SUN WORSHIP: THE SUN AT THE SCIENCE MUSEUM
Words by Jessica Peace
The sun, the big yellow life giver. If you’re interested in the big yoke: space, the universe, time, mythology... OR you’re still not sure who’s orbiting who (you’re not alone), better get yourself down to ‘THE SUN: LIVING WITH OUR STAR’ at the Science Museum.
OUR ‘LOCAL STAR’
The Science Museum have pulled off an exhibition that stretches from NASA to woollen bathing suits, get ready for your mind to be blown and your soul humbled as you get to know our ‘local star’.
It’s got it all, whether you want to learn about our ancestors' understanding of the sun, recent space exploration, a good selfie or just some buttons for your little ones to push.
CHUCKING LIGHT ON THE SUBJECT
There’s a fake beach; ancient relics; early clocks and telescopes; a ray of sun you can walk into; massive books from the 1600’s; explanations of limitless energy and fusion technology… but here’s the stuff which BLEW OUR MINDS the most.
TALES FROM THE SUN
Ra, Apollo, Helios... meet the sun gods and learn how they fought the underworld and dragged the sun across the earth with their chariots.
MAKE YOUR SUNRISE
Erm, we could play with this for hours. Choose your spot on the planet and turn the dial to sunrise - ahhh Stonehenge, Sydney Opera House, The North Pole...
SOLAR STORM IS COMING
The last time it happened big was 1859 and scientists are saying not ‘if’ but ‘when’ a ‘Solar Storm’ will hit us again. Solar storms or ‘Auroras’ look awesome but the effect could be devastating. Just 149.6 million km above us the sun is going about its business which occasionally means blasting out its particles, a solar storm is caused when these particles break into our atmosphere - now we’ve got all this electricity and nuclear power a solar storm would cause havoc.
EVERY COLOUR UNDER THE SUN
Uh! The last room gets very Blade Runner - you know when Deckard zooms in on that old telly, well this is what NASA have done to the sun. Filming from 35,789 km above our little earth, NASA have been spying on the sun and the science museum have bagged their footage. Ever seen a magnetic loop? Venus and Mercury in transit? The sun as red, as blue and green? We have and it’s a wild ride.
(We also dug the spacey soundtrack that follows you round the exhibition. Far out.)
GET ME SOME SUN
Jump off the tube at South Ken’ and follow the tunnel to the museums. It’s free for little people and around 15 quid for over 16s - which in a world where everything seems to cost 20, feels like money well spent. BOOK HERE