American Museum of Natural History Announces February 2013 Public Programs

The American Museum of Natural History has announced its February 2013 public programs. Details below!

SciCafe: Modeling the Origins of Planets, Stars, and Galaxies
Wednesday, February 6, at 7 pm
21+ with ID
Free with cash bar
Enjoy cocktails, cutting-edge science, and conversation at this popular after-hours series, which takes place on the first Wednesday of every month. At scales of thousands of light years, stars are born, galaxies form, and supernovae explode. Our understanding of the origins of the Earth and beyond relies increasingly on the comparison of numerical models to ground and space-based observations. Astrophysicist Mordecai-Mark Mac Low, lead curator of the Space Show, Journey to the Stars, will use visualizations of supercomputer simulations and observations to share some of the latest advances and insights on these questions.

Lunchtime Bird Walks in Central Park
Four Thursdays, February 7, 14, 21, and 28, from noon to 1:30 pm
$50
Catch a glimpse of owls, songbirds, and woodpeckers in the woods, seed-eating birds in the fields, and multiple species of ducks and gulls in the lakes as ornithologist Paul Sweet guides you through three Central Park habitats to observe the varied bird species of New York City.
Be sure to bring a pair of binoculars and wear comfortable shoes. Please note, this walk is more than an hour long over steps, slopes, and wood-chip paths. Walks start across from the Museum on the northeast corner of Central Park West and 77th Street. Walks are limited to 25 people per series.

This program is part of the celebration of the reopening of the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial at the American Museum of Natural History.

Observe and Collect: Diorama Drama
Saturday, February 9, at 11 am, 1 pm, and 2:30 pm
$12; $10 for Members
Join Museum exhibition specialist Tom Doncourt for a behind-the-scenes look at habitat dioramas. Find out more about the Museum's most popular dioramas, which depict real locations from around the world based on meticulous onsite observations by scientists and artists, and make your own replica to take home. Materials are included.

Heart of Darkness with Jeremiah Ostriker
Monday, February 11, at 7:30 pm
$15; $13.50 for Members, students, and seniors
Over the past 30 years, scientists have learned that dark matter and dark energy, both poorly understood, comprise most of the known cosmos, explain the growth of all cosmic structure, and hold the key to the fate of the universe. Astrophysicist Jeremiah Ostriker tells the story of how the evidence for the so-called "Lambda-Cold Dark Matter" model of cosmology has been gathered by generations of scientists. Book signing will follow.

Romance Under the Stars
Thursday, February 14, at 6:30 pm
$85 (includes 1.5 hours of open bar and appetizers)
Celebrate the holiday with a unique NYC experience only at the Hayden Planetarium! Join us for a cocktail hour, complete with open bar, Champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries, and hors d'oeuvres, along with the music of the Josh Rutner Quartet. Then, join one of our astronomers in the Planetarium for a view of the night sky. Sit back, hold hands, and enjoy some of the greatest romance stories of all time.

Stories We Tell
Saturday, February 23, from noon to 6 pm
Free for Members or with Museum admission
The Museum honors African-American History Month with a tribute to storytellers and griots who give rich voice to the African-American experience. The program will feature award-winning storyteller Charlotte Blake Alston; choreographer Camille A. Brown, who will perform a poignant solo from her new work, Mr. TOL E. RAncE; Darryl "DMC" McDaniels of multi-platinum hip-hop group Run-DMC, who returns to the Museum with Oscar-nominated youth ensemble IMPACT Repertory Theatre and special guest NEA Jazz Master Delfeayo Marsalis; National Slam Champion Roger Bonair-Agard of HBO's "Def Poetry Jam;" and the Composers Concordance.

Edges of Space
Tuesday, February 26, at 6:30 pm
$15; $13.50 Members, students, and seniors
The Voyager spacecraft recently encountered the "edge" of the solar system, beginning its journey through interstellar space. The Sun and Earth exist in the galactic outskirts, closer to our galaxy's periphery than its center. What distinguishes a dwarf planet from a planet? In this program, we will explore the wheres and whys of stars, galaxies, and the universe, and discuss astronomical "species" such as planets, brown dwarfs, and star clusters. Join us as we go to, through, and beyond The Edges of space!

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