“If you were an astronaut up in space, wouldn’t you still want to eat Thanksgiving dinner?”
Kids’ heads bobbed in response to the question posed by an astronomy graduate student at the UW Space Place.
“But how would you do it?” the grad student continued.
We were gathered here, in the public outreach center for the University of Wisconsin–Madison Department of Astronomy, to figure that out at the annual family-friendly Thanksgiving in Space workshop.
Graduate students dispersed space-appropriate versions of Thanksgiving staples — turkey jerky, dehydrated mashed potatoes, dried cranberries, water and more — plus supplies like cardboard, string, tape, a paper cup, a plastic bag and a plastic spoon. These were our tools not only to eat our dinner but also to enclose it so pieces wouldn’t float up inside our imaginary space shuttle.
The room was practically silent as kids worked out what to put where, noodling over how to distribute resources and problem solve. When the had their solution, they’d show it to a graduate student or Space Place staffer, who would offer a mix of feedback and praise.
While the workshop won’t be held in person this year due to the Covid pandemic, senior outreach specialist Kay Kriewald says it will take place virtually on November 21 and then be added to the UW Space Place YouTube channel. So you can watch as a family and try the activity at home!
But be sure to add the UW Space Place to your list of places to take your kids once the pandemic is over. On display at the center are five instruments that have actually flown in space, including an original piece of the Hubble Space Telescope, plus a range of fascinating exhibits. And mark your calendars when stargazing events return there or the Washburn Observatory, also part of the university’s astronomy department.
Another space-focused venue worth a visit, when it’s back up and running, is the Madison Metropolitan School District Planetarium, located inside Memorial High School. Programs highlight different astronomic topics and captivate kids as the night sky is simulated across the soaring domed ceiling.
On our visit, children’s book author Dean Robbins presented his book The Astronaut Who Painted the Moon: The True Story of Alan Bean. Our kids were fascinated to learn about Bean, the fourth astronaut to walk on the moon and “the only artist to travel in outer space.”
The book is a beautiful account of the excitement of rocketing into space, the pride in making a dream come true and the power of art to make you feel — and an absolutely worthy addition to the bookshelves of young space lovers.
Another safe way to explore space in Madison is to bike Planet Trek Dane County. This scale model of the solar system starts with a marker for the sun at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in downtown Madison and extends along the Southwest Commuter Bike Trail and Military Ridge Bike Trail, ending with Pluto in Mount Horeb. You’ll pass Earth by Monona Bay, Jupiter near Lake Wingra, Uranus between Madison and Verona and more on the twenty-three-mile-long installation.
Also not canceled this year? Ice cream!
A space-focused day in Madison isn’t complete without a treat. We recommend stopping by the Chocolate Shoppe for scoops of — what else? — Blue Moon.
– Katie Vaughn
Katie Vaughn is the editor and co-founder of Northerly. She is a University of Wisconsin-Madison and Stanford University-trained journalist with experience as a writer, reporter, editor, blogger and author. She lives in Madison with her husband, daughter and son, and is always up for an adventure.