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LAS CRUCES MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE

A Laser to the Moon: Science that began with ‘One Small Step’ online with the Museum of Nature & Science

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The Museum of Nature & Science hosts Apache Point Observatory astronomer Dr. Russet McMillan and the APOLLO (Apache Point Observatory Lunar Laser-ranging Operation) for a virtual presentation including a live firing of the laser from the 3.5m telescope (weather permitting). The event will be held through a Zoom webinar at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 19. Please contact Stephanie at shawkins@las-cruces.org to register for a link to the event. APOLLO (Apache Point Observatory Lunar Laser-ranging Operation) is an experiment using the Astrophysical Research Consortium 3.5m telescope, located at Apache Point Observatory in Sunspot, New Mexico. This experiment has been running since 2005, led by Dr. Tom Murphy of University of California San Diego. The objective of APOLLO is to repeatedly measure the distance from Earth to the Moon to an accuracy of a millimeter, which gives us information not just about the Moon's orbit and orientation, but also tests Einstein's theory of General Relativity.

This project continues a fifty-year campaign which relies on mirror arrays left on the surface of the moon by the astronauts of NASA's Apollo 11, 14, and 15 missions. This presentation will explore the science behind the experiment and will conduct a live firing of the laser from the 3.5m telescope to the mirrors on the moon (weather permitting). The APOLLO experiment will be operating less frequently in 2021, so don't miss this opportunity to witness the laser targeting of the moon! The Museum of Nature & Science is located at 411 N. Main Street and is accessible from RoadRUNNER Transit Route 1 Stop 36. For additional information, visit the website at: http://las-cruces.org/museums or follow us on Facebook and Instagram @LCMuseums.

Museum of Nature & Science

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