For Immediate Release: March 14, 2011 Contact: Sue Simek, Public Relations Morris Museum 973.971.3714 publicrelations@morrismuseum.org Morris Museum Reaches for the Stars with Astronomy Day Saturday March 19, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Morristown, NJ)— On Saturday, March 19, 2011, the Morris Museum and The Morris Museum Astronomical Society will host a fun-filled family event that is out of this world! Astronomy programs, children’s activities, and interactive displays will be scheduled throughout the day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with night sky observing of the moon, planets and other celestial objects (weather permitting) from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. All Astronomy Day activities are free with museum admission. Experts from the Morris Museum Astronomical Society will be on hand to provide lectures, telescope training (bring your family’s telescope), solar observation and night sky observing. Weather permitting, Astronomy Day visitors will be able to view the sun through special filters, revealing sunspots, flares and prominences. Guest Speakers: from “What’s My Sign” (the new horoscope) to “NASA Spinoffs” Guest speaker John Scala will give a talk, “What’s My Sign”, a discussion on the relationship between astronomy and astrology, and the recent uproar over the change in the horoscope figures. Mr. Scala has served as Planetarium Director of Lenape Valley Regional High School in Stanhope, NJ for 23 years. Laura Venner will be speaking on “NASA Spinoffs: Bringing Space Down to Earth”, which looks at everyday items which are based on NASA inventions, in fields including health and medicine, consumer goods, transportation, and computer technology. Ms. Venner is Astronomy Educator/Observatory Specialist for the Meadowlands Environment Center/William D. McDowell Observatory. Additional presentations will take place throughout the day, including “Exploring the Solar System”; “Space Rocks” - all about asteroids and meteorites; and “The Universe”. Children’s activities include “Design your own planet” and making a sun catcher decoration. For more information about Astronomy Day, please email programs@morrismuseum.org or call 973.971.3720. About the Morris Museum The Morris Museum explores and celebrates the arts, sciences and humanities through exhibitions, educational programs, performing arts and special events. Founded in 1913, the museum serves over 200,000 adults and children each year. These programs are made possible, in part, by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. The Morris Museum, located at 6 Normandy Heights Road (at the corner of Columbia Turnpike) in Morristown, NJ, is open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Admission to the museum is $10 for adults and $7 for children, students and senior citizens. Admission is free for museum members and is free to the public every Thursday between 5 and 8 p.m. For more information, call 973-971-3700, or visit www.morrismuseum.org.