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SUMMARY:Spring Astronomy Day
DESCRIPTION:Saturday April 25\, 2026 \nThe Minnesota Astronomical Society would like to invite you to attend the Astronomical League’s Astronomy Day activities at the Eagle Lake Observatory in Baylor Regional Park. Speakers are scheduled throughout the day and will give talks on astronomy and what there is to see. Door prize drawing will be held Saturday evening and include MAS merchandise\, astronomy books and telescopes. The evening will continue with viewing through our array of telescopes observing some of the winter and early spring objects coming into view including the Orion Nebula\, Crab nebula\, the Sombrero Galaxy\, the Whirlpool Galaxy\, the Beehive Cluster\, the Black Eye Galaxy and Hercules cluster among many others. \n Schedule of Events \n The observatory opens and the Star Party begins at 2:00 pm. We will begin with solar viewing and other daytime objects. \n2:00 PM: Tim Carlson\, MAS Member and NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador\nTitle: Walking With The Last Men On The Moon\nSummary: Revisiting the Apollo 17 landing site with the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. With Artemis returning to the moon\, we’ll take a look at the last mission that went to the moon. \n2:45 PM: Laura Hammerbeck\, MAS Member and NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador\nTitle: Four Years of Webb\nSummary: The James Webb Space Telescope has been operating since 2022\, thrilling us with stunning images and breakthrough astronomy. Learn how JWST’s groundbreaking technologies have shaped our understanding of the universe\, and take a look back through time to the earliest light we have detected (so far). See which galaxy holds the title for “most distant”\, a record that has been broken many times already by Webb’s observations\, and is sure to be broken again as Webb continues to explore our universe. \n3:30 PM: Colin Kilbane\, MAS Member and STEAM Educator\nTitle: Rocket building and launching\nSummary: Let’s blast off! Gopher STEAM is bringing rocket science to Spring Astronomy Day. We will learn about model rocketry by building an easy model rocket and then (weather permitting) learn how to safely launch it. Kids will have the opportunity to create their own X-Plane glider while we wait for the glue to dry on our rockets. \nPlease note: There is a $2.00 suggested donation per rocket or a $5 “pay it forward” suggested donation to help cover material costs. Thank you! \n5:00 PM: DINNER BREAK\n7:00 PM: Dave Falkner\, MAS Member and NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador\nTitle: Ignition – NASA’s Artemis Program Reimagined\nSummary: With the success of Artemis II\, NASA’s program for returning humans to the Moon is off and running. But the program has seen some significant changes since the new NASA Administrator\, Jared Isaacman\, took the helm in December 2025. Dave will give a brief history on the NASA Manned Lunar Space program\, and then talk about the Artemis program\, its changes\, successes\, and what’s next toward a renewed US presence on the Moon and beyond. \n8:00 PM: Door Prize Drawing. MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN!\n9:45 PM: Laser light constellation tour by Dave Falkner.\n Event Background \n​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. \nAstronomy Day was born in California in 1973. Doug Berger\, then president of the Astronomical Association of Northern California\, decided that rather than try to entice people to travel long distances to visit observatory open houses\, they would set up telescopes closer to where the people were – busy locations – urban locations like street corners\, shopping malls\, parks\, etc.His strategy paid off. Not only did Astronomy Day go over with a bang\, not only did the public find out about the astronomy club\, they found out about future observatory open houses. Since the public got a chance to look through a portable telescope\, they were hooked. They wanted to see what went on at the bigger telescopes\, so they turned out in droves at the next observatory open house. \nFor additional information\, visit the Astronomical League’s website at https://www.astroleague.org/astronomyday/facts \n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				Public star parties are open to all. \nAdditional information as well as directions can be found on the Eagle Lake Observatory web page. \nonaninfo@mnastro.org \n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n					\n				\n				\n					\n\n  \n\n\n\n Fill in this form to make an inquiry about our Public Star Parties at ELO.  \n\n\n\n Your name (required):\n     \n\n Your email (required):\n     \n\n Your phone:\n     \n\n ELO Event date (required):  \n\n Let us know if you have any questions or how we could help you! (required):
URL:https://www.mnastro.org/event/2026-spring-astronomy-day/
LOCATION:Eagle Lake Observatory\, 10775 County Road 33\, Norwood Young America\, MN\, 55397\, United States
CATEGORIES:public,Public Star Party,Spring Astronomy Day
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