SCIence FRIday Night: First Encounter with a Kuiper Belt Object

LECTURE: The New Horizons spacecraft passed by Pluto three years ago and is now a billion miles farther out. On January 1, 2019, it will make history again with the first-ever close-up explorations of a small Kuiper Belt object, Ultima Thule. This will be the farthest exploration of any planetary body in history. Join NASA New Horizons project scientist Dr. Mark Kotchte as he presents the latest findings of this exciting project. FREE PLANETARIUM SHOW: To Worlds Beyond From the fiery surface of the Sun to the icy realm of comets, travel to worlds with enormous volcanoes, vast canyons, dazzling rings, and storms that would swallow the Earth. Learn more about Mars and Pluto too! Recommended for ages 5 and up. Show times are 5:15 PM, 6 PM, 6:45 PM, 7:30 PM, and 8:15 PM. OBSERVATORY: 5 – 10 PM (sunset at 5:42 PM) Possible targets are Mars, Bright Star Sirius, Orion Nebula, Pleiades (7 sisters), and star cluster M35. KIDS ACTIVITY: Comets are amazing things! They are bodies of icy materials all brought together through gravity over the course of millions of years. Learn how to build an icy model of a comet, complete with shooting jets from the Tellus Educators demonstration. Museum + Store: Open until 9 PM Café: Open until 8 PM FREE Planetarium Shows: 5 – 9 PM Lecture: 7 PM Observatory: 5 – 10 PM