9:00 -- 9:15 Opening remarks, recognition of dignitaries
9:15 -- 12:00 Educational activities for attending children (and anyone else!)
Includes: Starlab inflatable planetarium (courtesy New Mexico Museum of Space History); making a comet, Kids to Space
1:00 -- 4:00 Presentations
Speakers include: Alan Hale
Thomas Bopp
Eugene Roddenberry, Jr.
Rich Kestner (Director of New Mexico Office for Space Commercialization)
George Whitesides (Executive Director, National Space Society)
Babak Tafreshi (Nojum magazine in Iran)
John Spencer (Space Tourism Society)
Educational activities will continue in part of the auditorium
4:00 -- 6:00 Special live broadcast of "The Other Side of the Sky" hosted by Alan Hale, from Tays Center lobby. Program will feature "the music of Hale-Bopp"
6:00 -- 9:00 Semi-formal reception for launch of Earthrise Project. Hors d'ouevres, musical entertainment, and special presentations
Morning and afternoon events: $10 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under (good for all morning and afternoon)
Evening reception: $20 per person
Tickets may be purchased at the door of the Tays Center on the day of the event, or via PayPal at the address ahale@swisr.org.
All proceeds go to benefit the Earthrise Project
We have a wide range of special guests and presenters at "A Comet's Tale." Those confirmed include:
Alan Hale -- co-discoverer of Comet Hale-Bopp, Director of Southwest Institute for Space Research
Thomas Bopp -- co-discoverer of Comet Hale-Bopp
Rich Kestner -- Director of New Mexico Office for Space Commercialization
John Spencer -- Founder and Director, Space Tourism Society
George Whitesides -- Executive Director, National Space Society
Pam Peterson -- Western Regional Director, Challenger Center for Space Science Education
Barbara Sprungman -- Space Data Resources & Information
Several participants from "science diplomacy" visits to Iran, both on the American and Iranian sides, including: Stephanie Lester, Ali Parsa, Babak Tafreshi, Mike Simmons
Businesses and organizations are invited to be sponsors of "A Comet's Tale." A sponsorship donation of $500 entitles the sponsoring organization to have a display booth at the event, and to be listed in all published literature for the event, including this web page. Interested organizations should contact the Southwest Institute at earthrise@swisr.org or via phone at (505) 687-2075.
Present sponsors include:
KUPR-FM (91.7) in Alamogordo will be hosting a remote broadcast from the Tays Center during the daytime events. Businesses and organizations who may wish to underwrite the broadcast may do so; $50 entitles the sponsor to 25 promotional advertisements during the week of the event, and $100 entitles the sponsor to 50 promotional advertisements during the week of the event. Interested organizations should contact Kayla Josselyn at KUPR-FM, (505) 437-0917 or (505) 491-0918, or kaylakupr@yahoo.com.
In-kind sponsors provide a necessary service to "A Comet's Tale" in exchange for recognition as sponsors. Present in-kind sponsors include:
New Mexico Museum of Space History -- usage of Starlab inflatable planetarium and personnel
New Mexico Office for Space Commercialization -- presentations and displays
X-Prize Foundation -- presentations
Space Tourism Society -- presentations and displays, and assistance in event planning
Challenger Center for Space Science Education -- presentations and educational activities
National Space Society -- presentations
Michael David Ward -- contribution of specially commissioned "Earthrise" painting
Meade Instruments Corporation -- donation of telescope for raffle
KUPR-FM -- live remote broadcast, and "The Other Side of the Sky"
We are also grateful for contributions from Central Alarm & Security Systems in Littleton, Colorado and from 123 CCTV Security Camera Surveillance Equipment.
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