The Scientific Instruments Collection at DMNS is composed of instruments that have been used by Museum staff members, have been part of crucial experiments involving key scientists in their pursuit of knowledge, or are excellent type-examples of particular instruments.

The collection is maintained not only for archival and research purposes, but more importantly, to educate and increase public recognition of the fundamental role that such instruments have played not only in the advancement of the current state of technology, but also in our knowledge of the natural sciences.  As the DMNS Scientific Collection has been developed, the emphasis has been preservation of instruments that are of particular importance to the history of science and artifacts of historical significance to the Museum.  The Collection is not intended for research use per se, although many of the items included have played important roles in past research programs.

The Space Sciences Department maintains a large collection of digital images and multimedia assets for use in exhibitions, education, research, public programs, and Space Odyssey. The Space Sciences Department is the keeper of such valued commodities as space images, movies, and animations that are stored in digital form. The collection is comprised of a wide range of astronomy topics that provide background knowledge on Earth, our solar system, cosmology, and many more topics related to astronomy and space science. Digital resources that have significant and long-lasting value are cataloged and stored in the digital collections database, along with the necessary copyright permissions. Assets from our collection grace exhibit components, where they offer visual interpretations and the basis for ongoing dialogue with our visitors.

In 2001, a citizen science effort included a system of allsky cameras, many mounted on the rooftops of schools around the state and one atop the Museum, their purpose is to record the appearance of bright fireballs in the night sky so that the trajectories of the meteorites might be determined and the objects perhaps found.  In addition to helping locate fresh meteorite falls, an allsky camera can provide valuable information about the kind of meteors you can see on any clear night, and about annual meteor showers.

Through our association with Cloudbait Observatory, we actively investigate bright fireballs, both in the interest of determining the original orbit and also of recovering any possible meteorites that might be produced. If you live in Colorado or the surrounding states, and have recently seen a very bright meteor, please report it here.

An extensive network of allsky cameras are in place to record and supplement witness reports. If you witnessed a meteor and are curious if it was recorded, try the real-time meteor log which lists all events captured by the Cloudbait camera as they occur. These events are normally processed into the main database each morning.

A general overview of fireballs can be found here.

From the beginning, everyone who has ever had a vision for the project that became Space Odyssey agreed on one thing: that the information provided to the public be up-to-date and accurate.  This is involved and difficult to do, as the Museum discovered in earlier exhibitions. But space sciences found the way during the planning stages of Space Odyssey: the Space Sciences Newsroom.

The Newsroom is a physical location, a place inside the Museum with the necessary equipment and resources, where staff and volunteers research, prepare and deliver up-to-date astronomy and space science content to the floor of Space Odyssey.

The Newsroom team includes Collections Manager, Marta Lindsay, Content Specialist, Dr. Dimitri Klebe and Newsroom Manager, Kim Evans; in addition, the three Space Sciences curators (David Grinspoon, Steve Lee, and Ka Chun Yu) act in advisory, content review, and volunteer/staff training capacities as needed. They work together with the Newsroom volunteers to deliver topical and exhibit resources, ranging from spaceflight missions and science news, to astrobiology and supernova, to the importance of infrared light in the study of astronomy. This content is made available to Galaxy Guides via the Galaxy Guide Web Portal or as high resolution images and movies for the exhibit screens and interactives. Context, usage, and focus can change over time by virtue of changing gallery programming, targeted facilitation, and the flexibility of digital media. The challenge for the Newsroom team is to provide the volunteer Galaxy Guides with the resources they need to provide spontaneous and engaging conversations with Museum visitors on a daily basis.

Newsroom staff and volunteers are instrumental in supporting curator lectures and assisting with special events such as mission launches and landings, star parties and remote broadcasts, providing digital media and technical support/expertise. Newsroom staff and volunteers also respond to letters and phone calls from museum visitors, the public and local news media interested in space science topics.

Scientists from the Space Sciences Department take you "behind the stories" using the best images and animation available to help understand the latest developments.

April 2013 -- Dr. Dimitri Klebe talks all about dark matter. He covers three recent stories -  the Plank mission’s release of the first all-sky image of the distribution of dark matter, potential evidence of dark matter seen by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer onboard the ISS,  and the first hint of a WIMP-like signal.
Dr. Steve Lee brings us up-to-date on the latest mission news. Hear how the solar conjunction is affecting spacecraft at Mars, the potential for a Mars comet strike in 2014, the recent Antares test launch, and the latest on NASA’s proposed asteroid retrieval mission.

Links related to Dimitri’s stories:
Plank
AMS
Possible Dark Matter WIMP detection

Links related to Steve’s stories:
Mars Solar Conjunction
Mars Comet Strike 2014
Antares Test Launch
Asteroid Retrieval Mission

To view previous 60 Minutes in Space visit the Space Sciences Newsroom page on Vimeo.

The Space News Update is put together by volunteers and staff in the Space Sciences Newsroom. Twice a week they review numerous space news websites to bring you the latest stories and information.

Find out what to watch for in the night sky, the best time to see the International Space Station pass overhead, the Space Image of the Week, and more!

SNU_05172013.pdf
SNU_05132013.pdf
SNU_05062013.pdf
SNU_05032013.pdf
SNU_04262013.pdf
SNU_04222013.pdf

May Sky Calendar (pdf)
Highlights this month's sky phenomena and celestial happenings with local dates and times.
(Mountain time zone).

2013 Sky Calendars		2012 Sky Calendars		.
January February March April May	.	January February March April May June	July August September October November December	.	.