Night Sky Viewing at The Lunar and Planetary Institute
5 Jan 2012 at 10:00pm
Winter Wanderers Free Event Saturday, January 21 7 ? 9 p.m.
View Jupiter and Venus through telescopes. Discover the changing appearance of the night sky through hands-on activities. Explorers of all ages are invited. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
New Library Catalog
4 Jan 2012 at 10:00pm
We have a new library catalog. One of the features is that it produces an RSS feed of the latest materials. It also provides a feed of the latest journal issues received. Please subscribe to the RSS feed in our new catalog.
Family Space Days - Changes for 2012
14 Dec 2011 at 10:00pm
In order to better serve families and reach out to our community, the LPI is changing things up! We will offer two new programs in 2012! While we have enjoyed sharing Earth and space science with you through the Family Space Days program for the past eight years, our Family Space Days Saturday events at LPI will no longer be offered. We hope you will join us in our new endeavors:
Programs at Local Libraries
Children ages 5 to 8 and their families will be invited to join us at partnering libraries for hands-on science activities. Beginning in spring 2012, check your local library listings to find the program nearest you. The events will be designed to help parents effectively engage and interact with their children in science during the event and in continued explorations at home. Our goals for this new effort include generating strong partnerships with local libraries, reaching new communities, and providing avenues for families to continue their explorations of science beyond our events. This program is in development, and further details will be available in the future.
Family-friendly Night-sky Viewing Events
LPI, with its partner, the JSC Astronomical Society, will continue to offer night-sky viewing events - open to explorers of all ages - at the Lunar and Planetary Institute. Night-sky viewing events will be offered about four times a year. We will continue to have hands-on activities in addition to viewing through telescopes, weather permitting.
Holiday Schedule
6 Dec 2011 at 10:00pm
The LPI will be closed beginning December 26 and will reopen again January 3, 2012. The building will be locked between December 26 and January 2, but there may be staff working. If you wish to use the library during that time, make prior arrangements or call 281-486-2182 to ensure that someone will be available to let you enter. Happy Holidays!
From the Moon: Mapping & Exploration Exhibit
5 Dec 2011 at 10:00pm
The Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art at the College of Charleston in Charleston, North Carolina, is currently presenting the exhibit From the Moon: Mapping & Exploration.
This exhibit addresses our visual perceptions of the Moon, from Earth and from space, and demonstrates how advances in optical technologies have increased our understanding over time.
Several artifacts on loan from the Lunar and Planetary Institute Library are on display in this exhibit. The exhibit runs through March 3, 2012.
Cosmic Explorations Speaker Series Continues
1 Nov 2011 at 10:00pm
The Cosmic Explorations Speaker Series continues on Thursday, November 10, with a presentation by Dr. Bill Bottke of the Southwest Research Institute. His talk entitled "Planet Formation: What's New with the Oldest Events in the Solar System?" will address recent advances in planet formation that are challenging long-held views.
You can learn more about Dr. Bottke at his asteroid research homepage.
This free presentation begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Lunar and Planetary Institute and will be followed by a light reception and an opportunity to meet and chat with Dr. Bottke.
Family Space Day - Solar System Extremes
23 Oct 2011 at 10:00pm
Join us at the Lunar and Planetary Institute for Family Space Day as we explore Solar System Extremes. Learn about the biggest, smallest, coldest, fastest, hottest things in the solar system through hands-on activities.
Children between 5-8 years old and their families are invited to explore space science together. This free event will be on Saturday, November 19, from 10 am - 1 pm.
Dava Sobel lecture now available online
27 Sep 2011 at 10:00pm
The Cosmic Explorations series lecture presented by Dava Sobel on Thursday, September 22, entitled Humanity's Changing Relationship with the Solar System is now available online.
The library is changing!
26 Sep 2011 at 10:00pm
The LPI library is going through some changes. Some areas have been reconfigured, and new equipment is being installed, including a 46-inch internet TV. Some library resources and equipment have moved. Contact a library staff member if you need help finding anything.
New Children's Books
15 Sep 2011 at 10:00pm
Lots of new children?s books have been added to the collection recently. Here are a few of the new titles published this year:
Meet the Planets by John McGranaghan
Far-Out Guide to Jupiter by Mary Kay Carson
13 Planets: The Latest View of the Solar System by David Aguilar
Robots in Space by Christopher Forest
Exploring the Solar System by Amanda Doering Tourville
Space by Mike Goldsmith
A Project Guide to the Solar System by Colleen Kessler
Stars and Planets by Carole Stott
Solar System by Sue Hamilton
Come check them out.
MyMoon Webcast with the NASA Desert RATS
29 Aug 2011 at 10:00pm
Don?t forget to join MyMoon next week, September 6 at 1 pm Eastern for a special webcast with Dr. Jake Bleacher from NASA Goddard. Jake is currently in the Arizona desert near the Black Point Lava Flow with the NASA Desert RATS conducting integrated mission simulations to evaluate different conditions that will enable multiple destinations for future human exploration including the Moon, near-Earth asteroids (NEAs), Mars moons, and ultimately the surface of Mars. Jake will join us live from the habitat module as he discuss the hardware and protocols the team is testing and will answer questions about the Desert RATS test and objectives.
Join MyMoon for Jake?s webcast at 1pm Eastern on September 6.
Follow the Desert RATS during this year's field tests through blogs, Twitter, Flickr and YouTube:
Read their weblog
Follow them on Twitter
Flickr photostream
YouTube Channel
Are you a teacher? Do you know a teacher? The Desert RATS education group has created classroom activities for grades 5-12.
Labor Day Holiday
29 Aug 2011 at 10:00pm
The LPI Library will be closed on Monday, September 5, in observance of Labor Day.
Out-of-this-World Jobs at Family Space Day
29 Aug 2011 at 10:00pm
Join us at the Lunar and Planetary Institute for Family Space Day as we explore Out-of-this-World Jobs.
Children between 5-8 years old and their families are invited to meet space scientists and engineers and explore what they do! This free event will be on Saturday, September 17, from 10 am - 1 pm.
Amazing images online
22 Aug 2011 at 10:00pm
Keep up with the latest earth science and space images online. There are several websites that present new images daily. These websites feature images with captions and links for further information.
Earth Science Picture of the Day
Astronomy Picture of the Day
Lunar Photo of the Day
NASA Image of the Day
The Cosmic Explorations Speaker Series
16 Aug 2011 at 10:00pm
The Cosmic Explorations Speaker Series returns September 22, 2011 for the 2011-2012 series. Join LPI as we celebrate NASA?s Year of the Solar System. The Year of the Solar System is a 23-month event celebrating NASA?s exploration of the solar system. The scientific results from robotic missions sent to explore the solar system are changing our perceptions of the solar system, while compelling us to ask new questions.
Join LPI as we partner with the University of Houston-Clear Lake on September 22, 2011 to kick-off the 2011-2012 series ? New Missions, New Perspectives, New Questions ? with a very special guest speaker. Dava Sobel, author of Longitude, Galileo?s Daughter, and The Planets, will explore humanity?s changing relationship with the solar system. Included in her presentation will be a discussion of our transition from a mythological to scientific perspective of the planets and our transition from a geocentric to heliocentric perspective of the solar system.
You can learn more about Dava Sobel at her website.
In anticipation of a large turnout, the University of Houston-Clear Lake has graciously agreed to host Ms. Sobel?s presentation in the theater in the Bayou Building on the UHCL campus. UHCL is located at 2700 Bay Area Blvd., Houston, TX 77058.
Directions to UHCL
Campus map
Free parking will be available in the Student Parking Lot that evening for those attending the presentation. Because night classes will be in session, the Student Parking Lot will be in use by UHCL students so groups attending the presentation should plan to carpool.
This free presentation begins at 7:30 p.m. and will be followed by a light reception and an opportunity to meet Ms. Sobel. Please note that this event is not a book signing. Ms. Sobel will be available to speak with attendees but will not be able to sign books. Attendees will also have the opportunity to view the photography exhibit "Celebrating Shuttle: An American Icon" on display at the time of the presentation.
If you have any questions regarding the location of and parking at the University of Houston-Clear Lake, please contact the University Advancement Office at 281-283-2021.
