One museum, two locations
Visit us in Washington, DC and Chantilly, VA to explore hundreds of the world’s most significant objects in aviation and space history. Free timed-entry passes are required for the Museum in DC.
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Udvar-Hazy Center in VA
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Explore the Universe
Discover how astronomical tools have revolutionized our understanding of the Universe.
This exhibit is now closed.
What is the Universe like? Our answer to that question has changed—sometimes suddenly and dramatically—as our tools for studying the Universe have changed. Explore the Universe showed how our ideas about the Universe evolved as we developed new astronomical instruments. It presented the Universe as discerned by the naked eye, then showed how the telescope, photography, spectroscopy, and digital technology revolutionized our view. The largest section described what astronomers today think about the nature of the Universe.
Among the many amazing treasures on display: an Islamic astrolabe from 10 centuries ago, the actual telescope tube from William Herschel's 20-foot telescope, the observing cage from the Mount Wilson Observatory's 100-inch Hooker Telescope, and the backup mirror for the Hubble Space Telescope.
Explore the Universe Audio Tour
National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
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Related Topics:
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In This Exhibit
Hubble Space Telescope Backup Mirror
Object
WMAP (Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe)
Object
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