Starry eyed in July at OMSI

President Richard Nixon had a tragic-scenario speech ready to go on July 20, 1969. “Fate has ordained that the men who went to the moon to explore in peace will stay on the moon to rest in peace,” it began.

Nixon never delivered that speech, fortunately. Instead he placed what he called “the most historic telephone call ever made” to a pair of astronauts bounding around a dusty blue-black basin called the Sea of Tranquillity. “For every American, this has to be the proudest day of our lives. And for people all over the world, I am sure they too join with Americans in recognizing what an immense feat this is. Because of what you have done, the heavens have become a part of man’s world,” Nixon said.

Fifty years later, the American space program appears to be right back where it was in the 1960s: racing other industrialized nations, including Russia, China, India, Japan and European partners, and even private corporations like SpaceX, to get boots back on the moon. And, having retired our space shuttle fleet, American astronauts routinely hitch rides on Russian rockets to reach the International Space Station. Maybe competition like that points the way to greater glory ahead of us, and above us, in the near future?

Meanwhile, head for the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry to relive the glory of Apollo 11 — and review the discoveries of the astronauts, astronomers and other scientists who regularly probe space in reality or in equations, experiments and observations. This whole month at OMSI will be one big moon landing 50th anniversary festival; we’ve listed the whole schedule below and added one great annual star party in the deep darkness of the Columbia River Gorge.

(Check https://omsi.edu for times, ticket prices, other details.)

Daily film screening: “Apollo 11 First Steps edition.” A 45-minute, giant-screen version of this year’s popular “Apollo 11” documentary film, edited for science centers and museum theaters like OMSI’s towering Empirical Theater. It features exciting, newly discovered 70mm archival footage.

Daily planetarium shows: OMSI’s Kendall Planetarium offers numerous 45-minute presentations, from basic constellation education to the mysteries of dark matter to the lives of astronauts.

July 10: Sun science and “The Right Stuff.” Visiting lecturer Karel Schrijver, a solar physicist and principal investigator on NASA missions to the sun, will talk about sun-Earth connections at 6 p.m. in the Empirical Theater; then OMSI screens a classic film about ” the original Mercury 7 astronauts and their macho, seat-of-the-pants approach to the space program.”

July 13: Meet the scientists, space edition. Local scientists who are official OMSI Science Communication Fellows share their research about space and astronomy, such as determining cosmic light sources, satellite exploration of oceans and ocean creatures and the possibility of virus life in outer space.

July 16: Rocket Day. This is the day the Apollo 11 mission blasted off. OMSI will join a commemorative Global Launch by inviting children and their parents to send 300 stomp rockets skyward from its south parking lot. Check in at 8:30 a.m. for your own assigned launch time between 9 and 11 a.m. Participation and parking are free; museum admission is not included. With admission, enjoy a whole day of space-themed activities for children of all ages.

July 18: “Spaceballs” with meatballs. Screening of a classic Mel Brooks space spoof (“A rogue star pilot and his trusty sidekick must come to the rescue of a princess and save the galaxy,” hmm, sounds familiar) paired with curated cuisine. For $35 admission you get numbered boxes containing goodies matching key moments in the film. Eat your way across the universe.

July 20: Space Day. (Also known as “Walking on the Moon” day.) The 50th anniversary of the historic day when humans first set foot on the moon. Regular OMSI admission also gets you into a whole day of space activities in the auditorium, featuring special guests from NASA, the Rose City Astronomers, the University of Oregon Solar Radiation Monitoring Lab, Pacific Spaceflight (a Portland think tank) and even a private Vancouver-area observatory that specializes in space photos.

July 20: Star parties and lunar viewing. Two different nighttime outings to view the moon and stars. Both start at 9 p.m., one at Rooster Rock State Park (22 miles east of Portland), the other at L.L. “Stub” Stewart Memorial State Park (34 miles west). The Rose City Astronomers and Vancouver Sidewalk Astronomers will bring their telescopes and their expertise. Free to attend but parking costs $5. Check the OMSI website about weather and cancellations.

July 24: Space trivia night. $5 per person or $25 for a team of six to compete in five rounds for prizes like admission gift cards and OMSI pint glasses.

July 31: OMSI After Dark — Astronomy. A night at the museum for adults only. Enjoy adult beverages and explore the cosmos. Special science activities and guests, from astronomers to brewers.