Many thanks to our community partners and sponsors for their support and contributions. All events and programs are free and open to the public.

ON-GOING: Reading Forums Open to the Marin Community

MCFL Online Book Club - www.goodreads.com/group
Mill Valley Public Library Blog - www.millvalleylibrary.org/blog/readers

Star Viewing Parties Hosted by the San Francisco Amateur Astronomers
Experienced amateur astronomers will guide you through a tour of stars, planets and nebula using powerful telescopes to bring the night sky into view. Bring the entire family. This event will be cancelled due to weather (rain, fog or cloud cover) so be sure to call your library on the day of the viewing, and if you have some binoculars, bring them along.

Introduction to the Night Sky with the Urban Astronomer, Paul Salazar
Even if you live in or near a big city, Paul will show you how to see deeper into the heavens, highlighting the best and brightest objects to see throughout the year. Weather permitting, we'll also have a Star Viewing Party. This is a great program for star gazers of all ages. Paul Salazar is an amateur astronomer, blogger and frequent guest on KFOG radio.

Advertising the Space Race: A Presentation by Local Author Megan Prelinger
Take a trip back to the future through the visual imaginations of Science Fiction writers and advertising campaigns during the "Space Age." Prelinger's book, Another Science Fiction: Advertising the Space Race 1957 - 1962, is based on hundreds of lushly illustrated recruitment advertisements that appeared in rocketry and aeronautics magazine of that era. Refreshments will be served.

Astronaut Rusty Schweickart
Space Lives! Disinformation of its Demise Exposed
Don't miss this rare opportunity to meet an astronaut! Russell (Rusty) Schweickart served as lunar module pilot for Apollo 9. He will talk about his NASA experiences, the future of space exploration, and other related topics. Teens welcome!

Space Trivia Night
Join us for an evening of thought-provoking fun. The San Rafael Public Library has Howard Rachelson the Pacific Sun's Trivia Master posing space and science trivia questions while Chuck Auerbach and Janis Luft will be handling that task at the Belvedere-Tiburon Library. Bring your own team of up to eight players or come alone and we'll help you join a team. Impress your friends with your heretofore useless knowledge! Prizes and refreshments!

Travel To Mars!
Ron Rosano, a volunteer with NASA's Solar System Ambassador program, will present "Travel to Mars," a program for families and children ages 10 and up. Come learn about all the latest news on Mars exploration and space travel, video clips, and hands-on activities from Project Astro. Note: Space is limited at the Larkspur Branch and reservations are required. Please call the library at 927-5005 or email them at library @cityoflarkspur.org to RSVP.

Journey to Mars: A Presentation For Teens in Grades 6-12
What would it be like to travel to Mars and why is it so difficult to get there? What is NASA's Curiosity Rover doing on the Martian surface? Learn the answers to these questions at this inspiring and non-technical presentation. Ron Rosano has been giving talks on astronomy to Marin students at many locations, including Redwood High School, since 1995.

From Earth to Mars: Towards the First Human Mission to the Red Planet A presentation by Dr. Pascal Lee of the Mars Institute, SETI Institute, and NASA Ames Research Center
The first human mission to Mars will be one of the greatest undertakings in the 21st century. Progress is already underway as we achieve longer spaceflight missions, plan for deep space journeys to Near-Earth Asteroids, and explore extreme environments on Earth viewed as Mars "analogs". Dr. Pascal Lee has worked extensively in the Arctic and Antarctic and will update us on progress towards this mission.

Exploring the Extreme Universe with the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope: A presentation by Dr. Lynn Cominsky, Chair, Physics and Astronomy Department and Director of NASA Education and Public Outreach at Sonoma State University
NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope mission is to explore the most energetic and exotic objects in the cosmos: blazing galaxies, intense stellar explosions and super-massive black holes. Dr. Cominsky will explain how Fermi uses matter and anti-matter pair production to track gamma rays to their cosmic locations, and will showcase exciting results from the mission.

The Hunt for Meteorites: With Dr. Peter Jenniskens, Principal Investigator, NASA's Cameras for Allsky Meteor Surveillance and Astronomer, SETI Institute
In October 2012 a small asteroid crashed into Earth's atmosphere travelling towards Novato and breaking into fragments. At least six meteorites have been found so far. Dr. Jenniskens, an expert on meteor showers, is leading the research effort into this event and will explain asteroids, fireballs and what to look for in the hunt for meteorites. In addition, you may be treated to a visit by local Astronaut Dr. Yvonne Cagle, if her schedule allows.

Guitar Duo Takes You to Outer Space
John Schott and Michael Dionne perform space-themed songs spanning the decades. John Schott is a Grammy nominated guitarist and composer, and Michael Dionne has been performing for over 20 years, opening for such diverse groups as Alice in Chains and Green Day.

The Space Station Museum - Open House, Co-Sponsored by the Novato Library
Try on a Russian space suit and use a control panel and tools, recovered from actual space missions. Items in the museum are culled from one of the largest private collections of U.S., Russian and Soviet space exploration artifacts. This interactive experience is a great opportunity for space enthusiasts of all ages. Pacheco Plaza - 366 Ignacio Blvd., Novato

Space Memorabilia Presentation
Dominican University Library Director Gary Gorka will explain and describe his collection of space memorabilia which will be on display in the Dominican Library Reading Room.

Book Discussions
Join a library group for a lively, engaging discussion of Packing for Mars. Carol Benet Ph.D., a popular Bay Area book group leader, will facilitate several discussions.

Culminating Celebration:
Mary Roach and Michael Krasny In Conversation
Author Mary Roach will join KQED host Michael Krasny in a discussion of the novel at this special culminating event.

Thursday, April 18 - 7:00 p.m. (Doors open at 6:00 p.m.)
Angelico Hall, Dominican University of California

Many thanks to our community partners and sponsors for their support and contributions. All events and programs are free and open to the public.