Roll up your sleeves and venture deep into space at the family AstroFest celebration on April 28, 2012, at Union Station in South Bend, IN.  For two short hours, 2:00-4:00 p.m., astronomers and educators will guide children and adults alike through hands-on exploration of the solar system, with emphasis on the 2012 Transit of Venus. Multiple exploration stations will be complemented by a large 12-panel exhibit featuring some of the greatest images of the Hubble Space Telescope.  From Union Station you can also launch your own quest for treasure with the TROVE Scavenger Hunt.  Admission to AstroFest is free.

The transit of Venus is a rare planetary alignment that will be visible for the last time in our lives the evening of Tuesday, June 5, 2012.  That evening, Venus appears in silhouette as it passes in front of the sun.  Transits help us to establish our place in space, from measuring the size of the solar system to discovering planets in the habitable zone around distant stars. When a transit of Venus last happened, Google deemed it the most popular event in the world for the entire month of June 2004!  Come see what all the fuss is about, and learn how to view this solar spectacle safely. 

The TROVES Adventure is a fun treasure hunt with regional businesses through the month of May to prepare the community for the transit of Venus.  Find clues in storefront windows and win free solar shades to witness safely the celestial apparition on June 5.  Michiana is a hub for transit of Venus attractions, with unique opportunities for residents and visitors at www.transitofvenus.org/trove. 

The Visions of the Universe exhibit is on loan from the Space Telescope Science Institute.  The majesty of Hubble images is supported with descriptive text and local astronomers who can answer your questions about these profound images.  The exhibit includes twelve panels that feature key astronomical discoveries from the past 400 years since the invention of the telescope.  The exhibit also highlights the technological advancements that made these discoveries possible. Topics range from celestial objects within our own “cosmic backyard” — the Sun, the Moon, Mars, and Saturn — to those beyond the realm of our solar system — including comets, stars, nebulae, and galaxies.

Come prepared to be active

Space is big, and it demands a big space to convey it.  Union Station, located immediately south of Coveleski Stadium on South Street, has been greatly renovated and welcomes the public to AstroFest. 

You may park on the street for free and enter through the front doors of Union Station.


We look forward to engaging you and your family at AstroFest on Saturday, April 28, 2012, at Union Station in South Bend, IN.