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< Back Jeremiah Chechik Previous Next Still Life with Skull, 2022 Jerimiah Chechik Artist’s Statement, 2023 In his book New Media in Late 20th-Century Art, Michael Rush notes: " In painting or sculpture, it is the concepts and uses of materials that change in the art. With technology-based art, the medium itself radically changes when the technology changes. The excitement . . . in being able to capture movement . . . is now replaced by an enthusiasm for altering reality, for making the real illusory." Over the years we have become somewhat hard-wired to regard photographs as truthful and real. As photography distanced itself from the aesthetic of painting, it embraced "objective" interpretation of the world as a factual representation. No matter that the depiction of Ansel Adam's Moon and Half Dome (1960) or Cartier Bresson's leaping man in Place de l'Europe Gare Saint Lazare (1932) are tonally abstract and black and white. Compare these "realistic" images with a Rembrandt painting such as Self Portrait with Beret and Turned up Collar (1659). The Rembrandt seems much more objective, more colorfully realistic, than the photographs, which use only form plus white, grey, and black tones to achieve their effect. And yet, it is the photographs that claim to present the objective true moment. In pushing the conversation of the photographic form forward, photography finds itself at a similar crossroads as painting did in the 1940s, when it gave rise to Abstract Expressionism. A camera is no longer a required tool. We can create photographs rather than take photographs. Photography is no longer exclusively the medium of witness, “objectively” recording a perceived reality. Scientific investigation, from the atomic to the planetary, is in many ways the purview of the photographic. We have come to believe that nothing is more objective than the microscopic or telescopic image. Currently, we find ourselves at a cultural crossroads, a so called "post-truth" reality where it is not enough to believe our senses, and what is objectively real is often in dispute. This tension between mind and eye creates a new perception—one which causes us to question our own subjectivity. Blurring the lines between fact and fiction, between subjective and objective, between truth and illusion, I inhabit this median zone that lies between. I explore ways of creating that deepen the emotional reaction to the work, using history, memory, and fiction fused in a what appears to be a scientific method and its photographic record. While the eye seeks to believe that these images are a methodical and clinical record, the instinct revolts, as we feel the pull of an unnatural dreamscape. If creativity is based on remixing existing elements into new combinations, then all art is to some degree derivative. With diffusion models, large and small language models, the empathetic and conscious artist can collaborate with the supreme intelligence of the machine and take us to a familiar “unknown.” Art cannot be created or destroyed, only remixed. We borrow what we like and build on it. This cultural exchange insures that art, technology, and culture will continue to evolve. My work is intended to transport the viewer through a kind of false memory to a different time and place, where everything feels familiar, real, and emotionally tinged. “Arriving at each new city, the traveler finds again a past of his that he did not know he had: the foreignness of what you no longer are or no longer possess lies in wait for you in foreign, unpossessed places.” —Italo Calvino, Invisible Cities *Art on cover: Lippershay 1608 Study 2, 2020

Come discover a world of family fun and learning at Sacred Heart University's Discovery Science Center and Planetarium. Open Now! Learn More Beautifica Beautifica Beautifica Beautifica For more information about Click Here What's new at Discovery? Jerimiah Chechik COMING SOON Opening November 2025 EXPLORE Nesting with Dinosaurs Now Open! EXPLORE IF/THEN If we support a woman in STEM, then she can change the world! EXPLORE Upcoming Events Looking for something amazing to do? Want even more Discovery? Check out our upcoming events! "God, Science, and Our Search for Meaning" Showing Thu, Nov 13 SHU Discovery Science Center More info Buy Tickets Multiple Dates Shelton Free Sunday Sun, Dec 07 Bridgeport More info Learn more

Special Exhibitions IF/THEN Gender Equity in STEM IF/THEN Gender Equity in STEM Read More Jeremiah Chechik Now Open! Read More Nesting With Dinosaurs Now Open! Read More

< Back Spotting a Meteorite Think you've found a meteorite? I think I found a meteorite. How can I tell for sure? Laboratory Testing Previous Next

b4961d09-9e8a-483f-9837-34921cfc8063 < Exhibits Hall of Space Explore space from the Big Bang to modern space exploration and travel in this gallery featuring interactives and authentic NASA and space artifacts to help you immerse in the vast history of the universe. Stellar Playground Learn how the objects in the universe are created and destroyed in this incredible universe sandbox game. Create stars, solar sytems, black holes, and maybe even life! Rocket Collection This incredible collection of rockets were curated and hand crafted by the late Keith J. Scala, a.k.a. Rocket Man. A Bridgeport native, Keith had a lifelong passion for the history of spaceflight. Keith's model collection was generously donated to Discovery for all to enjoy. Due to the size of the collection, Discovery will be rotating the selection of rockets on view. "Gene Cernan on the Moon" Tactile Image This 3D relief is designed to allow guests to experience NASA's photo of Gene Cernan standing on the lunar surface. Sensors embedded in the image narrate more about the section of photo to which they correlate. Come learn more about the moon, space travel, and the last man to walk on the moon! Previous Next

a6eb86f6-faf8-49c3-8035-c592b15985c9 < Exhibits Science at Play Explore the power of play together! Come build a fort, dig for a fossil, and read a book in this gallery newly re-designed for your little ones. Designed for families with children 5 y/o and under, this gallery is a padded playzone where your littlest friends can: build your own climbable features and forts with the Imagination Playground building blocks doodle on the See Yourself, Be Yourself, Draw Yourself Wall kick back with a book or even practice reading with one of the digital literacy stations inside our Bridgeport Rotary Book Bus Located inside Science at Play, our new Family lounge, Nursing room, and additional ADA restroom are also now available to the public. Previous Next

< Back Local Astronomical Societies Check out some local astronomical societies that offer viewing opportunities! Local Astronomical Societies Boothe Memorial Astronomical Society: Website: https://www.facebook.com/p/Boothe-Memorial-Astronomical-Society-100063550511188/ Location: Boothe Memorial Park, 5800 Main St, Stratford Meeting Times: 1st and 3rd Friday of each month at 8:00pm Westport Astronomical Society: Website: https://www.was-ct.org/ Location: 182 Bayberry Ln, Westport, CT 06880 Meeting Times: Wednesdays at 8pm Astronomical Society of New Haven: Website: https://www.asnh.org/ Public Events: https://www.asnh.org/Outreach/ Previous Next

< Back Telescope Buying Guide Telescopes make great gifts, but there are a lot of options out there. Use this guide to help understand your choices. Check out these recommendations for buying a telescope 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 and want to buy your first telescope, you might be overwhelmed by the variety of options available. There are several types of telescopes, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Some features might seem appealing but are not particularly useful for beginners. In this guide, I will give you a brief overview of the main types of telescopes, the pros and cons for each, and why I recommend the Dobsonian as the best type of telescope for beginners. The three main types of telescopes are refractors, reflectors, and catadioptrics. Refractors use lenses to bend light and form an image at the eyepiece. Reflectors use mirrors to reflect light and form an image at the eyepiece. Catadioptrics use a combination of lenses and mirrors to fold the light path and form an image at the eyepiece. Refractors are the simplest and most familiar type of telescope. They have a long tube with a lens at the front and an eyepiece at the back. They produce sharp images and are good for observing the moon, planets, and double stars. However, they also have some drawbacks. They are expensive for their size, as high-quality lenses are hard to make. Lower end (achromatic) refractors also suffer from chromatic aberration, which means that different colors of light do not focus at the same point, resulting in a rainbow-like halo around bright objects. To minimize this effect, higher end apochromatic refractors use specialized glass and three or more lens elements to correct for chromatic aberration. Reflectors are the most common type of telescope among amateur astronomers. They have a wide tube with a mirror at the bottom and an eyepiece at the side. They produce bright and detailed images and are good for observing deep-sky objects like nebulae, galaxies, and star clusters. They are also cheaper than refractors of the same aperture, as mirrors are easier to make than lenses. However, they also have some drawbacks. They require occasional maintenance, as the mirrors need to be aligned (collimated) and cleaned. They also suffer from coma, which means that stars near the edge of the field of view appear distorted or elongated. This can be resolved with an optional accessory called a coma corrector. Catadioptrics, also known as cassegrains or SCTs, are the most versatile type of telescope. They have a short tube with a lens-mirror system that folds the light path and reduces the length of the optical tube. They produce sharp and bright images and are good for observing both planetary and deep-sky objects. They are also compact and portable, as they have shorter tubes than traditional reflectors. However, they also have some drawbacks. They are expensive for their size, as they use complex optical components. They also suffer from coma, which can be resolved by corrective optics in higher end models. So, which type of telescope should you choose as a beginner? My recommendation is to go for a Dobsonian. A Dobsonian is a type of reflector that has a simple wooden mount that allows you to move the telescope up and down (altitude) and left and right (azimuth). A Dobsonian has several advantages over other types of telescopes: It is easy to use ! You do not need to worry about complicated settings or adjustments. You just point it at what you want to see and enjoy the view. It is affordable ! You can get a large aperture Dobsonian for a fraction of the cost of other types of telescopes with smaller apertures. It is powerful ! A large aperture Dobsonian can collect more light and resolve more detail than other types of telescopes with smaller apertures. It is fun ! A Dobsonian gives you a direct and immersive experience of exploring the night sky. You can scan the sky for interesting objects or follow a star map or guidebook. One feature that you might be tempted to get as a beginner is a computer-controlled “go-to” mount. This is a mount that has motors and sensors that can automatically point the telescope at any object in its database. While this might sound convenient and cool, I would advise you to avoid them with your first telescope for several reasons: It is expensive. A computer-controlled mount can add hundreds or thousands of dollars to the cost of your telescope. It is complicated. A computer-controlled mount requires batteries or power supply, alignment procedure, software updates, troubleshooting, etc. It is limiting. A computer-controlled mount can make you dependent on technology and prevent you from learning how to navigate the sky by yourself. It is boring. A computer-controlled mount can take away the thrill and satisfaction of finding objects on your own. In conclusion, if you are looking for your first telescope, I would recommend getting a Dobsonian reflector with a large aperture (at least 6 inches or 15 cm). This will give you the best performance and value for your money. You will be able to see a lot of amazing things in the sky and get a lifetime of enjoyment out of it. If you aren’t ready to invest in a telescope just yet, check out more affordable options in our astronomy binocular buying guide . Many beginners are eager to jump straight into taking photos through their telescope. The guide above covers visual astronomy, which I recommend that everyone master before progressing to astrophotography. While it is possible to take photos of the moon and planets through visual telescopes, deep sky astrophotography requires specialized equipment that quickly adds up to thousands of dollars. However, it is possible to take beautiful photos of space without a telescope. If you have a DSLR or mirrorless camera, check out our widefield astrophotography guide for beginners. My last piece of advice is try before you buy! Visit a local astronomical society where you can meet amateur astronomers, look through their equipment, and learn from their experience. Happy stargazing! Previous Next

98752086-8188-47ce-8ff9-bb937d5c22fc < Exhibits Teddy Bear Triage Bring your stuffed animals for a check-up and learn how to apply splints, bandages, and other helpful first-aid measures to our furry friends. Thank you to our sponsor! Previous Next

9f7e2c63-7c20-46fd-85d8-2b7eb82bf5e1 < Exhibits Sensational Senses Explore the senses in this room dedicated to the amazing human body. Practice using your muscles and get to know all of the senses we have. Look at X-rays, Learn about visible and infrared light, and practice your doctor and nursing skills on our operation table. Some gallery hightlights: Explore heat vision with the Infrared(IR) Camera give yourself a cold 'tattoo' only visible in IR Learn more about what materials block heat or visible light' Identify cells with the digital microscope Play pretend with our giant operation table Examine real x-rays on our x-ray wall Previous Next

< Back Lunar Educator Guide Learn all about Earth's Moon, including its phases, eclipses, and historic and future exploration! Check out this educator guide with information all about the Moon! Lunar Educator Guide .pdf Download PDF • 10.50MB Previous Next

< Back Astronomical Weather Forecasts Get ready to observe the skies! Use these resources to help you prepare for a great night of astronomical observations. Space Weather (aurora, meteor shower, and comet alerts) Clear Sky Chart Astrospheric Clear Outside Previous Next