This week, Oct. 4-10, is World Space Week. World Space Week celebrates science, exploration, and the technology that gets us there.
The week sits between some major dates. On Oct. 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first human-made satellite to orbit Earth, marking the beginning of the Space Age. Oct. 10, 1967, is when the Outer Space Treaty took effect, establishing important principles for peaceful exploration and use of space.
Around Texas, there are several ways to celebrate World Space Week. Here are some.
La Nube celebrates World Space Week
October is bursting with family fun, with out-of-this-world Space Week experiments at La Nube Science Museum, 201 W. Main Drive, in El Paso. The museum is running Space Spectacular, Oct. 3-10, with hands-on STEAM activities,
rockets, and space science daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Adult day passes start at $20; children's passes are $17. For more information: la-nube-org.
Space Center in Houston
Space Center Houston is holding Stars & STEM: The Challenges of Space Exploration on Saturday, Oct. 10, the final day of World Space Week.
Kids will work through a Mars sample-retrieval mission, an Artemis rescue/escape-room challenge and a spacesuit engineering challenge, followed by a tram tour to Johnson Space Center and dinner with an astronaut. For more information: spacecenter.org.
McDonald Observatory in West Texas
The McDonald Observatory at 3640 Dark Sky Drive, Fort Davis, Texas has both day and night programs throughout the week. Check out the calendar online.
The McDonald Observatory is open to the public Tuesday-Saturday, 12-5 p.m. It is closed Sunday and Monday. All visitors must check in at the Frank N Bash Visitor Center.
Stargazing at Blanco State Park
Enjoy the stars through a telescope and learn about the heroes and monsters in the sky. Meet up will be at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 9 at Blanco State Park swim area, 101 Park Road 23, Blanco, Texas. Bring water and a flashlight, preferably with a red light. Binoculars are welcome. Don't bring bright lights.
Texas Park programs are open to the public and free with a paid park entrance fee of $5 per person ages 13 and up; children 12 and under are always free. Park entry is free with the Texas State Park Pass. No need to register—just show up. For more information:tpwd.texas.gov
Interstellar acclaimed organist celebrates World Space Week
St. Luke's United Methodist Church and the Houston chapter of the American Guild of Organists will present internationally acclaimed organist Roger Sayer in concert at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, as part of his celebrated Interstellar 10 tour. The event coincides with World Space Week, ideal for an evening inspired by a beloved science fiction film.
Sayer is the organist who performed on the soundtrack for Christopher Nolan's 2014 film "Interstellar" and collaborated directly with Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer during the recording process.
General admission tickets are $30; student tickets are $15, available at https://stlukesmethodist.org/interstellar
María Cortés González may be reached at 915-546-6150; mcortes@elpasotimes.com; @eptmaria.bsky.social on Bluesky, and @eptmariacg on TikTok.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Celebrate World Space Week at these Texas events Oct. 4-10
