Something for the Early Bird and the Night Owl

Oct. 20-- Astronomer Eric Winter discusses "The Fermi Space Telescope: A New Gamma-Ray Eye in the Sky," at an open house, University of Maryland observatory. After the lecture, see the heavens through a telescope, weather permitting. 9 p.m. http://www.astro.umd.edu/openhouse. 301-405-6555.

Oct. 25-- Air & Scare, Halloween Family Evening at the National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center, Chantilly. 4 to 8 p.m. Admission, free. Parking, $10. Annual parking pass holders park for free. http://www.nasm.si.edu.

Oct. 25-- Sundials Festival, hosted by the Montgomery College planetarium, Takoma Park. 2 p.m. Bring a protractor, pencil and a manila cardboard file folder to learn how to make a sundial. http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/departments/planet.

Oct. 25-- Tour the autumnal heavens at a star party with Sean O'Brien of the National Air and Space Museum at Sky Meadows State Park, near Paris, Va. 6:15 to 10 p.m. Parking, $4. Arrive before dark. http://www.nasm.si.edu/events/skywatching. 540-592-3556.

Nov. 13-- An Evening with the Apollo 8 Astronauts. Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders became the first to journey to another world. They will share stories of their momentous mission. 8 p.m. Free. National Air and Space Museum building on the Mall. http://www.nasm.si.edu.

Blaine Friedlander can be reached atpostskywatch@aol.com.