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Regular summer visitors to the National Air and Space Museum are familiar with the Museum’s popular event, Mars Day. This year, Mars is taking a backseat to allow us to honor the 40th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing with Countdown to the Moon Day.
The day will be filled with interesting and fun hands-on activities. See the lunar landscape in 3-D; talk with scientists active in lunar research; learn about NASA’s new spacecraft for exploring the Moon; see the materials that protected astronauts on perilous re-entries; hear all about lunar dust; and talk to a geologist who has been a test driver of the new generation of lunar rovers. For youngsters ages 3-8, there will be Moon-related stories.
Alan Bean in front of his painting easel at his art studio in Houston, October 14, 2008.
As a special attraction, Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean will be on hand to welcome you to a new exhibition of his art and related artifacts, and sign copies of his book, Alan Bean: Painting Apollo, First Artist on Another World. Don’t miss this opportunity to speak with the Museum’s experts on this day dedicated to the Moon! Countdown to the Moon Day is on Thursday, July 16 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at the National Mall Building in downtown Washington, DC. Visit the Countdown to the Moon Day site for more 3D anaglyphs and event information.