Oak (Quercus robur) forest, Denmark. Author: Malene Thyssen. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Feeling chilled to the bone after all this cold, wet weather we’ve been having? Come to the Houston Museum of Natural Science and bask in the soft warm glow of scientific enlightenment! We’ve decked our halls with Christmas Trees decorated by local charity organizations, converted our Cockrell Butterfly Center into a winter wonderland (but don’t worry, it’s still warm and toasty inside) and built a tennis court-sized model train complex in our exhibit halls. All of these awesome events are here for your viewing pleasure in our luxurious, dry, central heated building.
Want to know more about what’s going on at HMNS this week? Read below and click the links to purchase tickets.
Lecture – Science of the Christmas Star by Carolyn Sumners
A star-forming region in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Author: European Space Agency. Source Wikimedia Commons.
In seeking a scientific explanation for the star the wise men followed to find the baby Jesus, Dr. Carolyn Sumners will tell the story of angels, shepherds, a plotting king–and outstanding spectacles in the heavens above.
Through archaeoastronomy, the possible dates for the birth of Christ will be examined. A historical investigation of recorded sightings of astronomical events during this timeframe will point us in the right direction. This lecture will include a screening of “Mystery of the Christmas Star.”
Tuesday, December 11, 2018 – 6:30 PM
Early Bird to 12/4 – Members $10, Tickets $16
Regular price starting on 12/5 – Members $14, Tickets $20
Geminid Meteor Shower
Wednesday, December 12th
5:00 p.m.–2:00 a.m. (weather permitting)
Public: $7 per person
Members: $4 per person
Normal park entrance fees also apply.
Come enjoy watching the Geminid Meteor Shower. The Moon will be favorable this year and not rise till after midnight. We should get to see the peak of the shower from 9:00pm till midnight. Dress warm and bring lawn chairs to see if we can spot any meteors. Telescopes will also be open at dark. Remember, clouds make it impossible to see meteors, so hope for good weather!
White Christmas
November 17 – January 6
Join us for White Christmas in the Cockrell Butterfly Center!
During the holiday season, the rainforest conservatory will be filled with hundreds of graceful white tropical butterflies, including a favorite among visitors, the rice paper butterfly, and the breathtaking white morpho.
Beautiful white flowers will transform the conservatory into a tropical winter wonderland and holiday decorations will make the season come to life! You won’t want to miss this unique holiday display.
White Christmas is included in your Cockrell Butterfly Center admission ticket.
Trains Over Texas
All Aboard!
Create holiday memories by travelling across Texas by model railroad in this scratch built “O” scale model. The multiple trains crisscrossing the state will visit important and unique places in the state’s geology and physiography. Destinations include oil country salt domes, prairies and wetlands of the Texas coast and state and national monuments such as Enchanted Rock, Pedernales Falls, The Balcones Escarpment and Big Bend National Park. Along the routes to these geologic wonders the trains will also pass through Galveston, Houston, Dallas, Fort
