Upcoming opportunities exist for public engagement around the broader topics of NASA planetary exploration. Consider getting in touch with local astronomical societies, planetariums and museums, local scientists, and NASA’s Solar System Ambassadors (solarsystem.nasa.gov/ssa/directory.cfm) and ask them to join your events and share their experiences or resources with your audience. Tips for scientists in conducting public engagement are at www.lpi.usra.edu/education/scientist-engagement.

Mars Opposition

Mars at Opposition, 27 July 2018, 10:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time 

Planetary oppositions provide opportunities for great telescopic viewing. Throughout summer 2018, the oppositions of Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn will make these planets ideal for telescopic viewing: https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20180727_12_100

Perseid Meteor Shower

August 12-13, 2018

The 2018 Perseid meteor shower will peak the night of August 12-13. The Perseid meteors are made of pieces from comet Swift-Tuttle and appear to originate from the constellation Perseus, hence their name. Learn more about the Perseids at https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/small-bodies/meteors-and- meteorites/perseids/in-depth/.

OSIRIS-REx Begins Approach Phase to Asteroid Bennu

August 17, 2018

On August 17, OSIRIS-REx will see Bennu for the first time from a distance of approximately two million kilometers, and Science Operations will officially begin. Learn more at https://www.asteroidmission.org.

NASA:  60 Years and Counting

From 2018 through 2022, NASA is marking a series of important milestones including the 60^th anniversary of the agency’s founding. Learn more at https://www.nasa.gov/60.