LAST EXPLORATORIUM AFTER DARK AT THE PALACE OF FINE ARTS!
After Dark series will continue at Pier 15 in spring of 2013.
Come dressed as your favorite Martian, robot, or inner extraterrestrial as we celebrate all things Martian during our final After Dark event at the Palace of Fine Arts.*
Explore the social life of robotic spacecraft with Janet Vertesi, and experience a full-scale model of the Mars rover Curiosity, scheduled to arrive on the red planet Sunday, August 5.
Encounter forgotten science fiction and popular science films presented by Dan Streible and Megan Prelinger and get a sensory tour of the Martian landscape with Exploratorium scientist (and Martian snowflake discoverer) Paul Doherty. You can also design your own spacecraft--and attempt to safely deliver an egg from the mezzanine balcony to the museum floor below.
A full-scale model of Curiosity (about the size of a Mini Cooper) will be on display in the museum, and Explainers will be on hand to talk about how the rover works. Other online programming will include behind-the scenes interviews with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientists and engineers on Curiosity’s mission, landing, and on-the-ground investigations as well as covering topics ranging from rover technology to research on extremophiles—organisms living in extreme environments on Earth.
Once the rover begins its mission, the Exploratorium will have access to high-resolution images of Martian terrain—almost as quickly as they are recorded. Live webcasts will air at 1 p.m. PDT.
For our future webcast schedule and details on NASA's mission to Mars visit
www.exploratorium.edu/mars
Photo credit: NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory
EXPLORATORIUM AFTER DARK GOING ON HIATUS
*After Dark is going on hiatus beginning September 2012, and will return as an expanded evening series at our new Embarcadero location, Pier 15, in spring of 2013. Beginning with our grand opening, we’ll offer not just monthly but weekly evening hours on Wednesday and Thursday nights and host several evening programs for adults per month.
Orphans in Space: Cosmological Discovery through Forgotten Films
McBean Theatre
With Dan Streible and Megan Prelinger in person
Film academic and preservationist Dan Streible presents a selection of Mars and space related films from a collection of recently preserved material. These films come out of pop culture obsession in parallel with scientific study of the possibility of traveling to Mars and understanding outer space. Author Megan Prelinger joins the discussion giving historical context to the works that captured the world’s imagination.
Films to be screened:
MARS: No Message Received (2011, 10 min.) by Mark Elija Rosenberg. A meta-fictional "found footage" re-telling of NASA's Mars Pathfinder mission as a story of outcast people and forgotten technology. The film is comprised of one long take and actual material from the surface of Mars.
Meteorites (1947, 10 min.) by Pavel Klushantsev; preserved by Gosfilmofond. This Soviet popular science film from the naciency of the cold-war explores the astronomical origins and cultural significance of “stones from the sky.” Interests in long range rocket development and space travel sparked curiosity in the cosmos.
Beyond the Moon (1960-62, 11 min.) by R.E. Barnes; preserved by Prelinger Archives. An amateur filmmaker, Barnes creates a lo-fi science fiction narrative using miniatures and models. It follows a rocket’s journey from the launchpad to Mars and is rich with nostalgia for the excitement of imagining life among the stars.
The Flatt and Scruggs Grand Ole Opry Show (1961, 6 min.) Produced by WSM-TV; preserved by Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Bluegrass and country music take on the Space Race with “They’re Gonna Put a Monkey on the Moon” and “The Sputnik Dog.”
BUY TICKETS in advance at:
https://transact.exploratorium.edu/e-commerce/itemshow_event.aspx?Grp=n4rh+xQjvcA=&Name=a7c3P6TffLooRBWwXibLKM1w3hCiw+KK&d=08-02-2012
TACTILE DOME
http://www.exploratorium.edu/visit/tactile_dome/
Get in touch with your senses during a special After Dark preview tour of the Tactile Dome. For only $10, you can feel your way through this legendary, interactive excursion in total darkness. Spaces are limited, tickets available on site only.
*** EXPLORATORIUM MEMBERS ***
Exploratorium Members receive free admission to First Thursday evening events — plus a 20% discount at the Exploratorium Store. Learn more about Exploratorium Memberships at
http://www.exploratorium.edu/membership/.
To join the After Dark e-mail list and receive notifications of future events, email afterdark@exploratorium.edu.
The museum will be closed each Thursday from 5-6 p.m. in preparation for our After Dark events. If you arrive before 5 p.m., please be sure to keep your admissions sticker for re-entry to the museum at 6 p.m
Full details at
www.exploratorium.edu/afterdark