Entry bubble The Sky's the Limit

By: Stephanie | June 09, 2008 | Category: Fun

I'm a bit of a space geek sometimes. I stood on the sidewalk in my neighborhood a couple of weeks ago, staring up in the middle of the night with my cocker spaniel, waiting for a bright light to appear and slowly streak across the sky. Astronaut tethered to Space Shuttle Discovery starboard sideWhen the International Space Station did appear (right on time), I got goosebumps. To think that people are living and working in the sky, so far away! And I loved that I was able to know what that moving light was—and the best time it was to appear—courtesy of NASA's sighting information, personalized for my location.

It seems like space folks really try to help you understand their work, in so many creative ways. For example, NASA's website features live coverage of major events such as the Space Shuttle landing or docking with the Space Station; a virtual tour of the International Space Station (complete with a music video); and a neat game where you go on your very own space mission led by a virtual astronaut. And you have until June 27 to send your name to the moon aboard a future lunar mission (yes, this space geek's name is on the list).

NASA also offers e-mails that let you know when certain satellites will be visible in your particular location, and e-mails and RSS feeds on general NASA news (with intriguing titles such as "The Physics of Whipped Cream" and "Moondust and Duct Tape" ). Several NASA blogs also keep you in the know; be sure to check out Chris and Blair's fun posts.

If you visit or live in the Washington, DC, area, you might enjoy attending the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum's excellent, free planetarium shows that showcase which constellations are currently prominent in the night sky. Or drive to their skywatching presentation at a state park. The museum's relatively new Udvar-Hazy Center is also a must see (my favorites are viewing the Space Shuttle Enterprise and riding the nausea-inducing flight simulators).

Visit USA.gov's FAQs to learn more about eclipses and astronomy in general, satellites, and the International Space Station. Rocket science can be fun! And with the help of great websites, you just might turn into a bit of a space geek, too.

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