The Planets Zone features the Willamette Meteorite, one of the treasures of the Museum's permanent collection, a more than 15-ton relic of our solar system. Mounted vertically at the center of the thematic cluster on "Impacts and Cratering," visitors can see and touch a piece of ancient cosmic debris. To find out more about the Willamette Meteorite, click here.

Also on view in this Zone are a kinetic sculpture that illustrates crater formation, a satellite dish and computer interactive offering information on the formation and evolution of planets, an examination of major impacts on Earth and the possibility of impacts in the future, and an arresting video illustrating planetary systems around other stars.

 

A 39-inch closed glass Ecosphere, or self-sustaining habitat, is featured in the Planet Zone's thematic cluster on the "Search for Life in the Universe." This area explores where life could exist in the universe and how it might manifest itself on places such as Mars or Jupiter's moon Europa.

Photos © D. Finnin/AMNH