AMNH Announces Their Public Programs For May

The American Museum of Natural History has announced its public events for the month of May.

Virtual Universe: The Earth Today with Carter Emmart
Tuesday, May 4, 6:30 pm
Hayden Planetarium Space Theater
$15 Adults, $13.50 Members, students, seniors
http://www.amnh.org/programs/programs.php?date=2010-05-04&event_id=1629

Carter Emmart debuts the most current NASA data to be displayed in the Hayden Planetarium at this Virtual Universe offering. On the first Tuesday of each month, the Virtual Universe series take visitors on trips through our solar system and beyond in live, interactive programs that include question-and-answer sessions. The Museum invites all to take the journey of a lifetime.

SciCafe
Wednesday, May 5, 7 pm
Gottesman Hall of Planet Earth
Enter at 81st Street/Rose Center
Free admission with cash bar, 21+ with ID
http://www.amnh.org/programs/scicafe/

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.

Annual IRIS Lecture: Predicting Earthquakes and Volcanic Eruptions
Thursday, May 6, 6:30 pm
Linder Theater, first floor
$10 adults $8 members, students, seniors
http://www.amnh.org/programs/programs.php?date=2010-05-06&event_id=1613

Stephen Malone of the Department of Earth and Space Science, University of Washington, will discuss state-of-the-art technology being used to predict earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The lecture will be introduced by Edward Mathez, Museum curator in the department of Earth and Planetary Sciences.

Co-presented with IRIS/SSA Distinguished Lecture Series.

Dr. Nebula's Laboratory: Water Works
Sunday, May 16, 2 pm
Kaufman Theater, first floor
$10 adults, $8 children; Members' tickets are $9 adults, $7 children
http://www.amnh.org/programs/programs.php?date=2010-05-16&event_id=1657

Water, water everywhere! Join Scooter as she follows the story of Drop to learn about the water cycle, conservation, and how to become a steward of this precious resource.

This one-hour Interactive Science Theater show offers a fun encounter the whole family will enjoy. Join live presenter Scooter, Dr. Nebula's trusty apprentice, as kids explore hands-on activities and find the answers to questions on the universe and beyond.

Journey to Mecca: In the Footsteps of Ibn Battuta
Tuesday, May 18, 6:30 pm (Screening begins at 7:30 pm)
Grand Gallery, first floor
FREE with reservations (212.769.5200)
http://www.amnh.org/programs/programs.php?date=2010-05-18&event_id=1612

Journey to Mecca tells the story of Hajj, the holy Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca to fulfill the fifth pillar of Islam. This breathtaking IMAX film follows the extraordinary adventures of a young man name Ibn Battuta on a perilous journey from Morocco to the sacred city in 1325. As the camera soars over vast Sahara sands, passes alongside caravans stretching to the horizon, and then enters the Grand Mosque itself, viewers witness the spectacular pageant of devotion at one of the oldest gatherings of people on Earth. Eric Tagliacozzo, associate professor of history at Cornell University, will introduce the film.

Come early to browse the Middle Eastern food market for free tastings and live Middle Eastern music.

Adventures in the Global Kitchen: A Persian Celebration
Wednesday, May 19, 6:30 pm
Linder Theater, first floor
$20

Ideas, customs, and ingredients were traded along the Silk Road, enriching dozens of cuisines. Najmieh Batmanglij, cookbook author and teacher, brings spirit into the kitchen with a recipe for baklava from her book Silk Road Cooking: A Vegetarian Journey. Tasting, with Persian tea, included.

Wild, Wild World: Raptors
Saturday, May 22, 11am - noon and 1 - 2pm
Linder Theater, first floor
$10 adults, $8 children; Members' tickets are $9 adults, $7 children
http://www.amnh.org/programs/programs.php?date=2010-05-22&event_id=1655

Raptors are birds of prey who use their feet, instead of their beak, to capture their food. Learn more and see live raptors from the Theodore Roosevelt Audubon Center and Sanctuary, including an American Kestrel, Great Horned Owl, and Harris's Hawk, at this enrapturing program.

Identification Day
Saturday, May 22, 12:30 - 3:30 pm
Milstein Hall of Ocean Life, first floor
Free with Museum admission
http://www.amnh.org/programs/programs.php?date=2010-05-22&event_id=1683

Bring your shells, rocks, insects, feathers, bones, and artifacts to the annual Identification Day! Museum scientists will attempt to identify your mysterious garage sale finds, basement curios, exotic souvenirs, and flea-market discoveries. In celebration of the International Year of Biodiversity, artifacts and specimens from the Museum's collections will be on display in an effort to raise awareness about the importance of biodiversity conservation.

Please note: no appraisals will be given and gemstones will not be identified.

Celestial Highlights: Celestial Treasure Hunt with Sam Storch
Tuesday, May 25, 6:30 pm
Hayden Planetarium Space Theater
$15 adults, $13.50 Members, students, seniors
http://www.amnh.org/programs/programs.php?date=2010-05-25&event_id=1632

Join Sam Storch on a hunt for a variety of treasures in the late May sky, including planets, nebulae, stars, and more in this Celestial Highlights program. On the last Tuesday of each month, enjoy a live presentation under the brilliant stars of the Zeiss Mark IX Star Projector. Learn about the current positions of the moon, planets, and stars, as well as visual spectacles like meteor showers, eclipses, and conjunctions.

Museum Information

Hours
The Museum is open daily, 10 am-5:45 pm
The Museum is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Space Show and SonicVision Hours
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 a.m.). 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.

Admission
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; $9 (children) suggested.

The Museum offers discounted combination ticket prices that include suggested general admission plus special exhibitions, IMAX films, and Space Shows.
o Museum plus special exhibition, IMAX film, or Space Show: $24 (adults), $18 (students/seniors), $14 (children)
o Museum Supersaver, which includes the Space Show, IMAX, and all special exhibitions: $32 (adults), $24.50 (students/seniors), $20 (children)

Visitors who wish to pay less than the suggested Museum admission and also want to attend a special exhibition, IMAX film, or Space Show may do so only on-site at the Museum. To the amount they wish to pay for general admission, they should add $20 (adults), $16.50 (students/seniors), or $11 (children) for a Space Show, special exhibition, or IMAX film.

Public Information
For additional information, the public should call 212-769-5100 or visit the Museum's website, amnh.org.