Turn your eyes to the skies at Neutrino Day: Star Chronicles

Stars are storytellers. Our closest star, the Sun, barrages our planet every second with a menagerie of miniscule messengers. These particles tell us of the vibrant, explosive world inside the Sun. As more distant starlight streams toward us, it slingshots around galaxies, hinting at the existence of invisible matter. Even in death, exploding supernovae expel tidal waves of neutrinos. These quick-footed neutrinos tell us much about a star’s final moments.

Stars divulge vital clues about the formation and growth of our world. And for ages they have inspired the way humans think about the Universe in which we live. This summer, celebrate everything that stars have to say at Neutrino Day: Star Chronicles. Sanford Underground Research Facility’s (SURF) virtual event will take place on Friday, July 9, and Saturday, July 10.

How can you join?

This year, join us in our virtual Neutrino Day town. On our easy-to-use platform, attendees can talk with scientists, explore interactive activities, experience weird science demonstrations, take virtual tours of the underground, and visit the art gallery and library—all in real time!

Using Gather.town, a free and simple platform, virtual attendees can explore the event and interact with others as they would in real life. Watch the neutrinoday.com website for the live Gather.town link closer to the event. While the best Neutrino Day experience is on Gather.town, you will be able to access materials and activities on www.neutrinoday.com or watch our main events live on Facebook, Vimeo and YouTube. Children under the age of 18 are encouraged to join with a parent or guardian. 

Not sure how it works? The best way to learn about Gather.town is to play around in it yourself!

What can you do at Neutrino Day?

With live talks on both Friday and Saturday—plus live activities all day Saturday—our schedule is bursting with fun! Here’s a preview.

Interactive activities for all ages

Design your own constellation, measure rays of light with a homemade spectroscope, build a dipper clock to mark the passage of time by the stars, explore 3D models of the future Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) caverns, listen close and learn how physicists reduce noisy backgrounds—and so much more!

Scientists, engineers and educators will host interactive activities for all ages in our virtual Activities Room on Saturday, July 10, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Some activities will also be available on www.neutrinoday.com.

Meet and Greet

How does life survive a mile underground? Why do geologists listen to small vibrations in the rock? How do physicists make sure their materials are ultra-pure? What will it take to excavate more than 800,000 tons of rock for DUNE?

Talk about underground science with the people that make it possible! Visit our virtual Booth Room on Saturday, July 10, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Some information will also be available on www.neutrinoday.com.

Virtual Tours, Library, Art Gallery and Theatre

Take interactive, 3D virtual tours of the Davis Campus, the Yates Hoistroom and the Waste Water Treatment Plant. Check out the Library for pre-K and elementary science book readings and “Staff Picks” to see which science books SURF employees are reading. Visit the Art Gallery to see star-inspired art pieces created by K-12 students through the Lead-Deadwood Arts Center. You can even watch our favorite science videos in the Theatre.

Explore Virtual Tours, Library, Art Gallery and Theatre in our Gather.town space on Saturday, July 10, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Some activities will also be available on www.neutrinoday.com.

Live talks and keynote speaker, Annette S. Lee

Throughout the two-day event, join us for live, engaging talks!

On Friday, July 9, hear about the strange, subatomic particles called neutrinos from a panel of scientists with the DUNE collaboration and the Science and Technology Facilities Council. Next, discover the insights of Lakota star knowledge and how star charts are made with Mike Lammers from the Journey Museum and Learning Center.

On Saturday, July 10, learn what the stars tell us about the universe’s missing matter with Hugh Lippincott, spokesperson for the LUX-ZEPLIN dark matter experiment. Then, experience weird science demonstrations at “What if…?” with science education experts Deb Wolf and Chad Ronish.

Our finale and keynote event features Annette S. Lee. Lee is an astrophysicist, artist and the director of the Native Skywatchers research and programming initiative. On Saturday, July 10, at 4 p.m., Lee will discuss Lakota/Dakota Indigenous astronomy and the practice of combining perspectives in order to gain a better understanding of phenomena that surround us.

Attend live talks in our virtual Black Hills Energy Main Stage on Gather.town or live on Facebook, Vimeo, YouTube and www.neutrinoday.com.

How can you learn more and find a complete schedule?

There’s so much to discover! Find the latest details and schedule at www.neutrinoday.com.