exploratorium

After Dark: Out of This World

Thursday, July 25, 2019 • 6:00–10:00 p.m.

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Free for After Dark Members

Adults Only (18+)

Note: The Tactile Dome and some programs have limited capacity and are available to visitors on a first-come, first-served basis.

Lose yourself in over 650 interactive exhibits exploring perception, art, and science at our adults-only After Dark. Grab your friends and a drink and get immersed in mind-bending experiences and unique, thought-provoking programs.

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Featured Program

After Dark: Out of This World

The most distant human-made object is over 13 billion miles from Earth...and counting. Reach out of our atmosphere, toward the edges of our universe, and explore the current frontiers of extraterrestrial knowledge. From the search for life to theoretical models of the future universe, discover what we’re still learning about the most “out-there” parts of space.

SCHEDULE

Astounding Images from the NASA Archive
6:00–7:30 p.m.  |  Bechtel Gallery 3, Webcast Studio

Culled from the massive library of over 140,000 images spanning 99 years, this selection of photographs showcase the magnificent beauty found in the deep distances of our galaxy and beyond. Don’t miss this chance to see some of the far reaches of the universe.

Identity Pins
With the High School Explainers
6:00–8:00 p.m.  |  Osher Gallery 1, Self, Made Programming Space

What part of your identity are you most proud of? What part do you feel most conflicted about? Join us in exploring identity through making your own personalized button that you design and take home.

Live Ship Chat from the Arctic
7:00 p.m.  |  Fisher Bay Observatory Gallery 6

Join a live chat with scientists and educators on board a research vessel in the Canadian Arctic, retracing the ice-clogged Northwest Passage route that doomed John Franklin’s 19th century expedition. Now virtually ice-free in late summer, this modern-day expedition will navigate the once perilous journey with a team of scientists, students, historians and a film crew to research and document the dramatically changing Arctic Ocean.

This is part of a series of live chats the Exploratorium is hosting with scientists on board the icebreaker in the Arctic.

Playful Programmable Projections: Moon Edition
With the Tinkering Studio
7:00–9:00 p.m.  |  Gallery 2,  Tinkering Studio

Bridge physical and virtual worlds by creating your own creatures, animating them in the block-based programming language Scratch, then launching them in a collaborative moon-themed environment.

Earthrise
With Cinema Arts
7:30 p.m.  |  Osher Gallery 1, Kanbar Forum

Earthrise by Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee (2018, 30 min.)

Earthrise tells the story of the first image captured of Earth, taken from space in 1968. Narrated  solely by the Apollo 8 astronauts, the film recounts their experiences and memories and explores the beauty, awe, and grandeur of Earth against the blackness of space. This iconic image had a powerful impact on the astronauts and the world, offering a perspective that transcended national, political, and religious boundaries. Told 50 years later, Earthrise compels us to remember this shift and to reflect on the Earth as a shared home.

The Voyagers' Guide to the Galaxy
With Ariel Waldman
8:00 p.m.  |  Bechtel Gallery 3, Wattis Webcast Studio

The twin Voyager space probes are the oldest and farthest still-"living" human-made machines that freckle our solar system. Together, they explored Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and are now the first to experience interstellar space. Let Antarctic explorer and NASA advisor Ariel Waldman take you on a tour of the solar system as seen through space probes' eyes and see how Voyager's discoveries are helping fuel the search for life on other worlds.

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
With Dan Werthimer and Ron Hipschman 
8:30 p.m.  |  Osher Gallery 1, Kanbar Forum

The search for intelligent life in the universe isn’t just a big treasure hunt—the same scientists trying to find out whether we’re alone also study essential questions about the nature of life, how it begins, and more. Get some answers (and maybe some questions you never imagined) with SETI scientist Dan Werthimer, in conversation with Ron Hipschman. 

Our Place in Space
With Julia DeMarines
9:00 p.m.  |  Bechtel Gallery 3, Wattis Webcast Studio

Launch into the latest discoveries about the search for life beyond Earth, potentially habitable exoplanets, and future space missions expanding our knowledge of the cosmos. With astrobiologist Julia DeMarines, take a tour of current understanding of life in our universe and the fascinating technologies and methods aiding current and future research. 

Timelapse of the Future
With Cinema Arts
9:30 p.m.  |  Bechtel Gallery 3, Wattis Webcast Studio

Timelapse of the Future by Melodysheep (2019, 30 min.)

How's it all gonna end?  This experience takes us on a journey to the end of time, trillions of years into the future, to discover the possible fate of our planet and our universe. Start in 2019 and travel exponentially through time, witnessing the future of Earth, the death of the Sun, the end of all stars, proton decay, zombie galaxies, possible future civilizations, exploding black holes, the effects of dark energy, alternate universes, and ultimately, the final fate of the cosmos. 

Sewn Scenarios

6:30–9:30 p.m.

Think of any scenario. Using five words or less, describe it in a sentence. Now watch as artist PNosa interprets your words and uses a sewing machine to draw your idea on fabric. Embroidered patches will be available for purchase.

Tactile Dome

$10

6:15–10:00 p.m.
Osher Gallery 1

Journey through total darkness in this twisting, turning, tactile sculpture. Walk, crawl, climb, and slide your way through a wonderland of textures using only your sense of touch as a guide.

Please Note: Due to the nature of this experience, certain restrictions apply. Guests who are afraid of the dark; claustrophobic; have back, neck, or knee injuries; or are in their third trimester of pregnancy should not participate. Guests wearing casts are prohibited. Also, please wear comfortable clothes.

You can reserve tickets for our 6:15 and 7:00 p.m. sessions. We also operate drop-in, first-come, first-served sessions at 7:45, 8:30, and 9:15 p.m.; tickets can be purchased at the Information Desk.

Learn more about the Tactile Dome.

Explainer Demonstrations

6:00–9:45 unless noted
Various locations throughout the museum

Drawing Board
Ticketing at 6:00 p.m., first come, first served
Osher Gallery 1

Draw hypnotically flowing patterns with a swinging table, and watch friction cause the patterns to slowly shrink along a spiral path. Pick up a ticket to reserve your spot in line for this popular activity.

Speaker Dissection
Bechtel Gallery 3

Tune in to surrounding sounds by experimenting with strings and vibrations, and use electromagnets to build a basic speaker. Learn how to listen with your bones, and explore the workings of the inner ear.

Van de Graaff Generator
With the Explainers
6:00–9:00 p.m.
Bechtel Gallery 3

Get ready to have your hair stand on end (literally). Experience our electrostatic generator firsthand—with high-voltage direct-current electricity turned down to low current levels, our Van de Graaff generator both will, and won’t, shock you. Please keep your hands on the sphere until our Explainers tell you to let go!

Cow Eye or Flower Dissection (alternating)
Gallery 4

Do cows see color? How does a lens work? Examine the intricate structure of a cow eye to learn about similar structures in our own eyes, as well as some key differences.

Stigma, stamen, pistil, anther, style: Uncover the beautiful architecture of flower anatomy, and gather some surprising strategies that plants use to reproduce.

Magic Demonstration
Osher Gallery 1

Everything is not as it seems—at first. Pick a card, any card, and watch the Explainers reveal some surprising aspects of human perception.