02-05-2025
Recognizing National Space Day, National Astronomy Day at MSU's Abrams Planetarium
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)– Since 1997, National Space Day has been held on the first Friday in May.
This year, National Astronomy Day is the day after it — Saturday, May 3rd; two National Astronomy Days are held each year, in the spring and fall, in conjunction with the first quarter moon cycle.
Starting today and extending through the month, will have weekend showings of a series of shorts collectively called 'One Sky.'
Dr. Shannon Schmoll, director of Michigan State University's Abrams Planetarium, says they have activities to offer all the time, and not just on these special days.
The showtimes will include a live expert pointing out elements viewers can look up and find in their own night sky. The shorts feature themes on how different places and cultures around the world relate to the night sky and constellations like Orion's Belt.
The Planetarium also offers a subscription service for a Sky Calendar that describes what watchers can see in the sky each day of the month. The calendar is free in May for space and astronomy aficionados.
Coming up on Wednesday, May 7th is the centennial opening of the first planetarium in the world, which is located in Munich, Germany. Celebrations around the event will take place throughout the planetarium community.
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