To celebrate a piece of pillow basalt from Olympic National Park orbiting Earth on the space shuttle Columbia, officials will host a “Rock in Space”‘ star party Thursday.
John Gallagher, Port Angeles High School science and astronomy teacher, will present the program, which includes a presentation about the geologic history of the Olympic Peninsula.
Thursday’s event begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Olympic National Park Visitor Center, 3002 Mount Angeles Road, Port Angeles.
Weather permitting, participants will also caravan to the High School practice field to observe stars and planets in the winter sky.
Astronaut Willie McCool, shuttle mission pilot for mission STS-107 is carrying the rock to honor the park and will return it following the mission.