The Kansas Cosmosphere will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the moon landing with activities throughout the summer. They’ll have special events during Apollo 11 anniversary week from July 15-20. Many of these are either free or included with Cosmosphere admission.
Below we’ve listed the events we learned about from the Cosmosphere’s email newsletter, but be sure to check the museum’s website for any updates to the schedule.
MON, JULY 15 / 6:00-8:45 PM
Presentation, book signing by author, Rick Houston, along with a special screening of “Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo”
Justice Planetarium
$5.00 per person + tax
TUE, JULY 16 / 10:00 AM-2:00 PM
Global Launch World Record Attempt
Hosted by U.S. Space & Rocket Center
Cosmosphere Lobby
FREE TO THE PUBLIC
TUE, JULY 16 / 6:30 PM
“You are there…Man on the Moon” Presentation
Discovery Room, 2nd Floor
FREE TO THE PUBLIC
WED, JULY 17 / 11:00 AM-12:00 PM
“We Choose to go to the Moon” Coffee and Conversation
Hosted by Hutch Rec
Please note location: Hutch Rec Senior Center at Elmdale Park
$4.00 for non-members of Hutch Rec Senior Center
THURS, JULY 18 / 9:00-10:00 AM
Coffee at the Cosmo: “We Choose to Go to the Moon”
Discovery Room, 2nd Floor
FREE TO THE PUBLIC
THURS, JULY 18 / 10:30-11:00 AM
Performance of Moon-themed songs by Opera Kansas
Cosmosphere Lobby
FREE TO THE PUBLIC
SAT, JULY 20 / 10:00 AM-1:00 PM
Space Out Saturday: 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11
Cosmosphere Lobby
Hall of Space admission required for some activities. Reno County residents are FREE.
SAT, JULY 20 / 12:00 PM & 2:00 PM
Smithsonian Channel Documentary Screening: The Day We Walked on the Moon
In the Justice Planetarium – Seating for this free documentary screening is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
FREE TO THE PUBLIC
SAT, JULY 20
ON THE HOUR EVERY HOUR FROM 11:00 AM-4:00 PM
Guided Docent Tours: Hall of Space Museum
Included in admission. Hall of Space admission required. Reno County residents are FREE.
SAT JULY 20 / 6:00-11:30 PM
Landing on the Lawn
Hutchinson Community College Lawn (Plum Street between 12th Ave and 13th Ave)
FREE TO THE PUBLIC
Landing on the Lawn is the big event and is FREE and open to the public. It will be held on the lawn of the Hutchinson Community College on Plum Street between 12th Ave. and 13th Ave. in Hutchinson.
Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and bug spray.
It’s a family-friendly event from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. They’ll have hands-on moon- and space-themed activities from various community organizations and live science demonstrations from educators at the Cosmosphere.
Once the sun sets, they show CBS footage of the moon landing, followed by a Smithsonian Channel documentary, The Day We Walked on the Moon.
At the end of the event, you’ll be able to observe the moon and planets through a large 16″ diameter telescope. (I believe that’s the same size telescope used at the Lake Afton Observatory.
For more information about all of the activities planned for the Landing on the Lawn on Saturday, July 20, see the Cosmosphere website here. (Since this is an outdoor event, be sure to check that link for any weather-related updates or cancellations!)
For more information on all of the Cosmosphere’s Apollo 11 Anniversary Week events, visit their website here. That link also lists activities they’ll have for the 50th anniversary of the moon landing all summer long.
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