Visions of the Universe:
Four Centuries of Discovery
Galileo Galilei transformed our knowledge of the universe in 1609 when he peered into the cosmos using an astronomical telescope--the first person to do so.
An exciting new exhibit opening at the Waco-McLennan County Library on April 16, 2009 celebrates that event and tells the story of how astronomy has evolved over the four hundred years since then.
The traveling exhibit, which is visiting 40 libraries throughout the U.S., is part of the International Year of Astronomy (IYA), a global celebration during 2009 of astronomy and its contributions to society and culture, highlighted by the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s achievement. In the U.S., the goal during this special year is to offer an engaging astronomy experience to every person in the country
The colorful exhibit panels feature striking images of planets, stars, comets, nebulae, and galaxies taken by NASA’s powerful astronomical observatories and spacecraft, as well as drawings and diagrams created by early astronomers such as Galileo, Christiaan Huygens, and Charles Messier, which show how the universe, stars, and planets were viewed and understood centuries ago.
The Central Library is sponsoring a number of free programs and other events for the public in connection with the exhibit. Contact 750-5944 or referencewaco@ci.waco.tx.us “Visions of the Universe” will be on display at the Central Library until June 6.
Presented by:
the Space Telescope Science Institute,
Baltimore, Maryland
the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory,
Cambridge, Massachusetts
and the American Library Association,
Chicago, Illinois
through funding from
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA).
