By Christie Bender
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) is hosting a special evening planetarium event Do You Have What It Takes to Be an Astronaut, including a special spotlighted showing of Space School and opportunities for attendees to relax, socialize and learn more in-depth about astronomy.
Take part in the full astronaut experience on August 2, Do You Have What It Takes to Be an Astronaut? will test your skills and knowledge of space flight. Start the evening in the planetarium watching Space School, a new documentary based planetarium show, to learn the incredible story of how astronauts train underwater to live and work in space. Missions will be given to participants to see if they can complete the tasks and reach their destination!
After Space School, visitors can take command of space vehicles through video game technology in the Museum’s summer exhibition, Be The Astronaut. In a special guided-tour with an expert, visitors will chart their course to the Moon, Mars and beyond. The exhibition features detailed digital recreations of actual places in the solar system built using data from NASA space probes.
Tickets are $8 for Museum members and $12 for non-members. GRPM doors open at 7 p.m., with the planetarium show beginning at 7:30.
The GRPM will host another evening planetarium show, Night Sky Trivia, on Thursday, September 6 to learn about the night sky and test your astronomy trivia knowledge!
September 6 – Night Sky Trivia
Explore the night sky inside and out! Start by learning end-of-summer constellations and current astronomy events in the GRPM’s Chaffee Planetarium. Participate in an extended version of the Under Scorching Skies live show to delve into the current astronomical events.
Following the planetarium show, venture outside for telescopic observations with the Grand Rapids Amateur Astronomical Association (GRAAA). See what you can find in the night sky above the city, with a star chart and astronomy experts to guide you. Participants can plan to see Saturn, Jupiter and Mars, as well as some of the very brightest stars such as those that make up the Summer Triangle.
*Outdoor observation is weather-dependent, and alternate indoor activities will include a trivia tournament in the newly renovated Meijer Theater.
Tickets for Night Sky Trivia are $8 for Museum members and $12 for non-members and can be purchased at grpm.org.
