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SPACE ODYSSEY VOLUNTEER UPDATE 03.08.13 http://spaceodyssey.dmns.org/ Click below for quick access to:

Space Odyssey News

Trainings and Meetings

Educator Uplink

Space Science Lectures & Events

Museum News and Lectures

Volunteer Enrichment Committee (VEC) Events SPACE ODYSSEY NEWS

3...2...1...STORM! By now, many of you are aware about the impending winter storm due to hit tonight, Friday, 3/8. If the Museum closes tomorrow, I'll be on the phone and on email to all folks who are affected. That call/email may come as early as 7 AM for the morning crew and after 9 for the afternoon folks--no point in waking everybody up. ;)

Please check local news reports before heading out to see if we're closed just in case you're not sure and I haven't called.

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME STARTS SATURDAY NIGHT Time to spring forward. Can't believe it's already here.

SOS TROUBLESHOOTING UPDATE Found out via talking with NOAA techs and our own in-house techs that there is one major thing we can do to prevent SOS crashes: turn off autorun before facilitating. Many of you already do so. If you are already doing this and you're still having issues, we want to know what's going on. We'll be installing a survey app on the iPad soon with a questionnaire to get this info from you all. Until then, if you have something happen, please write down or email the following info: the date/time, what dataset and/or playlist you were running, whether autorun was on or off, and what happened. Questions? Let me know, thanks all.

CHECK THE BIG SCREEN Lots of cool stuff if you haven't seen it including a great video on the phases of the moon and info about the Russian meteorite.

COOL STUFF ON THE PORTAL Did you know we had this information on the Portal...? See the links below.... http://spaceodyssey.dmns.org/missionsobservatories/earth-observatories.aspx http://spaceodyssey.dmns.org/so-screens.aspx http://spaceodyssey.dmns.org/missionsobservatories/private- commercial/dreamchaser-sierranevada.aspx

WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK Did you know that we have some instructional videos on the Portal? Have you used any of these videos? Would you like to see more of these in the future? Then please take this survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SOSMGG

We have training videos for using the iPad with SOS and are developing one for the Gravity Well too. To check out the iPad one, click here: http://spaceodyssey.dmns.org/mgg-training/sos-training-videos.aspx

COMET PANSTARRS VIEWING The best viewing is coming so check the sky and see. Over the coming days the comet will be visible just around and after sunset. The comet will be in the west, somewhat near the crescent moon. Here's a great article on Universe Today about is: http://www.universetoday.com/100589/a-guide-to-help-you-see-comet-panstarrs-at- its-brightest/ Here's a page on the Portal that also will have useful info: http://spaceodyssey.dmns.org/astronomycosmology/solar-system/comets-kuiper- oort.aspx

For those who are interested, try to snap some photos of the comet, and send them to me. If I get some particularly stunning pics, I'll run them in the update.

LOOKING FOR AN OUTLET? Is your Space O laptop looking rundown, and draggy? Is the battery just about finished? If you're in the Galaxy Stage space, there's two outlet access points in the audience area. One is right in the floor near where we place the Gravity Well; the other is on the audience left-side column near the front row. There's a door on the column that faces the stage. Open the door and the outlet's inside. Also, by the Meteorite Case, under the Cratering Machine, there's an extension cord you can use. It's tucked under the bottom edge of the Cratering Machine. If you find that you regularly need an outlet someplace, and there isn't one, let me know. And if you have trouble finding the ones listed above, let me know that as well.

NEO ON SOS We had an interesting and thought-provoking presentation from Maurice Henderson of Goddard Space Flight center this past Tuesday. He showed us how to use NASA Earth Observations data on the SOS. The tool, the NEO app, is now loaded on the iPad, but at press time, it isn't working properly. Basically, this app allows the user to load NASA, NOAA and other data on the Sphere and interact with it to analyze it and effectively do science in real time. Pretty cool. There were about 20 volunteers there and there's a good chance someone on your team was present, so do ask them about it. There are challenges using this app as it's not simple to master and requires a very strong knowledge base of both the data and the app to facilitate this effectively for the public. We'll be discussing this app I'm sure at our upcoming SOS meetings about how we'll move forward with it so I'll let you know what comes out of that discussion. Meantime, here's the website that the NEO app uses to show and analyze data: http://neo.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/Search.html

INTERESTING SHOW ON THE SCIENCE CHANNEL Jim Nelson (Sunday PM) just watched the third 'installment' of a series Science Channel has run since last year called 'Alien Encounters'. It starts with SETI locating a signal from space and the ensuing activity following that. The second show has the aliens coming to a near earth orbit in a huge space craft that uses a solar sail to propel it across space. The first two shows were first broadcast last year, the third one involves the aliens making contact. http://science.discovery.com/tv-shows/are-we-alone/videos/alien-encounters.htm

EARTH MADNESS 2013: VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE IMAGES Thanks to Fred Spafford, Monday PM, for passing this along....

Thirty-two will vie for the title, but only one can be the winner. They are the best Earth images of the year, the top 32 from 2012. But which ones will be good enough to survive head-to-head competition? From March 4 through April 5, Earth Observatory readers can vote for their favorite images of the year, whittling the total from 32 to 16 to 8 to 4 to 2 in a tournament of remote sensing science. The competition will be stiff in the four brackets - Earth at Night, Events, Data, and True- Color - so it is up to you to separate the winners from the losers. Come back each week to vote in the next round and help us choose a winner.

It's Earth Madness.

Voting starts Monday, March 4, so print a copy of the bracket, fill it out, and get that workplace pool going. Come back every Monday to vote and watch the results. http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Madness/?src=eoa-ann

MSL 360 DEGREE PANORAMA http://www.360cities.net/image/mars-panorama-curiosity-solar-day- 177#13.70,23.50,85.0

Here a backing article: http://www.gizmag.com/curiosity-mars-self-portrait-panorama/26412/

AMAZING HURRICANE SANDY VIDEO http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgrllVs2DDw

TRAININGS AND MEETINGS

SPACE ODYSSEY A TRAINING Monday March 11 6-9 PM Galaxy Stage Space Odyssey Food and drink provided RSVP to Dave Blumenstock by Sunday March 10

This fun and engaging training led by Eddie Goldstein and Dave Cuomo, is for all new Space Odyssey volunteers and is one of two parts of the required training for all new Space Odyssey volunteers. It's also for veterans looking for a refresher. Using demos such as the Infrared Experiments area and the Vacuum Chamber demo, we'll teach you about the teaching philosophy behind Space Odyssey and how that relates directly with your work with the visiting public. You also get to walk on Mars!

NEW VOLUNTEER ORIENTATIONS FOR 2013 These trainings are required for all new volunteers. Please sign up by contacting Shelley Knepley at [email protected], or call her at 303.370.6419. All the trainings run from 9-1:30 unless otherwise noted.

 Saturday, March 16: VIP Room  Tuesday, April 2: VIP Room  Saturday, June 1: VIP Room  Tuesday, September 17: VIP Room  Saturday, October 5: VIP Room  Tuesday, November 12: VIP Room

EDUCATOR UPLINK

Hi Museum Galaxy Guides,

This past week Dave Blumenstock put together a panel of experts. We asked them what they thought were the qualities that make Museum Galaxy Guides EXCELLENT EDUCATORS in Space Odyssey. Many of you already have many of these qualities. But, the list is helpful either as a reminder of some things to strive for, or as a pat on the back for things you are already doing well.

Here's what they came up with:

Be flexible Be approachable Relate science to the visitors' live experience and make science relevant Use stories to relate Find out what the interests of the visitors are Talk to folks at their level - don't lecture Be at tour guide Explain things to them Ad lib to add interest Be friendly and patient Be someone with an innate curiosity about the universe, and show them your curiosity Ask questions to get people involved Avoid yes/no questions. Opinion questions, or open ended questions are less threatening. Know your audience Find ways to bring in the audience Meet the visitors where they are Adapt to the audience Be confident in yourself and confident in your communications with the audience Stay relaxed Smile Be a good salesperson - reach out to the visitors to engage them If possible, wheel your cart over to where they are instead of waiting for them to come to you Work from your strengths Find your niche - what you enjoy doing the most in Space Odyssey Be a storyteller Have fun and encourage others to have fun Bring humanity into the conversation

To which I might add:

As a Museum Galaxy Guide, work with your team to inspire curiosity, promote discovery, and deliver an "Out of this World" experience.

By the way, who was this panel of experts? It was the Space Odyssey Guide Captains. These suggestions are not coming from me or Dave. Although I agree with them. These suggestions are coming from YOU. Keep up the great work.

And, have fun.

- - Eddie SPACE SCIENCE LECTURES & EVENTS

RESERVATION INFO Volunteers may attend some events for free on a space available basis by calling Adult Programs at 303.370.6303 or emailing [email protected].

This is only for lectures, for other programs, like Science Lounge, please call Reservations, 303.370.6000, thank you!

Digital Earth: Fire Fires seem to be more common in our foothills. Is this because fires are becoming more common in nature, because of the increased proximity between forests and homes, or a combination of both? Using satellite imagery and maps, geologist Bob Raynolds and space scientist Ka Chun Yu will take you on a journey to explore wildfires and their causes in Colorado, across the United States, and around the world. Guests are encouraged to join a hosted discussion following the lecture to explore Colorado fire experiences, concerns, and questions.

Tuesday, March 19 7:00 pm Gates Planetarium $8 member, $10 nonmember

60 Minutes in Space Go "behind the stories" in space science using the best images and animation available to help understand new developments. Seating is limited to first come, first served. Wednesday, March 20 (one week early due to Near Earth Objects lecture on March 27) 7:00 p.m. Gates Planetarium Free The next 60 Minutes in Space will be Wednesday, April 17 at 7:00 p.m.

Near-Earth Objects: Finding Them Before They Find Us Where do those comets and asteroids that come so close to Earth come from? How do we find them? Can we protect our planet from them? Donald Yeomans, senior research scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, is the manager of NASA's Near-Earth Object Program Office. Yeomans addresses these questions and discusses well-known impacts on Earth, such as the one that killed off the dinosaurs. He explains the possible ways we can protect ourselves (by deflection or blowing them up) or potentially use them for our own gain (perhaps as a stepping stone for travel to Mars).

Wednesday, March 27 7:00 p.m. Ricketson Auditorium $8 member, $10 nonmember Book sale & signing MUSEUM NEWS

VOLUNTEER HELP NEEDED DURING SPRING BREAK We have some fun activities on-tap for our visitors related the Mammoth and Mastodons exhibit which we'll run during Spring Break in the Southeast Atrium. But we need help from volunteers to make it happen. Are you interested? Please read on...

We need help during Spring Break: Thursday, March 21, 2013 through Sunday, March 31, 2013

We need volunteers during these Shift Times: 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. or 12:30 - 4:00 p.m.

Folks that volunteer will be helping to facilitate activities that complement our Spring temporary exhibition Mammoths & Mastodons.

Here are the activities that will take place in the Southeast Atrium:

o ART STATION The whole family will love to create and take home their own ice age craft to help them remember their day! o BONE DIG Younger visitors can don a helmet and vest and discover casts of real fossils buried in the dirt.

o TUSK YOURSELF Ever wondered what you'd look like with giant tusks? Take your picture here and we'll overlay some of the largest tusks ever discovered in Colorado! o ICE AGE TRIVIA Think you know your Mammoths from your Mastodons? Spin the wheel and answer an Ice Age question at this station to win a fabulous prize!

If you'd like to participate in our spring break fun, contact Natty Bayer, Coordinator of Volunteers for Education Programs: [email protected] 303.370.6436

In your email or phone call please include your name and the Spring Break shift(s) that work for you and we'll be in touch.

Thank you for considering helping!

Natty Bayer Coordinator of Volunteers for Education Programs [email protected] 303.370.6436

MUSEUM LECTURE INFO Click here for Lunchtime Lectures

Click here for Evening Lectures

VOLUNTEER ENRICHMENT COMMITTEE EVENTS

See bulletin board in the Volunteer Lounge for more info

Dave Blumenstock Coordinator of Volunteers for Space Science Denver Museum of Nature & Science [email protected] Phone 303.370.8344 Fax 303.370.6005

Join the Museum's Online Community www.dmns.org