Nature Connections: James Webb Space Telescope

Nature Connections help you and yours explore and connect with nature.

RSVP for this Out of This World Experience. We are super lucky to have representatives from the  Space Telescope Science Institute on hand for presentations and hands on activities including the James Webb Virtual Reality Experience (recommended for ages 10 and up). Don a VR headset then head out into space in the fully immersive WebbVR experience. You can visit the James Webb Space Telescope at its orbit point beyond the Moon, 1 million miles from Earth, set against an accurate backdrop of the Solar System. Fly up-close to Webb’s beautiful golden mirrors, and look out from its perspective on the universe. You can also compare Webb with the Hubble and WFIRST space telescopes. Info hubs within the VR environment provide more information about each mission.  Further out, explore your own cosmic neighborhood—the Solar System—in gorgeous detail. Fly through Saturn’s rings or join Jupiter’s moons in orbit around the gas giant. You may also leave the Solar System behind and visit the stunning Orion Nebula, where a swirling disk of gas and dust is beginning to form planets, or fly through the star fields of a simulated galaxy.

Our guest speaker (TBD) will present on the JWST beginning at 1:30PM.

The program is free, but for planning purposes, we ask that you RSVP.

ABOUT NATURE CONNECTIONS: Nature Connections is a signature program offered to you by the Natural History Society of Maryland with financial support from Constellation Energy. Programs are held on select Sundays are free* and open to the public (COVID rules in effect – see below). Each Nature Connection focuses on a different natural history topic.

• Learn from presentations and displays from local experts and organizations • Explore specimens and artifacts from natural history collections • Hear about related citizen science projects • Talk to scientists who can answer your questions and guide your discoveries of the natural world • Enjoy games, art, crafts, stories, music, and drama for all ages

COVID PROTOCOLS: Masks are now optional. NHSM will continue to monitor the public health landscape and may make changes in accordance with CDC, state and local guidance.