Free Event of the Day- May 10, 2008

National Astronomy Day 2008

Saturday, May 10, 2008 is National Astronomy Day, and there are plenty of FREE activities going on for anyone who has an interest celestial bodies.

The University of Utah Astronomy Department will be starting their day at 10:00 a.m. with telescopes pointed at the sun. As the sun goes down and it gets dark the telescopes will be pointed at anything they can find, including stars, planets, galaxies and nebulae. The Observatory is in the South Physics Building at 125 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT.

The Clark Planetarium in the Gateway Mall will also be holding events for Astronomy Day. Starting at 12:00 p.m. there will be science demonstrations, rides on the lunar gravity simulator, Science on a Sphere demonstrations, and a drawing for a telescope. A program on how to use a telescope will be given in the Hansen Star Theater at 4:30 p.m. All star shows will cost only $1.00 from 12:30 to 6:45 p.m. The Clark Planetarium is at 110 South 400 West, Salt Lake City, UT.

At 4:00 p.m. live music will start, and then at 8:00 in the evening at This Is The Place Heritage Park, former Senator and astronaut, Jake Garn will give a 30-45 minute lecture about space and then telescopes will be provided by the Salt Lake Astronomical Society for viewing the stars, planets and anything else interesting that can be seen. Prizes, including a telescope will be given away. The Star Party will be held at the Bowery at the Park, located at 2601 East Sunnyside Avenue, Salt Lake City, UT.

The Salt Lake Astronomical Society will continue to be busy as they host a star party at the Stansbury Park Observatory in the Tooele Valley starting at about dusk. A short 30-45 minute program will be given on astronomy, and then you can get a look at the skies through some amazing telescopes. The Observatory is located just inside the entrance to Stansbury Park at 15 Plaza, Stansbury Park, UT.

If one of these locations is near you, try to get out to one of the star parties. They are a lot of fun and you get to see and learn some interesting things.

Event: National Astronomy Day 2008 Star Parties
Place: Various Locations (see above)
Hours: Various (see above)
Cost: FREE