A new Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences exhibit promises an out-of-this-world conclusion to spring break for area students.
The exhibit, which opens to the public Sunday, transforms what once was a plain hallway outside the center’s planetarium into the new Step into Space Lab.
Thanks to a private donation from Liz and Louis Weisberg and their family, visitors may contextualize the universe around them, as hand-painted glass globes hanging from the ceiling are sized in comparison to the sun. Al Najjar, president and CEO of the Clay Center, said the sun’s size is represented by the Clay Center’s Caperton Planetarium & Theater. The theater’s outer wall now glows with a fiery orange-red color and the planets are displayed at scale.
Taylor Gue, director of communications at the Clay Center, said that hallway once was used to display upcoming show posters, but now it is packed with touch-screen displays and immersive games. Visitors can build their own rockets, navigate a Mars rover and even defend Earth from celestial threats.
“In the last few years, especially in West Virginia, we’ve had an explosion of interest in what’s going on in our universe, like with Emily Calandrelli being the 100th woman in space or all the eclipses we’ve had,†Gue said. “Who doesn’t want to learn about space?â€
The Step into Space Lab offers the following video games and activities:
- Defend the Earth: Play a video game to deflect or destroy hazardous asteroids using a variety of defense strategies, learning which techniques work best against different threats.
- Explore Mars: Join Perseverance and Ingenuity exploration missions by operating virtual versions of NASA’s cutting-edge rover and helicopter, searching for ancient microbial life and mapping the Martian terrain.
- Rocket Builder: Become a rocket scientist by designing and launching your own spacecraft. Choose engines, fuel tanks and payloads to complete daring space missions.
- Stellar Playground: A touch screen “sandbox†allows multiple users to experiment with gravity, stars and cosmic evolution in an interactive stellar sandbox. Build your own universe by merging stars, creating black holes, and watching celestial bodies form and evolve.
- Asteroid Miner: A three-dimensional game allows players to practice their piloting skills by landing on an asteroid, scanning its surface, collecting samples, and installing ion engines to maneuver space rocks.
‘Perfect mix of knowledge and entertainment’
Najjar looked like a kid discovering a new video game Monday as he explored the museum’s latest astronomy exhibit.
“I’m not very good at the games, frankly,†Najjar admitted.
But they aren’t just for fun. Najjar said they incorporate real-world astronomy scenarios, such as planets being pulled into black holes and the complexities of remotely operating probes on Mars. These experiences aim to help curious children get excited about science, he said.
“The idea is to get them engaged with what they already enjoy, almost ‘tricking’ them into learning,†Najjar said. “They start asking questions about what excites them.â€
Shannon Silverman, a planetarium educator, fielded a stream of questions from students spending time at the Clay Center’s spring break day camp. She then guided a few into the new exhibit for a hands-on test run.
Sidney Boettner, 10, who said he loves science, enjoyed all the activities the Clay Center offers, and he’s sure the new Science Lab will be a hit.
“I think people who are interested in astronomy are really going to love [the new exhibit],†Boettner said. “It’s a perfect mix of knowledge and entertainment.â€
Djuan Blandon, also 10, said he likes how interactive the new astronomy games are.
Both boys said they liked the Universe Simulator, where they built space scenarios and watched black holes devour celestial bodies.
With its blend of hands-on exploration and scientific discovery, the new Step into Space Lab might inspire the next generation of stargazers and space enthusiasts, Najjar said.
“If even one of these kids grows up to go into science ... that’s what it’s all about,†he said. “That’s the dream.â€
