Celebrate the science and innovation of Mars
Mars Day! 2018
July 20, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
The National Air and Space Museum's annual Mars Day! celebrates the Red Planet with educational and fun activities for all ages that expose visitors to the latest developments in planetary science. Talk to scientists active in Mars research and mission planning, learn about current and future missions, and see a real meteorite from Mars.
Activity List
In Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall
- A Piece of Mars, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
See a real meteorite that came from Mars, with scientists from the National Museum of Natural History. - Gale Crater, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Learn about the rocks and minerals found at Curiosity’s landing site, with geologist Jon Cawley. - Water on Mars, 10:00 to 11:00 am and 2:00 to 3:00 pm
Learn about the history of water on Mars, with planetary scientist Ross Irwin. - HiRISE, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
See high resolution images from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, with planetary scientist Sharon Wilson Purdy. - Currently Active Mars, 1:00 to 3:00 pm
See images of recent martian avalanches, dust devils, sand dunes, and impacts, and learn how the surface of Mars is still changing today, with planetary scientist Maria Banks. - Viking, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Learn about the Viking mission to Mars with planetary scientists Jim Zimbelman and Bob Craddock and historian Matt Shindell. - Mars Science Laboratory, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Learn about Curiosity, the latest rover to operate on Mars, with MSL science team member John Grant. - Missions to Mars, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Learn about current missions of exploration with planetary scientist Alex Morgan. - MARSIS, 1:00 to 2:00 pm
Learn about radar mapping of Mars on the European Mars Express mission, with planetary scientist Tom Watters. - Mars Radar, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 to 3:00 pm
Learn how to see beneath the surface of Mars, with planetary scientists Jennifer Whitten and Bruce Campbell. - Robot Explorers, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Test your skills as you maneuver a robotic rover or collect samples with a robotic arm in this hands-on activity with small robots.
In Exploring the Planets
- Mars Story Time, 11:00 am
Hear a reading of There's Nothing to Do on Mars with educator Ann Caspari.
In Space Race
- Images of Mars in 3D, 12:00 to 3:00 pm
View the surface of Mars in 3D with red/blue glasses. - Mars Art!, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Enjoy an art activity for kids.
In Looking at Earth
- Red Planet Quiz Show, 1:30 pm
Test your Mars knowledge, with Martian of Ceremonies Emmy Hughes. - Regional Planetary Image Facility (RPIF), 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Learn about the Museum's RPIF, a NASA-funded archive of planetary imagery.
In the Albert Einstein Planetarium
- “Exploring Mars” Planetarium Show
Learn about Mars exploration in this presentation by planetary scientist Jim Zimbelman.
10:30 am
In the Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater
- Journey to Space 3-D, 10:25 am, 11:35 am, 12:45 pm, 2:10 pm
See an exciting IMAX film with thoughts on human exploration of Mars (fees apply).