What kind of telescope should I buy for the kids?

How do you stop a falling egg from breaking?

Can I see the sunspots on the Sun?

Does "dark matter" matter?

Those and other questions will be answered at the annual UH Institute for Astronomy Open House on Sunday, April 27, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at IfA's Manoa headquarters at 2680 Woodlawn Drive.

Listen to short lectures about what's been happening in astronomy recently, including the detection last month of the biggest explosion ever seen. Learn how to measure the temperature of a star and how to classify galaxies according to their appearance.

There will also be demonstrations of how things behave in a vacuum and how astronomers can see in the dark.

Children will have the opportunity to play Astro-Jeopardy, simulate a Mars landing using a raw egg, and travel through space in the StarLab planetarium. There will be telescopes available to view the Sun, as well as demonstrations of what causes the seasons.

Other Oahu astronomy groups that will be represented at the open house will include the Hawaiian Astronomical Society, Ironwood Observatory and the Bishop Museum.

Admission and parking are free.

For more information, go to http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/open-house.