AMNH Announces Public Programs for June 2010- Kicks off with "Virtual Universe" 6/1

The American Museum of Natural History has announced its public programs for June 2010.

Virtual Universe: The Grand Tour with Brian Abbott
Tuesday, June 1, 6:30 pm
Hayden Planetarium Space Theater
$15 Adults; $13.50 Members, students, seniors
Join astrophysicist Brian Abbott as he leads visitors on an adventure from Earth to the edges of the known universe. Step inside the world's largest cosmic atlas and prepare to unlock the mysteries of the cosmos. On the first Tuesday of each month visitors are invited to take a trip from Earth to the edges of observable space. Virtual Universe shows are live and interactive programs that include question-and-answer sessions. The Museum invites all to take the journey of a lifetime.

SciCafe: Life, the Universe, and Everything:
A Conversation with Neil deGrasse Tyson
Wednesday, June 2, 7 pm
Gottesman Hall of Planet Earth
Enter at 81st Street/Rose Center
Free admission with cash bar, 21+ with ID
www.amnh.org/scicafe/
Ever ponder the mysteries of the universe? Join Director of the Hayden Planetarium Neil deGrasse Tyson for a casual conversation about stars, planets, the universe, and beyond. In this special SciCafe, Dr. Tyson will answer questions from the audience for the duration of the program.
Cocktails, conversation, and cutting-edge science are all on tap at SciCafes, emceed by experts on the topics discussed. Guests are encouraged to come with friends, meet new people, and talk science at this after-hours series.

World Science Festival
Friday, June 3 and Saturday June 4, 7:30 pm
Join us for a special presentation of the World Science Festival, an annual celebration of science that brings together great minds in science, business, government, and the arts.
The Festival showcases cutting-edge ideas and discoveries, revealing science's pivotal role in addressing global issues and exploring how it profoundly shapes modern life.

Adventures in the Global Kitchen: Polar Cocktails
Tuesday, June 8, 6:30 pm
Linder Theater
$25
Join internationally recognized cocktail connoisseur David Wondrich and master mixologist Don Lee of Momofuku Ssäm Bar for an evening of classic cocktails.
Wondrich and Lee will discuss specialty "explorer" drinks, as well as the importance of ice in creating a perfect cocktail. Learn the story behind a now-discontinued whiskey that was recently discovered buried where Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton camped a century ago. Tastings included.

Milstein Science Series: Science in the Everglades
Sunday, June 13, noon - 4 pm
Milstein Hall of Ocean Life, first floor
Free with Museum admission
The story of Florida's Everglades is the story of water-its natural flow and the impact of human encroachment. Learn about the mosaic of ecosystems and the many plants and animals found there. Jarod Miller, host of nationally syndicated television series "Animal Exploration with Jarod Miller," will introduce some amazing live animals, including an alligator, a crocodile, and a Burmese python. Scientists from Audubon Florida and Everglades National Park will discuss current research and what is being done to safeguard these ecosystems.

How to Build a Habitable Planet, featuring James Kasting
Monday, June 14, 7:30 pm
Kaufmann Theater
$15 Adults; $13.50 Members, students, seniors
Ever since Carl Sagan first predicted that extraterrestrial civilizations must number in the millions, the search for life on other planets has gripped our imagination. Join James Kasting, distinguished professor of geosciences at Pennsylvania State University and author of How to Find a Habitable Planet, as he discusses his book and explores how scientists are testing Sagan's prediction and demonstrating why Earth may not be so rare after all.

Wild, Wild World: Snakes and Lizards
Saturday, June 19, 11 am-noon and 1-2 pm
Linder Theater, first floor
$8 children, $10 adults; Members' tickets are $7 children, $9 adults
Squamates-legged and legless lizards, including snakes-are some of the most successful vertebrates on Earth. Learn more about these amazing animals with Chad Peeling of Reptiland, and get a close-up look at a Gila monster, cobra, and large boa constrictor. More squamates are on display in the live-animal exhibition Lizards & Snakes: Alive!

Summer Solstice Celebration
Sunday, June 20, 11 am - 4 pm
Rose Center for Earth and Space
Free with Museum admission
Enjoy a Summer Solstice Celebration filled with solar-themed activities including solar-car racing, sun printmaking, sun modeling, and UV beading. Peer through a telescope on the Arthur Ross Terrace or meet an astronaut in the Cullman Hall of the Universe. Museum astrophysicists will also be on-hand to explain some of the most up-to-date research being conducted on site.

Climate Change: The Threat and Opportunity for Global Security
Tuesday, June 22, 6:30 pm
Kaufmann Theater
Free
Call 212-769-5200 to reserve tickets
National and global security is rarely discussed in the ongoing debate about climate change. John Mroz, president and CEO of the EastWest Institute, will moderate a panel with experts including Rear Admiral Neil Morisetti from the UK Ministry of Defense to examine why any discussion about global warming must include a broader look at the implications for long-term world security.

Celestial Highlights: Parade of Planets with Steve Beyer
Tuesday, June 29, 6:30 pm
Hayden Planetarium Space Theater
$15 adults, $13.50 Members, students, seniors
Join Steve Beyer and observe how Venus, Mars, and Saturn appear in the western sky when twilight fades during July evenings. Watch as these planets appear to move closer together in the constellations of Leo and Virgo and see how at mid-month the crescent Moon joins the group for a striking celestial line-up. On the last Tuesday of each month, enjoy a live presentation under the brilliant stars of the Zeiss Mark IX Star Projector. This tour of the heavens offers a view of the constantly changing night sky. Learn about the current positions of the moon, planets, and stars, as well as visual spectacles like meteor showers, eclipses, and conjunctions.

The American Museum of Natural History is open daily, 10 am - 5:45 pm. The Museum is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Space Shows are shown Monday through Friday every half hour, 10:30 am - 4:30 pm except Wednesdays (first show on Wednesday begins at 11 am). Saturday through Sunday every half hour, 10:30 am - 5 pm. SonicVision is shown on selected Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 and 8:30 pm.

Suggested general admission, which supports the Museum's scientific and educational endeavors and includes 45 Museum halls and the Rose Center for Earth and Space, is $16 (adults) suggested, $12 (students/seniors) suggested, and $9 (children) suggested. The Museum offers discounted combination ticket prices that include suggested general admission plus special exhibitions, IMAX films, and Space Shows.

For additional information, please call 212-769-5100 or visit the Museum's website, amnh.org.