Simulation: : 'Curiosity,' the NASA rover, will land on Mars at 9:31 pm AKDT Sunday, Aug. 5. Come watch at UAA in ConocoPhillips Integrated Science Building (CPISB), first floor lecture hall, Room 120.
UAA astronomers Dr. Andy Puckett has put out the word. The public is invited free to come watch the rover "Curiosity" land on Mars. The first floor lecture hall in CPISB, Room 120, will be available to observe the NASA news feed from 7:30-10:30 pm on Sunday, Aug. 5.
From Andy:
"Curiosity" will conclude its eight month journey to Mars in dramatic fashion. During seven terrifying minutes, the spacecraft will use aeroshells, parachutes, hydrazine rockets, and finally a tethered sky-crane technique to decelerate from 13,000 mph at the top of the atmosphere to a gentle touch-down on the surface. And given the current 14-minute signal delay from Mars, by the time we on Earth hear that atmospheric entry has begun, the rover will have already been on the ground for seven minutes!
Read more about the rover Curiosity at the NASA website.
An important note: This webcast-viewing event is NOT being held in the planetarium theater, and it will NOT feature a live speaker.
A separate presentation WILL be taking place in the planetarium that evening, but the limited seating for that presentation is being made available exclusively to our current UAA Planetarium members by invitation only. The free public event advertised here will take place entirely in the first floor lecture hall, and will consist entirely of the NASA TV broadcast of the rover landing.
NASA's Curiosity: As it may appear at work on Mars.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THESE OTHER FREE PUBLIC EVENTS COMING UP AT UAA


