Black Holes: Space Warps and Time Twists Exhibit

This exhibit was developed by educators and scientists at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA). Its interactive stations address a number of questions, such as: What is a black hole? Where are black holes? How do we find black holes if they are really black? What would happen if you fell into a black hole? One popular exhibit station allows visitors to experience their own black hole adventure. Using one of three "excursion pods," they will embark on a fantasy "adventure vacation" to the black hole at the center of our galaxy. As they make their way toward this "deep space dive," visitors explore the phenomena around the black hole, including warped space, the slowing of time, and the dangerous magnetic fields and radiation that could leave them stranded on their cosmic adventure. As they travel through the exhibit, visitors carry their own bar-coded Explorer's Card, which they can use to collect discoveries and to generate a personalized website that only they can access. Once visitors return home, their journal becomes a personal portal to further black hole exploration and a platform for sharing their Black Holes experience with friends and family.