Astronomy and Earth Day
Astronomy and Earth Day - April 12, 2026
Enjoy a full day of FREE family-friendly activities exploring sustainability on Earth and in space!
Presented by Fiske Planetarium, Sommers-Bausch Observatory, and CU's Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences.
Join us for free sustainability focused fulldome shows, previews of new Fiske productions on current science initiatives, and engage with interactive STEM exhibits. Plus, enjoy free telescope demonstrations (daytime) and observing (nighttime), color with ultraviolet light in the observatory's library, and engage with more interactive STEM exhibits. And, meet current and former APS students, talk with current staff and professors, and learn what your future could look like at ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ÆÆ½â°æÏÂÔØ.
- 1:00-5:00PM ÌýSTEM activities and shows at Fiske and Sommers-Bausch Observatory
- 7:00-8:00PM ÌýKeynote presentation with Dr. Warren Sconiers at Fiske sponsored by The SPIKE Center for Sustainability Education
The SPIKE Center is focused on students and their success by integrating sustainability education and curriculum across campus. The SPIKE Center will enable students and faculty to become tomorrow’s sustainability leaders and enhance the positive environmental change we see in our community. 7:00-10:00PM Telescope viewing at Sommers-Bausch Observatory
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Daytime activities will be provided by the following partners.
- Plant Moon and Mars terrariums to demonstrate the sustainability of growing food on other worlds. Experience life on a self-sustaining space station. Efficient recycling technologies, sustainable energy sources and power generation, and innovations for extraterrestrial agriculture.
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CU Space Minor - Play space minor bingo, win spaced-themed prizes, learn about the Space Minor at ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ÆÆ½â°æÏÂÔØ. Arts and Humanities of Space; Earth, space and universe education; and technological, political and social impacts of space flight.
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- Learn how to mitigate light pollution, experience the benefit of seeing the stars at night, and speak to leading community experts. Reduce energy and money waste while supporting health, limit artificial outdoor lighting, and improve visibility of night sky and habitability of ecosytems.
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- Build your own spacecraft, learn about the work LASP is doing today, and talk with real scientists and engineers. Reduce space instruments using less fuel, reuse secondary missions for expended satellites, and recycle leading space missions for recycling resources in space.
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& - Visualize real scientific satellite data in three dimensions, learn about our ozone layer and ozonesondes, talk with real scientist and learn about the work they do. National weather service aides in decision making and lifesaving, provide data and information about our changing climate, and use satellite data to better understand our dynamic earth. Weather, climate, and atmospheric research; energy and resource management and sustainability; and biology, ecosystems and ocean science.
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- Experience the five senses like never before, meet real science communicators and learn about their podcast, learn about what space may be like from here on Earth. Science communication engagement and support, student led science content, and build meaningful connections that have lasting impacts.
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