This project was created with funding from NASA to support Montana rural libraries in creating community outreach events focused on NASA and space science. The project included resources for hosting four different themed events. Though the project ended a few years ago, please connect with us if you are interested in learning more about the resources that were available.

Family Star Gazing Night

telescopeLearn more about our solar system and the stars you see at night at a family star viewing party. Gaze at the stars through a telescope, learn a few constellations, and make your own portable guide to the night sky. Discover what stars and planets are currently visible and receive an astronomy calendar that will help plan your star viewing for the rest of the year. At the party, kids can make their own constellation with glow-in-the-dark stars, play educational computer games, make a glow-in the dark planet or star out of clay.

Sun Party

Sun

The Sun helps keep us alive. It is our nearest star and it provides us with warmth and energy. Come learn more about our star and make a bracelet or key chain that changes color in the Sun's light. Create your own solar clock, view photos of the Sun taken that day from space, and get special glasses that allow you to look directly at the Sun. Never look directly at the Sun without the glasses!

Astronauts Party

Astronaut

Have you ever thought about being an astronaut? Come learn more about how to become an astronaut and what life is like in space. View photos of Mars in 3-D, make a rocket, try on some moon shoes, and taste some astronaut food. You'll find out if traveling in space is really for you.

  • Mars Adventure
    Load your spacecraft with things that would be good to take on a long voyage to Mars. You can choose 10 items and you only have 10 minutes to load the ship.
  • Foam Rocket
    Make foam rockets from a NASA rocket guide book. 

Aliens Party

Microbe

Yellowstone hot springs and aliens: what's the connection? Come to the alien party at your local library and find out. Come face-to-face with some Sea Monkeys and learn about their travels in space. Make some Shrinky Dinks, hear a fun alien story, and find out what scientists really think aliens might look like. Check out some alien-related computer games, and search for your own alien that you can take home with you. Find out why astrobiologists study life on Earth to get new ideas about life in the Universe.

  • Download photographs of Yellowstone Microbes
  • I See Ice
    Use the NASA "I See Ice" viewer to look at some of the many places where ice has been found in our solar system, and where there is ice, there might be life.
  • NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI)
    Learn about the latest research on Astrobiology. Check out the “Teams” link to see if any researchers in your area are part of NAI, and visit the “Education and Outreach” link to find out about educational opportunities and ideas.

Other Resources

Space Public Outreach Team (SPOT)

Have a student from Montana State University come to your school or library (in Montana only) to give a free space-related presentation.

About the Activities

These activities were developed by the NASA in the Northwest project at Montana State University and were piloted at 11 Montana libraries:

  • Whitehall Community Library
  • Glacier County Library
  • Bitterroot Public Library
  • Fort Belknap College Library
  • Stone Child College Library
  • Fort Peck Tribal Library
  • Stillwater County Library
  • Hearst Free Library
  • Park County Public Library
  • Belgrade Community Library
  • Bozeman Public Library

For More Information

Contact Jamie Cornish at jcornish@montana.edu.