On July 12, Oregon Charter Academy in Wilsonville will participate in the first public viewing of images from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, the most technologically sophisticated of its kind.

The event will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 12. The public is welcome to attend. There will be a walk-in event at 30485 SW Boones Ferry Rd, #202 in Wilsonville for the first 100 registrants, then a virtual registration for the first 1,000 as well. Register here if you wish to do so.

Approximately one million miles from the Earth, the mission that took off on Dec. 25, 2021, has recently made its way to its destination after taking off. 

The technology used in this operation will be able to view the universe in infrared and will also provide insight into the formation of the universe by studying the study of light in the process.

During the July 12 event, NASA will show an archived video of five images from the telescope and present a slideshow about the telescope's purpose and its first batch of images. 

Additionally, the program includes an expert Q&A session with NASA experts, as well as an appearance by the Physics Department at the University of Oregon. 

In addition to sending members to the event, the department will assist attendees with special telescopes made with specially-lensed optics, allowing people to see the sun directly.

One of the seven organizations participating in the viewing will be the charter academy, which is the only school in the state selected to participate. 

Principal Dan Vasen, who is the leader of the STEM programs and the faculty advisor for the NASA club at the academy, said the school applied to be one of the organizations featured on the NASA Express website.

Among the other organizations hosting viewings are the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Evergreen Air and Science Museum, Airway Science for Kids, and ScienceWorks Hands-on Museum, although not all of the organizations' events occur at the same time or on the same day.

ORCA's mission is to ignite interest in STEM fields, Vasen said in a statement. 'At the same time, making students aware of classroom topics and how they relate to real-world applications can be stimulated by offering them opportunities like these.'

Providing students with enrichment opportunities such as its NASA club, which streams monthly live broadcasts from NASA space centers, is one of the academy's top priorities. 

Virtual reality experiences are also available at the club. Approximately 100 academy students and staff witnessed the Webb Telescope's arrival in February.

Among ORCA's many STEM programs is the NASA club, Vasen said. Next year, we will partner with more space centers to provide more virtual events and educational enrichment materials to ORCA students as part of our effort to take remote learning to the next level.'

The academy will host a satellite event during the launch of the Artemis 1 moon rocket event, which is a monthly live stream that will take place in August.