Planetary Science

Braided Stream

Air—not water—erupts through fine powder to sculpt these roiling streams.

Where: Fisher Bay Observatory Gallery 6, Mezzanine

Geysers

The timing of the eruptions of these geysers depends on water temperature and pressure.

Where: This exhibit is not currently on view.

Oculus Table introduces a contemporary twist on a common ancient Greek sundial, the scaphe (σκάφη or "bowl"). With sunlight streaming through the oculus—the hole in the ceiling of the Fisher Bay Observatory—the movable table can be visually aligned with landmarks on the skyline (Coit Tower, Transamerica Pyramid, etc.) to discover the Sun's position in the sky and the current time and date.

Where: Fisher Bay Observatory Gallery 6: Observing Landscapes

Vortex

A twist of a knob sets water jets in motion, causing water in this giant cylindrical tank to spin. Soon, a tiny vortex appears at the surface, gradually swelling in size as it snakes downward.