UM-Flint and Longway Planetarium Set to Launch AstroNite 2013

The University of Michigan-Flint is offering a great opportunity to dust off that telescope and finally learn to use it at AstroNite 2013, Saturday, April 20, 7-10 p.m., at UM-Flint's Murchie Science Building (MSB). Bring the family for a night of astronomical fun—and it's all free!

UM-Flint Computer Science, Engineering and Physics Department is collaborating with Longway Planetarium to present this celebration of astronomy. In fact, the planetarium will have its portable planetarium dome on hand so you can travel through the solar system.

"AstroNite is one effort, among many, to reach out to the community and say, 'Hey! Here's what science brings us. Here's what it can do. Here's why it's cool.'" said UM-Flint Assistant Professor of Physics Rajib Ganguly, Ph.D.

Exhibits and displays will be found throughout the event area. At MSB you can help make and dissect a comet, construct your own constellation, create and examine your own craters, and much more. If the sky is clear, telescopes will be outside to look at out-of-this-world objects. Check out planets, the Moon, and star clusters. Remember, help will also be available if you want to bring your own telescope.

Ganguly said, "I hope kids and their parents come with an open mind, and take away from the experience both our sense of awe, and our sense of 'Hey, we can make sense out of all this! That is awesome!'"

For more information, contact the University of Michigan-Flint at (810)762-3131.