The NASA OSIRIS-REx mission to capture and return a sample of the surface of the asteroid Bennu is scheduled to launch on September 8, 2016 at 4:05 PM from the Kennedy Space Center. The Huachuca Astronomy Club, with the support of The NASA Museum Alliance and the University of Arizona Lunar & Planetary Laboratory (LPL), is planning to host a launch viewing party at the Patterson Observatory on the campus of the University of Arizona Sierra Vista at 1140 N. Colombo Ave Sierra Vista, AZ 85635.
The Observatory will open at 2:30 PM on the 8th for the launch viewing. While plans are still being finalized, HAC is planning to show the launch from a live stream with other live and recorded presentations about the mission and the history of the LPL.
The event is free and open to the public.
For more information about OSIRIS-REx you can visit the mission’s home page.
At sunset, following the launch viewing party, the Huachuca Astronomy Club will host their monthly public night sky viewing event at the Patterson Observatory. This star party is subject to cancellation due to inclement weather, but is also free to the public.