ABQ: HSers Needed!! Participate in the Albedo Project on May 22!!

The New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science has a wonderful project (see the writeup below) that will take just a few hours of your time on
Thursday, May 22 in the middle of the day. We invite you to participate in this fun event ... and please pass the word to anyone you think might be interested...families, adults, teachers, children...anyone...bring a white sheet (if you can) and come to participate in an historic event....we are one of only two cities in America that are participating in this global science experiment....see below...:


Jayne C. Aubele
Senior Educator/Geologist
New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
1801 Mountain Rd. NW
Albuquerque, NM 87104
505-841-2840
FAX 505-841-2866
jayne.aubele@state.nm.us

2nd Vice Chair, Planetary Geology Division, GSA
Co-I Polar-Palooza National Educational Project
Board member: EarthScope Education and Outreach Steering Committee
Past-President: New Mexico Academy of Science

Find out more about the Museum at
www.NMnaturalhistory.org





The Albedo Project
Looking for white sheets!
albedo (pronounced: al-BEE-doh) the proportion of the incident light or
radiation that is reflected by a surface, typically that of a planet or
moon; [from Latin albus 'white']

The New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science is joining other
science institutions worldwide in a science experiment coordinated by the
Association of Science and Technology Centers. On May 22, 2008 Museum staff
(and hopefully a group of students) will go to Tiguex park and make a 50 ft
x 50 ft square of white on the green soccer field. Two NASA satellites will
be put into action to record images from Australia to Finland. These will
be compared with images taken a year before. A measurement of the amount of
light reflected by these artificial white spots may help us understand the
role of albedo on Earth. During this, the International Polar Year, we are
helping to bring attention and understanding to the role of melting polar
ice caps. The icy, snowy white poles reflect the sun's rays more than other
ground cover on Earth. Melting of the polar caps compounds warmer
temperatures on Earth. The experiment will illustrate the importance of
maintaining polar ice caps.

Thursday, May 22 at 11:34 am Mountain Daylight time and 12:02 pm
Mountain Daylight time the satellites will fly over Albuquerque.

We would like your participation!
- Arrive at Tiguex Park at 10:30 am. In the soccer field near 18th and Mountain Rd.
- Bring: white sheets or drop cloths, or any large white/light colored fabric items
- Wear light colored clothing—to make the area as light as possible
- Also bring hat, sunscreen, water

We’ll set-up in time for the satellite arrival time!
We will have some activities to do at the park as well.

Call or email with questions or your confirmation of coming!

Please contact:
Tish Morris
Senior Education Specialist
New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science
1801 Mountain Rd NW
Albuquerque, NM 87104
505-841-2882
tish.morris@state.nm.us
www.NMnaturalhistory.org