Museum events: American Museum of Natural History

Natural History, Nov, 2007

EXHIBITIONS

The Butterfly Conservatory

Through May 26, 2008

Mingle with up to 500 live, free-flying tropical butterflies in an enclosed habitat. Learn about the butterfly life cycle, defense mechanisms, evolution, and conservation.

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Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns, and Mermaids

Through January 6, 2008

Mythic Creatures traces the origins of legendary beings of land, sea, and air. Cultural artifacts bring to light surprising similarities--and differences--in the ways peoples around the world have depicted these beings, and fossil specimens suggest a physical basis for the many forms they have taken.

Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns, and Mermaids is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York (www.amnh.org), in collaboration with The Field Museum, Chicago; Canadian Museum of Civilization, Gatineau; Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney; and Fembank Museum of Natural History, Atlanta. Mythic Creatures is proudly supported by MetLife Foundation.

Undersea Oasis: Coral Reef Communities

Through January 13, 2008

Brilliant color photographs capture the dazzling invertebrate life that flourishes on coral reefs.

Beyond

Through April 6, 2008

Exquisite images from unmanned space probes take visitors on a journey through the alien and varied terrain of our planetary neighbors. The presentation of both Undersea Oasis and Beyond at the American Museum of Natural History is made possible by the generosity of the Arthur Ross Foundation.

Unknown Audubons: Mammals of North America

Through January 6, 2008

The stately Audubon Gallery showcases gorgeously detailed depictions of North American mammals by John James Audubon, best known for his bird paintings.

Major funding for this exhibition has been provided by the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Endowment Fund.

Exoplanets and the Search for life

Through March 2008

Two striking astronomical instruments demonstrate the need for extremely specialized tools in the search for planets around stars other than our own Sun.

This exhibit, part of the education and public outreach efforts of NASA's Navigator Program, was made possible through a grant from NASA's Michelson Science Center at the California Institute of Technology,

GLOBAL WEEKENDS

Buddhist Ritual Song and Dance from Korea

Friday, 11/2, 7:00 p.m.

The Young San Preservation Group performs.

City That Drinks the Mountain Sky

Sunday, 11/18, 2:00 p.m.

Arm-of-the-Sea Theater tells the story of New York City's water supply through puppetry, poetry, and music.

Global Weekends are made possible, in part, by The Coca-Cola Company, the City of New York, the New York City Council, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. Additional support has been provided by the May and Samuel Rudin Family Foundation, Inc., the Tolan Family, and the family of Frederick H. Leonhardt.

LECTURES

No Way Home

Tuesday, 11/13, 7:00 p.m. David S. Wilcove explores animal migration and the dangers our current environment presents for the successful growth of species that migrate.

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Adventures in the Global Kitchen: An Evening with Jay McInerney

Tuesday, 11/13, 7:00 p.m.

Jay McInerney will share stories of viniculture and offer tastings of favorite wines. A book signing follows.

Life in the Valley of Death

Tuesday, 11/20, 7:00 p.m.

Alan Rabinowitz discusses the largest tiger reserve in Myanmar.

Our 100-Million-Year-Old Ecosystem

Wednesday, 11/28, 6:30 p.m.

Michael Novacek will discuss Earth's 100-million-year-old evolutionary history and ways to protect its future.

FILM

Margaret Mead Film & Video Festival

Friday-Sunday, 11/9-11 Celebrate the 31st anniversary of the Margaret Mead Film &. Video Festival with the best of international documentary with screenings, discussions, and panels.

www.amnh.org/mead

WORKSHOPS

Introduction to Human Origins

Three Thursdays, 11/1-15 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Use hominid casts to learn about morphological analysis and how scientists reconstruct behavior from fossil evidence.

FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS

Field Trip to the Moon

Every Wednesday, 10:30 a.m.

Guided by a live presenter, this new program flies visitors to the Moon in the Hayden Planetarium.

Flint-knapping Demonstration

Saturday, 11/17, 12:30-1:30 p.m.

With anthropologist John Shea.

Dr. Nebula's Laboratory: Life with Lucy

Saturday, 11/17, 2:00-3:00 p.m. (Recommended for families with children ages 4 and up)

Help Dr. Nebula's apprentice, Scooter, travel back in time to meet our hominid ancestors.

This program is made possible, in part, by an anonymous donor.

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Public programs are made possible, in part, by the Rita and Frits Markus Fund for Public Understanding of Science.

HAYDEN PLANETARIUM PROGRAMS TUESDAYS IN THE DOME

Virtual Universe

Why the Universe Looks the Way It Does

Tuesday, 11/6, 6:30 p.m.

Celestial Highlights

Here Comes Mars!

Tuesday, 11/27, 6:30 p.m.

HAYDEN PLANETARIUM SHOWS

Cosmic Collisions

Journey into deep space to explore the hypersonic impacts that drive the formation of our universe. Narrated by Robert Redford.

Cosmic Collisions was developed in collaboration with the Denver Museum of Nature & Science; GOTO, Inc., Tokyo, Japan; and the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum. Made possible through the generous support of CIT. Cosmic Collisions was created by the American Museum of Natural History with the major support and partnership of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Science Mission Directorate, Heliophysics Division.