Visitors to the J. Watumull Planetarium at Bishop Museum usually spend time examining other planets in our solar system and galaxies far, far away. With the opening of “NASA’s Earth-Observing Mission,” a new permanent addition to the planetarium’s lobby area, guests of all ages will be able to learn more about the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s efforts to study the planet we live on.
“They do as much for our home planet as they do for the other planets,” said Mike Shanahan, Bishop Museum planetarium director. Following a $1.5 million upgrade to the planetarium in 2012, the museum is now taking advantage of an $800,000 grant from NASA issued the same year to update the lobby exhibit and add a new planetarium show, “Eyes on Island Earth.”
“They reinforce each other,” Shanahan said of the exhibit and new planetarium show, which takes place daily at 3:30 p.m. “It’s a landmark for the museum in that it marks our return to a relationship of creating educational programming related to what NASA does.”
>> Name of exhibit: “NASA’s Earth-Observing Mission”
>> Exhibit dates: Permanent addition to the J. Watumull Planetarium lobby; open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas)
>> Where: Bishop Museum, 1525 Bernice St.
>> Admission: $22.95 general; $14.95 for Hawaii residents, free for keiki under 4
>> What it’s about: In addition to studying outer space, NASA spends plenty of time examining Earth using satellites that orbit our planet. The updated lobby exhibit in Bishop Museum’s Watumull Planetarium explains the science behind NASA’s “missions to Earth” with a series of interactive informational stations.
>> Age recommendation: 3 and up
>> Kid-friendly aspects: There’s something to touch at every stop, and the exhibit is just big enough to keep younger kids occupied without overwhelming them. Stopping by this part of the museum when a planetarium show isn’t scheduled can also mean getting the room pretty much to yourself.
>> Hands-on features: Learn more about the speed of objects as they approach Earth or attempt to repair a satellite using a robotic arm. Spinning tops are used to help illustrate storm patterns in the Pacific Ocean, and an infrared camera is set up to point at people who pass by, while an “augmented reality sand box” allows visitors to manipulate a topographical map by shifting piles of sand.
>> Parents will like: This exhibit is on the smaller side, which can be good for kids with short attention spans, but there’s still plenty of interactivity. Additional background material is posted throughout the exhibit that will appeal to older kids and grown-ups looking for more detail.
>> Estimated time to tour: 20-30 minutes
>> Curator says: “Everyone knows NASA studies space, but not everyone knows what a big role NASA has in monitoring our home planet,” said Shanahan. “We had a massive NASA grant which brought me here to Hawaii in 1999, so this is a chance for us to go back to offering NASA-themed programming at the museum.”
>> User review: “It’s pretty interactive,” said 32-year-old Kalihi resident Joshua Wilhelm. “Easy enough for small kids but interesting enough for old guys, too. When you play with the stuff, that’s what draws you in, and then you can learn more from reading the walls.”
>> For more info: Call 847-3511 or visit bishopmuseum.org.
