31 August 2012
Posted in Our Planet, Our Universe

You may have used the expression “once in a blue moon” at some point or another, but do you actually know what it means? This phrase refers to something that is uncommon, or in some cases, rare. The term blue moon comes from the Farmers’ Almanac. The Farmers’ Almanac defined each season as having three full moons. If four moons occurred within one season, they referred to it as a blue moon.

Such is the case in August this year, when two full moons appear within the same calendar month. And don’t be fooled; the moon isn’t actually blue! On the first of the month, the initial full moon occurred. Friday marks the second and last chance to see a blue moon until 2015.

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28 August 2012
Posted in Press and Media

Discover What Goes Up Doesn’t Always Come Down

Film Premieres Saturday, September 8 During Cocktails & Cosmos Event

Screening Daily in the Dr. Phillips CineDome Beginning Monday, September 10

ORLANDO, FL (August 28, 2012) - With media headlines repeatedly warning us of debris falling from the skies, orbital debris – or “space junk” – has finally risen to the forefront of social consciousness. But what is space junk, how did it get there and just how serious is the problem?

On Saturday, September 8, discover the answers to these questions when Space Junk premieres in the Dr. Phillips CineDome at the Orlando Science Center. Its premiere marks the return of Cocktails and Cosmos, the Science Center’s social event where it opens its doors to an adults-only crowd for a night of entertainment and discovery. Following premiere screenings that evening, Space Junk will become part of the daily schedule in the Dr. Phillips CineDome on September 10. It will be screening at the Science Center through February 2013.

Narrated by Academy Award® Nominee Tom Wilkinson, Space Junk is he first movie to explore the exponentially expanding ring of debris that threatens the safety of our planet’s orbits. Harnessing the magical imagery of the giant screen, director Melissa Butts takes us soaring – from the stunning depths of Meteor Crater to an unprecedented view of our increasingly crowded orbits, 22,000 miles above earth.

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27 August 2012

It was quite a day as 4,700 people got to experience the Orlando Science Center for the discounted admission price of $5. Between dino safaris in DinoDigs, pinewood derby races in Science Park and live animal interactions in NatureWorks, fun was had by all. A big thank you goes out to the Walmart Foundation for making it possible!

20 August 2012
Posted in Our Planet, Our Universe

An extraordinary cluster of galaxies is continuing to shatter cosmic records! The cluster of galaxies is located nearly 7 billion light years away. It is known as SPT-CLJ2344-4243, though astronomers have given it a less formal nickname: the Phoenix Cluster. Named after the constellation it resides in, the cluster appears to contain thousands of galaxies within it, with each varying in size to that of a dwarf galaxy (a small galaxy comprised of several billion stars) to clusters of stars the size of the Milky Way galaxy.

The Phoenix Cluster is unlike anything astronomers have ever seen before; it is about 2,000 times the apparent mass of the Milky Way. Or to put things in better perspective, 2.5 quadrillion times the mass of the sun!

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20 August 2012
Posted in Celebration of Running

Three thousand runners and walkers of all ages laced up their running shoes on Saturday to beat feet for science! Check out these great photos of all the dedicated people who came out for the Track Shack’s Celebration of Running 5K presented by Florida Hospital.

Proceeds of the event, courtesy of the Track Shack Foundation, support the Orlando Science Center’s educational programs and our mission to “inspire science learning for life.” Runners and walkers started at the Orlando Science Center and then enjoyed a scenic 3.1 mile course that wound through some of Orlando’s most beautiful, historic neighborhoods. For more information on the race, visit www.trackshack.com.

20 August 2012
Posted in Press and Media

Enjoy All The Orlando Science Center Has To Offer For Only $5 Thanks To The Walmart Foundation

Sunday, August 26 – 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

ORLANDO, Fla. (August 13, 2012) – The Orlando Science Center, in partnership with the Walmart Foundation, has announced the next Walmart $5 Day will be August 26. On that day, guests can enjoy exhibits, giant screen films and live programs for the significantly discounted price of $5. General admission fees are usually $17 for adults and $12 for kids (ages 3-11). For many, this event presents the opportunity to experience the Science Center for the first time.

“Walmart is dedicated to giving back to the communities where our employees and customers work and play, said Steven Daniel, Walmart Market Manager for Central Florida. “Walmart $5 Day is special to us because it provides families a very fun and engaging activity while, at the same time, encourages learning and discovery.”

Enjoy all the Science Center has to offer including live swamp critters in NatureWorks, dinosaur fossil replicas in DinoDigs and pinewood derby races in Science Park. And for the littlest learners, KidsTown enables preschool-aged children to explore their world in a town designed just for them. Hands-on interactives include an automotive garage and an orange juice processing plant that invites the joyful, creative play that is so important to the cognitive development of young children. And open all day is Dr. Dare’s Lab; become a scientist for the day and perform hands-on experiments under the guidance of a trained instructor.

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