Exploratorium Presents Moon Month in July

SAN FRANCISCO (June 5, 2019) - Throughout the month of July, the Exploratorium will present a diverse range of offerings and lunar programming as part of the ongoing celebration of its 50th anniversary, as well as that of the Apollo 11 moon landing. “Moon Month” will include a live broadcast of a total solar eclipse from the Cerro Tololo Observatory in Chile, a month-long installation of Museum of the Moon, and a full-day celebration of the historic Apollo 11 lunar landing. Moon Month is part of the museum’s 100 Days of Summer programming, which also includes Self, Made: Exploring You in a World of We, an exhibition focused on exploring the converging facets of identity.

“It’s exciting to share our 50th anniversary with Apollo 11,” says Nicole Minor, Director of programming for Moon Month. “We are looking forward to celebrating in a very Exploratorium way—looking at the moon and space through science, art, and a late-night dance party. We’re also thrilled to continue a 20-year tradition of broadcasting eclipses from around the world. Eclipses are extraordinary phenomena, and a great opportunity to learn about our world.”

Coverage of the total solar eclipse will be broadcast live from Chile on July 2 from 12:23–2:46 p.m. PDT, and will be available online, in the museum's updated award-winning eclipse app, and onsite at the Exploratorium. Visitors to the Exploratorium can enjoy programs in both English and Spanish, a data-driven sonification by composer Wayne Grim, lectures by Exploratorium staff educators, and other eclipse programming.

Luke Jerram’s Museum of the Moon

Throughout the month, UK artist Luke Jerram’s Museum of the Moon will be on display, suspended from the ceiling of the Exploratorium’s Galley 3. The 16-foot photorealistic sculpture features high-resolution, topographically-correct NASA imagery.

The museum will be open from 10 a.m. until midnight on July 20 for a special celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. The day’s events will include talks by resident experts, hands-on workshops with the museum’s Explorables program, screenings of NASA’s newly-restored footage of the 1969 landing, and a late-night dance party that includes food, bars and retro cocktails and music.

Other Moon Month programs include four space-themed After Dark events, the museum’s adult-only Thursday night program, and Storytime Science for for preschool- and kindergarten-aged visitors on Saturdays and Sundays, amongst others.

Experts will be available for press interviews throughout the month. Footage from the eclipse will also be available to press. Please email media@exploratorium.edu for more information, to request press passes to the various events, or for access to eclipse coverage or video.

CALENDAR EDITORS TAKE NOTE:

Museum of the Moon
Monday, July 1, 2019–Wednesday, July 31, 2019

This July, wonder at the majesty of the moon brought down to Earth: Museum of the Moon is a 16-foot photorealistic high-resolution sculpture of the moon that shows every cliff and crater.

Total Solar Eclipse: Live From Chile
Tuesday, July 2, 2019 • 12:23–2:46 p.m. PDT

The Exploratorium continues its 20-year tradition of bringing eclipses to you—broadcasting the total solar eclipse from Chile’s Cerro Tololo Observatory.

Eclipse total de sol: en vivo desde Chile
Martes, 2 de julio, 2019 • 12:23 a 2:46 p.m. PDT

Este 2 de julio, el Exploratorium continúa con su tradición de 20 años de traerte los eclipses: estamos viajando al Observatorio Interamericano de Cerro Tololo en Chile para transmitir un eclipse total de sol que ocurrirá allí.

Storytime Science
Saturdays and Sundays

Let your little ones celebrate Moon Month with Storytime Science! Every Saturday and Sunday in July, at 11:00 a.m., bring your little ones to hear a moon-themed story book read aloud.

After Dark: Made for Space
Thursday, July 11, 2019 • 6:00–10:00 p.m. 

Things built for space exploration have come a long way from Sputnik and dehydrated orange drink. From spacesuits to rovers, come get some insight into what goes into creating the objects needed for cosmic travel.

After Dark: Lunar Lore
Thursday, July 18, 2019 • 6:00–10:00 p.m. 

What stories do we see in the night sky? Learn more about the science behind our night sky and how the moon and the stars have served as creative inspirations.

Apollo 11 50th Anniversary 
Saturday, July 20, 2019 • 10:00 a.m.–midnight

Come early, stay until midnight, and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing with us. Bask in the lunar legacy of that giant leap for humankind.

After Dark: Out of This World
Thursday, July 25, 2019 • 6:00–10:00 p.m. 

The most distant human-made object is over 13 billion miles from Earth...and counting. From the search for life to theoretical models of the future universe, discover what we’re learning about the most “out-there” parts of space.

To the Moon and Beyond...
Tuesday, July 30, 2019 • 6:30–10:00 p.m.

The Swiss Solar Wind Composition Experiment was the only non-American experiment to be part of the Apollo landings. Where does space exploration stand after 50 years, and where are we headed?