Museum of Science, Boston

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October 29, 2008

The stories of the stars are revealed in conjunction with Mythic Creatures exhibit

BOSTON—The night sky for many today is, for the most part, just a passing fancy. After all, those living near urban centers are often unable to view the sky's most dazzling features. But for the ancients of all cultures, the night sky and its stars told a story that profoundly impacted their daily lives. For our ancestors, the stars present in the sky marked the seasons, helped with navigation, and predicted the future. But while every culture had a different tale to tell regarding the formation of the heavens, certain aspects of the night sky played an important role in belief systems across many civilizations.

Sky Heroes: Myths in the Stars examines the night sky through the lens of a variety of cultures as well as the science behind why certain stars and constellations look and move the way they do. This planetarium presentation includes Native American and Estonian traditions recounting the formation of the stars and stories about prominent star patterns like the Big Dipper, Orion, the Pleiades, and Draco (the Dragon).

The show's focus on both story and science promises to make meaningful connections between our ancestral heritage and modern astronomy. Audiences will see how stars appear from different points on the Earth as well as understand stellar circumpolar motion, which from the Northern Hemisphere, makes all stars seem to revolve around the North Star Polaris.

Sky Heroes: Myths in the Stars begins Saturday, October 25. Admission to the Charles Hayden Planetarium is $9 for adults, $8 for seniors (60+), and $7 for children (3-11). For information and for show schedules, visit mos.org. The Charles Hayden Planetarium at Museum of Science is wheel chair accessible.