The James Webb Space Telescope is the largest, most powerful space telescope ever built. Learn more about the telescope before the launch on Dec. 25! Visit NASA’s website to learn more about the James Webb Space Telescope!
Artifact of the Week: Stromatolite
The earliest fossil evidence of life on Earth, stromatolites are layered deposits of cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae. The layers of bacteria create reefs, or mats, over time that trap sediment to form the layers you see here. This specimen is Ozarkcollenia, a distinctive type of layered Precambrian era (prior to 541 million years ago) stromatolite… Continue reading
The James Webb Space Telescope – Who Was James Webb?
The James Webb Space Telescope is the largest, most powerful space telescope ever built. Learn who James Webb was and why he’s important to U.S. space program history. Visit NASA’s website to learn more about the James Webb Space Telescope!
Night Sky Update: December 17 – December 25, 2021
This is the Saint Louis Science Center’s NIGHT SKY UPDATE for the week of Friday, December 17, 2021. Information updated weekly or as needed. Times given as local St. Louis time which is Central Standard Time (CST). For definitions of terminology used in the night sky update, click the highlighted text. If relying on times… Continue reading
Night Sky Update: December 16, 2021 Comet Leonard Update
This is the Saint Louis Science Center’s NIGHT SKY UPDATE for Comet Leonard. December 16, 2021 Update for Comet Leonard Position of Comet Leonard at 5:11 p.m. on December 16, 2021. Image created using Stellarium. Over the past few weeks, what was supposed to be a decently bright comet, appeared to be going down the… Continue reading
Artifact of the Week: Chameleon Gold Weight
In the 17th century, the Ashanti, or Akan peoples of Western Africa became the dominant force in the region and one of the richest African kingdoms. Historically the area contained substantial gold deposits and the Ashanti built their strength on the gold trade. This bronze chameleon was used as a counterweight to measure out exact… Continue reading
The James Webb Space Telescope – Introduction
The James Webb Space Telescope is the largest, most powerful space telescope ever built. It will allow scientists to look at what our universe was like about 200 million years after the Big Bang. The telescope will be able to capture images of some of the first galaxies ever formed. It will also be able… Continue reading
Night Sky Update: December 10 – December 18, 2021
This is the Saint Louis Science Center’s NIGHT SKY UPDATE for the week of Friday, December 10, 2021. Information updated weekly or as needed. Times given as local St. Louis time which is Central Standard Time (CST). For definitions of terminology used in the night sky update, click the highlighted text. If relying on times… Continue reading
Inside The Vault
Night Sky Update: December 8, 2021 Comet Leonard
This is the Saint Louis Science Center’s NIGHT SKY UPDATE for Comet Leonard. Comet Leonard C/2021 A1 (Leonard) Comet Leonard C/2021 A1 (Leonard) imaged on November 28, 2021. Image credit: University of Hertfordshire Observatory The night sky has long been a point of interest for humanity, beckoning us to look up into its inky black… Continue reading