OCC Planetarium

May the 4th be with you!

We are saddened today to hear of the passing of Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins at the age of 90. RIP Mike, and thank you for working to inspire humanity to dream big and shoot for the stars

The Ingenuity helicopter snapped this photo of the Perseverance rover during its third test flight on Sunday, where it flew about 50 meters from its takeoff position and back at an altitude of about 5 meters. How excited would you be to fly in a helicopter on Mars?

Check out the first edition of our new monthly newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/9/occ-planetarium-new-monthly-newsletter you can sign up to have future issues sent straight to your inbox https://mailchi.mp/a80faa997fb0/orangecoastcosmos

This morning the Ingenuity Helicopter performed its first flight on Mars! This marks the first time any aircraft has ever taken off and flown on another planet. Over the next few weeks Ingenuity will conduct several even more daring flights and capturing video as it buzzes over the Martian terrain. Sign up for our new newsletter to get updates on stories like this, as well as new stuff going on at the Planetarium! https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/xvRMDV7

Photo of the deck of the Perseverance rover now that the mast camera is up

Today marks 20 straight years where at least one human being has been living in space! Here's to 20 more! #iss #nasa

Hey Bennu, TAG! You're it! #tobennuandback #osirisrex #bennu

OSIRIS -REx is getting ready to TAG the asteroid Bennu! check it out LIVE on NASA tv

Did you know that NASA plays tag in space? at 3:12 this afternoon, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will execute its "Touch And Go" (TAG) maneuver to grab a handful of the surface of the asteroid Bennu that it'll bring back to Earth! The first ever sample return mission from an asteroid! Live coverage on NASA TV starts at 2 PDT! https://www.nasa.gov//update-nasa-to-broadcast-osiris-rex-

This is an infrared image of Saturn's icy moon Enceladus. Check out that South polar region! https://www.nasa.gov//infrared-eyes-on-enceladus-hints-of- #natureismetal #spaceismetal #spaceismostlygastho

Astronomers have found biosignatures in the atmosphere of Venus! This could kick off a new age of exploration for a planet that hasn't had a lot of attention for a while! https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2015/

The OCC StarKids camp is going virtual this year! Featuring lots of great workshops that foster critical thinking and STEM skills, plus weekly virtual planetarium visits! The program features 6 hours per day of live and recorded contact. All workshops are held online; a whole month of programming (live and on-demand) for only $25. Register today! https://orangecoastcollege.augusoft.net/index.cfm

Attempt number 2 for the NASA/SpaceX crew dragon launch to the International Space Station. Launch is scheduled for 12:22 PDT with plenty of great content leading up. Help celebrate America's return to crewed spaceflight! #launchamerica

Well the launch is scrubbed for today due to weather. They'll try again Saturday at 12:22pm PDT #launchamerica

T minus 3 hours until SpaceX sends its first NASA Astronauts to the international space station! Since the end of the shuttle program in 2011 american astronauts have had to rely on Russian rockets to get to orbit, but today will be the first time in almost a decade that we see American astronauts on board American rockets launching from American soil, and the first time ever that one of NASA's commercial partners will carry human beings into space! Check out NASA's live coverage, already streaming!

Today on Planetarium @ Home we are looking at our good friend and celestial companion, the Moon. Whats it doing? Why does it change shape? Find out all that and more! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RgvOHpdLYY

Everything in the sky is constantly moving around, or is it.....? Check out what causes the sun to rise and set and make our constellations dissappear at different times of year And be sure to check out episode 1 if you haven't already on our brand new youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7kdwHVluoQz-KyOUz-zJbQ/

Meteor showers happen when the earth flies through the debris left behind by comets. The Eta Aquarid shower that peaks tonight is from the famous Halley's Comet. See if you can spot any in the sky tonight!