The USA Science & Engineering Festival kicks off this weekend

This is Sara, Sikorsky's autonomous helicopter, meaning she can fly on her own with no pilot required. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
This is Sara, Sikorsky’s autonomous helicopter that can fly on its own with no pilot required. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
An Air Force F-16 jet at the USA Science & Engineering Festival on April 16, 2016.   (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
The Mars exhibit at the USA Science & Engineering Festival on April 16, 2016. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
3-D printing at the USA Science & Engineering Festival on April 16, 2016. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
3-D printing at the USA Science & Engineering Festival on April 16, 2016. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
(WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
(WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
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This is Sara, Sikorsky's autonomous helicopter, meaning she can fly on her own with no pilot required. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
3-D printing at the USA Science & Engineering Festival on April 16, 2016. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)

WASHINGTON — Hey, DMV! It looks like spring has finally sprung, so if you’re going to be out and about in D.C. this weekend, I have a suggestion.

If you or someone you know are science and space minded, the USA Science & Engineering Festival is being held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on April 16 and 17.

As explained at the event’s website: “The USA Science & Engineering Festival is a national grassroots effort to advance science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.”

The exhibitors, performers, speakers, partners, sponsors and advisers are a who-is-who of science and engineering in the United States: from major academic centers and leading research institutes and government agencies to cutting-edge high tech companies, museums and community organizations.

The expo hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday with Sneak Peek Friday kicking off the weekend on April 15.

There are many science and space exhibitors at the festival — including colleges, industry giants and government agencies – including NASA. There are lots of stage shows you can attend and I highly recommend that you use the site’s “Plan Your Day” feature.

You have to pre-register for the expo, which is free but a $5 donation is suggested.

See more here.

I would’ve attended myself, but I’m speaking on Saturday at Peaks of Otter and Sunday at Shenandoah National Park.

With the sky hopefully being clear this weekend, be sure to look at the sky starting at sunset.

Mercury is still visible in the west as it gets dark and Jupiter is high in the southeast. The waxing gibbous moon is a nice sight, and before midnight, red Mars and yellowish Saturn rise in the southeast sky.

Enjoy your science and space-themed weekend.

Follow my daily blog to keep up with the latest news in astronomy and space exploration. You can email me at skyguyinva@gmail.com.

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