Best Science Museum (2025) - USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
This 120,000-square-foot museum in Georgia is comprised of four main galleries dedicated to minerals, fossils, science in motion, and backyard science. Visitors to Tellus Science Museum can also explore space in the 120-seat digital planetarium, or gaze at the stars through a 20-inch telescope in the observatory. Other highlights include an 80-foot brontosaurus and a replica Apollo I capsule.
Photo courtesy of Perot Museum of Nature and Science No. 9: Perot Museum of Nature and Science - Dallas, Texas
Designed by Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate Thom Mayne, this stunning 180,000-square-foot science museum on the outer edge of the Dallas Arts District boasts five floors of interactive exhibits focusing on everything from Earth and space to geology, paleontology, and engineering. Highlights include a children's museum with a dinosaur dig, an earthquake simulator, and a gallery of gems and minerals including the largest cut imperial topaz in the world.
Photo courtesy of Great Lakes Science Center No. 8: Great Lakes Science Center - Cleveland, Ohio
The Great Lakes Science Center offers a community where real scientific challenges provide a learning culture to encourage curiosity, creativity, and innovation. Visitors can explore plenty of hands-on exhibits, as well as the NASA Glenn Visitor Center.
Photo courtesy of The Franklin Institute No. 7: The Franklin Institute - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Franklin Institute is a hands-on science museum that seeks to create a passion for science and tech in everyone. It holds the distinction of being Pennsylvania's most visited museum and features many interactive exhibits that explore science — from sports to space — plus top-notch experiences and special exhibitions.
Photo courtesy of Discovery World Milwaukee No. 6: Discovery World - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Discovery World is a science and technology center that the whole family will enjoy. The 120,000-square-foot space houses the Reiman Aquarium, as well as several hands-on exhibits that focus on two main areas: technology and aquatic biology.
Photo courtesy of Saint Louis Science Center No. 5: Saint Louis Science Center - St. Louis, Missouri
At Saint Louis Science Center, visitors can examine full-scale replicas of a Mars rover, observe sea creatures in the Pacific Coral Reef Aquarium, and watch live STEM demonstrations. Between 10 galleries featuring hundreds of interactive experiences, movies about aquatic animals, dinosaurs, and more in the OMNIMAX theater, and an impressive planetarium, there's always something more to discover at this museum.
Photo courtesy of The Wild Center No. 4: The Wild Center - Tupper Lake, New York
The Wild Center is situated on a beautiful 115-acre campus in the Adirondacks that's home to hundreds of animals. A 54,000-square-foot building houses the center's main exhibits, while trails, a private pond, and river frontage form the outdoor experience. From naturalist-led walks to animal encounters, there's always a special event happening here.
Photo courtesy of Michigan Science Center No. 3: Michigan Science Center - Detroit, Michigan
The Michigan Science Center promotes creative and dynamic STEM learning through a series of interactive exhibits. This institution in Detroit's Cultural Center Historic District features live shows, an IMAX Dome, 4D theater, planetarium, and exhibit space with more than 220 hands-on activities and exhibits.
Photo courtesy of Exploratorium No. 2: Exploratorium - San Francisco, California
San Francisco's Exploratorium is a public learning lab that invites visitors of all ages to experience over 700 interactive exhibits spread throughout several indoor and outdoor galleries. Visitors can listen to a 27-foot-tall wind-powered harp, take a selfie in a water droplet, and examine what looks like a giant painting but is actually a living terrarium brimming with colorful bacteria.
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Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Yahoo
Georgia science museum studying meteorite seen over metro Atlanta
The Brief The Tellus Science Museum has acquired part of the unusual meteor that blasted across the metro Atlanta area last week. Its entry was so intense that it triggered the Geostationary Lightning Mappers (GLM) aboard NOAA's GOES satellites—devices normally used to detect lightning. The outer space rock was the 29th meteorite documented in Georgia and the second time one ever hit a home. CARTERSVILLE, Ga. - A piece of outer space rock that fasciated people across the Southeast last week is now a part of Georgia's Tellus Science Museum's collection. The museum announced that it has acquired the recovered meteorite that shot through the sky on June 26 before part of it landed in Henry County. MORE: Why the daytime fireball meteor that blasted over Atlanta was a rare sight The backstory NASA says the meteor entered Earth's atmosphere at 12:25 p.m. EDT on June 26, first appearing 48 miles above Oxford, Georgia. Traveling southwest at an estimated 30,000 miles per hour, the object disintegrated at an altitude of 27 miles above West Forest, unleashing energy equivalent to about 20 tons of TNT. The breakup produced a powerful pressure wave that reached the ground, creating loud booms and tremors that startled residents. According to NASA, "some large windows may have vibrated or even cracked." The fireball was caused by an asteroidal fragment approximately three feet in diameter and weighing over a ton. Its entry was so intense that it triggered the Geostationary Lightning Mappers (GLM) aboard NOAA's GOES satellites—devices normally used to detect lightning. Doppler radar also picked up falling debris above Henry County. Witnesses across Georgia and neighboring states—including as far south as Macon and as far north as Upstate South Carolina—reported seeing a flash of white light followed by what many described as an "earthquake." However, the U.S. Geological Survey confirmed no seismic activity occurred. Officials say the shaking was the result of a sonic boom. Local perspective A resident of Henry County, Georgia, reported a rock coming through their roof around the time they heard the sonic boom from the fireball. It left behind a hole in the ceiling about the size of a golf ball and a crack in a laminate floor at the home southeast of Atlanta, according to the National Weather Service office in Peachtree City, Georgia. "We are presuming that a piece of the object fell through their roof," the weather service said. Dashboard and doorbell cameras across several states in the southeastern U.S. states caught glimpses of the fireball that appeared to be plummeting straight down. What they're saying "We're very fortunate to have this piece," said Amy Gramsey, Tellus' director of curatorial services. "A meteorite hunter found the specimen on Friday, June 27, in Henry County. It's a 150-gram chondrite meteorite—a stony-type meteorite containing small mineral granules." Officials with the Tellus Science Museum say that last Thursday's fall was the 29th meteorite documented in Georgia and the second incident of one hitting a home - the first being in MAy 2009 in Cartersville. "Meteorite landings like this are pretty rare," said Tellus' astronomy program manager Karisa Zdanky. "Space rocks and other debris enter Earth's atmosphere often, but they usually burn up before reaching the ground – which is the requirement to be called a meteorite. It's uncommon to have a meteor so bright and so big that it can be witnessed in the day and produce such sizable meteorite fragments." What's next The new specimen has not been named yet, but Tellus staff are expecting it to be on display for the public by the end of the summer. The Source Information for this story came from previous FOX 5 reporting and a press release by Tellus Science Museum.
USA Today
01-03-2025
- USA Today
Best Planetarium (2025) - USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Photo courtesy of College of Southern Idaho No. 10: Faulkner Planetarium at Herrett Center for Arts & Science - Twin Falls, Idaho Part of the College of Southern Idaho's Herrett Center for Arts & Science, this planetarium has been providing educational and entertaining shows about the universe since 1995. Featuring a 50-foot dome and Dolby 5.1 surround sound, the Faulkner Planetarium is the perfect way to start or end a visit to this free museum, where you can also enjoy various exhibits about fossils, Native American culture, and art. Photo courtesy of Rawpixel / iStock Via Getty Images Plus No. 9: Clark Planetarium - Salt Lake City, Utah Salt Lake City's Clark Planetarium is more than your average place to learn about the stars. This phenomenal facility features three floors of interactive exhibits covering everything from meteors to the moon, as well as space and laser light shows in the Hansen Dome Theatre and nature films in the Northrop Grumman IMAX Theatre. Photo courtesy of RMSC (Rochester Museum and Science Center) No. 8: Strasenburgh Planetarium at Rochester Museum & Science Center - Rochester, New York Since 1968, the Strasenburgh Planetarium has been captivating audiences with stellar shows and films in its 65-foot full-dome Star Theater. Check out the "Planet Spectacular" show for an overview of our solar system, or dive deep into a program about gravity, space, and time in "Black Holes Revealed." Be sure to check the planetarium's other exhibits too. Photo courtesy of Adler Planetarium No. 7: Adler Planetarium - Chicago, Illinois Located right on Lake Michigan, Adler Planetarium is Chicago's go-to place for all things outer space. From exhibits highlighting moon missions and the Chicago night sky, to multiple daily planetarium shows geared towards amateur astronomers of all ages, the Adler is worth the hype and then some. This planetarium also offers access to the Doane Observatory, which houses the largest telescope in the Chicago area. Photo courtesy of The Franklin Institute No. 6: Fels Planetarium at The Franklin Institute - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Fels Planetarium is so impressive, people book the location for their weddings. It's definitely more than just a unique event space — locals and tourists alike love the giant dome's galactic projections, as well as the daily shows included in admission to The Franklin Institute. Photo courtesy of Morehead Planetarium and Science Center No. 5: Morehead Planetarium and Science Center at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - Chapel Hill, North Carolina Morehead Planetarium, which is part of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, offers a large variety of shows in the GSK Fulldome Theater. A few riveting options include films about the Carolina skies or Galileo, child-friendly missions with the Magic Treehouse kids, and explorations of dark matter. Photo courtesy of Nick Letson No. 4: Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium at University of Arizona - Tucson, Arizona A visit to Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium is sure to impress, thanks to its numerous exhibits focusing on everything from bugs and sharks to the solar system, as well as the state-of-the-art EOS Foundation Planetarium Theatre. With 146 seats and a SCISS Colorspace projection system with 4K resolution, this planetarium is the cherry on top of any visit to Tucson, Arizona. Photo courtesy of Anna Trankina No. 3: COSI Planetarium - Columbus, Ohio The Center of Science and Industry (COSI) is the home of this top-of-the-line planetarium featuring a Digistar 7 projection system and a 60-foot dome. Planetarium shows are free with museum admission, so you can explore all the COSI exhibits in between immersive planetarium demonstrations that take you back in time to the age of the dinosaurs, then whisk you to outer space to experience eclipses and more. Photo courtesy of U.S. Space & Rocket Center No. 2: INTUITIVE Planetarium at U.S. Space & Rocket Center - Huntsville, Alabama The U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, is home to one of the top planetariums in the country. Indeed, the INTUITIVE Planetarium, which features an 8K dome and 248 seats, hosts multiple shows each day, including state-of-the-art films about asteroids and the James Webb Telescope. Visitors can also attend Cocktails and Cosmos events, in which stellar shows are accompanied by "cosmically created" cocktails.
USA Today
23-02-2025
- USA Today
Best Science Museum (2025) - USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Photo courtesy of Tellus Science Museum No. 10: Tellus Science Museum - Cartersville, Georgia This 120,000-square-foot museum in Georgia is comprised of four main galleries dedicated to minerals, fossils, science in motion, and backyard science. Visitors to Tellus Science Museum can also explore space in the 120-seat digital planetarium, or gaze at the stars through a 20-inch telescope in the observatory. Other highlights include an 80-foot brontosaurus and a replica Apollo I capsule. Photo courtesy of Perot Museum of Nature and Science No. 9: Perot Museum of Nature and Science - Dallas, Texas Designed by Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate Thom Mayne, this stunning 180,000-square-foot science museum on the outer edge of the Dallas Arts District boasts five floors of interactive exhibits focusing on everything from Earth and space to geology, paleontology, and engineering. Highlights include a children's museum with a dinosaur dig, an earthquake simulator, and a gallery of gems and minerals including the largest cut imperial topaz in the world. Photo courtesy of Great Lakes Science Center No. 8: Great Lakes Science Center - Cleveland, Ohio The Great Lakes Science Center offers a community where real scientific challenges provide a learning culture to encourage curiosity, creativity, and innovation. Visitors can explore plenty of hands-on exhibits, as well as the NASA Glenn Visitor Center. Photo courtesy of The Franklin Institute No. 7: The Franklin Institute - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania The Franklin Institute is a hands-on science museum that seeks to create a passion for science and tech in everyone. It holds the distinction of being Pennsylvania's most visited museum and features many interactive exhibits that explore science — from sports to space — plus top-notch experiences and special exhibitions. Photo courtesy of Discovery World Milwaukee No. 6: Discovery World - Milwaukee, Wisconsin Discovery World is a science and technology center that the whole family will enjoy. The 120,000-square-foot space houses the Reiman Aquarium, as well as several hands-on exhibits that focus on two main areas: technology and aquatic biology. Photo courtesy of Saint Louis Science Center No. 5: Saint Louis Science Center - St. Louis, Missouri At Saint Louis Science Center, visitors can examine full-scale replicas of a Mars rover, observe sea creatures in the Pacific Coral Reef Aquarium, and watch live STEM demonstrations. Between 10 galleries featuring hundreds of interactive experiences, movies about aquatic animals, dinosaurs, and more in the OMNIMAX theater, and an impressive planetarium, there's always something more to discover at this museum. Photo courtesy of The Wild Center No. 4: The Wild Center - Tupper Lake, New York The Wild Center is situated on a beautiful 115-acre campus in the Adirondacks that's home to hundreds of animals. A 54,000-square-foot building houses the center's main exhibits, while trails, a private pond, and river frontage form the outdoor experience. From naturalist-led walks to animal encounters, there's always a special event happening here. Photo courtesy of Michigan Science Center No. 3: Michigan Science Center - Detroit, Michigan The Michigan Science Center promotes creative and dynamic STEM learning through a series of interactive exhibits. This institution in Detroit's Cultural Center Historic District features live shows, an IMAX Dome, 4D theater, planetarium, and exhibit space with more than 220 hands-on activities and exhibits. Photo courtesy of Exploratorium No. 2: Exploratorium - San Francisco, California San Francisco's Exploratorium is a public learning lab that invites visitors of all ages to experience over 700 interactive exhibits spread throughout several indoor and outdoor galleries. Visitors can listen to a 27-foot-tall wind-powered harp, take a selfie in a water droplet, and examine what looks like a giant painting but is actually a living terrarium brimming with colorful bacteria.
