Libraries have always had the ability to take people to far off places.
Going to the moon, exploring the surface of Mars or discovering the furthest reaches of space were possible. Of course, you had to do it using your imagination.
But a special event coming to Johnson County will let people blast off to the coolest parts of the universe in a completely new way.
With celestial bodies on everyone’s mind as the April 8 total solar eclipse approaches, the Johnson County Public Library is hosting Space Day on March 2 at the National Guard Armory in Franklin. Local residents can see the stars inside the SkyDome Planetarium, watch as the Mars Perseverance rover explores the Red Planet and learn about stargazers here in the Hoosier state from the Indiana Astronomical Society.
Children can lift off on a launch panel used by NASA, and poke around a detailed model of the Atlantis Space Shuttle.
“The SkyDome, plus interactions with the Indiana Astronomical Society and Purdue Space Program, will provide our community with what might be a once-in-a-lifetime experience to interact with NASA artifacts and learn more about outer space,” said Lisa Lintner, director of the Johnson County Public Library.
Space Day will hopefully help raise awareness of the coming eclipse, and spark interest in all this outer space in both kids and adults.
“There are still so many people who don’t know (the eclipse) is coming. I hope that this helps educate the community that are not aware, or don’t realize how significant this is going to be,” said Monica McKeown, children’s programmer for JCPL. “This doesn’t just happen in central Indiana. It’s not going to happen again in my lifetime, and very likely in my kids’ lifetime.”
The idea for Space Day has been formulating at the Johnson County Public Library for years. McKeown had applied for a grant in November 2022 with the idea to bring a traveling planetarium to the county.
Her interest stemmed from memories as a child.
“I really used to love ‘planetarium day’ when I was in intermediate school. That was one of my favorite things, and I was talking about it one day when I realized my kids don’t do that at their schools,” she said. “I thought, that would be really cool to have.”
McKeown submitted her grant, including in her outline the concept of bringing a planetarium as well as hosting smaller activities centered around space. Once she was awarded her grant, the concept of a Space Day just grew.
The centerpiece will still be the SkyDome Planetarium. The portable inflatable silver dome is offered by Mobile Ed Productions, which specializes in educational assembly programs.
Inside the spacious domes, attendees are given a 45-minute journey through the stars. They’ll learn how to identify every planet as they visually zoom through the solar system, and see Greek mythological characters immortalized as constellations.
Projections offer a view of the night sky in different seasons, while offering varying perspectives of the stars depending on where you are in the world.
“Part of JCPL’s mission is to strengthen the community by connecting people, resources, and experiences. Space Day is chock-full of incredibly unique learning experiences,” Lintner said. “Attendees will get to experience a 45-minute SkyDome Planetarium presentation, which is a fascinating journey of our universe.”
SkyDome admission will be free, but people will need a timed entrance ticket to reserve a spot. Those tickets can be picked up on Space Day.
While participants wait for their opportunity to step into the planetarium they can take part in a wide variety of other special activities planned.
Organizers will feature NASA artifacts, such as a heat tile used to protect spacecraft from the extreme temperatures of reentry into the atmosphere. They can see models of the Space Shuttle Atlantis, which flew missions for NASA from 1985 to 2011, as well as a model of the International Space Station.
One of the most engaging features is a retired NASA launch panel
“We’re going to set it up and put a TV behind it. The video will start, and the countdown will start going. The kids have to pull a lever down then throw a switch, and the shuttle launches,” said Jody Veldkamp, marketing and communications manager for JCPL.
People will also have the opportunity to hear directly from individuals deeply involved in the exploration of space. Students from the Purdue Space Program will give a presentation detailing Purdue’s participation in the Mars Perseverance rover, which offers detailed looks at the geology of Mars.
The presentation will not only offer rarely seen images of the Red Planet, but will maybe inspire local students as well.
“We want people to see that and think, those kids are going to school for space in Indiana. That’s something I can do here,” McKeown said. “It’s not just kids in Florida and Texas; they’re doing it right here in Indiana.”
The Indiana Astronomical Society has offered to give presentations on the upcoming eclipse, as well as talk about its telescopes. Based at the Goethe Link Observatory of Mooresville, the society makes the study of astronomy an experience that is both fun and rewarding.
“Storytime from Space” will be one of the most unique aspects of Space Day. Organizers will show streams of astronauts on the International Space Station reading stories to children.
“We’ll actually get to see astronauts on the space station reading books that kids can find here at the library,” McKeown said.
Other Space Day features include exploring space in virtual reality, various space and eclipse-themed activities, face painting, and “Bibli in Space,” a meet-and-greet photo opportunity with JCPL’s mascot.
A group from Bloomington called Globetarium is coming to make star maps for the weekend of Space Day as well as the weekend of the April 8 eclipse.
“They’re going to help visitors put the star map together so they can go out at night and be able to look at their map and look up in the sky to see where the stars are,” McKeown said.
Families can enjoy a special storywalk planned for outside the armory. Eclipse glasses will be available for people on a first-come, first-serve basis.
A hands-on eclipse simulation and eclipse chalk art only adds to the atmosphere of celebration as excitement grows for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, McKeown said.
“People can come in, learn more about the eclipse and learn more about other space topics,” McKeown said. “It’s something that’s a big deal to me. It’s really fun that’s going to happen and will be a really great experience that’s probably not going to happen again here for a long time.”
IF YOU GO
Space Day
What: A one-day event designed to appeal to people’s interest in all things space. The event is for all ages.
When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. March 2
Where: National Guard Armory, 325 Minuteman Way, Franklin
Activities
SkyDome Planetarium: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on the hour, break at 1 p.m. Free timed ticket needed, can be picked the day of the event.
Indiana Astronomical Society: Learn about telescopes drop-in event, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.; total eclipse presentation, noon and 3 p.m.
Purdue Space Program: Explore the Red Planet with Mars Perseverance rover presentation, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
All-day activities: NASA artifacts, including a shuttle heat tile, Atlantis shuttle model, NASA launch panel and International Space Station model; explore space in virtual reality; face painting; space and eclipse-themed activities; meet-and-greet “Bibli in Space” photo-op on the half hour 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Storytime from Space, and eclipse glasses available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Information: pageafterpage.org/solar-eclipse
