Some days we are so immersed in our work to develop and deliver quality science programming that we don't take time to observe science in our midst. On Monday, February 6th, we were simply not in the right place at the right time to witness the largest meteor that scientists have seen in years. NASA experts report that the meteor sighted on Monday was about the size of a minivan before it hit the Earth's atmosphere, then burned up until it was closer to the size of a lunch box when it landed in Lake Michigan.
Why is this important? Well, first, it's super cool! The National Weather Service says the "shooting star" caused a sonic boom when it hit our atmosphere, shaking houses in the region. When was the last time you heard or felt a sonic boom?
And second, it generates interest and excitement about science. Weather radar coupled with all of the footage of the event will be used by NASA and others to research this meteor event. If the pieces of the meteor, which are upwards of four-and-a-half billion years old, are collected from the bottom of Lake Michigan, they could help researchers understand more of the composition and history of the solar system.
We explore the solar system at the Fleet the first Wednesday of each month during our planetarium show, The Sky Tonight. The topic for our March 1 program is "Amazing Tidal Forces". The Moon is responsible for the ocean tides on Earth, but did you know tidal forces act on other celestial objects as well? Join us to learn about the effects of tidal forces on moons, black holes and other galaxies throughout the universe, too. Click HERE for tickets. Hope to see you there!
Warm regards,
Steve Snyder, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
P.S. For more information on how you can support the Fleet's efforts, contact Matthew Kirl at: MKirl@rhfleet.org.
A terrible crime! A clever mystery! The game is afoot!
A horrible crime has been committed. Victorian London's most celebrated detective needs your help to find out "whodunit!"
Sherlock Holmes and the Clocktower Mystery opened on February 11 and will run through June 4, 2017, at the Fleet Science Center.
Corporate and Foundation Giving
The Fleet Science Center is pleased to recognize the following partners for their generous support:
Beyster Family Foundation at The San Diego Foundation
The City of San Diego Commission for Arts
and Culture
