EUGENE, Ore. -- (Jan. 26, 2012) -- "Out in Space, Back in Time: Images from the Hubble Space Telescope" is coming to the University of Oregon's Museum of Natural and Cultural History on Wednesday, Feb. 8.
The exhibit features 17 large-scale images produced by the Hubble telescope as well as hands-on activities and interpretive panels that explore the science of the Hubble program. It will appeal to a wide range of audiences, says Ann Craig, associate director of public programs at MNCH.
"This exhibit will engage visitors on many different levels. As purely aesthetic objects, the large-scale images are visually stunning," she said. "For those who are fascinated by astronomy and the great universe we inhabit, the exhibit presents information on such topics as galaxies, nebulae and black holes. For photography buffs and those who love camera technology, we explain how the telescope works and to what extent humans are involved in creating the final colorized images."
Through hands-on activities, visitors will be able to explore how different types of lenses change our vision, how the telescope detects a larger portion of the light spectrum than what our eyes detect, and how colors can be blended to create composite images.
Meteorites from MNCH's Condon Collection and the Department of Geological Sciences’ Gordon G. Goles Collection also are included in the exhibit, as well as discussion about the famed Willamette meteorite, found in 1902 near West Linn, Ore.
MNCH acquired the Hubble Space Telescope images from NASA. The exhibit will be displayed through February 2013 in the MNCH's Galleria.
About the Museum of Natural and Cultural History
The UO Museum of Natural and Cultural History is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for seniors and youths ages 17 and under, and $8 for families (two adults and up to four youths). Museum members are admitted free. Guided tours are offered each Friday at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. (MMCH on Facebook)
About the University of Oregon
The University of Oregon is among the 108 institutions chosen from 4,633 U.S. universities for top-tier designation of "Very High Research Activity" in the 2010 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The UO also is one of two Pacific Northwest members of the Association of American Universities.
Media Contact: Denise Sorom, marketing and communications specialist, dsorom@uoregon.edu, 541-346-5083.