The Museum of the Rockies at Montana State University will hold its National Space Day Celebration on Saturday, April 25, according to an announcement made on Apr. 21. The event is open to people of all ages and will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., offering activities focused on space exploration and science.
The celebration aims to spark interest in astronomy and science through hands-on STEM activities, crafts, and immersive experiences in the Taylor Planetarium. Scheduled planetarium shows include “Flight Adventures” at 11 a.m., “Einstein’s Gravity Playlist” at noon, “Forward to the Moon” at 1 p.m., and “Galileo: Power of the Telescope” at 2 p.m.
Speakers for the event include Addie Zumwalt and Andrea Astorga from Montana State University’s Space Public Outreach Team, Chantanelle Nava from the University of Montana’s physics and astronomy department, and Eric Loberg, program manager of Taylor Planetarium. Katherine Hodge, director of education and public programming for the museum said, “By integrating their unique expertise into our programming, we are able to offer our community a more dynamic and multi-faceted look at the future of space exploration and STEM innovation.”
The event is organized with support from MSU’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering as well as its Optics and Photonics Society. Admission is included with general museum entry or membership; no prior registration is required.
Montana State University leads in research funding within Montana with annual expenditures exceeding $288 million according to its official website. The university contributes through volunteer efforts, outreach programs, and research that aim to improve lives across communities according to its official website. It also ranks among the top five percent of global universities per data from the Center for World University Rankings according to its official website.
Montana State University enrolls about 17,165 students who are evenly split between residents and nonresidents according to its official website. As Montana’s land-grant institution focusing on research, education, community outreach—and serving both state residents as well as those beyond—MSU continues efforts that address key challenges facing society today according to its official website.