ROSETTE NEBULA The Rosette Nebula is a cosmic cloud of gas and dust. This view shows a long stem of glowing hydrogen gas. At the edge of a large molecular cloud, the petals of this rose are actually a stellar nursery whose symmetrical shape is sculpted by winds and radiation from its central cluster of hot young stars. The stars in the energetic group are only a few million years old, and the central cavity in the nebula is about 50 light-years in diameter. Credit: Adam Block and Tim Puckett.
Unique exhibits and shows at the Taylor Planetarium have always been a huge draw for the Museum of the Rockies. December is no different, with a fun new exhibition and two shows lighting up the screen! Season of Light is now showing in time for the holiday season! Learn about the many holiday customs that make the winter more festive. Yule logs, Christmas trees, the Hanukkah Menorah, luminaries, Santa Claus–all were taken from different cultures to fill the dark months of the year with more light. If you haven’t seen this show in a few years, make sure to check out its new look that’s been remastered for Digistar 5! Showtimes are Monday-Friday: 11am & 3pm and Saturday-Sunday: 2 & 4pm.
From Earth To The Universe will run through the end of the year. The night sky, both beautiful and mysterious, has been the subject of campfire stories, ancient myths and awe for as long as there have been people. A desire to comprehend the Universe may well be humanity’s oldest shared intellectual experience. Yet only recently have we truly begun to grasp our place in the vast cosmos. To learn about this journey of celestial discovery, from the theories of the ancient Greek astronomers to today’s grandest telescopes, MOR invites you to experience this new show from the European Space Organization! This show runs daily at 1pm through December 31st. The Museum currently features a Warner Bros. Cartoons exhibit. The Art of Warner Bros. Cartoons is a colorful, comical overview of the rambunctious animation studio that created the most legendary of cartoon characters–from Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Elmer Fudd to Porky Pig, Wile E. Coyote and Roadrunner. You’ll delight in seeing the actual artwork used in these beloved cartoons from the 1930s to the early 1960s. The exhibition also explores the elaborate creative process that supported the making \of these masterpieces of humor and satire. Spread a little holiday cheer this season when you give the gift of membership to Museum of the Rockies!
Your friends and family will enjoy a gift that keeps on giving all year long. Here are just a few of the Benefits that come with Membership to MOR: free and discounted classes, programs and lectures; discounts at the Museum Store; special members-only previews of new exhibits; and visit more than 300 other museums worldwide for free (log on to astc.org for a list of participating museums). Tis the season for giving! So give the gift everyone on your Holiday list will appreciate. Museum of the Rockies is both a college-level division of Montana State University and an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit institution. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, MOR is one of just 776 museums to hold this distinction from the more than 17,500 museums nationwide. The Museum is also a Smithsonian Institution affiliate and a federal repository for fossils. Using the past and present, Museum of the Rockies inspires life-long learning in science, history, culture, and art; advances knowledge through collections, research and discovery; and presents engaging, vibrant exhibits and programming. MOR brings the world to Montana and Montana to the world.
For more information visit museumoftherockies.org or call 406.994.2652. •
