NASA will celebrate the 45th annual Earth Day April 17-22 with a variety of live and online activities to engage the public in the agency's mission to better understand and protect our home planet.

NASA uses the vantage point of space to increase our understanding of our home planet, improve lives and safeguard our future. The agency develops new ways to observe and study Earth's interconnected natural systems with long-term data records, shares this unique knowledge, and works with institutions around the world to gain new insights into how our planet is changing.

Earth Day in the Nation's Capital

-- Friday, April 17 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m. EDT) and Saturday, April 18 (noon to 5 p.m.) -- Washington Monument grounds in Washington -- Public Earth Day celebration sponsored by the Earth Day Network featuring NASA exhibits, hands-on activities, demonstrations, and views of Earth from space. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden will appear on stage at 3 p.m. on April 18 during the Global Citizen 2015 Earth Day event.

-- Tuesday, April 21 and Wednesday, April 22 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) -- Union Station main hall, 40 Massachusetts Ave., NE, Washington -- NASA Hyperwall and Science Gallery exhibits, hands-on activities and demonstrations. NASA scientists will give talks April 22 at the Hyperwall stage following the opening ceremony at 11 a.m., featuring NASA Chief Scientist Ellen Stofan and John Grunsfeld, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington.

'Our Planet Earth' Exhibition

-- Thursday, April 16 through May -- Dulles International Airport, Dulles, Virginia, A Gate AeroTrain Station -- Display of striking large-format satellite images that reveal Earth's natural beauty and demonstrate how NASA uses data from its fleet of Earth-observing satellites to study our home planet.

NASA #NoPlaceLikeHome Social Media Event

-- Wednesday, April 22 - online -- NASA encourages people all over the world to step outside and celebrate environmental awareness through social media. Share photos or videos of your favorite places or sights on Earth. Post your images to Twitter, Instagram, Vine or Google+ using the hashtag #NoPlaceLikeHome, or to the event groups on Facebook and Flickr. Check in on Earth Day to see what people around the world are sharing. For details on how to participate, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/likehome

Google+ Hangout: Global Environmental Education

-- Wednesday, April 22 (10 to 11 a.m.) -- online -- The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) program celebrates its 20th anniversary on Earth Day with an online conversation with GLOBE scientists and educators around the world. GLOBE, supported by NASA and the National Science Foundation, engages students and the public worldwide in collecting scientific data to advance our understanding of the Earth system and global environment. To join the hangout, visit:

http://go.nasa.gov/1PIowj7

NASA Center Activities

-- April 18-19 (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) -- 43063 North 10th St. West, City Park, Lancaster, California -- NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center will provide an exhibit at the Poppy Festival featuring the #NoPlaceLikeHome social media activity, displays on NASA aeronautics and scientific research, and pilot autographs.

-- April 22 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) -- 230 R.T. Jones Road, Mountain View, California - NASA's Ames Research Center will provide an exhibit on Earth science research at the U.S. Army Reserve's 63rd Regional Support Command Earth Day Fair free family event.

-- April 25-26 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) - 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, California - NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory will provide an exhibit at the Aquarium of the Pacific's Earth Day Festival, with demos of applications for mobile devices, handouts and other activities.

For more information about NASA's Earth science activities, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/earth

News Media Contact

Steve ColeNASA Headquarters, Washington202-358-0918stephen.e.cole@nasa.gov2015-130