Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium will be hosting a series of activities for National Asteroid Day.

Looking to escape the heat and enjoy a day full of asteroid science? 

You're in luck. The Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium, 1601 E. University Blvd., is hosting hours of events in celebration of National Asteroid Day. 

The celebration, which Flandrau calls an asteroid extravaganza, will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 30 and will be jam-packed with hands-on activities, exhibits, and a planetarium show.

After the show, scientist Bashar Rizk will provide updates on OSIRIS-REx, a UA-led asteroid sample return mission.

According to Flandrau, there are more than 17,000 Near Earth Objects, which are actually asteroids. Flandrau says that more than half of the 17,000 asteroids were discovered by the Catalina Sky Survey at the University of Arizona.

Admission to Flandrau is $16 for adults and $12 for children ages 4-17. The planetarium show is free for members.


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Contact reporter Gloria Knott at gknott@tucson.com or 573-4235. On Twitter: @gloriaeknott