Hilo center invites families to learn more about meteors
Families are invited to an 'Ohana Discovery Day program focusing on meteors and meteorites Aug. 12 at the 'Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo.
That night will be the peak of the annual Perseid meteor shower, which can produce up to 60 meteors an hour across the night sky.
People call them "shooting" or "falling" stars, but they are actually meteors -- bits of dust, ice and rock from comet tails or asteroid fragments, the astronomy center said.
Children ages 8 and older and parents or guardians will be able to work with staff to create a model comet, learn what comets are made of and discover their relationship to meteor showers.
A free talk about asteroids and comets by Bobby Bus, University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy astronomer, begins at 2 p.m., with the program to follow at 2:30 p.m.
The fee for 'Ohana Discovery Day is $5 per family for members, and $10 per family for nonmembers. The Earl and Doris Bakken Foundation provides support to make the programs affordable to all families.
Space is limited and reservations are required. Call (808) 969-9704 or e-mail rsvp@imiloahawaii.org. Include your name, the event ('Ohana Discovery Day), your telephone number, and how many children and adults will attend the program. Children under age 18 must be with a parent or guardian.
For more information, visit www.imiloahawaii.org. The center is at 600 Imiloa Place in Hilo.