Courtesy photo

CONCORD – The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center will celebrate the upcoming launch of the James Webb Space Telescope on October 23rd from 1: 30 pm to 4 pm. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) represents the next big step in space telescopes and will allow researchers to see farther and with more detail into the early days of the universe. Visitors will learn about JWST technology, get details on the process of designing and launching a telescope of this size, and have the chance to look through a telescope. Hands on activities and demonstrations will let participants of all ages join in and there will be materials to take home. The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center’s launch party was selected as part of a several-month nation-wide celebration by NASA in advance of the JWST launch at the end of 2021.

The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center features 21st century interactive exhibits on aviation, astronomy, Earth and space sciences, an all-digital, full-dome planetarium and a wide variety of science, technology, and engineering and mathematics programs. The engaging, robust educational programs are geared towards families, teens, seniors, students, community groups and lifelong learners. In keeping with social distancing practices, the Discovery Center is currently open by reservation Friday through Sunday and some holidays. For more information, visit www.starhop.com.