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Astronomy night at the White House

By Michael Banks

On Wednesday night US President Barack Obama hosted an astronomy night at the White House.

Obama, who today won the 2009 Nobel Prize for Peace, invited 150 school students, former astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Sally Ride, and Mae Jemison and NASA administrator Chalres Boldren and his deputy Lori Garver to the event on the South Lawn.

Astronomers spent all day setting up 20 telescopes in preparation for the party in the evening.

Obama was also joined by the first lady, Michelle Obama, and his science advisor, John Holdren.

Obama managed to get some education policy into his speech and talked about reinvigorating maths and science in schools.

“Galileo changed the world when he pointed his telescope to the sky,” Obama said to the youngsters, “and now it is your turn.”

 

Posted by Michael Banks on Oct 9, 2009 10:09 AM |

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Comments (1)

  • 1 Oliver K. Manuel Oct 9, 2009 12:14 PM

    First, congratulations to President Obama for the Nobel Prize for Peace!

    What a dramatic change to have a President who seeks peace and has an interest in science.

    I especially enjoyed his charge students, “Galileo changed the world when he pointed his telescope to the sky, and now it is your turn.”

    With kind regards,
    Oliver K. Manuel

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