UF astronomers to present program, activities in East Gainesville

October 6, 2010

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — As part of an ongoing effort to reach out to the community, the University of Florida MAS Outreach Initiative in the Department of Astronomy is hosting “Stars Shine on East Gainesville,” a celebration of art, science and culture, at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Martin Luther King Center, 1028 N.E. 14th St. The event is free and open to the public.

Participants will be able to view the night sky with telescopes, participate in art projects and learn about the ASTREC small satellite project. Other events include:

• 6:30 p.m. at the Northeast Pool: Gainesville Gaviatas Synchronized Swimming will present “The Art & Science of Conservation of Motion;”
• Following at the MLK Center: Jorge Variego, “Music From Space: Black Holes, Planets, Light Waves;”
• Howard Bishop Middle School Band Symphonic Winds;
• Performances from the Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center;
• Astro Art Exhibit form EGI Camp Students and award ceremony with Jaydeep Mukherjee, interim director of the Florida Space Institute;
• NASA hands-on activities outreach group from Kennedy Space Center.

Pizza and soda will be available for purchase.

The event is sponsored by: National Science Foundation through a grant to Stephen Eikenberry and Reba Bandyopadhyay in the department of astronomy; NASA Florida Space Grant Consortium; University of Florida Music and Arts for Science; ASTREC; Gainesville Gaviatas; UF School of Music; College of Fine Arts; and Cotton Club. Partners are Santa Fe College East Gainesville Initiative and the Alachua Astronomy Club.