Astronauts from NASA will land across the Valley to participate in events for the public in the coming weeks. The astronauts, specifically chosen by NASA for these events, are in Arizona to promote and raise awareness on space programs and exploration — just as the state’s “SciTech Festival” fires its boosters.

High school seniors, as well as sophomores and juniors, are invited to attend Future ASU STEM Devil Night at Arizona Science Center, 600 E. Washington St. in Phoenix. Students and their families will have an opportunity to meet with representatives from admissions, financial aid, and a variety of schools that focus on STEM-based careers.

A number of years ago, my job involved teaching children in the woods of Illinois about the solar system. Helping kids visualize the distance from Earth to Pluto was much easier — and more fun — when the kids became the planets, walking a prescribed number of paces into the meadow or forest and arranging themselves at the equivalent placement of objects in space. The vastness of the universe hit home when youngsters could see — or not — how far away their friends, i.e. the other planets, were.

Enjoy an adults-only evening at Arizona Science Center with a free 6:15 p.m. lecture on the art of theater, a self-guided tour of the multimedia exhibit Van Gogh Alive  and “Enchantment of Van Gogh: The Performance” at 8:15 p.m. The planetarium and regular exhibits are open as well.

The geek in all of us gets a pass to go a little crazy starting tomorrow, when the Arizona SciTech Festival kicks off at Arizona Science Center.

The geek in all of us gets a pass to go a little crazy starting tomorrow, when the Arizona SciTech Festival kicks off at Arizona Science Center.

The geek in all of us gets a pass to go a little crazy starting tomorrow, when the Arizona SciTech Festival kicks off at Arizona Science Center.

Visuals have power. Jon Hutman has seen that phenomenon in action the last two years he has hosted Centennial Family Science Night in Ahwatukee.

The only “getting out” many of us will do in the next week will be a flurry of holiday errands: dropping off baked goods to friends and neighbors, standing in line at the post office, attending company parties and scrambling to find gifts for people we have yet to cross off our lists.

The only “getting out” many of us will do in the next week will be a flurry of holiday errands: dropping off baked goods to friends and neighbors, standing in line at the post office, attending company parties and scrambling to find gifts for people we have yet to cross off our lists.

What is a black hole? Learn the answer to this question and many more at the free astronomy open house Friday at Arizona State University.

Astronomy Night at Kyrene Akimel A-al Middle School has evolved into an all-encompassing event designed to build up excitement about the science of exploring our universe.

FLAGSTAFF - Arizona in summer is known for dashboard-melting afternoons and low temperatures that top some other states' highs. But there's more to the state than cactus and heat, and the Grand Canyon is hardly the only place worth visiting this time of year.

FLAGSTAFF - Arizona in summer is known for dashboard-melting afternoons and low temperatures that top some other states' highs. But there's more to the state than cactus and heat, and the Grand Canyon is hardly the only place worth visiting this time of year.

The first time I accompanied my 2-year-old niece and her family to Arizona Science Center, I expected to be a little bored. I’d be the childless aunt, I figured, enthusiastically saying things like “Wow!” and “Good job, sweetie!” from the periphery as toddler and parents moved from one display to the next.

This column is about you, and it’s about Michigan Mary.

LEGOLAND California is partnering with Arizona Science Center to bring a touch of the Star Wars Miniland to Phoenix. Through a Junior Master Model Builder competition based on the new area in the Carlsbad, Calif.-based theme park, creative guests are challenged to build their own Star Wars Miniland-themed LEGO model — with the chance to win one of three VIP prize packages.

LEGOLAND California is partnering with Arizona Science Center to bring a touch of the Star Wars Miniland to Phoenix. Through a Junior Master Model Builder competition based on the new area in the Carlsbad, Calif.-based theme park, creative guests are challenged to build their own Star Wars Miniland-themed LEGO model — with the chance to win one of three VIP prize packages.

LEGOLAND California is partnering with Arizona Science Center to bring a touch of the Star Wars Miniland to Phoenix. Through a Junior Master Model Builder competition based on the new area in the Carlsbad, Calif.-based theme park, creative guests are challenged to build their own Star Wars Miniland-themed LEGO model — with the chance to win one of three VIP prize packages.

The recent 9.0-magnitude earthquake in Japan moved the island nation toward North America by approximately 13 feet and shortened the day by 1.6 microseconds, according to the Arizona Science Center. It also caused a tsunami that rippled across the Pacific Ocean to reach far-off shores.

Catch a 30-minute film about the history of the telescope and a longer documentary on balloon-borne telescope flights. Outdoor telescope viewing is also offered if the skies are clear.

There have been nights dedicated to the planets and stars at Kyrene Akimel A-al Middle School previously, but the one on Nov. 29 was by far the biggest, said one organizer of the event.

In the days before telescopes, space shuttles or satellites, ancient people learned to observe the night sky, watching for changes or repeat occurrences that could explain phenomenon on Earth or guide them in the cycles of human life.

How do we love the East Valley? Let us show you the ways. We’ve compiled a massive list of places and things that make us feel plugged into our little corner of the Phoenix metro area.