Cosmosphere Starry Night Party August 28, 2010

The Starry Night Party is set for August 28, beginning at 6 p.m. at Hobart-Detter field in Carey Park. Sponsored by the Cosmosphere, the free Starry Night Party includes rocket demonstrations, geocaching, face-painting, an inflatable moon walk and more.

Kids will have the opportunity to make buttons and solar system bracelets, launch water balloons, get gliders and see amazing science demonstrations including a geyser from soda pop and candy. The Cosmosphere will be making liquid oxygen ice cream and serving it at 6:30. Later, Eric Olson of Tucson will be speaking about meteorites, and the evening will conclude with star gazing.

More than a dozen telescopes will be set up so people can see the night sky. The International Space Station will be passing over Hutchinson twice that evening as well. People who have telescopes can bring them out to Carey Park and have Cosmosphere experts demonstrate how to get the most out of them.

All of these activities are free. There’s something for every age group. In addition, concessions and a mobile gift shop will be available. Last year about 900 people attended the Starry Night Party.

Cosmosphere Bus Gets Wrapped

Lowen Corporation wrapped the Cosmosphere bus last week. We think it turned out great. Thanks, Lowen!

Starry Night Volunteer Needs

Call Janet Fisher for more information at 620-665-9340, or sign up online at:
http://www1.mysignup.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?datafile=starrynight

Starry Night Volunteer Needs
August 28, 2010 – Hobart Detter Field in Carey Park
Event runs from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Front Gate
Need three people to at front gate to welcome people and get them to sign up for drawings.
5:30 – 8:30 p.m. is the time you need to be available

Moon Walk Inflatable
Need two people to oversee this – making sure not too many kids in at a time.
5:45 – 8:45 p.m. is the time you need to be available

Air Rockets
Need four people to work with education staff. Volunteers will help kids build their air rockets. This will involve gluing on fins and attaching nose cones, then helping package up remaining items afterwards.
6 – 9 p.m. is the time you need to be available

Solar system bracelets
Need four people to work with education staff to help kids make solar system bracelets. Education staff will explain each bead represents a planet.
5:45 – 8:45 p.m. is the time you need to be available

Gliders
Need two people to help hand out gliders to kids. Education will have someone to explain the principles involved.
6 – 9 p.m. is the time you need to be available

Buttons
Need five people to make buttons. Kids will color/decorate the paper, then it will be pressed into a pin-back button onsite. Volunteers will be taught to make buttons (simple process) so they can trade off during the night.
5:45 – 8:45 p.m. is the time you need to be available

Tattoos
Need two people to apply temporary tattoos to kids. They use a sponge with water to put them on. We’ll provide all the materials.
6 – 9 p.m. is the time you need to be available

Water balloon launch
Need five volunteers - 2 to launch, 2 to make balloons, 1 to help kid launch. This is a splash zone job! You will get wet! People can trade off jobs, but we need a couple of people to get started early making balloons.

2 volunteers to make balloons
5:30-8:00 p.m.

3 to launch and help kids launch
6 – 8:30 p.m.

Coffee at the Cosmo August 19

Coffee at the Cosmo on Thursday, August 19, is entitled, “What is that?? Unrestored Components from Liberty Bell 7.” It is at 9 a.m. at the Cosmosphere and is free and open to the public.

Liberty Bell 7 is the only flown spacecraft to be owned by a museum other than the Smithsonian. The Cosmosphere recovered it from the ocean floor in partnership with the Discovery Channel in 1999 and it was restored in Hutchinson. Next year will mark the 50th anniversary of this historic mission.

Coffee at the Cosmo is an ongoing series of free presentations at the Cosmosphere. It’s the third Thursday of every month at 9 a.m. and is always free. Enjoy coffee and pastries, meet new friends, and learn something new.