Visitors attending a Dark Sky Festival Field Talk learn how Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park is similar to deposits on the dwarf plant Ceres.
NPS/Stephanie Lamar
Saturday
Searching for Signs of Ancient Life on a Cold and Desolate Mars Michael Tuite (JPL) CANCELLED DUE TO HIGH WINDS
Exploration of Mars has revealed that the cold and arid planet was once much warmer and wetter - a place potentially hospitable to the emergence of life. Might life have arisen on early Mars like it did on Earth? If it did, what signatures of ancient life might be preserved in rocks on Mars’ surface? Today, the Perseverance rover is collecting geological samples on Mars that may contain evidence of ancient life. Those samples are scheduled to be returned to the Earth within a decade so that scientists can use the most sophisticated, state-of-the-art instruments to address one of science’s Big Questions: Are we alone? 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM, Mars Hill (park on shoulder of road near Artists Drive Exit) Short Walk
Mars-like Places on Earth: A Journey into the Ubehebe Crater CANCELLED DUE TO HIGH WINDS Rosalba Bonaccorsi (Ames/SETI)
Places in Death Valley appear similar to places on the Red Planet. Come learn how research in Death Valley can help guide us in our understanding of Earth's neighbor. 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM, Ubehebe Crater Strenuous Walk to bottom of Ubehebe Crater
Tiny Gems, Big Discoveries: Unearthing the Hidden Tales of Badwater Basin's Microbial World Zakaria Jibrin (Goddard Space Flight Center)
Embark on an enlightening journey into the microscopic wonders of Death Valley! From the captivating process of bone growth to understanding how bacteria cause kidney stones, our expedition illuminates a strangely similar world within Badwater Basin. Wrapping up with groundbreaking research that may pave the way for detecting life on another planet! 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM, Badwater Basin Static Presentation
Dune Stories: Earth, Mars, & Titan CANCELLED DUE TO HIGH WINDS Mike Malaska (JPL)
Dunes are everywhere! Mars, Titan, Pluto, and even on Comet 67P! Come out to Mesquite Dunes and we’ll learn about the sediment cycle, how dunes form, what clues to look for in a dune field, and compare and contrast dunes on Earth with those on other worlds. 2:30 PM- 3:30 PM, Mesquite Sand Dunes Moderate Walk
The Brightness of the Void CANCELLED DUE TO HIGH WINDS Leslie Heid (JPL)
Join us on this evening walk as we explore the infinite rainbow that fills our cosmos. Mission Modeler Leslie Heid from JPL's Deep Space Network discusses the electromagnetic spectrum, how we see what stars are made of, and the advantages and disadvantages of different wavelengths for use in spacecraft communications. 8:30 PM- 9:30 PM, Zabriskie PointShort Walk
Sunday
Searching for signs of ancient life on a cold and desolate Mars Michael Tuite (JPL)
Exploration of Mars has revealed that the cold and arid planet was once much warmer and wetter - a place potentially hospitable to the emergence of life. Might life have arisen on early Mars like it did on Earth? If it did, what signatures of ancient life might be preserved in rocks on Mars’ surface? Today, the Perseverance rover is collecting geological samples on Mars that may contain evidence of ancient life. Those samples are scheduled to be returned to the Earth within a decade so that scientists can use the most sophisticated, state-of-the-art instruments to address one of science’s Big Questions: Are we alone? 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM, Mars Hill Short Walk
Ubehebe Crater: An Explosive Analog for Planetary Volcanism Zach Morse (Goddard)
Volcanism is a geologic process that connects many planetary bodies across the solar system. Come for a short walk to learn about the explosive eruptions that created Ubehebe Crater and how they can teach NASA scientists about the volcanic history of the Moon and Mars. 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Ubehebe Crater Short Walk
Tiny Gems, Big Discoveries: Unearthing the Hidden Tales of Badwater Basin's Microbial World Zakaria Jibrin (JPL)
Embark on an enlightening journey into the microscopic wonders of Death Valley! From the captivating process of bone growth to understanding how bacteria cause kidney stones, our expedition illuminates a strangely similar world within Badwater Basin. Wrapping up with groundbreaking research that may pave the way for detecting life on another planet! 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM, Badwater Basin Static Presentation
Dune Stories: Earth, Mars, & Titan Mike Malaska (JPL)
Dunes are everywhere! Mars, Titan, Pluto, and even on Comet 67P! Come out to Mesquite Dunes and we’ll learn about the sediment cycle, how dunes form, what clues to look for in a dune field, and compare and contrast dunes on Earth with those on other worlds. 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM, Mesquite Sand Dunes Moderate Walk
The Brightness of the Void Leslie Heid (JPL)
Join us on this evening walk as we explore the infinite rainbow that fills our cosmos. Mission Modeler Leslie Heid from JPL's Deep Space Network discusses the electromagnetic spectrum, how we see what stars are made of, and the advantages and disadvantages of different wavelengths for use in spacecraft communications. 8:30 PM - 9:30 PM, Zabriskie Point Short Walk
