Astro Fair on Astronomy Day '07

Every year on Astronomy Day, astronomy clubs, planetariums and other groups of sky lovers band together to expose the general public to the wonders and excitement of astronomy. This year, SMAS hosted its 12th annual Astro Fair on Astronomy Day on Saturday, April 21, at the Museum of the Rockies.

The Fair was sponsored by SMAS, the Museum of the Rockies and the Montana Space Grant Consortium and included a telescope gallery, telescope workshops, kids activities, shows in the Taylor Planetarium, and presentations which included 'Astronomy on the Internet', 'Endangered Night Skies', 'The Sun - Earth Connection', and 'What's Up on the Sun'. There was daytime solar telescope observing but night-sky telescope observing was canceled due to poor weather. Overall the event was very successful and well attended.

Special thanks goes out to Astro Fair Chairperson Steve Scott for bringing this together this year and to everyone else who helped make this event such a success.

SMAS Secretary Scott Pinkham presents an 'Introduction to Telescopes.'

SMAS President Fred Birk presents 'Astronomy on the Internet.'

Dr. Joseph Shaw of the MSU Optical Center presents a condensed version his 'Endangered Night Skies' presentation.

Dr. Shaw presented a more complete version of this presentation as the second lecture in the SMAS Winter Lecture Series in February. Visit the International Dark-Sky Association website to see how you can help to reduce light pollution and help to preserve our dark skies.

Joey Key of the Space Public Outreach Team (SPOT) presents 'The Sun-Earth Connection.'

SMAS Member and Educator Marty Stuart presents 'What's Up on the Sun?'

SMAS Member at Large Lynn Powers assists an aspiring young astronomer viewing the Sun through a telescope fitted with an H-alpha filter.

Kids of all ages created 'solar cookies' complete with sunspots and solar prominences. And tasty too...

Updated 2007-04-26