Stargazing: the American entry door to space | The communities



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IF your travel destination includes Florida this winter, be sure to book a day to visit NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral. This area is known as Florida's Space Coast and is full of attractions.

Cape Canaveral is where most of NASA's historic missions have been launched, including the Apollo missions on the Moon and the space shuttle missions. KSC remains today NASA's main launching point.

In mid-2020, NASA will launch its most powerful rocket, the Space Launch System, and its Orion crew module, from Cape Canaveral. SLS and Orion will take humans beyond their low Earth orbit and into deep space for missions on the Moon and Mars.

In addition to the launching ramps, one of KSC's most striking features is the 525-foot high vehicle-mounting building used to stack and build rockets. The size of the VAB makes it easily visible for several kilometers along the coastline.

KSC is spread over many facilities and covers approximately 144,000 acres. Its main facility for the public is the visitor complex located off State Road 405 on the KSC property.

The entrance of a visitor complex provides astronomical opportunities to see what NASA has accomplished and what it plans through with many attractions and exhibits. Upon arrival, a huge rocket garden greets visitors. Several generations of large rockets have been used by NASA to travel to the moon. This is just the beginning, as visitors can meet astronauts, take a close look at spacecraft like the space shuttle, experience interactive attractions and watch live rocket launches from A great location.

In addition, there is a huge gift shop offering NASA-related items, which will make any space lover feel like a child in a candy store.

October sky

Go see Jupiter early this month after sunset before it is too close to the sun's rays. The moon will join it on the 11th in the evening in the southwest.

Saturn and Mars are still well positioned to observe the evening sky after sunset. Look for Saturn near the moon on the 14th. Mars will be near the moon during the evenings from the 17th to the 18th.

Celebrate the International Observe the Moon Night by joining me on October 20th from 7pm to 8:30 pm. for the 6th edition of the Meet the Moon evening at Porter's North Stafford Library. Observe the moon through telescopes and participate in activities related to the moon. It will be a fun evening!

David Abbou Stafford County is a volunteer for the NASA / JPL Solar System Ambassador Program and is a member of the Rappahannock Astronomy Club. Contact him at [email protected]

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