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<h1><img src="spacetitle.jpg" alt="Air & Space: April and May 2004"/></h1>


<h2><img src="astroday04.jpg" alt="Astronomy Day: April 24, 2004"/></h2>
<p><b><a href="thanks.shtml">Click here for scenes from Astronomy Day!</a></b></p>
<p>This year has been unbelievably exciting for astronomy fans: discoveries on the surface of Mars, lots of planets in the evening sky, the possibility of one, or two, naked eye comets in May, the Cassini spacecraft on final approach to Saturn, and so on.</p>
<p>To celebrate, we're bringing two teams of eight horses each to the Adventure Science Center for Astronomy Day!</p>
<p><img src="OVGstamp.jpg" align=right>Why? Because Nashville is a sister city to <b>Magdeburg, Germany</b>, whose most famous resident was <b>Otto von Guericke</b>. If the name doesn't sound familiar, von Guericke was the scientist who demonstrated the power of atmospheric pressure with a dramatic experiment in 1654. Von Guericke, inventor of the air pump, placed two metal hemispheres together to make a complete sphere twenty inches in diameter. When the air was pumped out, the external air pressure of the atmosphere kept them snugly sealed together. Even sixteen horses, eight on each side, could not pull the halves apart. It would've taken a force of over two tons to do it, but a twist of a valve was all that was needed to let the air back into the sphere so the hemispheres would fall apart with ease. Von Guericke thus proved that vacuums were possible and went on to speculate that the space between the stars was also a vacuum.</p>
<p><b>On Astronomy Day, April 24, 2004</b>, the Adventure Science Center, the Otto von Guericke Society of Magdeburg, and Sister Cities of Nashville have arranged to reenact this famous experiment with actors from Germany in full costume and yes, real draft horses. This will be the first time such a performance has been done in the United States. It should be a very exciting day!</p>
<div style="text-align:center"><img src="livehorses.jpg"></div><br/>
<p>There will also be solar observing, video astronomy, telescopes, displays, exhibits, and a variety of other programs and activities presented by the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bsasnashville.com">Barnard-Seyfert Astronomical Society</a>, the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.darksky.org">International Dark Sky Association</a>, and other local organizations.</p>
<h1>Schedule of Events</h1>
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<li><h3>11:00 am - SciBites: Pump, Pressure, Pull!<br/>Goldner Gallery</h3>
Experience the incredible, yet invisible, force that air pressure exerts on the world around us. This program will use components from the Otto von Guericke exhibit on loan from Germany, including the "gallow and the "air gun".</li>

<li><h3>11:00 am - RingWorld<br/>Sudekum Planetarium</h3>
When Galileo first looked at Saturn through his telescope almost 400 years ago, he knew at first sight that it was different from the other planets. Later observations, with more powerful telescopes and by robotic space probes have answered many questions but raised many more. In summer 2004, the Cassini spacecraft will arrive at Saturn. Get ready to discover this beautiful and enigmatic RingWorld.</li>

<li><h3>12:00 noon - Skies Over Nashville<br/>Sudekum Planetarium</h3>
Find out what can you see from your back yard during this planetarium program that features the constellations and planets visible in the current night sky. Ask questions and make requests during this live, interactive tour of the heavens.</li>

<li><h3>1:00 pm - 1:30 pm Germany Culture Week Opens</h3>
Kick off the Magdeburg Germany Culture Week activities with Mayor Bill Purcell of Nashville, Mayor Dr. Lutz Tr&uuml;mper of Magdeburg, the Commissioner for Culture and Sports Dr. R&uuml;diger Koch, members of the Otto von Guericke Society of Magdeburg, and other dignitaries.</li>

<li><h3>1:00 pm - SciBites: Pump, Pressure, Pull!<br/>Goldner Gallery</h3>
Experience the incredible, yet invisible, force that air pressure exerts on the world around us. This program will use components from the Otto von Guericke exhibit on loan from Germany, including the "gallow and the "air gun".</li>

<li><h3>1:30 - 3:00 pm - Reenactment of Otto von Guericke's Experiment</h3>
Watch as members of the Otto von Guericke Society of Magdeburg, Germany recreate von Guericke's famous experiment of 1654. Two teams of eight horses each will attempt to separate two metal hemispheres held together with nothing but the force of atmospheric pressure. This will be the first time this experiment has been performed in the United States.</li>

<li><h3>2:30 pm - RingWorld<br/>Sudekum Planetarium</h3>
When Galileo first looked at Saturn through his telescope almost 400 years ago, he knew at first sight that it was different from the other planets. Later observations, with more powerful telescopes and by robotic space probes have answered many questions but raised many more. In summer 2004, the Cassini spacecraft will arrive at Saturn. Get ready to discover this beautiful and enigmatic RingWorld.</li>

<li><h3>3:00 - 3:30 pm - Otto von Guericke Exhibit Opening<br/>
Goldner Gallery</h3>
Witness the official opening of the new Otto von Guericke exhibit by Mayor Purcell, Mayor Dr. Lutz Tr&uuml;mper and the Commissioner for Culture and Sports Dr. R&uuml;diger Koch and members of the Otto von Guericke Society of Magdeburg.</li>

<li><h3>3:30 pm - Rusty Rocket's Last Blast<br/>
Sudekum Planetarium</h3>
All rocket rookies report to class! Lift off with Rusty Rocket and learn rocket basics, relive great moments in space exploration, and discover how far it really is to the moon and planets.</li>

<li><h3>3:30 - 4:00 pm - Otto von Guericke and His Experiments</h3>
"Otto von Guericke and His Experiments" presented by Dr. Peter Streitenberger. Discover the fascinating background behind the man and his experiments - presented by a leading expert from the Otto von Guericke Society. Dr. Streitenberger is a professor and researcher in the areas of Applied Materials and Experimental Physics at Otto von Guericke University in Magdeburg, Germany.</li>

<li><h3>4:00 pm - SciBites: Pump, Pressure, Pull!<br/>Goldner Gallery</h3>
Experience the incredible, yet invisible, force that air pressure exerts on the world around us. This program will use components from the Otto von Guericke exhibit on loan from Germany, including the "gallow and the "air gun".</li>
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<em>Schedule subject to change.</em>
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