SIGNAL PEAK Central Arizona Colleges Science & Astronomy Night returns to the Signal Peak Campus on Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. for an evening of free family fun.

The event will feature a multitude of ongoing indoor and outdoor activities, including hands-on science experiments for kids and adults; discussions with CAC professor of astronomy and NASA scientist Wayne Pryor on the Rosetta Mission and a look at Jupiter through his telescopes; and a trip with Katy Wilkins inside STARLAB CACs inflatable planetarium.

The science comedy of Wildman Phil Rakoci and his cadre of desert critters also will visit the Signal Peak Campus.

CACs popular science and astronomy nights began as public viewing nights at the Signal Peak Campus. Over the past year and half, the program has been extended to other campuses throughout Pinal County, including the new Maricopa and San Tan campuses and the Superstition Mountain Campus in Apache Junction.

The Signal Peak Campus Science & Astronomy Night will feature an array of ongoing displays and scheduled shows throughout the evening.

As the sun goes down around 6 p.m., the observatory behind the S Building will come to life when Wayne Pryor unveils CACs powerful telescopes for the public to use to see Jupiter. At 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., Pryor will make a 20-minute presentation that will shed light on the ongoing Rosetta spacecraft mission.

Inside CACs nearby S and T Buildings is where the heavy-duty science and communications activities will take place, while the STARLAB will be held in the M (clock tower) Building.

Ongoing activities will feature Diane Beecroft and Bruce Martins Shock and Ahhhhh! presentations, which will feature shocking demonstrations and activities using oranges and cornstarch; Marilyn Edelman, Paul Tavares and Devin Fraleys Refreshing and Creepy Southwest with microscopes that feature the creepy creepers of the Sonoran Desert; and Luis Martinezs Chelyabinsk Meteor: How We Dodged a Bullet at 6:30 and 7:30. Dixie Kullman will host Roboroach, a bioengineering presentation.

Crystal McKenna will present proscopes and iPad telescopes, allowing attendees to see the world from a new perspective. Suzi Shoemaker and Clark Vangilder will collaborate on The Ahhhhhh of Physics, which features half-hour demonstrations and activities every hour beginning at 6 p.m. This presentation will include the use of magnets, motors and generators, and sound transfer. Tammy Janisko will also present Light Fantastic!, which allows attendees to explore light and sound waves and make a kaleidoscope to take home. This half-hour session, sure to please guests of all ages, is scheduled to begin every quarter-hour, beginning at 6:15 p.m.

English Professor Heather Moulton will present a child-friendly, drop-in literature session called Shocked to Life: Frankenstein. This activity, scheduled for 6 to 8:30 p.m., will feature coloring and storybook time and a PowerPoint presentation about Frankensteins monster and how he was brought to life. In addition, Animal Science Professor Bob Randall will show guests how to milk a cow.

See the rest here:

CAC Clips 3/5/14