The Springfield Museums celebrate the night skies with Astronomy Day 2021, Saturday, May 15, 11 am-3:30 pm. We offer in-person and virtual experiences to help all who participate know the stars and planets of our solar system better.
“We are excited to see star enthusiasts in-person this year!” said Kevin Kopchynski, the Springfield Museums’ Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) educator and Planetarium Manager. “And we are pleased to also offer a virtual experience.”
In the Science Museum’s Tolmam Hall at 11:30 am, 1 pm, and 2:30 pm, Museum Docent Joel Cummings will guide visitors through the science behind the spacesuit that astronauts wear on spacewalks outside of the International Space Station. Visitors will also witness what happens to a marshmallow in the vacuum of space!
Also in Tolman Hall at noon, 1:30 pm, and 3 pm, Kopchynski will give computer-guided tours of Mars, the Moon, and the May night sky.
Out on the Quadrangle, the Springfield Museums’ Family Engagement Team will delight visitors with demonstrations and hands-on activities between 11 am and 3 pm.
Activities include the following:
Orbiting Objects: “Exploring the Universe: Orbiting Objects” is a hands-on activity that invites visitors to experiment with different sized and weighted balls on a stretchy fabric gravity well. The activity models gravitational attraction in space. Participants investigate how changing conditions can cause phenomena like stellar wobble and planet formation.
Nebula Spin Art: In this activity, participants will learn about how gigantic clouds of gas and dust in space, called nebulas, are formed. They’ll create their own colorful model nebula using paint and a spinner. Because of the unique quantities and locations of the materials and the forces that spread them out, each model nebula will be unique—just like each real nebula!
Filtered Light: “Exploring the Universe: Filtered Light” demonstrates how scientists can use telescopes and other tools to capture and filter different energies of light to study the universe. Most objects in the universe are so distant from us that we can only study them through light. Filters allow us to block some energy levels of light and isolate others; each energy of light can offer new information about the object of study. In “Filtered Light,” participants discover how colored filters can help reveal more about an image. They can also make and study colorful images of their own.
“Hands-on fun can really help everyone understand scientific ideas,” said Family Engagement Coordinator Jenny Powers. “We call this edutainment—education plus entertainment!”
All Astronomy day activities are included at no extra charge with Museums admission for the day. Mask and social distancing requirements will be observed throughout the day in all locations.
Astronomy Day History
Astronomy day was first observed in 1973 in an event organized by Doug Berger, at that time the president of the Astronomical Association of Northern California. “It was envisioned as a way to bring astronomy ‘to the people,’” Kopchynski said, “eliminating what might otherwise be a long trip to a remote observatory site.”
The idea soon spread throughout the country. People gathered at malls and parks as well as museums, libraries, and nature centers to look through telescopes and learn about astronomy from scientists and amateur astronomers. Today the event is coordinated by the Astronomical League and occurs near a quarter moon in April or May and again in September or October. These dates are chosen near the quarter moon because the moon is visible in the afternoons near that phase.
“We’ve been celebrating the spring edition of astronomy Day at the Museums for about fifteen years,” said Mike Kerr, who leads the Science Museum. “With the generous help of the Springfield STARS Club, we often observe sunspots when they are available, and sometimes the moon when they are not.”
Because of COVID-19 restrictions to help keep all of our visitors safe, the Museums will not offer shared telescopes this year. Please see https://springfieldmuseums.org/program/astronomy-day-2021/ for more engagement.