Earth’s Bathysphere and the Milkyway
Get on a rocket.
Blast off to …
Look at the Earth from afar.
What a spectacular view!
-OR-
Come to Science on a Sphere
Theater (room 803)
Look at the Earth as if from afar.
What a spectacular view!
SFCC’s Science on a Sphere® (SOS) program uses a white, 6 foot diameter sphere in a dark room (Rm# 803) to display images of Planet Earth and its various systems (water, land, air, Human impact). The SOS images are beautifully presented to create a rotating Earth. These images invite viewers to both learn and step back in awe of the beauty and complexity of our Earth.
The display of the planets and other bodies in our solar system are provided as a comparison for our changing Earth’s climate.
The Science on a Sphere® is an educational product of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The satellite imagery has been provided by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
All shows have been cancelled until further notice
SHOWS: Mondays Noon to 2PM. Thursdays 4PM to 6PM
QUIET TIME: Wednesdays Noon to 1PM — Just the Blue Marble
Science on a Sphere® presents our Earth as it appears in the round. In the SOS Theater, NOAA datasets are displayed creating truly accurate images of the Earth.
Using NOAA and NASA datasets, SOS has developed unique programs that allow the SOS audiences to observe:
- Real-time weather, historical weather systems and projected future weather patterns.
- The depth and intensity of real-time earthquakes, historical earthquakes and related tsunamis.
- Real-time volcanic activity and historic eruptions.
- Tectonic plate movements, with related earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis.
- Ocean temperatures, currents and scientific buoy locations.
- Climate change information and projections of climate change impacts.
- Earth’s shifting magnetic fields and historical aurora activity.
- Using NASA datasets, we can tour the solar system’s planets and their moons.
- Movement of migrating sharks, whales, birds and other migratory animals.
- These are just a few of the hundreds of projections possible at the Science on a Sphere Theater.
Recent Resources from NOAA
9/18/2020
NOAA DataVizEd Resources
NOAA Education weather and atmosphere resource collections gaining lots of attention
• NOAA Education has assembled a solid collection of weather and atmospheric science resource collections, including El Nino, hurricanes, space weather, weather observations and weather systems.
• Resources are updated often, so check back often.
NOAA Education: Weather and Atmosphere resources
Climate.gov’s data snapshots is a good way to quickly find historical weather map data
• Highlighted because of recent news of favorable weather condictions for wildfires and hurricanes, this tool showcases monthly, 3-month and yearly averages of temperature, precipitation, drought, and more.
• Educators can use this data resource collection to track changes in global climates from the past 20 years to the present day.
Climate.gov: Data Snapshots
NOAA Visualization Laboratory continues DataFest with space and fire weather resources in September
• Participants can join in DataFest through both DataPalooza and NEDTalks (NOAA Environmental Data talks) by visiting the NOAA DataFest webpage, and follow the links to join in on the conversations.
• September’s fourth week of Twitter-chats will focus on fire weather, and NEDTalks will host talks, “Ecology, Urban Planning, and Public Policy” and “Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disaster.”
NOAA Visualization Laboratory: DataFest
DataVizEd News and Resources
NOAA and NASA jointly share media release that the Sun has started to ramp up activity, marking the beginning of of the next solar cycle
• Radiation energy from the Sun affects life on Earth through interferences in communications technology and international power grids, as well as the life in space aboard spacecrafts and ISS.
• Article linked here includes the press release summary, as well as a plethora of resource links for educators to build and support content knowledge.
NASA: Solar Cycle 25 is here
2020 Fall foliage prediction maps where and when leaf colors will change in the United States
• Map uses NOAA’s precipitation forecasts, and historical precipitation, temperature, and daylight exposure data to predict when trees in North America will begin to change color.
• Map provides a sliding timeline and corresponding map to pinpoint where and when leaves are expected to change.
• This webpage includes additional resources focusing on the science of deciduous trees and photosynthesis.
Smoky Mountains National Park: 2020 Fall Foliage Map & Nationwide Peak Leaf Forecast
This is a summary of third-party news, opinion, and scientific literature and is not meant to reflect views of the author, or of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
If you would like to submit your own favorite DataVizEd Resources, kindly send them to stephen.zepecki@noaa.gov.
This is a summary of third-party news, opinion, and scientific literature and is not meant to reflect views of the author, or of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
If you would like to submit your own favorite DataVizEd Resources, kindly send them to stephen.zepecki@noaa.gov.
For Special Presentations and Costs contact frank.currie@sfcc.edu or see Educator’s page or Background page.
Other webpages of interest are:
https://sos.noaa.gov/What_is_SOS/ and https://sfcc.edu/planetarium
