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6808601d-8708-4084-b87d-ddd950567a98 < Exhibits Universe and You This gallery is home to our Science on a Sphere (SOS) with a new interactive kiosk, a touchless Aurora Wall, and a Moon Lander simulation game. Learn about planetary bodies and how they interact as you explore the universe. You will also find the entrance to the planetarium in the back of this gallery. About the SOS: Designed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Uses over 500 of NOAA's datasets including realtime datasets to track the planets, weather, climate, animals, tectonics and more! With our interactive control kiosk, the world is at your fingertips, literally! Guests can select and control what they see on the sphere with the . Previous Next

Get Involved! Thank you for your interest in supporting Discovery! Here are a few of our current areas of greatest need. Treasured Pages Lords and Ladies! Let it be known--STEAM learning needs a lot of support to make the magic happen. Take up the sword and fight for our mission with your sponsorship of Treasured Pages: A Classic Fairytale Ball on October 24, 2025. Download and contact development@shudiscovery.org to start your quest for STEAM education today! Sponsor Opportunities

Support Discovery Your Investment Helps Us Take STEAM to New Heights! When you give to Discovery, you bring STEAM activities to more young people here at the Science Center, inspiring wonder, igniting creativity, and building the foundation for a lifelong love of learning. As we evolve and grow, further advancement will only be possible with your input and support. Please invest today, and help us continue our evolution as the region’s go-to resource for STEAM learning fun. The Discovery Museum, Inc. is a charitable tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law. EIN #06-0740527. Did you know that many employers will match your charitable contributions? Ask your organization to support STEAM for all by matching your gift today! Make a difference Change starts with people like you. Your donation helps make a real impact, one action at a time. Together, we can do more. Frequency One time One time Monthly Monthly Yearly Yearly Amount $50 $50 $100 $100 $200 $200 $500 $500 Other Other 0/100 Comment (optional) Donate $50

Now Open! < Back Nesting With Dinosaurs Previous Next Cover Art Credit: Pecking Order by Luis V. Rey On Display from Late September 2025 – March 2026 Take a rare and exciting look at the life of dinosaurs through their eggs, nests and embryos in Nesting With Dinosaurs: Eggs Past and Present. This remarkable hands-on exhibition offers an astounding array of authentic dinosaur eggs and nests collected from all over the globe – including those of each of the major plant and meat-eating dinosaur groups. A captivating experience for all ages, Nesting with Dinosaurs presents new discoveries about dinosaur reproduction and behavior and introduces some of the fascinating people and science behind these discoveries. You and your family can touch real dinosaur bones and reconstructed nests, dig for eggs, experience hands-on exploration stations and view live animals, each with their own unique nesting behaviors. Each science-rich section is enhanced with exciting life-like models of embryos and hatchlings, colorful illustrations of dinosaur family life and stunning photographs of some of the world’s most renowned dinosaur hunters and their discoveries. The amazing collection of real fossils on view includes an authentic bowling ball-sized egg of a sauropod from Argentina – laid by a long-necked plant-eating titanosaur that lived 75 million years ago; a large cluster of eggs laid by a duck-billed, plant-eating dinosaur, and the longest dinosaur eggs ever discovered – almost 18 inches long – laid by a new giant species of oviraptor, a carnivorous, ostrich-like dinosaur. Animal enclosures sponsored by Zilla

Professional Development for PK-12 Educators Customizable Workshops Built for Your Team 1 A Results-Driven Training Method Discovery educators are experts in using informal education to enhance classroom experiences. All Discovery programs are designed to support Next Generation Science Standard-aligned learning, with emphasis on skills, practices, and ways of thinking, as well as real-world problems and career pathways. 2 Flexible for Your Team Discovery offers full or half day options. Programs can be conducted at your site or at Discovery. Options available for all group sizes. Sample Workshops Make It Immersive: Building Authentic Context for STEAM Learning T eachers will participate in D iscovery's Great Rocket Challenge as students, then reflect on how the lesson could be done in their own classrooms. Work through challenges in utilizing the NGSS in your lessons and collaborate to create a new project-based unit framed in authentic, real-world context. STEM Education for Non-STEM Educators Experience Discovery's facilities and find out more about our programs. Experience a live planetarium show and learn about resources in astronomy for your classroom. Participate in station-based learning to discover resources and materials for use in your class while you build your own STEM identity to become a STEM champion for your school. "I felt refreshed and excited to teach again." Want to learn more? Fill out the f orm below or contact us: mknies@shudscovery.org (203)416-3566. First Name Last Name Email Phone School Message Submit Thanks for submitting! See what past participants say about their experiences. I would prefer to have more PD days like this one. This was by far the most beneficial PD day I have had so far at [my school]. I would like more days like this morning with [Discovery]. I felt refreshed and excited to teach again. The activities at the Discovery Museum reinvigorated my love of science.

Challenger Cente r An unforgettable, state-of-the-art learning experience Discovery’s Challenger Center is an immersive mock space station and mission control simulation experience that promotes teamwork and critical thinking skills. The simulation creates a cooperative learning atmosphere underscored by teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and decision-making. Embedded throughout the simulations are opportunities for participants to hone applicable, real-world skills. Challenger mission goals for students are to engage and enhance enthusiasm for STEAM, improve problem-solving skills, demonstrate the value of teamwork and communication, and enhance critical thinking abilities. Looking for even more flexibility? You can also book a virtual Challenger mission that can be done from anywhere with an internet connection. Virtual missions run 45-60 minutes. All virtual missions include pre- and post-mission content to bring back to your classroom. NGSS Standards: MS-ETS1-1 , MS-ETS1-2 , MS-ETS1-3 Are You Up for the Challenge? Book Now! Challenger Missions are for grades 5 and up. Contact reservations@shudiscovery.org for more information and to reserve your group’s space mission. Missions Expedition Mars – Grades 5 & Up The year is 2076. A handful of facilities have been established on Mars, including a greenhouse, a mobile geological survey base, and a centralized research habitat. The primary human habitat is not on Mars, but on one of its moons, Phobos. A large shuttle regularly ferries astronauts and scientists between the base on Phobos and the surface of Mars. This shuttle, or Mars Transport Vehicle (MTV), carries parts to build a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to continue the search for evidence of life and water. However, when crew members discover an imminent threat to their MTV and the Martian surface facilities, they must act quickly to save their stations, their research, and their lives. COMING SOON Lunar Quest – Grades 7 and up NASA recently identified areas on the Moon that may support a sustainable long-term habitat for humans. In order to confirm this finding, NASA issued a directive for astronauts to return to the Moon! In this Mission, a team of astronauts must board a spacecraft and launch to the Moon, while a team of scientists and engineers on Earth command and assist the astronauts in Mission Control. Once the spacecraft crew successfully lands on the Moon, they must deploy a Lunar Exploration Rover to investigate the different areas and confirm that the Moon can be settled for long-term human habitation. However, when the spacecraft crew begins to receive troubling readings from below the surface, the two teams must work together and make critical decisions to turn a possible catastrophe into NASA’s finest hour!

IF/THEN Gender Equity in STEM < Back IF/THEN Gender Equity in STEM Previous Next #thisiswhatascientistlookslike If we support a woman in STEM, then she can change the world! Meet the inspirational STEM Ambassadors of the If/Then Collection, an initiative of Lyda Hill Philanthropies. Visit our video kiosk to learn who our ambassadors are and some of the work they do, and pick up your passport for a scavenger hunt throughout the Science Center! For more information, check out ifthenshecan.org .

Henry B. duPont III Planetarium Digital and Live Full-Dome Planetarium Shows Our digital full-dome theater features a seamless 33-foot diameter dome and a dual-projector 4k laser projection system. Digistar 2025 by Evans & Sutherland transforms our planetarium into a virtual starship, creating real-time visualizations that transport our audience to other planets, star systems, and beyond. Our planetarium also screens pre-recorded shows on a variety of topics including spaceflight, aviation, biology, and history. We have an audience capacity of 65 seats for regular shows, with the ability to expand to 85 seats for special events. All seats are removable for easy accessibility. Admission to public shows requires a media pass, which can be purchased at the front desk. One media pass grants admission to all planetarium shows and special presentations for the day. The planetarium is also available for private bookings and events, including school trips, scout groups, birthday parties, corporate events, and weddings. Contact us for more info. Have questions about astronomy and space science? Ask an astronomer and check out our social media to see if your question has been answered! The Henry B. duPont III Planetarium is brought to you by the Nor’easter Foundation. Click here to learn more about our shows!

< Back Widefield Astrophotography Guide for Beginners Learn tips and tricks from a pro! Check out these recommendations for getting started in astrophotography from our Planetarium Director, Elliot Severn! Elliot does backyard astronomy and astrophotography and has a list of helpful suggestions for getting started. Astrophotography is the art and science of capturing images of the night sky. It can be a rewarding hobby for anyone who loves astronomy and photography. In this guide, we will show you how to get started with astrophotography without a telescope, using a DSLR or mirrorless camera, in only 10 steps! What you need: A DSLR or mirrorless camera with manual mode and a remote shutter release or intervalometer A sturdy tripod that can support your camera and lens A wide-angle lens with a fast aperture (f/2.8 or lower) and low distortion A clear and dark location away from light pollution and clouds A star tracker or an equatorial mount to track the movement of the stars (optional but recommended) How to do it: Set up your tripod and mount your camera and lens on it. Make sure the tripod is level and stable. Set your camera to manual mode and turn off any image stabilization or noise reduction features. Set your focus to infinity by using the live view mode and zooming in on a bright star. You can also use a bahtinov mask or a lens cap with a small hole to help you focus. Set your aperture to the widest setting (lowest f-number) to let in more light. Set your ISO to a high value (800 or higher) to increase the sensitivity of your sensor. If you are using a stationary tripod, set your shutter speed to a value that will avoid star trails. You can use the 500 rule as a guideline: divide 500 by the focal length of your lens in millimeters, and round down to the nearest whole number. For example, if you are using a 24mm lens, your shutter speed should be 500/24 = 20 seconds or less. Use your remote shutter release or intervalometer to take a test shot and check the exposure and composition on your camera's LCD screen. You can adjust the ISO or shutter speed if needed but avoid changing the aperture or focus. Take multiple shots of the same scene, ideally at least 10 or more. You can use an intervalometer to automate this process. Transfer your images to your computer and use a program like DeepSkyStacker or Sequator to stack them together. This will reduce noise and increase detail in your final image. Use image editing software like Adobe Photoshop. Lightroom, or GIMP to enhance the colors, contrast, and sharpness of your image. Congratulations! You have just taken your first astrophotography image! You can experiment with different settings, lenses, and subjects to improve your skills and creativity. Have fun and clear skies! Previous Next

< Back Binocular Buying Guide for Astronomy Read our tips for finding the right observation equipment. Check out these recommendations for buying binoculars from our Planetarium Director, Elliot Severn! Elliot does backyard astronomy and astrophotography and has a list of helpful suggestions for getting started. If you are interested in astronomy but don't want to spend a lot of money on a telescope, binoculars can be a great alternative. Binoculars are easy to use, portable, and versatile. They can also provide stunning views of the night sky, as well as other objects like birds, wildlife, and landscapes. Here are some tips on how to choose the best binoculars for astronomy beginners. The first thing you need to know is how binoculars are labeled. Binoculars have two numbers separated by an x, such as 10x50 or 7x35. The first number is the magnification, which tells you how much the binoculars enlarge the image. The second number is the aperture, which is the diameter of the objective lens (the lens closest to the object) in millimeters. The aperture determines how much light the binoculars can gather, and thus how bright and clear the image will be. Generally speaking, for astronomy you want a high aperture and a moderate magnification. A high aperture will allow you to see fainter stars and nebulae, while a moderate magnification will give you a wider field of view and less image shake. A good rule of thumb is to divide the aperture by the magnification to get the exit pupil, which is the diameter of the beam of light that reaches your eye. The exit pupil should be around 5 mm or more for optimal viewing in dark conditions. For example, a 10x50 binocular has an exit pupil of 5 mm (50/10), while a 7x35 binocular has an exit pupil of 5 mm (35/7). Both are suitable for astronomy, but the 10x50 will have more magnification and less field of view, while the 7x35 will have less magnification and more field of view. You can choose according to your personal preference and what you want to observe. Another factor to consider is the quality of the optics and the construction of the binoculars. You want binoculars that have fully multi-coated lenses, which reduce glare and increase contrast. You also want binoculars that have a sturdy and waterproof body, with rubber armor for grip and protection. You may also want binoculars that have features like tripod adaptability, image stabilization, or zoom capability, depending on your needs and budget. Some examples of good binoculars for astronomy beginners are: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70: These binoculars have a large aperture and a high magnification, making them ideal for observing deep-sky objects like galaxies and star clusters. They are also tripod adaptable and come with a carrying case. Nikon Aculon A211 10x50: These binoculars have a good balance of aperture and magnification, making them versatile for observing various celestial objects. They are also lightweight and ergonomic, with a smooth focus knob and rubber eyecups. Orion Scenix 7x50: These binoculars have a wide field of view and a low magnification, making them perfect for scanning the night sky and spotting constellations. They are also durable and waterproof, with fully multi-coated lenses and Bak-4 prisms. Binoculars can be a fun and affordable way to enjoy astronomy as a hobby. With some basic knowledge and some practice, you can discover amazing sights in the sky with your own eyes. Happy stargazing! Previous Next

db7b0985-b266-426c-9763-2565ab5bfba0 < Exhibits Science of Flight Get ready for takeoff with helicopters, planes, and rockets! Learn about Bernoulli's principle, and how lift, drag, thrust and weight affect flight. Your family can design and build your paper aircrafts models, then test their fights at the paper rocket, plane, and helicopter launchers. Guests can also e xplore the history of commercial helicopters at our Sikorsky Timeline, experience a category 1 hurricane in the Hurricane Simulator Coming soon! Immersive flight simulator experience. Grab the controls and learn how to control a real aircraft. Take off from Sikorsky Airport and fly around Bridgeport, CT! Previous Next

2024 Diamonds and Dice: The Casino Heist < Back Previous Next