Launch a Rocket, Touch the Moon!

7 October 2011

Launch a Rocket, Touch the Moon!

Carter Observatory has loads of family fun planned for these October school holidays. Between our two new exhibits and a range of fun filled activities, there’s plenty going on to keep young and old alike busy.

The work of Sir William Pickering is celebrated in the new Pickering Gallery exhibition. William Pickering was born on Mount Victoria and let the American space race with the launch of Explorer 1 in 1957.

This gallery also features a rocket launching pad where visitors can choose to witness and feel a rocket launch, the ground moves under the watchers feet giving a unique experience! Kids can touch a real piece of Moon rock right here as those of us a bit older reflect on man’s first landing on the surface of the Moon by the Apollo 11 crew in 1969.

There are over 2,500 satellites in space sending information back to Earth. Many Kiwis’ are using these data in their own scientific endeavours here in New Zealand, in areas such as weather, geography, seismic activity and tsunamis, search and rescue and communications. We take a look at some of these current endeavours in this gallery too.

Nearby a fully themed, immersive space module has been designed with younger visitors in mind. This module will inspire children by engaging them in “mini missions” to different planets in our solar system and will allow children to use their curiosity to discover what living and working in space is like.

In the adjacent small theatre our new animated film “Maui and the Skies” takes a look at Maui and his importance to the people of the Pacific and New Zealand. Prof. Peter Adds narrates this fascinating insight and shares the story of Maui Taming the Sun.

These new exhibits have been made possible by the generous grant of $698,400 made by the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board.

During the holidays, we’ll be running a series of Spaceflight themed activities including gallery trails, competitions and shuttle glider making.

There will be special showings of “Tycho to the Moon”, a 25 minute planetarium show perfect for our younger visitors. This show follows Tycho the dog, in his spaceship kennel, out into space and beyond. Viewers see the Earth from space, chase a golf ball on the Moon and get a close up view of our own Sun. Special show times are at 10.15am on Sunday and Wednesday mornings throughout the school holidays.

You can be sure that every member of the family will be inspired and entertained with a visit to Carter Observatory these holidays.

Key Facts on Carter Observatory

• Carter Observatory opened on 7 December 1941
• Re-opened as a visitor attraction on 27 March 2010 after a two and a half year, $4.2m refurbishment
• In July 2010 Carter became part of the Wellington Museums Trust under the management of the Wellington City Council
• Carter obtained Qualmark accreditation as a visitor attraction in August 2010
• Over 70,000 people have visited Carter since re-opening in March 2010
• Over 12,000 school children have visited Carter since re-opening

Web: www.carterobservatory.org
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/carterobservatory
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/Carter_Observ

ENDS

© Scoop Media