Miami Science Museum celebrated two nights of laser shows this past weekend during Laser Fest 2012. A marathon of shows entertained over two thousand laser show enthusiasts on  Friday and Saturday nights.

“We love the Museum’s Fabulous First Fridays,” said Maureen F. “We come with the kids to see a laser show and check out the night sky from the rooftop telescope. It was nice to have two nights in a row to choose from.”

Friday evening, there was a free Planetarium star show and free telescopic observing at the Weintraub Observatory, followed by laser shows set to music by The Beatles, Pink Floyd, the Beastie Boys and Bob Marley. On Saturday night, audiences rocked out to Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Bob Marley and Radiohead. “Pop”, a new, family-friendly show, ran both nights.

“This is our second night in a row here to see laser shows,” said Dan. “It’s such a cool experience! We’ll be back for the next Laser Fest for sure!”

The Planetarium hosts laser shows on the first Friday of each month and on special occasions such as National Astronomy Day and Laser Fest. First Friday laser shows are part of Fabulous First Fridays and include a number of special events, including a free star show at 7:30 p.m. in the Planetarium followed by free telescopic observing at the rooftop observatory from 8-10 p.m., weather permitting. There is also an activity room where kids can explore, learn and have fun while their parents check out a laser show.

The Space Transit Planetarium at Miami Science Museum has been producing laser shows since 1975, employing some of the latest laser technology displayed on the 4 story high and 7 story wide Planetarium dome. For more information about the Planetarium and a schedule of events, visit: Planetarium Laser Shows

Astronomy fans flocked to the Museum recently to take part in an exciting line-up of activities to explore our galaxy and beyond for the Museum’s first Astronomy Evening.

Attendees enjoyed a special “Astronomy Music: Live Celestial Concert” by astronomer Dr. James Webb of Florida International University, and his student, David Farias. Dr. Webb and David performed “galactic” songs such as “Cosmos Theme,” “Here Comes the Sun,” and “The Grand Scheme of Things” on classical guitar, while astronomic images and song lyrics were projected onto the Planetarium’s dome.

The evening’s events also included a dramatic science theater presentation by the Museum’s Robert Dawson, who brought alive the words and discoveries of famous astronomer Tycho Brahe. Visitors also got to take a tour of the solar system on the Museum’s Magic Planet installation, enjoying 3-D views of the planets and the sun, and got a special sneak preview of the all-new Star Gazer TV program (produced by the Museum, WPBT2-PBS, the Kika Silva Pla Planetarium at Santa Fe College and the Cincinnati Observatory).

Visitors were able to get spectacular views of the moon and the planet Jupiter from our Weintraub Observatory, and then in the galleries, storytellers from the Miami-Dade Public Library System presented “Tales Under the Stars.” Kids and their parents had fun making their own comets in the “How to Cook a Comet” workshop, and one lucky winner went home with a brand new Celestron telescope.

“It was a sensationally stellar evening of astronomical fun,” said Mark Bennett, Planetarium and Visitor Services Manager. “It was really great to see everybody enjoying the hands on activities, the shows, and viewing the night sky.”

Special thanks to our sponsors for making Astronomy Evening a big success: Celestron Telescopes; Department of Physics, Florida International University; Miami-Dade Public Library System, and Southern Cross Astronomical Society.

MiaSci visitors are really enjoying our new exhibits – especially the kids! Miami Science Museum was recently chosen “Best By Kids” by Xfinity on Demand.

Xfinity asked kids in South Florida what they think are the best places in South Florida and they answered, choosing MiaSci as one of their favorite places. So Xfinity brought their cameras to the Museum to get a taste of everything we have to offer. As MiaSci staffer Chris Trigg says in the clip, “…we want you to touch all the exhibits, we want you to play, we want you to have a great time.”

Check out the video for a sneak peek of our Planetarium, Wildlife Center (supported by the Batchelor Foundation), Energy Dance Floor and more!

Click the link to view the video on YouTube: http://youtu.be/HQ72OOYqsiI

History was made on July 8th as NASA launched its last space shuttle ever. Over 400 visitors and MiaSci summer camp attendees gathered in the Museum’s Planetarium and Theater to watch Atlantis blast off from Kennedy Space Center on Friday. “The Planetarium came alive as the shuttle launched. It was a great place to watch and share this historic moment with so many of our visitors,” said Mark Bennett, Miami Science Museum Planetarium & Visitor Services Manager. “I hope this experience inspires children to reach for the stars and become astronauts one day.”

Four veteran astronauts, Commander Christopher Ferguson, co-pilot Douglas Hurley, and Mission Specialists Rex Walheim and Sandra Magnus, are aboard Atlantis for this grand finale. This launch marks the 135^th shuttle flight since NASA launched its first shuttle 30 years ago. The STS-135 is a 12-day mission to the International Space Station to transfer a year’s worth of food and other provisions to keep the station well stocked and provide robotic-arm support for a spacewalk by two space station astronauts.

Atlantis is expected to land on July 20, 2011 after completing its mission. Fun fact: The astronauts took an iPhone into orbit marking the first time an iPhone has left earth. Talk about roaming!

There will be five different opportunities to spot the shuttle from the ground in Miami with your naked eye between July 19^th and July 23^rd! For a detailed list of sighting opportunities, click here: Satellite Sighting Information

Get up-to-date information about NASA’s Atlantis mission here: Latest Shuttle News