NASA Hosts Planet-Finding Tweetup in California's Silicon Valley

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA will give 100 of its Twitter followers an insider look at its planet-hunting Kepler spacecraft and the agency's Ames Research Center on Feb. 11 in Moffett Field in California.

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For the first time, NASA's Twitter followers are being invited to Ames to learn about planetary discoveries from Kepler and the science flights of NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) aircraft.

The Tweeps also will get behind-the-scenes access to NASA's research center in the heart of California's Silicon Valley. Attendees will tour the center and speak with NASA officials, managers and scientists. The Tweetup will include a "meet and greet" session to allow participants to mingle with fellow Tweeps and the staff behind the tweets on @NASA and @NASA_Ames.

"This Tweetup will give participants and those who follow along online another look at the diverse ways NASA is pioneering the future in space exploration, scientific discovery and aeronautics research," said Stephanie Schierholz, social media manager at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

Tweetup registration opens at 1 p.m. EST on Jan. 5 and closes at 1 p.m. on Jan. 10. NASA will accommodate 100 active Tweeps randomly selected from those who sign up online. Additional registrants will be placed on a waiting list. Those who cannot attend the Tweetup can follow along via Web coverage, including tweets and live streaming.

For more information about the Tweetup and to sign up, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/tweetup

To find all the ways to connect and collaborate with NASA at:

http://www.nasa.gov/connect

NASA also has a website where anyone – including those not on Twitter – can follow along with the events:

http://buzzroom.nasa.gov

The NASA Ames Twitter account will be providing live updates from the event at:

http://www.twitter.com/NASA_Ames

For more information about Ames, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ames

SOURCE NASA