Astro Day lifts off

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Lisa Waters of Mauna Loa Observatory teaches astronomy to Harrison Kanekoa, Kasen and Karly Andrade at Astro Day Saturday at Kona Commons.
During Astro Day, Darren Elisala of HELCO explains to Ryder Chang-Nixon how electricity is generated by a hand crank. (
Jasmine Ruiz makes a paper rocket under the inquisitive eye of Imiloa Heaukalani at Astro Day Saturday at Kona Commons.
Randal Mamac Jr looks through a viewer at 3D space images at Astro Day Saturday at Kona Commons.
Percy Gomez of the Keck Telescope demonstrates thermal imaging to Jace Gomes at Astro Day Saturday at Kona Commons.
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KAILUA-KONA — AstroDay, an annual science and astronomy education event sponsored by the Maunakea Astronomy Outreach Committee (MKAOC), came to Kona Commons on Saturday.

Observatories from Maunakea and Haleakala were represented, as well as other technology, education, and cultural organizations. Highlights included Starlab — a portable planetarium provided by the Canada France Hawaii and Gemini observatories — as well as solar viewing with experienced astronomers, robotic demos, educational games and toys and many hands-on activities.