[AstroNet] Fw: CfA: New Exhibition & Website on the Evolving Universe

[Case Rijsdijk]

Dear All,

This may be of interest.

Kind regards

Case

NEW EXHIBITION, WEBSITE GUIDE
VISITORS THROUGH THE EVOLVING UNIVERSE

The cosmos constantly changes. Stars are born, live out their lives,
and die -- sometimes calmly, sometimes explosively. Galaxies form,
grow, and collide dramatically. A new exhibition and website,
developed jointly by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO)
and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, reveal the
dynamic and evolving universe through breathtaking photographs and
informative captions.

“The Evolving Universe” explores how the stars, galaxies and universe
undergo the same stages as life on Earth: from birth, to maturity and,
eventually, to death. This remarkable journey from present-day Earth
to the far reaches of space and time will be on view in the museum in
Washington, D.C., through July 7, 2013.

A worldwide audience also can experience the exhibition through its
website: http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/evolving-universe

All of the images featured in the museum gallery can be downloaded in
high-resolution jpegs or PDFs formatted in poster size.

“Anyone can select their favorite space photo, download it, and take
it to their local copy shop to print it,” said Smithsonian
astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell, who played a lead role in developing
the exhibition.

Visitors to the exhibition or website can choose one of two paths to
explore the cosmos. They can begin close to home with our solar system
and move outward to the farthest reaches of the universe. Or they can
begin 13.7 billion years ago at the moment of the Big Bang and move
forward in time to the present day. Along their journey they will
learn how a variety of telescopes and instruments, many developed by
SAO, reveal the fascinating history of the expanding universe.

“We’ve all seen the amazing pictures from NASA’s probes in our own
solar system,” said McDowell. “I’m excited about bringing to the
public the remarkable images of the broader universe that we
astronomers have been exploring with our telescopes. I hope that with
this exhibition visitors will take away an appreciation for our larger
cosmic neighborhood.”

http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/news/2011/pr201132.html