in space.

9 pm: Live Telescope Observing from the Bell Museum Observation Deck

Grab your star map, sit back, and enjoy a tour of the night sky—live! Virtual star parties, happening every night this week, will allow you to see the wonders of the night sky from telescopes directly broadcasted to your screens. Our team and partners around the state will take you on a tour of the night sky and show you celestial objects from our solar system and beyond!