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Narrated by Robert Redford

Cosmic Collisions

Cosmic Collisions

From subatomic particles to the largest galaxies, cosmic collisions are a universal force of nature. Creative and also destructive, dynamic and dazzling, collisions have resulted in many things we take for granted – the luminescent Moon, the Sun’s warmth and light, our changing seasons, waves washing up on a sandy shore, They’ve ended the Age of Dinosaurs and changed the very map of the cosmos, reforming galaxies and giving birth to new stars and new worlds. Cosmic Collisions, the third Space Show produced by the American Museum of Natural History, provides an unprecedented and extraordinary view of these events – both catastrophic and constructive – that have shaped out world and our universe.

Cosmic Collisions was developed by the American Museum of Natural History, New York, in collaboration with the Denver Museum of Nature & Science; GOTO, Inc., Tokyo, Japan; and the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, China.

Cosmic Collisions was developed by the American Museum of Natural History with the major support and partnership of National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Science Missions Directorate, Heliophysics Division.

August 20, 2017

Select a Date to View

One World One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure

Sunday, August 20, 2017
10:00 am

Explore the night sky with your favorite friends from Sesame Street in One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure. Follow along with Big Bird, Elmo and their friend from China, Hu Hu Zhu, as they take you on a journey of discovery to learn about the Big Dipper, the North Star, the Sun and the Moon. Running time, 25 minutes.

One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure was created as part of a global partnership between the Adler Planetarium; Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street; the Beijing Planetarium; and the Liberty Science Center (Jersey City, NJ).

Space News & Asteroid: Mission Extreme

11:00 am

First, live educators will talk about what is happening in astronomy right now in Space News then get ready for Asteroid: Mission Extreme!

This movie takes audiences on an epic journey to discover the possibilities that asteroids present for space travel. Using stunning visuals and state-of-the-art computer graphics, the film presents the fascinating idea, based on real science, that asteroids could be used as stepping stones to other worlds, veritable “way stations” in space enabling us to cross the entire solar system.

As with any venture in outer space, the challenges involved with making this idea a reality are enormous; however, a mission this extreme could ultimately lead us to learn how to protect our planet and how to successfully inhabit other worlds.

Explore what it would take for astronauts to reach an asteroid and then tame it for our use, as well as how such an extraordinary adventure could benefit humankind, in Asteroid: Mission Extreme.

Narrated by Sigourney Weaver

Current Night Sky - Space Lab

Sunday, August 20, 2017
12:00 pm

Our live full dome programs utilize Uniview, a visualization and simulation software aimed at presenting and teaching astronomy, astrophysics and earth sciences. Our full dome theater is a large-scale immersive environment, featuring realtime digital planetarium, and large-format cinema.

Current Night Sky
Long before television, GPS and street lights, there were the stars of the night sky. Visitors will travel through the seasonal night sky to learn about constellations, hear mythical stories and observe the magnificent Long Island sky.

Living in the Age of Airplanes

Sunday, August 20, 2017
1:00 pm

Living in the Age of Airplanes is a story about how the airplane has changed the world. Filmed in 18 countries across all 7 continents, it renews our appreciation for one of the most extraordinary and awe-inspiring aspects of the modern world.

Living in the Age of Airplanes is narrated by actor and pilot Harrison Ford and features an original score by Academy Award®-winning composer and pilot James Horner (Avatar, Titanic). The film was shot in 95 locations around the globe, from remote places like the South Pole and the Maldives to historically significant sites of ancient civilizations. The narrative weaves together the profound ways that aviation has transformed our lives, connecting countries and cultures while expanding horizons and minds.

Space News & Asteroid: Mission Extreme

Sunday, August 20, 2017
2:00 pm

First, live educators will talk about what is happening in astronomy right now in Space News then get ready for Asteroid: Mission Extreme!

This movie takes audiences on an epic journey to discover the possibilities that asteroids present for space travel. Using stunning visuals and state-of-the-art computer graphics, the film presents the fascinating idea, based on real science, that asteroids could be used as stepping stones to other worlds, veritable “way stations” in space enabling us to cross the entire solar system.

As with any venture in outer space, the challenges involved with making this idea a reality are enormous; however, a mission this extreme could ultimately lead us to learn how to protect our planet and how to successfully inhabit other worlds.

Explore what it would take for astronauts to reach an asteroid and then tame it for our use, as well as how such an extraordinary adventure could benefit humankind, in Asteroid: Mission Extreme.

Narrated by Sigourney Weaver

Journey to Space

Sunday, August 20, 2017
3:00 pm

“We began as wanderers, and are wanderers still”
~ Carl Sagan

In the past half century, humans have punched through the stratosphere, walked on the moon, and lived continuously in orbit. In the coming decades, our unquenchable curiosity will take our species beyond the cradle of Earth to touch the face of another world. Strap in for the next giant leap. Next stop … Mars! Narrated by Patrick Stewart.

NASA’s next era will be its greatest yet. That is the clear “roadmap” painted by Journey To Space. The film absolutely annihilates the perception that the space program died with the end of the Space Shuttle Program by showcasing the exciting plans NASA and the space community are working on, and the challenges they must overcome to carry out audacious missions such as landing astronauts on Mars and capturing asteroids.

By using extensive interviews with astronauts Chris Ferguson (Commander of the final shuttle mission) and Serena Aunon (a new astronaut chosen for future flights), as well as a brilliant narration by film and television legend Sir Patrick Stewart, Journey To Space gives a sweeping overview of past space accomplishments, current activities and future plans.

Journey To Space puts into historical context the magnificent contributions made by the Space Shuttle program and its intrepid space pioneers. It uses the most spectacular space footage – including unique views of Earth and operations in space – such as deploying and repairing the Hubble Space Telescope. It then goes on to show how the Shuttle launched and assembled the International Space Station (ISS). Together, these programs have taught us how to live, build and conduct science in space. The ISS will continue operating in space until 2024, and the film shows how it is building a foundation for the next giant leaps into space.

The film concludes with a fascinating, realistic scenario of how astronauts will actually get to Mars, live there for long duration, and then return home after a two-and-a-half-year mission. This includes the new icons of the next chapter of space exploration:

Orion is NASA’s first spacecraft designed to carry humans on long-duration deep space exploration missions throughout the solar system.
Olympus, an inflatable transportation habitat, is an early concept 45- or 50-feet diameter module that would provide astronauts the work area and living space necessary for long-duration missions. Smaller versions have already flown in space, and a full-scale version is shown undergoing ground testing.

The Space Launch System (SLS), a new giant rocket, will carry spacecraft, Mars landers and ascent vehicles to place astronauts on the surface of Mars. SLS will generate over nine million pounds of thrust and will launch hardware into orbit equivalent to the weight of 22 elephants.
Journey to Space will both inspire a new generation of young people to dream of new horizons in space, and engender a new appreciation for the accomplishments of the Space Shuttle Program among an older generation who came to take it for granted.

Lewis and Clark: Great Journey West

Sunday, August 20, 2017
4:00 pm

Lewis and Clark: Great Journey West

It was the dawn of a nation - a time before the American West became known as the frontier, and little was known about what lay within. Two captains, courageous in spirit and unyielding in their dedication to their mission, led 31 people, including one woman and her infant son, to the Pacific Ocean and back. Audiences will experience the danger and beauty of the unknown West as it unfolded before the eyes of Lewis and Clark.

Narrated by Jeff Bridges