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Astronomy Days return to NC Museum of Natural Sciences

Astronomy Days is back this week at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Offered virtually throughout the week, area researchers, astronomers and a NASA astronaut host talks and interactive events covering many areas of astronomy and spaceflight.

Posted 2022-01-22T18:09:38+00:00 - Updated 2022-01-23T21:44:53+00:00

Tony Rice

, NASA Ambassador

Astronomy Days will return to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences on Monday, Jan. 24 through Sunday, Jan. 30. All events are free and will be offered virtually again this year, but registration is required.

This year's theme focuses on Venus, Earth's closest planetary neighbor and has a similar size and density to Earth.

While Venus and Earth may be similar to in size and density, leading some to refer to the as planetary twins, they couldn't be much more different weather-wise. Thick yellowish clouds made up of sulfuric acid cover the planet. This traps heat, raising surface temperatures to ~900º F, hot enough to melt lead.

Highlights include:

NASA Astronaut Stanley Love will explain why traveling to Mars is so difficult.
Updates on the James Webb Space Telescope as it reaches its destination 1 million miles from Earth
How you can explore space from your backyard or home computer.
Learn about commercial space ventures like SpaceX, Blue Origin and United
Find out about exploration of the oceans under the ice of Saturn’s moon Enceladus and Jupiter’s moon Europa.
Interactive events including astronomy-themed science trivia, ask an astronomer, crafts for kids and a space themed Lego show and tell

I'll be sharing a look back at 2021 in spaceflight and astronomy. Also join me to learn more about how NASA and customers pick the right rocket to launch their payloads into orbit.