Learn About The Ranger Missions: Scouting the Moon for Apollo

On Friday, May 1, the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center will focus on early lunar exploration with two special programs by Lionel Arlan, the electrical engineer whose pioneering work on the Ranger Missions’ cameras gave America its first close-up views of the lunar surface, according to a press statement.

At 7 p.m. in a workshop just for teens, Arlan will discuss the challenges involved in developing cameras for a place no human had ever been before.

Also at 7 p.m., there will be a showing of “Tonight’s Sky” for the general public in the planetarium, followed at 8:15 p.m. by Arlan’s presentation on the Ranger Missions, which enabled NASA to select the best locations for humans to set foot on Earth’s moon.

Meanwhile, if the skies are clear, members of the NH Astronomical Society will set up telescopes on the Discovery Center lawn at dusk for a long distance look at the moon, stars, planets and more in the night sky.

Cost: $10 adults, $9 for students and seniors, $7 for children 12 and under; free for members; outside night sky viewing free.

The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center features 21st century interactive exhibits on aviation, astronomy, Earth and space sciences, a state-of-the-art planetarium and a variety of science, technology, and engineering and mathematics programs. The engaging, robust educational programs are geared towards families, teens, seniors, students, community groups and lifelong learners.

For more information, visit starhop.com.