Countdown begins for AstroDay at Prince Kuhio Plaza

Prepare for a celestial experience as the 15th annual AstroDay is coming to Hilo’s Prince Kuhio Plaza on April 30.

From 10 a.m.-4 p.m., dozens of science and cultural organizations from throughout Hawaii Island will engage participants with fun, educational activities and local performers will provide entertainment throughout the day.

Highlights include Starlab, a portable planetarium provided by Gemini Observatory, solar viewing by experienced science guides and many other hands-on activities.

Colorful and informative material will be available as well as displays from diverse organizations.

AstroDay also sponsors the 2016 Maunakea Coin Contest, a design competition open to all Hawaii Island students prior to the event.

The purpose of the contest is to promote awareness of the relationships between the science of modern astronomy and Hawaiian culture. Several category winners are chosen for the coin contest, but the overall selection is awarded as the official design of AstroDay 2016.

The 2016 coin contest winners will be announced at the opening ceremony of the AstroDay program starting at 10 a.m.

The design is then minted into a collector’s coin, available at AstroDay, as well as becoming the event logo for the following year’s AstroDay branding. Visit http://mkaoc.org/coin/2016 for more information and entry forms.

AstroDay is sponsored by the Maunakea Astronomy Outreach Committee. MKAOC is a partnership of scientists, administrators and educators in astronomy throughout the state of Hawaii.

For more information about the event, visit www.mkaoc.org/programming/astroday or Instagram @hawaiiastroday.