How to Celebrate Earth Day 2015 with NASA

The iconic 'Earthrise' image was captured by astronauts during NASA's Apollo 8 mission on Dec. 24, 1968.
The "blue marble" view of Earth was first captured by astronauts during NASA's Apollo 8 mission on Dec. 24, 1968. (Image credit: NASA)

Today (April 22) is the 45th anniversary of Earth Day, and NASA has a series of activities planned to celebrate the beauty of our home planet.

NASA astronauts are given some credit for the origins of Earth Day, as the pictures they take of our planet from space – particularly a famous Earthrise-over-the-moon photo by the Apollo 8 crew in 1968 – showed Earth as a delicate blue marble in space.

"NASA uses the vantage point of space to increase our understanding of our home planet, improve lives and safeguard our future," the space agency wrote in a statement. "The agency develops new ways to observe and study Earth's interconnected natural systems with long-term data records, shares this unique knowledge, and works with institutions around the world to gain new insights into how our planet is changing." [Earth From Space: Amazing Astronaut Photos]

Below is a list of the many ways that NASA is celebrating Earth Day.

Social media

No matter where you're standing today (April 22), NASA wants you to share your favorite views of Earth. Hashtag your image or video with #NoPlaceLikeHome and post it to Instagram, Twitter, Google+ or Vine. Alternatively, you can post the video or picture to event groups on Flickr and Facebook. More details are available at www.nasa.gov/likehome.

Today (April 22) between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. EDT (1400 and 1500 GMT), the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) program will host a Google+ Hangout to celebrate its 20th anniversary. The hangout will focus on how GLOBE's data helps people better understand the Earth. Join the hangout at http://go.nasa.gov/1PIowj7

Washington, D.C.

At Union Station's main hall, NASA is exhibiting science, providing hands-on activities and doing science demonstrations for the public between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. local time today (April 22). Several NASA scientists will also talk at the Hyperwall stage after 11 a.m. Delegates will include Ellen Stofan, chief scientist at NASA, and John Grunsfeld, associate administrator for NASA’s science mission directorate.

Dulles, Virginia

At Dulles International Airport's A Gate AeroTrain Station, NASA will show off a gallery of large-format satellite images. The pictures come courtesy of the agency's fleet of Earth-observing satellites. The gallery opened on April 16 and will run through May.

California

Today (April 22) between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. PDT (1 p.m. and 5 p.m. EDT), theNASA Ames Research Center will host an exhibit on earth science research as a part of the U.S. Army Reserve’s 63rd Regional Support Command Earth Day Fair free family event. The event takes place at 230 R.T. Jones Road, Mountain View, California.

Between April 25 and 26, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PDT (12 p.m. to 8 p.m. EDT), NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory will have an exhibit at the Aquarium of the Pacific's Earth Day Festival. The event takes place at 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, California.

Follow Elizabeth Howell @howellspace, Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.

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Elizabeth Howell
Staff Writer, Spaceflight

Elizabeth Howell (she/her), Ph.D., is a staff writer in the spaceflight channel since 2022 covering diversity, education and gaming as well. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years before joining full-time. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House and Office of the Vice-President of the United States, an exclusive conversation with aspiring space tourist (and NSYNC bassist) Lance Bass, speaking several times with the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, flying parabolic, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, "Why Am I Taller?", is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams. Elizabeth holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, a Bachelor of Journalism from Canada's Carleton University and a Bachelor of History from Canada's Athabasca University. Elizabeth is also a post-secondary instructor in communications and science at several institutions since 2015; her experience includes developing and teaching an astronomy course at Canada's Algonquin College (with Indigenous content as well) to more than 1,000 students since 2020. Elizabeth first got interested in space after watching the movie Apollo 13 in 1996, and still wants to be an astronaut someday. Mastodon: https://qoto.org/@howellspace