Science on A Sphere April 29, 2010

The Apollo 17, back in 1972 took a photograph of the Earth from space, which made the Earth look like a blue marble. This famous photograph is what this new permanent exhibit is about at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. The actual exhibit is a six-foot suspended globe that uses computers and video projectors to display dynamic animated images of the Earth's atmosphere, oceans, animal migration patterns, global warming trends, hurricane paths, and more. Projected images also include the surface of the sun, Mars, and moon. Pre-programmed data sets are organized through play lists, much like an MP3 player, but the system also has the capacity for live demonstrations and special programming options.