Telescopes Will Be Set Up On White House Lawn

World Space Week began Sunday with celebrations in over 50 nations and an announcement that President Obama will host a "Star Party" on the White House lawn Wednesday evening.

The White House event for middle-school students will "highlight the President's commitment to science, engineering and math education as the foundation of this nation's global technological and economic leadership," according to a White House statement.

"The event will include 20 telescopes on the White House lawn focused on Jupiter, the Moon and select stars; interactive dome presentations; and hands-on activities including scale models of the Solar System," the White House said.

UN-declared World Space Week, October 4-10, is the largest annual space event on Earth, according to World Space Week Association.

"This is the 10th anniversary of World Space Week, declared by the UN General Assembly in 1999," said Association Volunteer President Dennis Stone. "The theme this year is Space for Education. Teachers can inspire students by using the excitement of space. It's a powerful tool to fuel their motivation to learn."

Other Highlights of World Space Week 2009 include:

• Events globally celebrating the International Year of Astronomy.
• Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte broadcasts from space.
• Students observe the Moon to win prizes.
• Many events in Turkey, Romania, India, Czech Republic, and the United States.
• The Great World Wide Star Count begins.
• Space Festival and International Astronautical Congress in Republic of Korea.
• Week-long space celebration across the Hawaiian islands.
• Public and students send messages into space via SentForever.
• NASA's LCROSS mission impacts the Moon October 9.
• Teachers globally inspire students using the excitement of space.

Participants include government agencies, aerospace companies, schools, planetaria, astronomy clubs, and museums.

Last year, World Space Week was celebrated with over 500 events in 63 nations, according to the Association. "We expect to break that record this year," Stone said.

FMI: www.worldspaceweek.org