Back in 1976, 40 years ago, the first successful landing on Mars was accomplished by NASA’s Viking 1 mission team. The lander operated for 6 years and although its technology was very primitive by today’s standards, it contributed immensely to our knowledge our neighboring planet.
In celebration of that achievement, the Viking Mars Mission Education and Preservation Project (VMMEPP: http://www.thevikingpreservationproject.org/, https://www.facebook.com/VikingMarsMission/) is holding an event at the Tanasbourne Barnes & Noble in Beaverton this Saturday, April 30, from 11AM to 4PM. Members of the Viking team will be talk about the science, history, and personal experiences of the mission.
I will also be there, showing some astro-photos, and talking about my own “space exploration” with camera and telescope. For people interested in visual astronomy, members of the Rose City Astronomers will also be there with information for everyone from beginners in astronomy to life-long sky watchers.
The event is very kid-friendly, so bring the whole family!