International Observe the Moon Night

In My Backyard

What can you see from your backyard? Join acclaimed family entertainer Fred Penner as he helps answer this question in an interactive program with three original songs (from his ninth album "What a Day"). This show begins with Fred greeting the audience and introducing his helper, Arnie the Arrow. Then it's off to explore things large and small in Fred's backyard -- from the colors of the rainbow to counting ladybugs on a rose. After looking at the reasons for the seasons, the stars begin to appear as Fred sings "We're Going to Shine." Arnie points out the Big Dipper -- but wait -- it's really a bear we're looking at!

Following a story about Callisto and Arcus, we snap our fingers to the beat of the planet poem, see some meteors whiz by, and sing along to "The Moon Song." The show ends with the song "In My Backyard" and Fred's goodbye to the audience. Children will enjoy storytelling, poetry, and song as they learn about the seasons, constellations, planets, meteors and the Moon.

Defying Gravity

Join host Apollo Aurora and her science reporters as they explore the science behind rocket power, gravity on other planets, and even monstrous black holes! Robot experts Apple 1-6-8-6 and EGR-1 will also lend a few circuits to explain the force that keeps us humans all grounded. Well, some of the time!

Two Small Pieces of Glass

Celebrate the work of those who used telescopes during the past 400 years. The largest observatories in the world use these instruments to explore the mysteries of the universe.

Join two young people at a star party as they learn how telescopes continue to expand our understanding of the Universe. A local astronomer teaches them how telescopes work and how the telescope has changed from Galileo's modified spyglass - using two small pieces of glass - to the huge, space and land-based devices of today, like NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.