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Date: 12-11-2009
Author: Becky Remy

"What's Out There? Exploring Our Universe"
By Becky Remy

Record breaking attendance at Explorit Science Center last month shows a 66% increase from November 2008 and 189% from November 2007. Word is quickly spreading that our local science center is the place to find affordable and entertaining science.
So, what's the scoop at Explorit? An exceptional exhibition entitled, "What's Out There? Exploring Our Universe," displaying the universe's remarkable celestial findings is set to open Saturday, December 12, at Explorit Science Center, 2801 Second St.
"We are really excited about a loan from Johnson Space Center," Exhibit Coordinator, Anna Grace, comments. "This is a rare opportunity to see real artifacts from the space shuttle program: a space shuttle helmet used for launch and reentry and an EVA glove used for extra-vehicular activity. These are a great slice of America's space exploration history." Additional specimens include:

• Slice of the Allende meteorite
  
• Piece of the skin from the Columbia orbiter from Apollo 11 (1st moon landing)
  
• Piece of tile from a space shuttle
  
• Real astronaut food
  

All these will be on display in the space and astronomy exhibition, but the "real" fun comes as you engage in the hands-on science activities including:

• Remotely drive a model Mars rover over a Martian landscape using a wireless video camera.
  
• Step onto a unique lever to estimate your weight on other planets.
  
• Simulate a meteor dropping into a bin of sand to observe how its mass affects its resulting impact.
  

"The rocket design station, I think, will be one of the most exciting things for kids," says Grace. "They can test their own paper rockets by launching them in a special rocket-launching enclosure made of 420 square feet of netting."
"I hope people will be interested in some of the upcoming astronomy club meetings as a result of their visit," Program Director, Megan Contreras says. The next Club meeting is January 16th and features a presentation by science fiction novelist Kim Stanley Robinson. The talk will be free and open to the public at 7 p.m. at Explorit's 2801 2nd Street site.
"We hope that one night after people visit the exhibition, they will take a closer look at the night sky thinking about some activity they tried at Explorit and wonder 'What is out there?'," says Contreras.
The "What's Out There?" exhibition will continue through February 22 in Explorit's Changing Exhibition Gumerlock Gallery. In the Jonsson Family Gallery, the exhibition "Move It! Science in Action" continues. Admission is $4. Members, teachers with school ID and children ages 3 and under are free.

Explorit Science Center normal hours of operation are 10 am - 5 pm on Tuesday, 2 - 5 p.m. on Wednesdays - Fridays, and 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays at 2801 2nd St. in Davis. For more information: www.explorit.org or (530) 756-0191.
This winter's Holiday Hours are as follows: Dec 21 - Dec 24, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Exceptions: Tuesday, Dec 22nd and 29th: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Dec. 24th: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Dec 25th and Jan 1st: Closed