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The University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory presents the seventh annual Art of Planetary Science 2020: A Virtual Odyssey, an exhibition of art celebrating the beauty and elegance of science. The exhibition features works of art from Tucson and around the world inspired by the Solar System, the universe, and the scientific data we use to explore it. Hosted entirely online, the virtual galleries open Friday, September 25th, 2020 beginning at 5PM, Mountain Standard time. Virtual art will be displayed in three galleries: Data Art, Fine Art and Moon Art. For the first time in The Art of Planetary Science history there is a special Moon- themed art exhibit to celebrate International Observe the Moon Night on Saturday September 26th, 2020!

Opening weekend is September 25-27, 2020 with virtual events streaming each day. The virtual art galleries will remain open through October 31st, 2020.

This exhibition aims to provide a new way of looking at science and the Solar System, to provide a look at the historic impact that the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory has had on lunar exploration and on future studies of the Moon. We present art created from the images, data, equations, and instruments used to study the cosmos, revealing the underlying meaning that inspires scientists in their work. Being able to view Data Art and Fine Art side by side offers the public insight into science and the Solar System in which we reside.

This year’s collaboration with NASA’s International Observe the Moon Night will include an amazing array of streaming virtual events. Invited talks from scientists, artists, and astronomers associated with the University of Arizona will be interspersed with Moon “SLAM” Poetry readings, rock & roll music from local band, Satellite Mirage, a virtual telescope viewing of the Moon with the UA Mt. Lemmon Sky Center, and much more!

The Art of Planetary Science is proud to partner with Flandrau Science Center & Eos Planetarium, providing a virtually streamed planetarium show on Friday, 9/25 at 7 pm. For International Observe the Moon Night on Saturday, 9/26 we will host a special live stream of the historical Moon documentary, Desert Moon. This film maps out the involvement of the Lunar & Planetary Laboratory and Gerard Kuiper’s creation of the Lunar Atlas, which paved the way for human lunar exploration This will be followed by a live Q&A session with producer, Jason Davis broadcast from the Flandrau Science Center & Eos Planetarium.