Montgolfier Balloon Model, ca. 1946-47 This painted wooden model represents the invention of the hot air balloon by the Montgolfier brothers in France, who are responsible for launching the age of air. On September 19, 1783, the brothers demonstrated their invention for King Louis XVI at Versailles, sending the first passengers skyward – a sheep,… Continue reading
This is the Saint Louis Science Center’s NIGHT SKY UPDATE for the week of Friday, August 26, 2022. Information updated weekly or as needed. Times given as local St. Louis time which is Central Daylight Time (CDT). For definitions of terminology used in the night sky update, click the highlighted text. If relying on times… Continue reading
Beaver Skull – Native to central and northern US, southern Canada The American beaver is the largest rodent in North America and mainly an aquatic animal, living in forested areas with freshwater lakes, rivers, and streams. As seen here, beaver teeth are overly large, and bright orange in color. The teeth grow throughout its life… Continue reading
This is the Saint Louis Science Center’s NIGHT SKY UPDATE for the week of Friday, August 19, 2022. Information updated weekly or as needed. Times given as local St. Louis time which is Central Daylight Time (CDT). For definitions of terminology used in the night sky update, click the highlighted text. If relying on times… Continue reading
Sundial – ca. 1917 Did you know that the sundial is the earliest type of timekeeping device? The oldest known sundial dates to about 1500 BC, an ancient Egyptian “shadow clock” made from green schist, a type of metamorphic rock. This bronze sundial has a unique shape and unusual inscription on the back side; “Count… Continue reading
This is the Saint Louis Science Center’s NIGHT SKY UPDATE for the week of Friday, August 12, 2022. Information updated weekly or as needed. Times given as local St. Louis time which is Central Daylight Time (CDT). For definitions of terminology used in the night sky update, click the highlighted text. If relying on times… Continue reading
Fossil Herring – collected from Wyoming About 50-40 million years ago this now extinct fossil fish, Knightia eocaena, was the most common fish found in the freshwater lakes of what is now Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. They were once an abundant and important food source, but now are the most commonly excavated fossil fish in… Continue reading
This is the Saint Louis Science Center’s NIGHT SKY UPDATE for the week of Friday, August 5, 2022. Information updated weekly or as needed. Times given as local St. Louis time which is Central Daylight Time (CDT). For definitions of terminology used in the night sky update, click the highlighted text. If relying on times… Continue reading
Zebra Hide Drum – ca. 1960s, Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire). Drums have historically been an important instrument in Africa, used to send messages between villages, to call hunters to the hunt or warriors to war, and to provide rhythms for singers and dancers for ceremonial and social events. This tribal drum from Zaire… Continue reading
