Astronauts from NASA will land across the Valley to participate in events for the public in the coming weeks. The astronauts, specifically chosen by NASA for these events, are in Arizona to promote and raise awareness on space programs and exploration — just as the state’s “SciTech Festival” fires its boosters.

The engulfing majesty of the night sky is awe-inspiring, but finding time to view it away from the noise and light of the city is difficult. This Saturday, the East Valley Astronomy Club makes it a bit easier with its annual Star Party at Veterans Oasis Park.

Stars, moons and planets have long been inspiration for designers. For aficionados and anyone who appreciates the artistry to be found in astronomy, there is a galaxy of beautiful items for the home.

There are only two starters back from the title-winning Corona del Sol boys basketball team of a year ago.

It can be tough to pry an iPad out of a child’s tiny hands, but there are many applications, or apps, that make tablets and smartphones a good companion and teacher, and not just an addictive electronic baby sitter.

A number of years ago, my job involved teaching children in the woods of Illinois about the solar system. Helping kids visualize the distance from Earth to Pluto was much easier — and more fun — when the kids became the planets, walking a prescribed number of paces into the meadow or forest and arranging themselves at the equivalent placement of objects in space. The vastness of the universe hit home when youngsters could see — or not — how far away their friends, i.e. the other planets, were.

Thanks to a privately funded educational project, visitors at Chandler’s Veterans Oasis Park can now take a walk while learning more about astronomy.

Numerous telescopes set up outside the Gilbert Rotary Observatory are used to view the transit of Venus across the Sun, Tuesday, June 5, 2012 in Gilbert. The next chance to see Venus transit the Sun will be 105 years from now, in the year 2117.

On the heels of this month’s annular eclipse, the East Valley Astronomy Club and Gilbert Rotary Centennial Observatory welcomes guests to experience next week another unique astronomical event: the Venus Transit.

The ever-identifiable voice of Johnny Cash may not be whistling in the background, but that doesn’t mean East Valley residents and astronomers across the globe won’t be experiencing their own “Ring of Fire” come sunset on Sunday.

The East Valley Astronomy Club at the Gilbert Rotary Centennial Observatory located at Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch is set to mark two events in the sky through specialized solar-equipped telescopes.

Arizona has a new law that allows electronic billboards in the Phoenix area and much of southwestern Arizona but not the rest of the state, including areas where astronomy observatories are located.

Arizona is on the verge of joining a majority of other states in requiring children too big for special child restraints to be strapped into vehicles with booster seats.

The biggest fights of the just completed legislative session did not take place over money or even guns.

The biggest fights of the just completed legislative session did not take place over money or even guns.

The biggest fights of the just completed legislative session did not take place over money or even guns.

State lawmakers gave final approval Monday to a deal to keep digital electronic billboards out of some areas of the state.

Central and Western Arizona will be wide open for illuminated billboards with changing messages under the terms of a deal hammered out Tuesday between sign owners and the astronomy community.

Those families looking for a more spiritual option for their kids over the summer break can find a host of options in their own backyard and, chances are, their usual place of worship.

Those families looking for a more spiritual option for their kids over the summer break can find a host of options in their own backyard and, chances are, their usual place of worship.

What’s in the stars for the future of astronomy? Find out Friday (March 30) when Rogier Windhorst, professor of astronomy at Arizona State University, gives a free lecture on the next generation of space instruments at 7 p.m. in Bateman Physical Sciences Center, F-173, on ASU’s Tempe campus.

When you walk into 88-year-old Ahwatukee Foothills resident Albert Ortiz’s home it’s clear to see that he has a passion.

Brushing aside concerns by astronomers, the state Senate voted Wednesday to legalize existing lighted digital billboards and potentially pave the way for more.