Mars Day! is an annual event at the Museum that celebrates the Red Planet with a variety of educational and fun family activities. Visitors will be able to interact one-on-one with National Air and Space Museum scientists, as well as scientists from the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and NASA, who are active in Mars research and mission planning. Visitors can see a real meteorite that came from Mars, learn about Mars missions, see amazingly detailed images from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, view the surface of Mars in 3-D, learn about the geology of Mars, and more.

Milestones of Flight

• A Piece of Mars—See a real meteorite that came from Mars, with scientists from the National Museum of Natural History.  10AM – 3PM
• Volcanoes on Mars—Learn about volcanism on Mars with Planetary Geologist Kelly Shockey.  10AM – 11:30AM
• Mars on Earth—Hear about geologic features that are common to both Earth and Mars and what we can learn from them, with Planetary Geologist Bob Craddock. 11:30AM – 1PM
• Antarctic Science—Learn how Antarctica can be a laboratory for studying Mars, with Planetary Scientist Gareth Morgan.  1PM - 3PM
• Regional Planetary Image Facility—Learn about NASM’s RPIF, a NASA-funded archive of planetary imagery.  10AM – 1PM

West End

• Curiosity Rover—See a full-scale model of the next rover to go to Mars and learn all about NASA Mars exploration with Doug McCuistion, Director of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program, and Michael Meyer, NASA Mars Exploration Program Lead Scientist.  10AM – Noon, and 1PM – 3PM

Space Race

• Images of Mars in 3-D--View the surface of Mars in 3-D with red/blue glasses.   12PM – 3PM
• Mars Art!—Art activity for kids. 10AM – 3PM

Exploring the Planets
 
• MER--See a full-scale model of the Mars Exploration Rovers currently on Mars and learn about the ongoing mission with MER Science Team Member John Grant.  1PM – 3PM
• Mars Story Time—Story time for youngsters. 11AM

Moving Beyond Earth

• Mars Travel Guide—Learn about the major features and geology of Mars with Planetary Geologist Jim Zimbelman. 1PM – 3PM
• HiRISE—See incredibly detailed high resolution images of Mars from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, with HiRISE Science Team members Patrick Russell and Livio Tornabene.  10AM – 11:30PM
• MARSIS—Learn about radar mapping of Mars on the European Mars Express mission, with Planetary Scientist Tom Watters.  11:30AM – 1PM

Independence Lobby 

• Robot Explorers--Test your skills as you maneuver a robotic rover or collect samples with a robotic arm.  A hands-on activity with small robots. 10AM – 3PM

Looking at Earth

• Red Planet Quiz Show—With Martian of Ceremonies Emily Margolis.  11:30AM and 1:30PM

Public Observatory

• Telescope Viewing (weather permitting)—View the skies through the telescope of the Museum’s Public Observatory, and if it is a really clear day, maybe see Mars!