Museum of Science

Fireballs are about to streak across the night sky, so look up! 🌠

The Leonids return this month, flying from November 6th through the 30th and peaking overnight on the 16th into the 17th. Even better, the first quarter moon dips below the horizon around midnight on peak night. That means darker skies just when the Leonids hit their stride, so grab a spot and start counting meteors.

Did you know there are more than three states of matter? ⚡

Astrophysicist @ErikaHamden breaks down plasma, which forms when electrons are stripped from a material. The result is highly ionized, super energetic matter. You’ve experienced plasma in the Sun, fire, and true neon lights (not LEDs)!

This project is part of IF/THEN®, an initiative of Lyda Hill Philanthropies.

🧫 Scientists found a bacterial “Pac-Man enzyme” that breaks down certain polyester bioplastics and also breaks down penicillin. It’s nicknamed for the unusually wide-open spot where its chemical reactions happen.

On November 10 at 7:00pm, join astrophysicists Dr. John Lewis and Dr. Pat Udomprasert under the Planetarium dome as they trace Voyager 1’s nearly 50-year journey to the edge of the solar system and beyond. Through immersive fulldome data visualizations, explore how humanity’s farthest explorer reached a distance so vast that its signals take a full 24 hours to reach us. Stay afterward for a reception with light refreshments outside the Planetarium.

🎟 Register for free: bit.ly/4AkF6jU

The Northern Taurid meteor shower is here! 🌠

Active from October 20th to December 10th, this meteor shower peaks overnight November 11th to 12th. For the best view of the Northern Taurids, head outside and look up around midnight.