On this date in 1961, Alan Bartlett Shepard Jr. became the first American in space aboard his Mercury capsule MR-3, Freedom 7. He would also walk on the Moon in 1971, as commander of the Apollo 14 flight.
Self-Watering Garden
In this at-home activity, learn to utilize the forces of capillary action to make a planter at home that will water itself. Plants use capillary action to draw water from the ground up into their roots and stems in order to survive. Capillary action is able to work against gravity because the forces that keep… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: May 4, 2020
There are eight planets in our solar system and over 4100 other planets discovered so far orbiting other stars. How many planets could be out there? The newest of planet hunting missions is TESS. Learn more about it at NASA’s TESS pages.
Astronomy Fact of the Day: May 3, 2020
On this date in 2007, Walter Marty “Wally” Schirra Jr. died of natural causes. He was a member of the first crew to rendezvous in space and was commander of the first Apollo manned flight.
Astronomy Fact of the Day: May 2, 2020
Today is the first of two astronomy days in 2020. The next one occurs on September 26, 2020. For those looking for astronomy ideas to do at home, check out these STEM activities posted by NASA.
Mars Rover Replica Build
Have you ever seen the Mars rover replica at the Science Center? It was actually built by the talented folks in our Exhibit Electronics Department. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look as Collin and Nathan put it together. Think of it as a giant Erector Set that took roughly 55 hours to complete! Connect with curiosity!
Astronomy Fact of the Day: May 1, 2020
In 1936 on this date, Wernher von Braun joins the Luftwaffe, the German air force. He became the leading figure in the development of rocket technology in Germany and a pioneer of rocket and space technology in the United States.
Astronomy Fact of the Day: April 30, 2020
First quarter moon occurs today. To find the moon tonight look south after sunset. It will be in the constellation Cancer the Crab. Please practice responsible social distancing when you go outside to observe.
Soil Your Underwear Challenge
Activity 7
Unbury Your Underwear What did the soil do to your underwear? ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION At this point, you have learned quite a bit about soil. The arthropods you exposed, the seeds you germinated, the song you sang, and the art you made all relate to the characters in your soil’s story. Healthy soil supports a diversity… Continue reading
Collections – Snowy Owl
Native to North America, the snowy owl breeds in the treeless arctic tundra but can migrate as far south as the northern Plains states and New England during the winter. The owls prefer treeless areas and wide open spaces and often sit right on the ground to hunt small mammals. This large white owl is… Continue reading