February 1, 2004

Ring World
The Ring World planetarium show will be at the Museum of Rockies through June 11, 2004. Ring World tells the story of the international Cassini-Huygens Mission to Saturn, including its rings and moons. Of special interest is the Huygens probe which will descend into the nitrogen atmosphere of Saturn's moon Titan in January 2005. website.

Feb. 1 - June 11, 2004, Museum of Rockies
Date Posted: February 2, 2004

February 4, 2004

Ulysses Mission flyby Jupiter
Ulysses is a joint NASA OSS and European Space Agency (ESA) project. It is the first spacecraft to explore the Sun's influence on interstellar space from an orbit steeply above and below the plane of the ecliptic (the plane in which most of the planets orbit the Sun). Ulysses was launched from a space shuttle in 1990. However, no rockets or thrusters exist that could give Ulysses the velocity required to boost it into an orbit so far out of the ecliptic. Thus, a trip around Jupiter in 1992 was required to give Ulysses the gravity assist that enabled it to achieve an orbit with a maximum latitude of 80 degrees (90 degrees being perpendicular to the ecliptic), making it the fastest interplanetary spacecraft ever launched. Instrumented for solar studies, Ulysses is well-prepared for detailed observation of Jupiter's magnetosphere and radiation environment as it passes through. It has already contributed a great deal of new information, especially about the rapidly changing size of the magnetosphere with changing solar wind pressure, and about the Io plasma torus. This is Ulysses' second trip around Jupiter. For more information see NASA's SSE Ulysses Mission website or the Ulysses Mission Jupiter website.

Feb. 4, 2004, Jupiter
Date Posted: January 29, 2004

February 5, 2004

Life on the International Space Station
NASA astronaut Dr. Ed Lu will present a public talk entitled "Life on the International Space Station at the University of Hawaii. website

Feb. 5, 2004, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii
Date Posted: February 2, 2004

February 7, 2004

Space Lecture Series: The Future of U.S. Robotic Planetary Exploration with Randii Wessen
Dr. Randii Wessen from the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory will talk about the future robotic planetary spacecraft having a wide range of capabilities, diverse mission objectives, and being launched almost one per year. Among the many mission objectives, some of these future explorers will be the landers and sample return missions of tomorrow. The United States robotic planetary exploration program has been divided into four areas: Earth Exploration, Mars Exploration, Outer Planet Exploration and the Universe. Dr. Wessen will describe each of these areas, the major missions currently in operations, and those being planned. It will also have a special emphasis on the quest for extra-solar planets and the search for life in the cosmos. This lecture is given in conjunction with the featured exhibit, Space: A Journey to our Future, and is part of a series of monthly lectures by distinguished space scientists and authors. For more information go to the Pacific Science Center Events website.

February 7, 2004, Adobe Laser Dome, Pacific Science Center, Seattle, WA
Date Posted: January 22, 2004

February 7, 2004

Pathways 2004
Join Space Science Network Northwest Director Dr. Julie Lutz for a workshop on your Place in Space at the Pathways 2004 Conference at Lynwood High school in Lynwood, Washington. Move information about the conference, which is sponsored by the Girl Scouts Totem Council. website.

February 7, 2004, Lynwood High School, Lynwood, WA
Date Posted: January 22, 2004

February 10, 2004

Life in Universe
The Harlow Shapley Visiting Lectureships in Astronomy presents University of Washington Astronomer Julie H. Lutz, who will lecture on the "Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence" at Everett Community College Tuesday February 10 from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Jackson Center. The Shapley Visiting Lectureships highlight the most interesting areas of current astronomical research and present not only the most recent exciting findings, but also their historical context.
Lutz' areas of interest include stellar evolution, planetary nebulae, peculiar stars, and astronomy education. website.

February 10, 2004, Everett Community College, Everett, WA
Date Posted: February 2, 2004

February 19, 2004

Space Lecture Series: Planetary Formation with Thomas Quinn
Dr. Thomas Quinn from the University of Washington will talk about how over 100 planets have been discovered outside our solar system, all within the past decade. This vast growth in our knowledge of planets has forced us to rethink our ideas about how planets are formed. The methods for finding these planets will be described, the properties of the planets will be discussed, and the new ideas about planet formation will be presented. This lecture is given in conjunction with the featured exhibit, Space: A Journey to our Future, and is part of a series of monthly lectures by distinguished space scientists and authors. For more information go to the Pacific Science Center Events website.

February 19, 2004, Eames Imax Theatre, Pacific Science Center, Seattle, WA
Contact: Pacific Science Center website

February 21, 2004

Having a Solar Blast Teacher Workshop (Grades 3-10)
NASA Aerospace Education Specialist Brian Hawkins will present a workshop based on the NASA CONNECT video, Having a Solar Blast. The activities and content illustrate how NASA engineers and researchers use data analysis to predict solar storms, anticipate how they will affect the Earth and improve our understanding of the Sun-Earth system. This is a good workshop for both science and math teachers! For more information go to website.

February 21, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Contact: Washington NASA Educator Resource Center, 206-543-1943 or

February 28, 2004

Astro Fair
Montana's biggest amateur astronomy event will include planetarium shows telescope workshops, guest speakers, solar observing, demonstrations on the International Space Station, plus special activities for children and families. Co-sponsored by the Southwest Montana Astronomical Society. Included with museum admission. A free evening star party begins at 8 p.m.,For more information go to website.

Friday, February 28, 2004 noon - 5 p.m., Museum of the Rockies
Date Posted: February 2, 2004