WAIMEA — Thelma Parker Memorial Public and School Library of the Hawaii State Library System (HSPLS) will mark the end of the 2018 Summer Reading Program with Astrobash, a free NASA@My Library space celebration, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 14.
The free, family-friendly event is presented in collaboration with Canada-France Hawaii Telescope, Gemini Observatory, Submillimeter Array, University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy, W.M. Keck Observatory and West Hawaii Astronomy Club.
“We really wanted to do something special to mark the end of this year’s summer reading program, which was themed ‘Libraries Rock!’” Pamela Akao said, the library’s branch manager. “We are very grateful to our island observatories and science and community partners for collaborating with us to put a fun twist on the theme and showing our community how space rocks, too.”
Astrobash will feature lunar and meteorite sample disks on loan from NASA’s Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. This is the first time these samples, collected by Apollo astronauts, will be on display at the library. The event will also include an “Investigating the Insides” activity demonstrating how scientists discover clues about the interiors of planets using scientific tools.
Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope will explore the spectacular night sky in a planetarium show, and Aunty Mimi’s popular live science show will feature a build-your-own spacesuit demonstration and an Alka Seltzer rocket experiment.
The University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy will offer a black hole activity, and Gemini Observatory will have a makerspace for take-home pocket solar systems. The W.M. Keck Observatory will host a hands-on infrared camera station, and the West Hawaii Astronomy Club will have solar telescopes set up outside the library.
Questions: Call 808-887-6067