Contact:

Amy Y. Davidson
(615) 327-7999
adavidson@seig-pr.com

Virginia Crowe
(615) 401-5059
vcrowe@adventuresci.com

Nashville, TN (April 25, 2007) - It’s time once again to reach for the stars and explore the universe during Adventure Science Center’s 20th annual Astronomy Day on May 5, a celestial extravaganza featuring entertaining and educational hands-on activities for the region’s young space explorers.

This year’s Astronomy Day, entitled “Shoot for the Moon”, will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and offers guests the opportunity to taste test real astronaut food, create a robot in the robot lab, map out their own constellation and construct a space craft from simple household materials. Kids will also be able to experiment with astronaut pens that can write upside down, and to play with sand that is similar to the sand on Mars.

"Each year Astronomy Day allows our inquisitive patrons the opportunity to gain a greater understanding and appreciation of the stars, planets, comets and galaxies populating our universe and beyond," said Christy Whitney, public events planner for the Adventure Science Center. "NASA currently has four space shuttle missions scheduled to launch before the end of the year, making this a particularly exciting time for our country’s space program. Astronomy Day participants will have the opportunity to experience this excitement without taking one foot off the ground!”

Local astronomers also will be on hand for Astronomy Day. From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., guests will have the opportunity to participate in a live sun viewing during which special equipment is used to safely look directly at the sun. From 2 to 3 p.m., Dr. David Weintraub, a professor of Astronomy at Vanderbilt and author of Is Pluto a Planet? will give a special presentation on Pluto being demoted from it’s planet status. The presentation will be followed by a book signing.

After dark on Astronomy Day, the public is invited to a free star party outdoors at the Science Center from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. The Barnard-Seyfert Astronomical Society will set up telescopes, including video monitors, for patrons to observe Jupiter, Saturn, and more; and provide star gazers information about what they are seeing.

For more information on the Adventure Science Center’s May 5 Astronomy Day, please contact Christy Whitney at (615) 401-5065.

About Adventure Science Center
For 60 years, Adventure Science Center has brought science to life for children in Middle Tennessee, Southern Kentucky, Northern Alabama and beyond. The center offers hands-on, interactive exhibits and engaging programs that encourage children of all ages to explore how science, invention and innovation affect their lives. Adventure Science Center encourages imagination and curiosity, and engages the senses in the fascinating world of science.

Adventure Science Center’s regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $9 for adults, and $7 for children ages 3 to 12 and seniors age 60 or older. The Science Center is located at 800 Fort Negley Blvd. For more information, call (615) 862-5160 or visit our web site at www.adventuresci.com.