Catawba Science Center, Catawba Valley Astronomy Club participate in '100 Hours of Astronomy'

Catawba Valley Astronomy Club member Worth Pierce assists visitors during a recent public viewing using a solar scope on the lawn at Catawba Science Center. The club will offer solar scope viewings from 12 to 5 p.m. Friday, April 3 in conjunction with 100 Hours of Astronomy, a worldwide initiative.

By: Press Release | Catawba Science Center
Published: March 30, 2009

Catawba Science Center (CSC) and its partner in astronomy education, Catawba Valley Astronomy Club (CVAC), will participate in "100 Hours of Astronomy," April 2-5.

The 100 Hours of Astronomy Cornerstone Project is a worldwide event consisting of a wide range of public outreach activities, live science center, research observatory web casts and sidewalk astronomy events.

One of the key goals of 100 Hours of Astronomy is to have as many people as possible look through a telescope as Galileo did for the first time 400 years ago.

100 Hours of Astronomy will take place April 2-5, when the Moon goes from first quarter to gibbous, good phases for early evening observing. Saturn will be another highlight of early evening observing events across the world.

As a local participant in the project, CVAC will set up their Solar Scopes on the North Lawn, just in front of CSC's Millholland Planetarium Building on Friday, April 3, from 12 to 5 p.m. Don't miss the opportunity to view our nearest star – the sun – in amazing detail.

At 3 p.m., see Heart of the Sun, a live-action digital feature that offers awesome footage of the sun's surface. Heart of the Sun also shows Saturday at 1 & 3 p.m., and Sunday at 3:30 p.m.

Don't miss CSC's traditional live star talk – Catawba Sky – featuring a look at what's in the current night sky over the Catawba Valley. Catawba Sky shows Friday at 1:30 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m.
A complete list of planetarium shows, times and ticket information is available at www.CatawbaScience.org.

Also in conjunction with the 100 Hours of Astronomy project, CVAC will host a free public viewing at the Lucille Miller Observatory, located in Maiden, at 8 p.m. Friday, April 3. More information about other 100 Hours of Astronomy public events at www.catawbasky.org.

Catawba Science Center is a nonprofit science and technology museum in the Western Piedmont with traveling exhibits, a digital planetarium theater and North Carolina's only marine touch pool with live sharks and stingrays. Learn more at CatawbaScience.org.

CSC is funded in part by the United Arts Fund of Catawba County and is located in the Arts and Science Center of Catawba Valley, on the SALT Block, 243 3rd Avenue NE, Hickory.