NRAO Attends White House Astronomy Night

Students from 2015 PING Physics Camp Also Invited to Participate

Scientists and educators from the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) are joining the National Science Foundation (NSF) and others from the astronomy community tonight, October 19, to share their experiences with students and teachers from around the United States as they spend the evening stargazing from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C.

The goal of this event is to inspire students and stargazers from across the country to learn about the newest astronomical discoveries from U.S.-funded observatories and to better understand the technologies that enable us to explore the Universe. Attendees will also participate in space-related educational activities and interact with astronomers and engineers.

Also invited to the White House for this exciting event are 10 students from the Physicists Inspiring the Next Generation (PING) 2015: Exploring the Cosmos with NRAO program, which is a collaborative effort of the National Society of Black Physicists, the NRAO, and Associated Universities, Inc. to expose traditionally underrepresented minorities to radio astronomy science and engineering.

Students from the PING program invited to the event include: Jey Hurd from Richmond, Virginia; Julia Adler from Culver City, California; Caroline Kragh from Bel Air, Maryland; Ava Patino from New York City; Shira Nash from Washington, D.C.; David Allen from Baltimore, Maryland; Mikiyas Solomon from Laurel, Maryland; Hunter Farrow from Gwynn Oak, Maryland; Izzy Workman from Hendersonville, North Carolina; Justin Price from Randallstown, Maryland; and PING alumnus and mentor Kevin Little who is currently an undergraduate at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.

In conjunction with the event at the White House, other groups, including national observatories, planetariums and amateur astronomy clubs and schools, are hosting their own star parties and events.