Happening in June
Campus events are already underway to mark the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing on July 20 – and the UA's contributions to moon research.
Now through July 7, catch "Under the Moon," an exhibit of moon-related art, at the UA Museum of Art. This lithograph on paper, titled "First on the Moon (from The Apollo Story portfolio)," was created in 1973 by Robert T. McCall.
On June 30, Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium and Arizona Public Media will present an early look at the documentary series "Chasing the Moon," which premiers on PBS across three nights beginning July 8.
The Richard F. Caris Mirror Laboratory, the UA lab where mirrors are manufactured for the world's most advanced telescopes, will hold tours most weekdays in June.
"A Portrait of Poetry: Photographs and Video by B.A. Van Sise," an exhibition created in collaboration with the UA Poetry Center, opens on June 1 at the Center for Creative Photography. (Photo: B.A. Van Sise)
Campus may not have its usual bustle these days, and with the departure of students comes the heat. But for those of us sticking around for the summer, there's plenty to do in the comfort of air conditioning – without the crowds.
June is a perfect time to take advantage of the UA's many exhibits, shows and tours – including a number of events to mark the 50th anniversary of the moon landing at Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium. Load up on even more science with a trip to the Richard F. Caris Mirror Laboratory. Free exhibits at the Center for Creative Photography showcase the work of renowned photographers, both classic and contemporary.
Many more events can be found in the UA Master Calendar, which is open to submissions from UA employees and students for University-sponsored events or events happening on campus or in UA facilities. Add your event using the calendar's submission form.
Apollo 11 Moon Landing – 50th Anniversary Events | Throughout June
July 20 marks the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission in 1969 and the moment humans first set foot on the moon. Several campus venues will hold exhibits and events leading up to the day to mark the historic event, as well as the UA's contributions to moon-related discoveries.
Now through July 7, catch "Under the Moon," an exhibit at the UA Museum of Art featuring moon-related art. Featured works span four centuries, each inspired by the moon, and each wall of the exhibit corresponds with a particular theme related to the moon. The UA Museum of Art is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday from noon-5 p.m.; the museum is closed on Mondays. General admission is $8. Seniors 65 and older, and groups of 10 or more, pay $6.50 per person. Admission is free for UA employees and students.
On June 30, Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium and Arizona Public Media will hold a screening of the PBS documentary series "Chasing the Moon." The series also will premier across three nights on PBS beginning July 8. The documentary uses previously overlooked or lost archival footage to tell the story of the astronauts, engineers and other key players behind the mission. The screening will include a Q&A with lunar scientists familiar with the UA's moon-related research.
Keep an eye out for more Apollo 11-related events at Flandrau in the June 26 issue of Lo Que Pasa, including Moon Viewing Night on July 13 and Moon Week at Flandrau, happening July 13-20.
Other Attractions at Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium | Ongoing
If the moon isn't your thing, Flandrau has plenty more to offer in the way of exhibits and planetarium shows.
Exhibits include "Sharks: Magnificent and Misunderstood," which features interactive displays that allow attendees to take control of a virtual research submarine plus family-friendly games that explain shark biology and physiology. Another exhibit, titled "HiRISE: Eye in the Martian Sky," features high-resolution images taken by the HiRISE camera aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The operations center for the camera – the most powerful ever sent to another planet – is located in the UA Lunar and Planetary Laboratory.
Among other planetarium shows being offered in June is "Laser Stranger Things," which sets a laser show against a soundtrack of 1980s music used in the popular Netflix series "Stranger Things." "Laser Stranger Things" plays on Wednesdays at 2 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. until Aug. 24. Another laser show, for adult audiences, reimagines Pink Floyd's classic record "The Dark Side of the Moon" on Saturdays at 9 p.m. until Aug. 24.
Flandrau is open every day, and general admission varies from $12-$16. Visit the center's website for more information.
Tours at the Richard F. Caris Mirror Laboratory | Ongoing
There's only one place in the world that can cast mirrors for the world's most advanced telescopes, and that place is right here on campus at the Richard F. Caris Mirror Laboratory, located at Arizona Stadium. The lab's 90-minute tours give a unique glimpse at engineering and optical science innovation and the manufacturing techniques necessary to produce mirrors that stand nearly three stories tall.
Multiple tours will be held nearly every weekday in June. A portion of the tour includes walking and stairs, and attendees are asked to wear closed-toe shoes. Tours are limited to ages 10 and older, and anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Tours cost $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and military ID holders, and $10 for students ages 10-20. The lab is located at 527 National Championship Drive. For more information, visit the mirror lab website.
Exhibitions at the Center for Creative Photography | Ongoing
The Center for Creative Photography provides an escape from the summer heat in galleries of world-class photography – and admission is free, to boot.
An exhibition that began earlier this month, "Edward Weston's Leaves of Grass" highlights the famed Modernist photographer's collection of prints from a 1941 cross-country road trip. The prints became Weston's last major body of work and accompanied a luxury edition of Walt Whitman's "Leaves of Grass." Alongside Weston's photographs, the exhibition includes never-before-exhibited works from the center's permanent collection.
"A Portrait of Poetry: Photographs and Video by B.A. Van Sise," an exhibition created in collaboration with the UA Poetry Center, opens on June 1. The exhibit features about 80 portraits that Van Sise, a New York-based photographer, took of American poets to reflect the diversity and vitality of the nation's contemporary poetry scene. Related materials from the center's permanent collection will be featured in the CCP's Heritage Gallery, adjacent to the exhibition.
The Center for Creative Photography, 1030 N. Olive Road, is open from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 1-4 p.m. on Saturdays; the center is closed Sunday and Monday.
Also happening this month:
- June 6 and 13 | Brain Waves Class Series | 5:30 p.m. at the Campus Agricultural Center, 4101 N. Campbell Ave.
- June 8, 19 and 22 | The Garden Kitchen cooking classes on preparing a dinner for two, Asian-inspired dishes and knife skills | All from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Garden Kitchen, 2205 S. Fourth Ave.