An interactive museum exhibition about Earth and space science is opening up at Cape Fear Museum of History and Science in Wilmington.
The “Sun, Earth, Universe” exhibition was created in collaboration with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Sponsor Spotlight
The exhibition is about planet Earth, the solar system and the universe and the big questions NASA is trying to answer about each and will be on display at Cape Fear Museum through Oct. 24 as part of a nationwide effort designed to engage audiences in the fields of Earth and space science.
Packed with hands-on interactive exhibits and imagery, officials said the exhibition will connect visitors with current NASA science research and launch them on a journey to explore the universe.
“We are excited to host this bilingual science exhibition at the Museum,” stated science content developer, Dr. Darcie Roten in a statement. “The fun interactive nature of the exhibit invites visitors to use creativity and problem-solving skills to understand more about the process of exploring Earth and space.”
The “Sun, Earth, Universe” exhibit includes the following interactive activities:
- Follow the design-build-test cycle of engineering and build a model spacecraft for a mission to space.
- Spin a tumbler of 10,000 beads, representing all the stars seen from Earth to search for the unique one that represents the sun.
- Reveal hidden images using the same tools NASA scientists employ to explore the otherwise invisible forces and energy of the universe.
- Take a break in the seating area and play the Your Mission to Space board game.
- Assist younger visitors pilot rovers across the Mars landscape play table.
These activities share NASA research in the fields of heliophysics, planetary science, and astrophysics and encourage discovery of what the future of Earth and space science might hold.
Sponsor Spotlight
The exhibition was developed by a team led by the Science Museum of Minnesota, and 52 copies will be fabricated and distributed nationwide by the National Informal STEM Education Network.
The National Informal STEM Education Network is a national community of informal educators and scientists dedicated to fostering public awareness, engagement, and understanding of current science, technology, engineering, and math.
