White House Star Party

To All International Year of Astronomy Leaders:

For a long time many of you have worked hard to get a star party at the White House during the International Year of Astronomy (IYA). This effort has paid off, and we now need to make the most of this event.

This is the official statement from the White House Office of the Press Secretary:
"On Wednesday, the President will award the National Medal of Science and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation in a ceremony at the White House. The President will also meet with his national security team on Afghanistan and Pakistan. In the evening, the President and First Lady will host an event at the White House for middle-school students to highlight the President's commitment to science, engineering and math education as the foundation of this nation's global technological and economic leadership and to express his support for astronomy in particular - for its capacity to promote a greater awareness of our place in the universe, expand human knowledge, and inspire the next generation by showing them the beauty and mysteries of the night sky."

Here is a summary of the planned event from an official WHSP organizer:
"The White House 'Star Party' will take place Wednesday October 7th. President Obama will kick-off the event with a brief address that will be streamed live on the whitehouse.gov website (estimated beginning at 8 pm EDT). The program at the White House includes more than 20 telescopes set up on the White House lawn focused on Jupiter, the Moon and select stars; interactive dome presentations, and hands on activities including scale models of the Solar System, impact cratering, and investigating meteorites and Moon rocks. You may wish to prepare similar activities at your facility. We will hear from NASA TV on Monday on what channel the President's address will be broadcast on NASA TV."

Click here to view the event flier.