Rocket launches, sunspot viewing and hands-on telescope lessons are among the highlights of Astronomy Day, a family-oriented celebration being held on the University of Colorado at Boulder campus on Saturday, April 16.
Fiske Planetarium and Sommers-Bausch Observatory will offer activities and educational talks from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. at the planetarium and observatory. All daytime activities and evening telescope viewing are free and open to the public.
"Astronomy Day is intended to introduce the fun and fascination of astronomy and science to the public, especially to kids of all ages," said Suzanne Traub-Metlay, educational program manager at Fiske Planetarium. "It's an amazing annual event celebrated at planetariums, observatories and astronomy clubs around the world."
Daytime activities will be held from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Talks will be held every 30 minutes in Starlab, Fiske's new portable planetarium. Segments from the planetarium's public shows also will be shown on an ongoing basis in the theater. Visitors will be able to launch rockets, handle rocks from space and check out the planetarium's sound lab.
"This year we are putting together our most ambitious educational public program ever," said Keith Gleason, manager of Sommers-Bausch Observatory. "About every five minutes throughout the day, a different discussion, demonstration, theater show or hands-on activity will get under way either at Fiske or the observatory."
Members of Boulder-area amateur astronomy clubs will be in the planetarium's lobby all day to share their interest and enthusiasm about their hobby, according to Gleason. Regional telescope and astronomy equipment vendors, as well as local research groups also are being invited to set up booths.
At the observatory, displays and activities will help visitors explore color, light, spectroscopy, how telescopes work, why the sky is blue and how solar and lunar eclipses happen, according to Gleason.
Weather permitting, visitors also will be able to look at sunspots using the observatory's solar telescope.
Members from the Boulder Astronomy and Space Society will be at the observatory showing off a wide variety of amateur telescopes, ranging from inexpensive beginner's models to larger versions. They also will hold presentations explaining what to look for when buying a telescope and offer advice to novice astronomers.
From 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. the observatory's 16-, 18- and 24-inch telescopes will be available for the public to use.
Fiske Planetarium also is presenting the "Left Channel," a live concert at 9 p.m. Tickets for the show are $6 in advance or $8 at the door.
For a complete schedule of events, times and locations visit .
For more information about either facility call (303) 492-5002 or visit the planetarium's Web site at or the observatory's at .