Houston Museum of Natural Science News

news november / december 2012 VO L U ME 1 7 , Nu m b e r 6

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hmns museum store

HMNS in this issue • new hmns online store

2 Online Store

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3 New Dino Hall in Sugar Land General Information 4-5 Maya 2012: Prophecy Becomes History 6-7 Gems of the Medici 8-9 HMNS at Sugar Land 10 Holidays at HMNS 11 Cockrell Butterfly Center 12 - 13 Wortham Giant Screen Theatre 14 Burke Baker Planetarium 15 George Observatory 16 - 17 Just For Kids 18 - 19 For Teachers 20 - 21 Adult Education Travel Program 22 - 23 Events Calendar LaB 5555 Get connected to hmns www.hmns.org facebook

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The HMNS Museum Store has long been a shopping destination for its unique selection of kooky kids gear, smart science toys, educational home goods, replicas of priceless specimens, and one-of-a-kind jewelry and gems. Beginning November 1, you can reach that dazzling destination from the comfort of your home, office or anywhere else via the web. Check out the new HMNS online store just in time for holiday gift-giving at museumstore.hmns.org.

Opens November 10 New dinosaurs are roaring into Sugar Land— Tyrannosaurus rex, Struthiomimus, Triceratops, Stegosaurus, Hypacrosaurus, Coelophysis, Ankylosaurus and more. Come meet the newest and largest residents of Fort Bend County starting November 10.

While you are here, don’t forget the Dig Pit, where kids ages 3-11 can discover casts of dinosaur bones from several species of dinosaurs.

general information HOURS OF OPERATION

MEMBER TICKETS

GEORGE OBSERVATORY

Winter hours (effective on November 1): Monday through Sunday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Holiday Hours Thanksgiving Day: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Thanksgiving Day Weekend, November 23-25: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Christmas Break, December 22-31: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Christmas Day: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Check our website for film schedules and special closures. Permanent Exhibit Halls are FREE after 2 p.m. on Thursdays.

Membership level determines the number of discounted tickets you may purchase: Individual, Student & Senior, 1; Dual, 2; Family level & above, 2 adults & 4 children.

Park entrance fee: $7 per person; free for ages 12 & under. Private groups may schedule tours, Challenger missions and astronomy classes: call (281) 242-3055.

Located in Brazos Bend State Park.

Directions available at www.hmns.org.

MEMBERSHIP QUESTIONS (713) 639-4616, TTY (713) 639-4687 email: membership@hmns.org

SPECIAL TICKET VENUES MAIN CAMPUS

Payable by credit card only.

(713) 639-4629 Monday - Sunday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Handling fee for phone orders only.

Online at www.hmns.org

Wortham Giant Screen Theatre Cockrell Butterfly Center Burke Baker Planetarium GyroXtreme Special Exhibitions: - Maya 2012: Prophecy Becomes History - Gems of the Medici

SPECIAL SERVICES

BIRTHDAY PARTIES

ADVANCE PURCHASES

Call (713) 639-4629.

Wheelchairs provided at no cost, subject to availability.

PARKING GARAGE Member $5, nonmember $10, all others $20

Museum Parties for Main Campus and Sugar Land (713) 639-4773; Challenger Birthday Mission at the George Observatory (281) 242-3055.

BUILDING RENTAL & SPECIAL EVENTS (713) 639-4749

HMNS at SUGAR LAND Thursday and Friday: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday: noon to 5 p.m.

Monday through Wednesday: Closed Holiday Hours Thanksgiving Day: Closed December 22-31: Open to 5 p.m.

Christmas Day: Closed

SPECIAL TICKET VENUES SUGAR LAND Dig Pit Conservation Quest

FIELD TRIPS (713) 639-4659

METRO RAIL The “Museum District” stop is only 3 blocks from HMNS.

H M N S n e w s u g a r l a n d d i n o h a ll • GENERA L IN F ORMATION

New Dino Hall in Sugar Land

H M N S m aya 2 0 1 2 : p r o p h e c y b e c o m e s h i s t o r y 4

on exhibition through march 31, 2013 Although the collapse of the Classic Maya civilization a little more than 1,000 years ago and the Spanish conquest of the last Maya stronghold in the 17th century have both contributed to the notion that the Maya are no more, this could not be further from the truth. The ancestors and their modern descendants are getting more vocal, and the ancient Maya are speaking to us more than ever before.

Newly discovered Maya inscriptions and ruins are uncovered regularly and interpreted by scientists. Ancient Maya voices, carved in stone and wood, and painted on pottery and bark paper have come back to life. Occasionally these ancient voices provide us with enough information to reconstruct vignettes of Maya history: the sudden attack on a Maya city by unknown assailants, the sending of a Maya princess to a city far away to help rekindle the royal lineage, and the stubborn, calendar-based resistance of the last Maya kingdom against the Spanish in 1697.

Maya-speaking people still thrive in their ancient homelands, keeping alive no fewer than 30 different languages.

Other aspects of the pre-contact Maya culture are still alive as well. One of the ancient Maya calendars is still followed today in the Highlands of Guatemala and southern Mexico. Corn, squash and beans are still part of the diet. Like other indigenous cultures in a modern world, they are finding their way. And now they have found their way to the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

While people around the globe today are pondering whether the world will

come to an end on December 21, 2012, based on the Maya calendar, HMNS is cutting through the hype to tell the fascinating story of the Maya civilization and their culture, which spans more than 3 millennia. Maya 2012: Prophecy Becomes History includes the evolution of kingship, and the development of writing, math, astronomy and timekeeping. The exhibition features stunning artifacts and interprets the latest archaeological discoveries, such as a mural showing calendrical computations of a Maya priest, and an inscription marking the December 21, 2012 date. Visit HMNS to celebrate Maya culture past and present—and its future beyond 2012.

Maya 2012: Prophecy Becomes History is organized by the Houston Museum of Natural Science with the National Museum of Archeology, Guatemala City, Guatemala and is generously sponsored by HMW Entertainment and The Kislak Family Foundation. Support provided by The Wortham Foundation, Inc. and the Vivian L. Smith Foundation.

“The 2012 Phenomenon and What the Ancient Maya Calendar-Keepers Anticipated ” John B. Carlson, Ph.D., University of Maryland Monday, November 5, 6:30 p.m.

Apocalyptic speculation about what ancient Maya have to say about “2012” has become a global phenomenon in popular culture. Dr. John B. Carlson will interpret the “cosmogonic conclave” that the Maya believed will gather in sacrifice at the last completion of a Great Cycle and the beginning of a new 5,125-year 13 baktun Maya “Long Count” on December 21, 2012.

This presentation approaches the 2012 phenomenon through Maya sources considered within the contexts of ancient and contemporary Maya culture, as well as Western scholarship. This lecture is included in a course co-sponsored by Rice University’s Glasscock School of Continuing Studies.

“Mayan Prophecies” Carolyn Sumners, Ed.D., HMNS Tuesday, December 18, 6:30 p.m.

must have been a particularly stressful time in Maya history—and explain the misunderstood Maya Collapse.

Discover how the Maya aligned their pyramids and temples to watch their sky gods and used interlocking calendars to record the past and predict the future. Dr. Carolyn Sumners, HMNS VP of astronomy, will share how archaeological, historical and astronomical records were pieced together to learn more about the Maya.

This lecture includes a viewing of the film 2012: Mayan Prophecies.

CULTURAL FEAST

“The Maya Collapse” Dirk Van Tuerenhout, Ph.D., HMNS Tuesday, January 8, 6:30 p.m.

A traditional modern view is that the Maya civilization disappeared, abandoning their impressive cities. Is it true that the Maya have disappeared?

When did it happen? Where did it happen? Answers to these questions come from many different fields of study.

Dr. Dirk Van Tuerenhout will use archaeology, sedimentology, palynology and epigraphy to shed light on what

“Maya Flavors: Past, Present and Future” Wednesday, November 14, 7 p.m.

Tickets $102, Members $92 Hosted at Américas The ancient Maya had a diverse range of edible plants and animals that also played important roles in Maya culture, economy and religion—including native cacao, honey and vanilla. Chefs Michael Cordúa and David Cordúa, known for their creative approaches to cuisine of the Americas, have created a menu worthy of Maya lords, showcasing the rich culinary heritage of the Maya by transforming ancient ingredients to delight our modern palates.

BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOURS Maya 2012: Prophecy becomes History Monday, December 3, 6 p.m.

Monday, December 10, 6 p.m.

Tickets $35, Members $25 Go Out in Style Sweepstakes From December 1 - 31, enter the “Go Out in Style Sweepstakes.” One lucky winner will receive two Aeromexico airline tickets and a three-night stay for two in a luxury villa at Viceroy Riviera Maya. For contest rules and to enter the contest, please visit www. hmns.org/maya. This sweepstakes is made possible by generous support from Aeromexico, the Mexico Tourism Board, and Viceroy Riviera Maya.

H M N S m aya 2 0 1 2 : p r o p h e c y b e c o m e s h i s t o r y

DISTINGUISHED LECTURES Tickets $18, Members $12

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HMNS gems of the medici 6

through march 31, 2013

gemstones, the exhibition includes a selection of 15th-century medallions, paintings and sculptures that illustrate the immense influence the Medici gems had on later figurative art.

This exhibition is organized by Contemporanea Progetti, Florence, Italy in collaboration with Museo degli Argenti, Palazzo Pitti and the Museo Archeologico Nazionale Firenze.

Support is provided by The Wortham Foundation, Inc. and the Vivian L. Smith Foundation.

The prosperity of Florence was certainly a factor in this gathering of talent, but most important was the presence of the Medici dynasty. For 300 years, this powerful family, generation after generation, dominated city affairs and steered the course of art history.

It was for the Medici that the artists came to Florence, it was the Medici who funded their workshops, and it was the Medici who commissioned and collected the masterpieces of art and antiquity that are conserved today in the museums of Florence. From founding father Giovanni di Bicci de’ Medici to the last grand duke, the immense power and wealth of this great dynasty was invested in their legendary collections, of which the assemblage known as the Gems of the Medici is perhaps the finest in the world.

DISTINGUISHED LECTURE “The Medici Court: Marvels, Oddities and Natural Science” Alessio Assonitis, Ph.D. Sheila Barker, Ph. D. Medici Archive Project, Florence Wednesday, November 7, 6:30 p.m.

Tickets $18, Members $12 Even more than the arts, it was the sciences that flourished under the Medici grand dukes, as evidenced in the over 4 million letters that make

The Medici legacy lives on in this array of antique gemstones, cameos and engravings. HMNS is proud to bring the world-renowned collection, Gems of the Medici, to Houston for its first exhibition in the United States. In addition to more than 60 famed Medici All photos courtesy of Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali, Rome.

Sheila Barker will show how the Medici grand dukes and grand duchesses took active roles in scientific activity, including developing new medicines, carrying out chemical experiments, planning mining operations, and introducing exotic plant species to Tuscany. The repercussions of the scientific ferment of this 200year dynasty can be found in their court entertainments, arts, military technology, industry, cuisine, espionage and assassination techniques.

This lecture is sponsored by the Medici Archive Project, Florence, and Arader Galleries, New York and Houston.

HMNS gems of the medici

Established on the banks of the Arno River in ancient times, the city of Florence did not fulfill its destiny as a “city of art” until the 14th century. The fabled Dome of Brunelleschi, completed in 1434, continues to dominate her skyline. The streets and alleys of Florence still resound with the stories of artists and their immortal works— the creations of the great Ghiberti, Donatello, Botticelli and Michelangelo.

Among the celebrated architects, painters and sculptors of this age are goldsmiths, silversmiths and engravers.

up the Medici Granducal Archive.

Alessio Assonitis will examine some of the more fantastic chronicles from the archive: meteorological and astronomical anomalies; archaeological discoveries, technological contraptions and medical absurdities; eccentric individuals, bizarre objects and supernatural events.

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H M N S h m n s at s u g a r l a n d

hmns at s u

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Conservation Quest On exhibition through January 6.

Loaded with hands-on interactives, Conservation Quest ® delivers important conservation messages that inspire visitors to make thoughtful choices about energy use.

Learn all about energy—what it is, where it comes from, how we use it, and why it’s so important to use it wisely. Discover how simple actions can make big differences for families, communities and the planet. Explore solar, wind and hydropower, connect circuits to power up lights, alarms and

u gar l and LITTLE CRITTERS!

Thursday, November 8, 6 - 9 p.m.

Tickets $50 (Adults only, advance purchase required)

Thursdays, 9:30 - 11 a.m.

Tickets $13, Child $5; Members $10, Child $5 Children ages 2-5, limit 10 families per class

This evening celebration of 3 years of HMNS operation in Sugar Land will feature our fabulous science exhibit halls in a format reminiscent of a third birthday party. Adult guests will mix and mingle over cocktails and a buffet, and give into their kid-at-heart selves trying fun museum activities with a grown-up twist.

Conservation Quest ® was created by Stepping Stones Museum for Children and is sponsored locally by Reliant, an NRG company.

A highlight of the evening will be the unveiling of our new 2,000-gallon aquarium and new dinosaur hall. Party guests will have the opportunity to purchase a fish to stock the tank with proceeds helping underwrite exhibits and educational programs.

PUBLIC AWARENESS SERIES

FRIDAY FAMILY FUN NIGHT

“Energy Efficient Homes” Thursday, December 6, 6:30 p.m.

Free Admission

Go Fish!

Friday, November 16, 6:30 - 9 p.m. $10 members, $15 nonmembers

Is your house costing you too much?

Lawerance Perreau of Perry Homes will introduce you to the benefits of energy efficient homes. Learn ways to decrease energy consumption in your house, find out about sustainable recycled materials used to build a home, and learn about HERS (Home Energy Rating System), a standard used to measure a home’s energy efficiency. Save energy and see your home in a different light.

Bring the whole family to help celebrate the arrival of our new super aquarium!

Play a museum-wide Go Fish! game, learn all about fish habits, and get tips on how to maintain an aquarium. You can also make a donation and choose your very own fish for release in the new tank, or leave your “fish print” on a decorative tile. We’ll have a splashing good time with special activities, crafts and snacks for all.

Keep your little critter developmentally on track! These “parent and me” classes help instill a love of science at an early age through games, crafts, stories and songs. The fun includes parachute play, science-themed crafting and marching to music to emphasize rhythm, math and gross motor skills.

LEGO ROBOTICS CLASS Thursdays, January 10 - March 21, 4:30 - 6 p.m.

More info on page 17.

FIELD TRIP SCIENCE LABS More info on page 19.

VOLUNTEER AT HMNS AT SUGAR LAND! Open the doors of the Museum to thousands of children—and open their minds to the wonder of the natural world of science. No experience necessary; we will train and teach you everything you need to know.

To sign up or receive more information, please contact HMNS at Sugar Land at (281) 313-2277, extension 104 or smathew@hmns.org.

H M N S h m n s at s u g a r l a n d

fans. Find out how much electricity you consume compared to others. Check out the latest energy-saving inventions and learn about the future of energy.

THIRD BIRTHDAY PARTY

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holidays at hmns H M N S h o l i d ay s at h m n s

Make the Museum one of your holiday traditions!

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HMNS is open Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

The Museum’s Grand Entry Hall will be sparkling with festive trees presented by local organizations.

Museum Store Check off everyone on your shopping list at the HMNS Museum Stores— amusing science toys for the kids, jewelry for the ladies, and even sophisticated and fun gifts for the gents.

Gift Memberships Don’t forget to buy HMNS Gift Memberships as holiday gifts. Gift Memberships may be purchased at www.hmns.org, (713) 639-4616 or with the enclosed envelope.

Beginning November 19, 2012, we will add another month to your current membership when you purchase a discounted HMNS gift membership.

You can earn up to 1 year of FREE membership by introducing your family and friends to the wonder and adventure of the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Hurry, this offer expires January 6, 2013.

Star of Bethlehem

Was Jesus born 2012 years ago?

In the Burke Baker Planetarium

Is December 25th his real birthday?

Star of Bethlehem has been a holiday tradition at HMNS since the Burke Baker Planetarium opened in 1964.

This show answers critical questions about one of the most famous “star” stories in history.

Star of Bethlehem answers these questions and more, as audiences search for a celestial object that could have led the wise men to the Christ child. A planet was called a “wandering star.”

A meteor was a “shooting star.” And a comet was a “hairy star” because its tail looked like a beard. These are all candidates in our search. Using the Planetarium’s digital star field simulator, we will recreate the night sky at the date and time of Christ’s birth to see what the wise men could have seen and to discover if the Star of Bethlehem was a celestial event or a miracle.

Who were the wise men?

Were there only three?

Did they come from Persia, Babylon or Ethiopia?

Did they follow a visible star to Jerusalem?

The Endangered Green Birdwing Now at HMNS This fall, for the first time, Green Birdwing butterflies are now calling the Cockrell Butterfly Center home—and are they ever fantastic! The birdwings are very large, tailless swallowtails in the “poison feeder” group—the clan of swallowtails that feeds on poisonous Dutchman’s pipevine plants as caterpillars. Until recently, it was not possible to display birdwings because the entire group is listed as endangered and it is prohibited to collect them from the wild or sell them, dead or alive.

However, a few people are now breeding them in captivity and we were able to receive them from one of our suppliers.

All the birdwings are native to the Indonesian islands, and/or northern Australia. The Green Birdwing, Ornithoptera priamus priamus, is from Indonesia and New Guinea. Like peacocks and cardinals among the birds, male Green Birdwings are much more spectacularly colored than the females.

Females are larger, but are mostly black with some white and yellow

patches. Males, however, sport glowing, iridescent lines of green and black on their upper side, and have similarly shining patches of yellow and green below. Their very heavy abdomens are bright yellow, while the thorax is velvety black with a vivid red patch near the head. Because their abdomen is so large, both males and females seem to almost struggle when flying or hovering at flowers as they feed.

We are quite pleased at the relative longevity of these giants. Typically swallowtails are rather short-lived, but some of our first batch of Green Birdwings have survived for over a month. We also occasionally import another birdwing, Troides rhamadanthus, which is black with a brilliant yellow patch in the hindwing—not quite as spectacular, but still very showy.

The name “birdwing” comes from the size of these butterflies, whose females are the largest butterflies in the world.

Alfred Russel Wallace, often cited

as the co-discoverer of the theory of evolution by natural selection, was one of the first Europeans to capture and describe these creatures.

After first capturing a male Ornithoptera croesus (now known as Wallace’s Golden Birdwing), Wallace noted in his journal: “The beauty and brilliance of this insect are indescribable, and none but a naturalist can understand the intense excitement I experienced when I at length captured it. On taking it out of my net and opening the glorious wings, my heart began to beat violently, the blood rushed to my head, and I felt much more like fainting than I have done when in apprehension of immediate death. I had a headache the rest of the day, so great was the excitement produced by what will appear to most people a very inadequate cause.”

We hope you will agree with Wallace that these wonderful butterflies are not “an inadequate cause” for excitement, but are a great reason to visit the Cockrell Butterfly Center this winter!

H M N S c o c k r e ll b u t t e r fl y c e n t e r

Photo Credit: Zac Slaton, HMNS Horticulturist

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Films and showtimes may change. Please visit www.hmns.org

H M N S w o r t h a m g i a n t s c r e e n t h e at r e

wortham giant s

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NOW SHOWING Flight of the Butterflies 3D interweaves the story of the monarch butterfly migration—the longest, most amazing insect migration on Earth—with the fascinating scientific detective story of the 40-year-long search for their secret overwintering sites in Mexico.

Every fall half a billion Monarch butterflies head south on an epic 3,000-mile journey from Canada through the US to Mexico. Soar a mile high alongside one of the greatest spectacles of the natural world to follow this incredible migration. The technology of IMAX® immerses you in the astounding migration experience as a new generation of monarch butterflies miraculously finds its way to mountaintops in Mexico, a place these butterflies have never been!

During the spring’s return flight north, we encounter other fascinating critters including bumblebees collecting pollen in flower meadows, thousands of mayflies hatching on the Mississippi River, and ants shepherding caterpillars to milk them for their honeydew secretions.

Film Guide Icon descriptions available at www.hmns.org. Proceeds from the sale of all Wortham Giant Screen

g for current schedule and more information about each film.

screen theatre

Follow Klinky and her clan as they take on the challenges of living in the unforgiving Kalahari Desert. This tale of strength, survival, family unity and fun will delight audiences of all ages!

(42 minutes)

H M N S w o r t h a m g i a n t s c r e e n t h e at r e

NOW SHOWING

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NOW SHOWING The Last Reef is an uplifting, inspirational experience capturing one of Earth’s more vibrant and diverse wonderlands. Exotic coral reefs and vibrant sea walls in the sub-arctic pulsating with anemones and crustaceans—these biodiversity hot spots are as vital to our lives as the rainforests.

(40 minutes)

NOW SHOWING A new true-life adventure introducing an adorable baby chimp named Oscar and his entertaining approach to life in a remarkable story of family bonds and individual triumph.

(78 minutes) © 2012 Disney

n film tickets help further the Houston Museum of Natural Science’s nonprofit mission. Your support counts!

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Burke Baker Planetarium

H M N S b u r k e b a k e r p l a n e ta r i u m

The exhibition Maya 2012: Prophecy Becomes History features artifacts from the same great civilization that comes alive in the Burke Baker Planetarium’s film 2012 Mayan Prophecies.

In this full-dome adventure, you visit the great Maya cities of Uxmal, Chichen Itza, Tikal and Palenque with Maya astronomers and royalty.

The Maya aligned their temples to watch their sky gods and invented calendars to record the past and predict the future. They carved the story of the cosmos in tablets buried in the tomb of a Maya king. Pyramids towered above the rainforest, becoming observatories to follow the Sun. Then the Maya abandoned their cities and sky gods, giving their temples, artwork and power back to the rainforest—to lie hidden for a millennium.

Discover what caused their apocalypse—war, human sacrifice, famine or flood—and make a prophetic connection to conditions in 2012.

Don’t depart 2012 without experiencing both the Maya exhibition and planetarium film.

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a l s o s h ow i ng

GeorgeObservatory

H M N S g e o r g e o b s e r vat o r y

The George Observatory is located in Brazos Bend State Park. Park entrance fee is $7; kids 12 and under are free.

Directions are posted at www.hmns. org/observatory. Current Observatory weather conditions can be accessed at www.weatherbug.com, zip code 77461.

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SATURDAYS AT THE GEORGE

Telescope: Tickets $5, Members $4.50 Discovery Dome: Tickets $3, Members $2.50 View the night sky through the large Observatory telescopes every Saturday evening until 10 p.m. Gift Shop, exhibits and Discovery Dome open at 3 p.m.

Telescope tickets go on sale at 5 p.m.

Viewing begins at dusk.

MEMBERS’ NIGHT

Friday, November 9, 7:30 - 10 p.m.

Cygnus the swan and Pegasus the flying horse will be high in the sky, and the Andromeda Galaxy will be beautiful.

Late in the evening comes the first glimpse of Jupiter as it rises in the eastern sky. Free with park entrance fee.

RSVP in advance to (713) 639-4629.

FAMILY SPACE DAY AT CHALLENGER LEARNING CENTER

Saturday, December 1, 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m. & 7 p.m.

Ticket $10 per person, ages 7 to adult Astronauts of all ages—kids and adults—can fly to the Moon with NASA volunteers. Great fun for the family!

Information and tickets at www.hmns. org/observatory.

GEMINID METEOR SHOWER

Friday, December 14, 7:30 p.m. - 1 a.m.

Take a break from hectic holidays and come see the Geminid Meteor Shower.

Dress warmly, bring lawn chairs and enjoy a beautiful winter display.

Moon conditions are favorable for a spectacular show.

HMNS just for kids 16

Birthdays with a little Brain Power!

Be a guest at your own child’s party this year! Let HMNS handle everything for you— the decorations, entertainment, craft, party favors, party coordinator and more. Visit www.hmns.org/birthdays for complete party-planning info, including optional add-ons.

Party Smarty Packages Birthday Party Packages include a private party room, tables and chairs for 20 children and 20 adults, a creative craft project, and tour of your chosen venue—Hall of Paleontology, Cockrell Butterfly Center, or a Planetarium film.

Themes: Dinosaur, Butterfly/Bugs, or Astronomy Weekend Parties begin at $350, Members $300 Weekday Parties begin at $250, Members $200 Deluxe Party Packages Not enough you say? You want more? Upgrade to a Deluxe Birthday Party that includes a live show, more guests, a private room inside the designated venue—Bee Hive in the Cockrell Butterfly Center, Morian Overlook in the Hall of Paleontology, or Arnold Space Hall—and much more.

Deluxe Themes: Partysaurus, Winged Wonderland, Galactic Gathering Deluxe packages begin at $800.

DINO DAYS Breakfast with Dr. Bakker Saturday, November 10 9 - 11:30 a.m.

Tickets $40, Members $30

HMNS just for kids

Treat your little paleontologist to breakfast and a lecture with worldfamous paleontologist Dr. Robert Bakker. This FUNdraiser, benefiting HMNS, will offer an opportunity for kids to meet Dr. Bakker, watch his entertaining presentation, and participate in exclusive dinosaur activities. Reserve your spot now!

Children under 1 year admitted free.

Adults must accompany children. For tickets, please call (713) 639-4629.

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NEW! Lego Robotics Class HMNS in Hermann Park: Tuesdays, January 8 - March 19, 4:30 - 6 p.m.

HMNS at Sugar Land: Thursdays, January 10 - March 21, 4:30 - 6 p.m.

Registration $240, Members $190

SCOUTS Our Saturday scout classes continue at both the main campus and Sugar Land locations. All your old favorites will be back along with new classes for Girl Scouts in the Careers in Science series and Brownie Trails. Visit us on the web at hmns.org/ scouts. For questions e-mail to scouts@hmns.org or call (713) 639-4680.

Check out our HMNS Scout Weekends, with discounts on select Museum venues.

Visit www.hmns.org/bigyear for more information.

Our most popular summer camp is now available during the school year! Join us 10 Tuesdays or Thursdays after school to explore the basics of NXT Robotics Engineering. Build models with our LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT TM system and then use a computer to program your model to obey your every command!

This program is limited to 16 students in grades 4 – 7, with a minimum of 10 students. To register, visit the Weekday Classes page at store.hmns.org.

for teachers EDUCATORS IN THE KNOW

to use in your classroom, enjoy a catered dinner, and tour the Maya exhibit with trained docents. Six hours of CPE credit will be awarded to participants upon completion.

Check-in begins at 4:30 p.m.

HMNS for teachers

Stay informed about upcoming educator events at HMNS! Contact educationquestions@hmns.org to join our monthly email list.

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“Storm Science” Tuesday, January 22, 5 - 8 p.m. (grades 3 - 8)

EXXONMOBIL TEACHER TUESDAYS $25 per educator (all grades)

Discover ideas and activities to bring your classroom to life as you go behind the scenes with HMNS curators and staff in these exciting interactive workshops. These programs are for teachers only. Includes dinner and 3 hours CPE credit.

“Artifacts in the Classroom” Tuesday, November 13, 5 - 8 p.m. (all grades) In this special workshop, SHUMLA (Studying Human Use of Materials Land and Art) Archeological Research & Education Center will share techniques for using cultural resources in your classroom. Learn how to use specific artifacts as teaching tools for science, math and language arts.

“Space” Tuesday, December 4, 5 - 8 p.m. (grades K - 5) The future of space exploration is changing every day. Participate in exciting activities that will encourage your students to reach for the stars.

Does teaching about weather create a high-pressure system in your classroom?

Let us help you blow those storm clouds away in this wild weather workshop.

GIFTED and TALENTED WORKSHOP Differentiation through Flexible Grouping… Adding the Museum to Your Teacher Toolbox!

Friday, January 25, 5 - 11 p.m.

This TAGT-approved workshop for educators includes hands-on interactive activities designed for immediate implementation. Participants will earn 6 hours of credit toward the completion of their 30 hours of G/T teacher training or 6 hours of update credit for those who have completed their 30 hours.

DEVON ENERGY CORPORATION EDUCATOR LATE NIGHT “Mysteries of the Maya” Friday, November 2, 5 - 11 p.m. $60 per educator (grades 6 - 12)

Separate fiction from fact as you learn about this fascinating culture and its mysterious disappearance. Explore the Maya calendar, Maya math and more in this exclusive after-hours event.

You will work on hands-on activities

ENERGY CONSERVATION CLUB WORKSHOP Generously Supported

by Marathon Oil Corporation “Where Do I Start?

Teaching Energy at All Levels” Wednesday, December 5, 5 - 8 p.m. $25 per educator, snack and 3 hours of CPE credit (all grades)

Whether you have a school, church or scout group of children grades K-12, this workshop will help you locate the resources needed to teach about energy and conservation. You will learn how to inspire your children to conserve, along with fun science learning activities, contests, and more through the ECC website.

TEKS LABS ON DEMAND Cost: $200, $75 travel fee for school Capacity: up to 25 students Need help with a TEKS objective?

Each Lab on Demand is tailored to your grade-level needs and can be offered at the Museum while you are here for a field trip, or we can bring the lab to your classroom. Available topics are Chemistry, Force and Motion, Electricity, Light and Optics,

For more information and for all educators programs, visit www.HMNS.org/teachers or contact educationquestions@hmns.org

Dissection Labs - Grades 5-10

Magnets, Storm Science, Ancient Egypt, Cells, Earth Science, and Dissection. For more information, email educationquestions@hmns.org.

November: Oh Rats!

Beavers, capybara and agoutis, oh my!

More fascinating than fearsome, learn about the rodent family from the outside in. Includes mouse dissection.

FIELD TRIP SCIENCE LABS

Cost: $165 - $200 per lab Capacity: 25 students per lab

Wildlife Lab - Grades 1-8

January: Maya Prophecy Explore the truth behind the 2012 prophecy as you discover the continent’s longest-lived indigenous civilization and some of their enduring contributions.

December: Sights and Smells It’s predator versus prey as we examine the cues animals use to find their food.

Time Labs - Grades 1-8

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November: Plague In 1348 Genovese sailors brought the Black Death to Europe from Asia.

Explore the effects this plague had on the lives and cultures of Medieval Europe.

ConocoPhillips Techo Science Labs Grades 1-8 November: Skyscraper Science Experiment with tension, compression and more to solve the problems of building sky-high.

December: Optics Explore reflection, refraction and light with mirrors and lenses.

December: Leonardo da Vinci Gizmos, gadgets and ingenious inventions! Discover Leonardo and his amazing talents.

HMNS for teachers

Coming to HMNS or HMNS at Sugar Land for a field trip? Try one of our Weekday Science Labs! With new topics each month, our labs feature Museum specimens, artifacts and laboratory equipment. Students examine ancient objects, investigate technology, meet live animals and conduct scientific experiments in five different, themed labs. Each lab lasts one hour and includes admission to the Museum’s permanent exhibit halls for lab participants.

January: Waste Not, Want Not From filtration to waste removal, investigate our very own water treatment plant, the kidney. Includes kidney dissection.

January: Water Works Discover surprising things about water and explore surface tension and capillary action.

HMNS OUTREACH PROGRAMS

www.hmns.org/outreach

BRING THE MUSEUM TO YOUR CLASSROOM! Bugs on Wheels Chevron Earth Science on Wheels ConocoPhillips Science on Stage Discovery Dome Docents to Go Wildlife on Wheels For booking and questions, contact outreach@hmns.org or (713)639-4758.

H M N S a d ul t e d u c a t i o n

Adult education

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Photo Credit: SDO/NASA

DISTINGUISHED LECTURES Tickets $18, Members $12

“Our Explosive Sun, The Source of the Northern Lights” Pål Brekke, Ph.D., Norwegian Space Center Thursday, November 15, 6:30 p.m.

DAY EXCURSION “Fossil Hunting” Friday, November 16, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Tickets $45, Members $35 Hunt for ancient marine creatures that lived 56 million years ago—when Texas was underwater. Join David Temple, HMNS associate curator of paleontology, on a fossil dig on the banks of the Brazos River. Fossils at the site include numerous types of mollusks as well as shark teeth and fish bones. What you find is yours to keep. Everyone is guaranteed to find fossils! Participants will meet in Bryan, Texas, and caravan a couple of miles to the site.

SYMPOSIUM Fabergé Symposium Thursday, January 31, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Houston Museum of Natural Science $75 per person HMNS is proud to host the 2013 Fabergé Symposium featuring internationally recognized experts: Tim Adams, USA; Tatiana Fabergé, France; Alice Ilich, Australia; Galina Korneva,

The beautiful aurora borealis, “the northern lights,” dancing across the sky is a stunning phenomenon embedded in the mythology of many cultures and has been characterized as everything from dancing spirits to God’s anger.

But no one suspected the phenomenon’s connection with the Sun until a little more than 100 years ago, when an eccentric Norwegian scientist, Kristian Birkeland, realized that the Sun bombards the Earth with particles.

Russia; Christel McCanless, USA; Ulla Tillander-Godenhielm, Finland; and Annemiek Wintraecken, Holland.

The program will include a preview of the McFerrin Fabergé Collection before it opens to the public, demonstrations of gemstone-cutting and metalsmithing techniques used

by Fabergé craftsmen, and specialized tours of the Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals and Smith Gem Vault.

Breakfast and lunch and are included.

In a multimedia presentation with breathtaking imagery of the Sun from NASA’s Solar Dynamic Observatory and the most amazing time lapses of the mystical Northern lights, Dr. Pål Brekke will explore the myths and the modern science behind the northern lights and our Sun, a stormy and variable star that can affect our technology-based society in many ways. This lecture is co-sponsored by the Royal Norwegian Consulate General of Houston and Rice Space Institute of Rice University as part of Transatlantic Science Week 2012.

education “Cosmic Time - The Antikythera Mechanism & Its Mysteries” Mike Edmunds, Ph.D. Cardiff University, UK Tuesday, November 20, 6:30 p.m.

H M N S a d ul t e d u c a t i o n

Perhaps the most extraordinary surviving relic from the ancient Greek world is a device found at a shipwreck that contained over 30 gear wheels that dates from the 1st century BCE, now known as the Antikythera Mechanism. Often regarded as the world’s first computer, its purpose was astronomical—putting into mechanical form the great time cycles of the Sun, Moon and planets that had been discovered from centuries of Babylonian observations.

Discover the results from an international research team that has been using the most modern imaging methods to probe the device and its inscriptions, which show the extraordinary sophistication of the mechanism’s design and its fundamental implications for the development of Greek astronomy, philosophy and the technology of clocks. This lecture is cosponsored by Archaeological Institute of America – Houston Society, and the Hellenic Cultural Center.

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Travel Program

Tanzania: A Treasure Trove of Wildlife & Culture, Past and Present November 11 - 22, 2013

“Near Earth Objects: Finding Them Before They Find Us” Donald Yeomans, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology Wednesday, January 16, 6:30 p.m.

The unique eco-system of the Ngorongoro Crater, the vast savannahs of the Serengeti, the forest and grassland near the shores of Lake Manyara, and the renowned anthropological and geological sites at Olduvai Gorge—see the wonders of east Africa. This two-week trip includes safaris to superb areas for seeing giraffe, zebra, elephant, hippo, treeclimbing and black-mained lion, black rhino, wildebeest, impala, flamingo,

warthog, baboon, and many other species of African wildlife. All are guaranteed a window seat for wildlife viewing in a 4x4 with photo roof.

You will also visit the site where the roots of modern man were unearthed

by Mary Leakey and a Maasai village. Dr. Dirk Van Tuerenhout, HMNS curator of anthropology and David Temple, associate curator of paleontology, will accompany this trip exclusively for HMNS. Space is very limited. For complete itinerary, pricing and registration, visit www.hmns.org/travel. For questions contact travel@hmns.org.

For tickets to all events, visit www

n o v e mb e r

HMNS events calendar

Devon Energy Corporation Educator Late Night “Mysteries of the Maya” Friday, November 2, 5 - 11 p.m. (page 18)

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Distinguished Lecture “The 2012 Phenomenon and What the Ancient Maya Calendar-keepers might have Anticipated: An Astronomer– Mesoamericanist’s Perspective” Monday, November 5, 6:30 p.m. (page 5) Distinguished Lecture “The Medici Court: Marvels, Oddities and Natural Science” Wednesday, November 7, 6:30 p.m. (page 7) HMNS at Sugar Land Third Birthday Party Thursday, November 8, 6 - 9 p.m. (page 9)

Members’ Night at the George Observatory Friday, November 9, 7:30 - 10 p.m. (page 15)

Day Excursion “Fossil Hunting” Friday, November 16, 9 a.m. (page 20)

Dino Days Breakfast with Dr. Robert Bakker Saturday, November 10, 9 - 11:30 a.m. (page 17)

HMNS at Sugar Land Friday Family Fun Night “Go Fish!”

Friday, November 16, 6:30 - 9 p.m. (page 9)

ExxonMobil Teacher Tuesday “Artifacts in the Classroom” Tuesday, November 13, 5 - 8 p.m. (page 18) Cultural Feast “Maya Flavors: Past, Present and Future” Wednesday, November 14, 7 p.m. (page 5)

Distinguished Lecture “Cosmic Time - The Antikythera Mechanism & Its Mysteries” Tuesday, November 20, 6:30 p.m. (page 21) LaB 5555 “Glow” Friday, November 30, 8 - 11 p.m. (page 23)

Distinguished Lecture “Our Explosive Sun The Source of the Northern Lights” Thursday, November 15, 6:30 p.m. (page 20)

d e c e mb e r Family Space Day at Challenger Learning Center Saturday, December 1, 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m. & 7 p.m. (page 15)

Energy Conservation Club Workshop “Where Do I Start?

Teaching Energy at All Levels” Wednesday, December 5, 5 - 8 p.m. (page 18)

Behind-the-Scenes Tour Maya 2012: Prophecy becomes History Monday, December 3, 6 p.m. (page 5)

HMNS at Sugar Land Public Awareness Series “Energy Efficient Homes” Thursday, December 6, 6:30 p.m. (page 9)

ExxonMobil Teacher Tuesday “Space” Tuesday, December 4, 5 - 8 p.m. (page 18)

Behind-the-Scenes Tour Maya 2012: Prophecy becomes History Monday, December 10, 6 p.m. (page 5)

Geminid Meteor Shower Friday, December 14, 7:30 p.m. - 1 a.m. (page 15) Distinguished Lecture “Mayan Prophecies” Tuesday, December 18, 6:30 p.m. (page 5) LaB 5555 “Apocalypto” Friday, December 21, 8 p.m. – midnight (page 23)

w.hmns.org or call (713) 639-4629.

Make partying productive at LaB 5555— HMNS’ monthly after-hours bash with an educational edge. Advance tickets available at www.hmns.org and (713) 639-4629.

21 and up only.

“Glow” Friday, November 30, 8 - 11 p.m.

Learn what gives things light. Access to the new Hall of Paleontology is included, along with yummy food truck fare and live entertainment from three DJs: DJ Ceeplus Bad Knives, Mr. Castillo, and Bobby DJ. “Apocalypto” Friday, December 21, 8 p.m. - midnight Countdown to the (maybe?) end of the word and enjoy access to the exhibition Maya 2012: Prophecy Becomes History, showings of 2012: Mayan Prophecies in the Burke Baker Planetarium, and music

by Grupo Ka-Che.

Join the HMNS volunteer team!

DONATE YOUR BODY TO SCIENCE...

VOLUNTEER AT HMNS AT SUGAR LAND! Open the doors of the Museum to thousands of children—and open their minds to the wonder of the natural world of science. Share your excitement about science and help educate our visitors as a museum docent, field trip greeter, classroom aide or special exhibit docent. Become involved as a behind-the-scenes volunteer assisting with special projects and upcoming events. Make your own discoveries while learning about massive cathedral geodes, the enchanting world of frogs, and our amazing world of wildlife. Meet the dinosaurs in the new hall of paleontology and interact with the state-of-the-art Science on a Sphere.

Make a difference in a child’s life, as they make a difference in yours. No experience necessary; we will train and teach you everything you need to know.

To sign up or receive more information, please contact the Volunteer Office at HMNS at Sugar Land at (281) 313-2277, extension 104 or smathew@hmns.org.

H M N S l a b 5 5 5 5 • s u g a r l a n d v o lu n t e e r s

LaB 5555 Tickets $20 Members $12

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www.hmns.org HMNS activities are supported in part by funds provided by the Houston Arts Alliance.

HMNS News (ISSN 1556-7478) is published bimonthly by the Houston Museum of Natural Science, 5555 Hermann Park Drive, Houston, Texas 77030. Issues are sent every other month as a benefit to all Museum members. HMNS is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to preserve and advance the general knowledge of natural science, to enhance in individuals the knowledge of and delight in natural science and related subjects, and to maintain and promote a museum of the first class.

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