Contact:
Carmen Ramos Chandler
(818) 677-2130
carmen.chandler@csun.edu
Explore a Spring Sky at CSUN's Planetarium Next Month
(NORTHRIDGE, Calif., April 26, 2006) -- Star gazers can explore the mysteries of the night during spring on Friday evenings next month at Cal State Northridge's Bianchi Planetarium.
The first show begins at 7 p.m. and will be an examination of the stars and constellations that fill the night sky in spring. The second show, scheduled to begin at 8 p.m., will be followed by a telescope viewing of the night sky, weather permitting.
The second show offerings are:
May 5 -- "Phoenix Mars Scout Mission" will offer a sneak peek at NASA's Mars Scout program scheduled for launch next year. Deputy project scientist Deborah Bass will talk about the mission, which is specifically designed to measure volatiles (especially water) and complex organic molecules in the arctic plains of Mars, where the Mars Odyssey Orbiter has discovered evidence of possible water ice-rich soil very near the surface.
May 12 -- "Ultraviolet Photolysis of Amino Acids in Crystalline Water Ice: Can They Survive on Europa?" will feature a lecture by JPL planetary scientist G. Orzechowska about the possibility of organic compounds existing in a sub-surface liquid water layer within Europa, one of Jupiter's moons, and what that would mean.
May 19 -- "The Magnificent Voyage of Stardust" takes a look at the travels of the Stardust spacecraft as it flew nearly 3 billion miles, flying by asteroid Annefrank and making a close encounter with comet Wild-2. It successfully returned to Earth earlier this year. Stardust navigator Darren Baird will talk about what scientists learned.
Student admission for the planetarium shows is $3 for one show and $5 for both. General admission is $5 for one show and $8 for both. Tickets are available by calling (818) 677-2488.
For more information about the planetarium's shows, call (818) 677-5601 or visit the Web site www.csun.edu/physics/planetarium.
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