In 2022, HCPL entered a three-year partnership to help provide education around the upcoming Artemis Missions, which is our planned return to the moon as a first step to reaching Mars. Our close partner was the Green Bank Observatory in West Virginia. Program funding was provided through the Franklin Institute, with support from NASA. Library staff went through yearly training and were given many great resources and supplies for our programs. We started with an annual public meeting focused on Mission2Mars, did several related after school programs, supported Star Parties with our local amateur astronomers, and provided Eclipse programs just last year. It’s been a great way to cultivate our relationship with the Green Bank Observatory, a tremendous “local” educational resource.
