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USC Aiken Hosts Family Earth and Sky Night April 21

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AIKEN, SC (04/19/2018) The University of South Carolina Aiken's Ruth Patrick Science Education Center and DuPont Planetarium, in partnership with the Astronomy Club of Augusta, will present Family Earth and Sky Night, Saturday evening, April 21.

Media crews are invited to cover this event on the USC Aiken campus, which is open to the public.

The annual Family Earth and Sky Night includes planetarium shows, hands-on activities, night-sky viewing, and viewing through the Bechtel Telescope.

For more information on Family Earth and Sky Night, go to: https://rpsec.usca.edu/Events/StarParty/EarthSky2018/

Specific events include:

Planetarium Shows: 6:00, 7:00, 8:00, 9:00 p.m.

Magic Tree House - 6:00 p.m.

Defying Gravity: It IS Rocket Science! - 7:00 & 8:00 p.m.

Seven Wonders - 9:00 p.m.

Availability and Pricing: Planetarium shows are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The admission fees are: adults $6.50; senior citizens $5.50; K-12 students; $4.50; USC Aiken students and staff $2.00. Children under 4 are not admitted in the planetarium but are welcome to participate in the other activities. Tickets are available during Earth & Sky Night. Reservations are not available for shows this evening.

Hands-on Activities: 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. - FREE

A variety of hands-on activities will be available from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m., which allow guests the opportunity to experience the wonders of earth and space science. Many activities will have materials to take home as special mementos from this engaging event. Live animals will be on display, including snakes, turtles, alligators, and owls.

Night-Sky Viewing 8:00 - 10:30 p.m. - FREE

Members of the Astronomy Club of Augusta will host naked-eye, binocular, and telescope observation opportunities of the moon, planets, and stars on the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center lawn. There will be posters to highlight sky objects that are fun to find. Bring a blanket, towel or reclining lounge chair as there will be opportunities to get comfortable and observe the night sky. People can stand or lie back and observe the stars appear as our patch of earth turns away from the sun. There will be prizes for answers to basic lunar questions; first person to see the first planet to appear; first stars to appear, and more. See the marvels of the night sky with help from knowledgeable and engaging people.

Club members will have a number of telescopes available for use by the public. Take advantage of this opportunity to see sky objects in detail, compare different telescopes in use, and to learn about the models available for amateur astronomers. The Bechtel Telescope in the RPSEC Observatory will also be available for viewing the wonders of the sky.

For more information on the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center and other events offered, go to: https://rpsec.usca.edu/.