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Several MSEC campers are gathered in front of Exploratory Hall. They are throwing colorful paper airplanes around the camera.
George Mason University

MSEC Solar Saturdays

Mason Space Exploration Center

Description
Have a question about Solar Saturdays? Contact us here!
Phone Number
404-840-8361
Address

Attn: Mason Space Center
GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY
4400 UNIVERSITY DR STOP 3F3
PLANETARY HALL 243
FAIRFAX, VA 22030-4444 US

Opportunities for Adventure and Learning at the Mason Space Exploration Center

A university student in a green shirt explains the instruments of the telescope to several middle schoolers.

 

Join us for Solar Saturdays, a two-hour workshop designed to ignite your child’s passion for space and science. Each session offers a unique, hands-on experience that includes:

  • Explore one of the largest on-campus observatories on the East Coast, where your child will get a close-up look at cutting-edge space research.
  • Observing the Sun (with proper safety measures, of course) and its fascinating features using a state-of-the-art solar telescope.
  • Creating a scale model of the Solar System.  Engage in an interactive activity where your child will create their very own scale model of the Solar System, learning about the vast distances and sizes of planets.

New activities are on the horizon, making Solar Saturday a must-attend event for young space enthusiasts. Don’t miss this opportunity to combine education with excitement—register now for Solar Saturday and watch your child’s curiosity about the cosmos take flight.

Many students are gathered the Geller Telscope. Here they are below the eyepiece, but as it is daytime, not looking through it.

Registration for Solar Saturday is now open!

Register here using the TouchNet portal

Spend your weekend with MSEC

Registration:

Registrations for Solar Saturday cost $50 per camper per block (price subject to change). Each Solar Saturday will be comprised of two Blocks, one AM Block from 10:00 AM to noon for grades 4 & 5, and one PM block from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM for grades 6-8. It is advised to not sign up for both blocks in one day, as activities will be the same between both sessions. Additionally, the content between dates will be equivalent for all sessions in the fall. However, new activities will be present in the spring.

The program will return in February 2025 under a new name. All other logistical details, such as cost or location, remains the same. Registration for Space Saturdays is open on the TouchNet Portal. Select "Space Saturdays" to register early for the spring.

 

Location:

Pickup and Dropoff, along with parking, for both will be held at Exploratory Hall. We will send specific instructions two weeks before your scheduled date.


Grade Levels:

The recommended grade levels for this activity are 4-8. Registrants currently enrolled grades 4 & 5 will be included within the "Junior Group" and registrants currently enrolled within grades 6 - 8 will be included within the "Senior Group".  For alternative placements or registrations outside of the demographic, please contact camp administration.

2024 Sessions & Availability

November

Note: There is no Solar Saturday the week of Thanksgiving. Our Flight Director Crew will be taking off for the holidays afterwords.

DateCamper Positions
Available (AM)		Camper Positions
Available (PM)
November 231014

Fall Registration counts will continue to be updated biweekly.

2025 Sessions and Availability

February

DateCamper Positions
Available (AM)		Camper Positions
Available (PM)
February 8 1515
February 151515
February 2215Reserved

March

Note: There is no Space Saturday the week of March 10th, George Mason University will be closed for Spring Break.

DateCamper Positions
Available (AM)		Camper Positions
Available (PM)
March 11515
March 8Reserved15
March 221515
March 291515

Availability of Spring Sessions of Space Saturdays will be continue to be updated biweekly.

A group of students are gathered on the roof on a sunny day in front of the Observatory Dome and our Solar Telescope.
Many students are gathered the Geller Telscope. It is a sunny day as seen through the gap in the dome.
Many students are gathered the Geller Telscope. Here they are below the eyepiece, but as it is daytime, not looking through it.
A Counselor and Camper are observing the Sun to spot the spots causing the recent aurora sightings. The counselor is looking to the camera and giving a thumbs up.
A Counselor and Camper are observing the Sun to spot the spots causing the recent aurora sightings. The camper has turned to the camera with a surpised look.
A camper and counselor use the virtual planetarium software together.
A camper views a Saturn POV of its ring system in the virtual planetarium.
A camper prepares a recreation of Venus to use the scaled Solar System.
Two campers collaborate on the depiction of Mercury for the Solar System Walk.
A camper takes a big aura step from (modeled) Venus to Earth. He is grinning nearly from ear to ear.
Two campers place down the final planet* Pluto in Exploratory Hall, over 75 meters away from the Sun.
A Counselor and Camper view upcoming celestial events in the Stellarium Planetarium.
A camper observes the Sun through the filtered Lund telescope. Her shadow and the telescope's are cast upon the wall of the observatory.
A camper uses the virtual planetarium to see the moons of Jupiter.
A camper's virtual rocket creation appears to have forgotten which direction space is. It scrapes across the ground with fire erupting from its motors. The camper is elated by this.

Camp Location

Exploratory Hall with snow on the ground