October 24, 2011 News Release

The National Museum of Natural History has launched its latest temporary exhibition titled The Evolving Universe, inviting visitors on a captivating journey through time and space. Stunning full-color photographs from powerful terrestrial and orbiting telescopes take us back to the cosmos' origins, revealing how stars, galaxies, and the universe undergo the same life cycle stages as Earth: birth, growth, maturity, eventual decay. This remarkable exploration of our cosmic heritage unfolds on the second floor of the museum until July 7, 2013.

With advancements in technology, astronomers have been able to explore the cosmos' history using telescopes that can pierce through the darkness of space and unlock its secrets. The light from stars and galaxies illuminating the night sky has traveled across vast distances over hundreds, millions or even billions of years, transporting us back in time. Just as the sun's rays reach Earth swiftly, traveling merely 93 million miles away within minutes, there are celestial wonders closer to home like our Milky Way galaxy.

The Evolving Universe exhibition showcases breathtaking images revealing the beauty and sometimes the vast terror that makes up our universe, sd Glenn Macpherson, supervisory research geologist at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. We see dust grns from ancient dying stars trapped in meteorites when they formed billions of years ago within our solar system.

The exhibition features spectacular views of our cosmic neighborhood as captured by telescopes like those at the Keck Observatory, Gemini North Telescope, and Palomar Observatory. These images depict galaxies and nebulae that have formed over eons under the watchful eye of celestial phenomena such as black holes and dark energy.

The Evolving Universe brings to life the journey through time from the birth of our universe in the Big Bang to the formation of stars and galaxies, and ultimately to the mysteries surrounding dark matter and dark energy that permeate the cosmos, sd Dr. Sarah Johnson, a renowned astrophysicist at Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

With The Evolving Universe, visitors are invited to explore our cosmic heritage through stunning photographs and immersive experiences that provide an exclusive look into the origins of our universe. This exhibition will allow you to witness firsthand the beauty and complexity of our celestial neighborhood, offering a captivating glimpse into how stars, galaxies, and even Earth have evolved over billions of years.

To enhance your visit, guided tours are avlable upon request which offer in-depth insights on specific topics related to the exhibition such as star formation, the evolution of galaxies or the mysteries surrounding dark matter. These guided tours provide an opportunity for visitors of all ages to gn a deeper understanding of our cosmic heritage and its connection to our dly lives.

For more information on The Evolving Universe exhibition at the National Museum of Natural History, please visit the museum's websitehttps:www.nmnh.si.eduexhibitsevolving-universe for detled descriptions of each exhibit, ticket reservations, and additional resources. The exhibition also offers a range of educational programs med to further enrich visitor's experience.

Join us in uncovering the mysteries of our universe at The Evolving Universe exhibition. Let this journey inspire you to ponder the vastness of space and our place within it as we continue to explore the cosmos together.

Suggested tweet: Step back through time explore our cosmic heritage with @NMNH's captivating exhibit, The Evolving Universe. ??? #nmnh

SI-411B-2011
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