AstroDay returns to Prince Kūhiō Plaza in Hilo
The 21st Annual AstroDay, a free science and astronomy event, will be held May 6 at the Prince Kūhiō Plaza in Hilo.
The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is sponsored by the Maunakea Astronomy Outreach Committee, a partnership of scientists, administrators and educators in astronomy throughout the state of Hawaiʻi.
“Our intent is to showcase science in interesting and entertaining ways,” said Carolyn Kaichi, event coordinator for the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy and committee member. “It’s a fun outing for the whole family with lots of interactive activities and giveaways.”
Dozens of volunteers from Maunakea, Mauna Loa and Haleakalā observatories, as well as ʻImiloa Astronomy Center, Hawaiʻi Science and Tech Museum, and the Pacific Tsunami Museum will be on hand to share activities and information.
AstroDay will kick off with an opening ceremony and the announcement of the 2023 Maunakea Coin Contest winners. For more information about this graphic design contest, open to K-12 students, visit www.mkaoc.org/coin/2022.
AstroDay attendees can look for sunspots throughout the day outside the mall with special solar telescopes monitored by scientists and UH students, collect AstroDay coins, enter to win a “spacy skateboard,” and participate in interactive activities, games, science demonstrations and entertainment throughout the day. KWXX Radio will be live broadcasting from the mid-stage mall.
Participating organizations include:
- UH Institute for Astronomy
- Canada France Hawaiʻi Telescope
- Daniel K Inouye Solar Telescope
- East Asian Observatory
- Gemini Observatory
- W.M. Keck Observatory
- Las Cumbres Observatory
- PanSTARRS Telescope
- Subaru Observatory
- Thirty Meter Telescope
- Maunakea Visitor Information Station
- Project PANOTES
- Hawaiʻi Science & Technology Museum
- UH Hawaiʻi Space Flight Lab
- Onizuka Space Science Program
- UH Hilo Physics & Astronomy Dept.
- Shadow the Scientist Program from UCSC
- NOAA National Weather Service
- Thelma Parker Memorial Public & School Library
- International Lunar Observatory Association
- Hawaiian Electric
- STARBASE Hawaiʻi
- Pacific Tsunami Museum
- PTA Natural Resource Program
For more information about AstroDay, click here.