Adventures in PA: Explorations in SPACE…Psalm 19:1

In 1969, my parents’ generation sat enraptured in front of the television screen one fateful July day watching expectantly as Neil Armstrong took his first steps out of the lunar lander onto the surface of the moon.  In 1970, they prayed and lit candles for Jim Lovell and the crew of Apollo 13 and waited to see if they would return home.  In 1986, they felt astonished and confused as the Challenger shuttle unexpectedly exploded.  Needless to say, their youth was marked by a time of great interest in space travel and the stars.

Although I vaguely remember space shuttles, I think the great interest in space had started to wane by the time I was a child old enough to remember—and space exploration does not seem to have been a significant feature of American life for many years.

Recently, however, manned missions have brought space back into the collective experience of many Americans.  These launches are marked by public-private partnerships bringing new names to our commercial conscience and new opportunities to our state.

We recently stumbled across a free event at the Moonshot Museum and decided to check it out.  The museum is a room within space robotic company Astrobotic Technologies’ building on the north side of Pittsburgh. The museum’s current operating hours are Thursdays through Sundays from 10 am – 5 pm, but you should check before visiting because they may close for business needs or due to city events.

One wall of the museum is entirely glass, providing an interesting opportunity for your family to watch the assembly of an actual spacecraft in a clean room (during business hours).  A docent informed us that the workers often notice and wave to the children watching them.

Although there were a few models on display, the overwhelming majority of exhibits in the museum were digital displays.  These included a brief movie about the history of space exploration and about Astrobotic’s particular interests and contributions to the field.  Multiple interactive screen exhibits included an X-box game about flying a spacecraft, learning about mission patch design and space-related mythology, a virtual reality exhibit, and an electronic cosmic political survey (including questions such as whether there should be armed security forces on the moon).

If you are learning about space, are a family of space enthusiasts, or want something resembling a factory tour, this museum might be a good fit for you.  However, if you are a screen-limiting family, this museum may be one to think carefully about before attending.

My family remarked that the Moonshot Museum is small and screen-focused.  However, they recommended it if you have an hour or two to fill in Pittsburgh (and of course, your family might spend even more time there![i]).  If you have children who are really excited about the space missions or are interested in careers in space and manufacturing, a weekday visit here could be influential and inspiring.  And if you would like to see the assembly of a real spacecraft, then of course the Moonshot Museum is absolutely a must-see.

If you love astronomy but are not as interested in space exploration, another great opportunity is to find a local observatory[ii] or astronomy club near you and attend one or more of their meetings.  In western Pennsylvania, there is the Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh,which provides dozens of public star parties at local sites and observatories in the greater Pittsburgh area.

We attended a star party near the city itself and were surprised by how much we could see through the dozens of telescopes that members brought.  Some star parties like the one we attended include presentations; the ones at Mingo Creek Park Observatory include planetarium shows.

After the presentation (when applicable), amateur astronomers sit with their telescopes aimed at various stars, galaxies, or other features in the night sky.  Visitors wander between astronomers to see the stars and talk to them—most are there because they want to share their passion for the stars with your family!  Although these events start late in the evening, the great part is that your family can leave whenever it is suitable to you and to your children’s bedtimes.

If you’re passionate about space and the night sky, these are just a couple opportunities in southwestern Pennsylvania[iii] for you to get out and marvel at how the heavens declare the glory of God!

[i] If you have more time in the city, the museum is very close (even walking distance) to some other Pittsburgh north side attractions such as the National Aviary, Children’s Museum, and Kamin (formerly Carnegie) Science Center.

[ii] In Pittsburgh, there is the Allegheny Observatory which offers seasonal presentations and public tours by advance registration; they generally recommend that children under seven be left at home.

[iii] I hope to bring you an article about light pollution and the Dark Sky Park in Cherry Springs, PA in the future—but if that is closer to you, I bet that experience would be even more amazing.