Satellite Models: NASA-donated models of the SYNCOM, TIROS, ATS, and Space Probes. The syncom satellite allowed two-way calls. Tiros and ATS allowed us to get weather images from space, and the space probes went to the planets. Also, we have a model of the 1980's International Space Station.

Sponsor: National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA)

The Cosmos: Enter this darkened room and look up to see a glowing representation of the December night sky over Brevard County. On the walls are a series of glowing panels, which give a brief description and background about each constellation. Read the description and find the constellation in the night sky above. A glowing button next to the poster can be pressed which will light up the corresponding constellation.

Sponsor: Intersil, Mike and Sara Morrison

• Our solar system has nine planets and one star: the Sun. In order from the Sun out, the planets are: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto.

• The solar system is around 5 billion years old.

• Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars are called "rocky" or "terrestial" planets. They are similar to Earth in composition.Because they are close to the Sun, the lightweight elements like hydrogen and helium were "sandblasted" away by the sun's intense radiation. Mostly rock and metal was left and clumped together to form the rocky planets.
  

• Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are called the "gaseous" planets. Jupiter and Saturn contain the largest percentages of hydrogen and helium, while Uranus and Neptune contain largest shares of ices -- frozen water, ammonia, methane, and carbon monoxide.
• Pluto, the most remote planet, might be little more than a giant comet. Its composition is similar to that of comets, and its orbit is quite different from that of the other comets and planets.

• The four gas giants, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, have rings.

• Yes, some planets can be seen with the unaided eye. That is how they were discovered by the ancient civilizations: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.
  

• Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto were all discovered using a telescope.