Annual Dark Sky Festival set for April 17

Home

Sports Briefs

Other Sun Publications

FREE DELIVERY!
Get Free Delivery! Request your Osceola News Gazette Today.

Login Form

2013 Summertime Fun

Osceola Hurricane Handbook 2013

2013 Sexual Predator Sexual Offender List sexualpredatorcover13

Windows on the Classroom June 2013

School Calendar
2012-2013

View our other Special Sections

Annual Dark Sky Festival set for April 17

Around Osceola

Thursday, 01 April 2010 07:32

The Seventh Annual Dark Sky Festival will be held at Harmony’s Town Square Saturday, April 17.
As in the past, attendees of this year’s event will enjoy an evening of celebration and education with a primary focus on the benefits of a night sky free from the effects of excessive artificial lighting. Amateur astronomers from around the state will set up their telescopes and invite guests to view the skies. There will also be lots of music and food, numerous specialty booths, presentations from scientists and country music star Kenyon Lockry will take to Harmony’s outdoor amphitheater stage for a live concert.
“This year we will be attempting to break the Guinness Book of World Records for the Largest Astronomy Lesson,” said Greg Golgowski, Harmony’s conservation director. “We need at least 250 participants. We hope to surpass the current world record, so feel free to tell your friends and family to join us.”
The Largest Astronomy Lesson will be led by two entertaining and informative instructors: Terry Oswalt, professor of astronomy at the Florida Institute of Technology, and Russell Romanella, director of Space Station and Spacecraft Processing, Kennedy Space Center.
The festivities will kick off at 4 p.m. with Harmony Institute, Florida Institute of Technology and the Osceola County School District presenting “Children on a Seesaw: Balancing Nature and Science in Young Lives,” a forum featuring Dr. Judy Wall, medical director of Nemours Children’s Hospital, as moderator. Panelists include top professionals from the CDC, Purdue, FIT, FSU and the Cincinnati Zoo. The forum is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required, however, by going to the institute’s Web site at www.harmonyinstitute.org.
At 5 p.m., Brevard Community College will allow those attending to race submersible robots in the Harmony Swim Club pool and a submersible research vessel will be on display. Astronomers will feature solar telescopes that allow viewers to safely explore the sun.
The main festival will begin at 6 p.m. and continue until 11 p.m. The event is open to the public and admission and parking are free. A mobile planetarium will return, enabling 25 people at a time to climb into the unit and be rocketed into the fourth dimension. A Cosmic Kids Zone will be set up and includes prizes and surprises from Radio Disney’s Road Crew, glow in the dark mini golf, Moonwalks, and more. Those attending may even bump into one of their favorite characters from Star Wars, so make sure to bring a camera.
If you’re a Boy Scout, Girl Scout, Cub Scout or just a kid who wants to learn more about astronomy, there will be merit badge counselors available who can help you get checked off on activities.
“We love how this event has really evolved over the years,” said Shad Tome, president of Harmony Development Company. “This year, we will have three stage areas set up and an itinerary packed with fun and educational activities.”
To find out more about the festival, visit www.DarkSkyFestival.com or call 407-891-8358.