Maryland Day 2016
The UMD Astronomy Observatory Remains Closed
Fall 2024 Update: The UMD Astronomy Observatory remains closed to all public outreach activities.
30 April 2016
Come out and join us for the 18th annual Maryland Day. The Astronomy Department will once again set up with other CMNS departments in front of the Glenn L Martin building.
Official Maryland Day website
Here are the events that we have scheduled:
- Ask an Astronomer -- Astronomy faculty and students will be on hand to answer your perplexing astronomy-related questions!
- AstroCardboard -- Astronomy students showcase their new phone application, available for Android and IOS devices, that allows the user to experience the Rosetta space mission in a virtual reality environment. With the help of a low-tech device called Cardboard (developed by Google), anyone can turn their smartphone into the screen of a virtual reality headset.
- Fingerprinting the Universe -- We learn that each person has a unique fingerprint. Each chemical element that is in our bodies and the universe also has a unique fingerprint that is encoded in light. Learn how astronomers study the skies using different wavelengths of light and how they decode the light to unravel the mysteries of the universe.
- Solar Observing -- Take a safe look at the big yellow (or red, depending on the filter) ball in our sky through telescopes with observatory staff.
- Explore the Universe with the AstroTerps -- Join the AstroTerps to create craters, play with a grapefruit model of Saturn, and participate in other hands-on activities and demos throughout the day.