Students and scientists from UALR’s Department of Physics and Astronomy will join members of the Central Arkansas Astronomical Society, the Museum of Discovery, and Central Arkansas Library System to celebrate International Observe the Moon Night Saturday, Sept. 22, at Little Rock’s River Market.

A day of activities at the museum, the downtown library, and the Arkansas Studies Institute will culminate in a riverside field trip where telescopes will be set up to offer glimpses of the moon up close. See location of Telescope Moon Viewing.

All events are free and open to the public.

The special guest this year – courtesy of  Dr. Tony Hall, chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy – will be Steve Arnold of the Science Channel’s hit television show, “Meteorite Men.”  Arnold, a native of Arkansas, has been hunting, collecting, and selling rare space rocks found from some of the most exotic locations on the planet.

Arnold will speak at 1 p.m. at the Museum of Discovery. Later, he will join the lunar telescope viewings from 7 to 10:30 p.m.

Here is a list of activities:

• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Construct a lunar base activity for kids; Tinker Shop, Museum of Discovery.
• 1 to 2 p.m. – “Meteorite Man” Steve Arnold lecture; Museum of Discovery Great Hall.
• 2:30 to 4 p.m. – “For All Mankind” a documentary film of the Apollo Moon Missions; Arkansas Studies Institute Room 124.
• 3 to 5 p.m. – Making Moon Craters with Dr. Tony Hall; CALS Main Library Branch Children’s Room.
• 3 to 6 p.m. – Walking the Solar System; starts outside the Museum of Discovery.
• 7 to 10:30 p.m. – Lunar telescope viewings with members of the Central Arkansas Astronomical Society and UALR Physics and Astronomy students and faculty. The site is located just east of the I-30 overpass along  President Clinton Ave. and overlooking the William E. “Bill” Clark Presidential Park Wetlands.

Click Image for Map of Evening Telescope Setup for Moon Viewing