This event has been cancelled for 2020 due to COVID.
The Astronomy Festival on the National Mall is the largest annual astronomy outreach event in the United States and will take place on the National Mall between 3rd and 4th streets on Sat. Â June 20, 2020.
Join NOVAC and the Rappahannock County Park for a public observing session.
Audience: Members of the public, astronomy club members. Feel free to bring along any friends and family.
Volunteer Role: Bring binoculars or a telescope to share views of the planet Mars, galaxies and other deep sky objects.
Presentations:
- Â NOVAC member will p a 15-minute presentation by NOVAC member on how to find Mars, the M-44 beehive cluster and the M-104 Sombrero Galaxy in Virgo.
- short educational presentation put on by the Park stressing the value of maintaining a light pollution free environment.
Masks:Â
- not mandatory before dark unless social distancing cannot be maintained.
- required after dark.
Contact: RSVP to Torney Van Acker, Dark Sky Coordinator, at 703-250-7943 or torney630@gmail.com.
RSVP here.
Members of the public are invited to view the night sky through telescopes and participate in hands-on activities provided by the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club (NOVAC), the National Capital Astronomers, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Astronomy Club, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, and the Montgomery College Planetarium.
The event will honor President Eisenhower who sent a note to Congress on April 2, 1958 requesting the formation of a civil space agency, NASA. The Trust for the National Mall and Hofstra University will co-host the event.
Don’t forget to dress warmly. Please check the weather forecast.
Note: This outdoor event is weather-dependent and may be cancelled because of significant cloud cover or precipitation.