NASA Invites Elementary Students and Their Families to an Illuminating Event Exploring the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO)

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Sep 12, 2011, 04:47 ET

GREENBELT, Md., Sept. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Visitor Center in Greenbelt, Md. will host this month's Sunday Experiment on Sunday, September 18 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. EDT. It's a free afternoon of eye-opening, hands-on activities spotlighting the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), an unmanned mission exploring the Moon's features and resources to aid in the design of future lunar outposts.

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The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, which was launched in 2009, has already sent back unprecedented data about Moon terrain and has helped scientists develop sharper topographic maps of the surface. These maps, which also show the differences in height on the terrain, are not always the gray Moon that we are familiar with. Scientists will be on hand to teach students how LRO "colors" the Moon with red, yellow, blue and green.

Have you ever seen an authentic Moon rock? Students will learn all about the Moon's surface by studying Moon rocks brought back from the Apollo astronauts. Why does the Moon have phases? Find out that and more when your student learns about the process using Oreo cookies.

Students will also get a 3-D treat when they see the latest science that LRO has sent back on the captivating Science on a Sphere visualization system. Visitors can also explore the Visitor Center's ongoing exhibits and activities, including a Gemini capsule model and the Rocket Garden.

The Sunday Experiment, held the third Sunday of each month from September through May, features activities showcasing Goddard's world-renowned science and engineering research and technological developments. Families leave inspired by the activities, wowed by the scientists and engineers, and excited about Goddard's revolutionary research and technology.

In addition to celebrating all things science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, the Sunday Experiment celebrates major science missions that are managed by NASA Goddard and set to launch in the near future.

"The Sunday Experiment is a place where children and adults alike can discover the excitement of Goddard through fun and engaging hands-on activities," said Emilie Drobnes, of NASA Goddard, founder of Sunday Experiment.

For more information on the Sunday Experiment, visit Goddard's Visitor Center Web page:

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/visitor/events/index.html

For more information on LRO, visit:

http://lunar.gsfc.nasa.gov/

SOURCE NASA