Astronomy Festival on the National Mall (AFNM) 10000 participants 2019 Created and organized by Dr. Donald Lubowich Coordinator of Astronomy Outreach Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY
The 2019 Astronomy Festival on the National Mall was be presented in association with the Smithsonian Solstice Saturday events. The National Air and Space Museum and the Smithsonian Museums were open until midnight and featured free parties, programs, and performances.
Astronomy Festival on the National Mall AFNM was started in 2010 with the co-sponsorship of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, as part of my NASA grant for astronomy at outdoor concerts, Music and Astronomy Under the Stars. The U.S. Marine Corp Band performed at the Sylvan Theater. AFNM is now separate from concerts and has expanded from telescopes, posters, and videos into an astronomy festival with science organizations, colleges, and universities doing activities at tables.
Astronomy Festival on the National Mall With no tall buildings almost the entire sky is visible. The Sun, Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter were all visible. There were long lines to look through the telescopes brought by the amateur astronomers, visit the planetarium, and engage in the hands-on activities.
Participating Organizations in 2019 Associated Universities, Inc. Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., Carnegie Institution for Science, Carnegie Science/ Carnegie Academy for Science Education, Chandra X-ray Center, E-planetarium/Discovery Dome, International Dark Sky Association, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, National Air and Space Museum, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, National Science Foundation, Naval Research Laboratory, Society of Physics Students, Society for Science & the Public, Space Telescope Science Institute, US Naval Observatory. Howard University (National Society of Black Engineers Chapter),
Participating Organizations: • Organizations bringing Telescopes: Goddard Astronomy Club, National Capital Astronomers, Northern Virginia Astronomy Club, and the Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers.
• Colleges and Universities: American University, George Mason University, George Washington University, Howard University (National Society of Black Engineers), Johns Hopkins University, Montgomery College, and Rice University.
NRAO
NRAO
American University LIGO - Black Hole
American University LIGO - Black Hole
Society of Physics Students Black Hole
Thousands doing hands-on activities
The Space Place
National Science Foundation
Carnegie Science setting up
Crowds near NRL
NSF showing radio telescope
Observing the Solar spectrum
Solar observing with Hα filter
Solar observing with white light filter
Solar observing with Hα filter
Radio telescope looking at meteors National Air & Space Museum
Long lines for free E-planetarium show
Waiting for planetarium show
Ball Aerospace Technology
Long lines to look at Jupiter
Long lines to Look at Mars
Lines of >100 people to look at Jupiter