SunSational Energy & Science is now open!

SunSational Energy & Science is an interactive exhibit dedicated to improving the understanding of solar science, the impact of the sun on our daily lives, and the importance of solar power.

Components of this new science exhibit include:

• Heliostat – Located outside the Museum, the Heliostat stays aimed at the Sun while the Earth turns so that we get a beam of sunlight shining into the Museum all day long. Inside, several mirrors bounce that light down into the Rainbow Room, where kids use prisms and CDs to split white light into a spectrum of colors.
• Solar Seat - At the Solar Seat kids pretend to be the Earth traveling around the Sun. By comparing rotation about the earth’s axis and orbiting around the Sun, preschoolers learn what demonstrates the passage of a day and a year.
• Reasons for Seasons – This tabletop Earth-Sun model features a lighted sun and a globe with an axis of rotation that accurately represents the earth. Volunteer docents will help visitors explore how the tilt of the earth produces the seasons of the year by moving the earth around the sun.
• Energy for Every Day – This component explores the Sun’s role as the primary source of all of our energy. See why plants grow, winds blow, waters flow and how the sun makes it happen. On special program days volunteers will work with visitors to test out solar powered toys and machines.
• Solar Panels – Thanks to a grant from Namasté Solar and IMLS, WOW! has installed solar panels to help power these new exhibits!  Check out WOW!’s energy generation on the video display presentation.
• Click here to learn more about WOW!’s energy conservation efforts!

SunSational Energy & Science was designed by WOW! Children’s Museum with participation from scientists at the University Center for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), the University of Colorado at Boulder, the Boulder Astronomical and Space Society, and the staff at Namasté Solar.

WOW! would like to thank the following individuals and businesses for contributing volunteer time to the exhibit: Jacob Howard, Lucy Nowak, Robin Dadisman, SparkFun, Rose Steel, Darrell Schiffer, Steven Hartmeyer, and Lora Cameron.

This exhibit has been made possible through a generous grant from: