GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida Museum of Natural History visitors will have the opportunity to view the moon and planets with astronomy experts Nov. 4 from 6 to 10 p.m. during the museum’s annual “Starry Night” event.

The guest speaker for this year’s program is Cathy Olkin, the deputy project scientist for NASA’s New Horizons mission to Pluto, who will present “Our New View of Pluto,” featuring images of Pluto’s large glacier and mountains. Olkin will answer audience questions following the presentation.

“Astronomy is a science that everyone can engage with,” Olkin said. “You look in the sky and see planets, stars and the Milky Way. For many, this can spur curiosity about other fields of science.”

This year’s event also features James Albury and Dean Regas, co-hosts of the PBS “Star Gazers,” program, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary. They will speak on what it’s like to work on the show as well as play a few episodes and host a meet-and-greet with Olkin after her presentation.

“This event gives astronomers and fellow science communicators like myself an opportunity to bring the wonders of astronomy to a large audience,” Albury said.

Other activities include two portable planetariums, an amateur telescope clinic, cosmic time tunnel and more. Guests can earn prizes by keeping track of completed activities with a “passport to the universe.”

“It’s exciting to have the opportunity to use telescopes that you normally wouldn’t have access to,” said Chelsea Collison, Florida Museum educator. “Being at the museum at night with the lights outside turned down is a real treat that is not to be missed!”

“Starry Night” is produced by the Florida Museum, UF department of astronomy, Santa Fe College astronomy program, Kika Silva Pla Planetarium and the Alachua Astronomy Club Inc.

The program will be held regardless of weather. For more information, call 352-273-2062 or visit https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/calendar/grid/starry-night/.

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Writer: Sara Uman, smuman@ufl.edu
Source: Chelsea Collison, ccollison@flmnh.ufl.edu
Media contact: Paul Ramey, 352-273-2054, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu