Closing Out the Year: Last Chance to See Water’s Extreme Journey

Plus: Check Out the January-February Program Lineup

Throughout 2020, The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature celebrated Our Blue Planet with a series of special water-related exhibitions and programs, starting with our Clyde Butcher exhibition Myakka River: A Florida Treasure. This wet and watery celebration is coming to a close early next year so now’s your last chance to see Water’s Extreme Journey, a Wyland-inspired maze that allows visitors to become water droplets as they navigate our watershed. Water’s Extreme Journey, which includes Spanish language panels, is included in the price of admission and open in our East Gallery through Jan. 3 — so be sure not to miss it! You also won’t want to miss the Great Conjunction, coming up on the winter solstice, Monday, Dec. 21. In astronomy, a conjunction is when two celestial objects temporarily appear to be close together. The planets will appear to be just .1 degree apart — that’s just one-tenth the width of your little finger when held at arm’s length.  This will be the planets’ closest approach to each other since 1623 and a conjunction of these planets at this magnitude won’t happen again for another 80 years! You can help your audience make the most of this spectacular event by sharing Planetarium Manager Howard Hochhalter’s top three viewing tips: Go to a place where you have an unobstructed view of the horizon between 6:15 and 7:15pm on December 21.Look just south of due west, very low in the horizon.Look for what appears to be an elongated star — that will be Jupiter and Saturn! I’ve included some images below of what the stars will look like on Dec. 19 (Saturday) and on Dec. 21 (Monday). Interested in talking to Howard for your story? Just give me a call and we’ll arrange it!

I also wanted to remind you that we have special hours for the holiday: The Bishop is usually closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. But we know that families are looking for things to do together so we will be open on Monday, Dec. 28, and Tuesday, Dec. 29.

The Bishop’s Holiday HoursOpen 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 28-Thursday Dec. 31Closed Friday, Jan. 1, 2021Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021Open noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 We will resume our normal schedule beginning Monday, Jan. 4, 2021: Museum hours: 10am to 4pm Wednesday through Saturday with entry times at 10-11am, 11am-noon, noon-1pm, 1-2pm, 2-3pm (last entry at 3pm) | Noon to 5pm on Sunday with entry times at noon-1pm, 1-2pm, 2-3pm and 3-4pm (last entry at 4pm) | Closed on Monday and Tuesday Admission: Adults 18-64: $20 | Seniors (65+): $19 | Youth (12-17) and College Students (with ID): $16 | Children (5-11): $12 | Children 4 and younger admitted free with paying adult.

And finally, if you’re working ahead for the New Year, I’ve included our program lineup for January and February below. If you’d like to explore Water’s Extreme Journey, talk to Howard about the Great Conjunction — or even get a sneak peak at other things the Museum has planned for 2021, just drop me an email or give me a call (941.216.3460) anytime! Remi P.S. Here’s an update on Doscal, the manatee we released a couple of weeks ago.

The January & February Program Lineup at The Bishop

Programs for Kids

Returning in January: Science Sprouts!

We’re happy to report that our popular program, Science Sprouts, for budding scientists ages 2-5 will be returning on Jan. 10! Tots can bring their favorite grown-ups to explore and discover in the Mosaic Backyard Universe.  When: 10:30-11:30 am on the second and fourth Sunday of each month.Where: At The BishopCost: $14 per child for members of the Discovery Society; $18 per child for all others (includes one adult to accompany each child). Please note: This program does not include Museum admission. Guests may purchase same-day admission for $7 per adult. Advance reservations are required. We are unable to accommodate walk-ins.Important to Know: We are adhering to social distancing measures during all activities, and the program is limited to 6 adult-child pairs. Masks are required for staff and all participants older than age 2. All participants will be temperature-screened upon arrival. Upcoming Dates and Registration Links Jan. 10: “A Waddle of Penguins” RegistrationJan. 24: “All About Opposites” RegistrationFeb. 14: “Wonderful Wetlands” RegistrationFeb. 28: “Burrow Buddies” Registration

KidSpace: The Second and Fourth Saturday of Every Month

We unleash the awesome power of astronomy during KidSpace, where kids can become scientific masters of the universe! Join us as we explore places humans have never been: the Sun, planets, other moons in our solar system, newly discovered solar systems in our galaxy and beyond.  KidSpace is designed for grades 1-5 and their grown-ups, but everyone is welcome! When: 10:30 a.m. on the second and fourth Saturdays of the monthWhere: On ZoomCost: Free Upcoming Dates and Registration Links January 9January 23February 13February 27

IQuest: The Second Saturday of the Month

IQuest is a monthly program for smart, curious middle school students in grades 6 through 8. While each IQuest is different, you can always expect challenging projects and games that inspire out-of-the-box solutions to real world problems. When: 4-8 p.m. on the second Saturday of the month.Where: At The BishopCost: Admission is $8. Kids only — this is a drop-off program that takes place at The Bishop! Paid reservations required; includes a slice of pizza and a drink. Due to limitations on attendance and staffing, attendees must pre-register before 11am on the day of the program. We are adhering to social distancing measures during all activities and the class size is limited to 10 children. Masks are required for all staff and students, and all students will be temperature-screened upon arrival. Upcoming Programs and Registration Links

January 9: “To the Ends of the Earth”Life at Earth’s polar regions is a challenge survived only by those who adapt. Join us to envision the worlds of the Arctic and the Antarctic. They are similar but surprisingly different. Would you be on thin ice, or all bundled up?Registration

February 13: “Ingenious Engineering”Exploring space has more than its share of challenges. How do we make things fly, and once we do, how can we get them all the way out into space and land them safely?Registration

Programs for Grownups

think + drink / science: On the Second Wednesday of Each Month

On the second Wednesday of each month, the day’s expert begins the evening with a presentation then we open the floor for discussion during this interactive webinar on Zoom. When: 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each monthWhere: On ZoomCost: $3 for members of the Discovery Society; $5 for all others think + drink / science is sponsored by WUSF, a corporate partner of The Bishop. Upcoming Programs and Registration Links

January 13: “Fundamentals of Astrophotography”: Want to capture that amazing shot? Join expert astro-imagers as they discuss and demonstrate some basic astrophotography techniques. These will include techniques of nightscape photography, wide-field Milky Way panoramas, deep sky images using a DSLR (digital single lens reflex) camera and planetary imaging. Registration

February 10: “Angola on the Manatee River: New Insights Revealing Bradenton’s ties to the Underground Railroad”: The Underground Railroad is famous for the routes facilitating the journey from enslavement in the United States to freedom in Canada. But the quest for freedom did not only go north; many self-emancipated and headed south, to Spanish La Florida. In January 2020, Professor Uzi Baram, professor of anthropology at New College of Florida, led excavations in what is now the eastern terminal of Bradenton’s Riverwalk. He shares new insights into the archaeology of the Underground Railroad now under the streets of Bradenton and its implications for our understanding of what it means to be free. Registration

Stelliferous: On the Fourth Wednesday of Each Month

The stars are the stars during this live guided tour of the upcoming month’s skies with a staff astronomer, who will talk about where our stars, planets and constellations are headed in our night skies. We’ll also share the most current events in the world of astronomy and open the floor for an always-fun question and answer session. Stelliferous is great for curious adults and inquisitive kids alike.  Where: On ZoomCost: $3 for members of the Discovery Society; $5 for all others Stelliferous is sponsored by the Herald-Tribune, a corporate partner of The Bishop. Upcoming Dates and Registration Links January 27February 24

Public health and safety, and that of our staff and volunteers, is our first priority and it’s important to us that our guests feel safe and comfortable as they enjoy their time with us. Please visit our website to learn more about the changes we’ve implemented — from requiring masks to a one-way route through the Museum: https://bishopscience.org/welcome-back/.

As the largest natural and cultural history museum on Florida’s Gulf Coast, The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature (formerly South Florida Museum) offers fun and engaging exhibitions and programs that interpret the scientific and cultural knowledge of Florida, the world and our universe. In addition to permanent exhibitions, The Bishop features a constantly changing lineup of special exhibitions — offering something new to discover with each visit — and Pathways, a custom, interactive app that offers guests specially curated tours of the Museum. The Bishop includes an all-digital Planetarium — the only one of its kind on Florida’s Gulf Coast — the Parker Manatee Rehabilitation Habitat, where we help rehabilitate sick or injured manatees for their return to the wild, and the Mosaic Backyard Universe, built especially for young children and their families. Our Mission: To inspire the joy of discovery and wonder for all ages through excellence in stewardship and engagement. Visit www.BishopScience.org for hours, info and admission details or call 941-746-4131.

Adults 18-64, $20 | Seniors (65+), $19 | Youth 12-17 and College Students with ID, $16 | Children 5-11, $12 | Children 4 and younger admitted free with a paying adult. Free Admission for Discovery Society Members | Florida Teachers and Active Duty military (with ID) | Museums for All participants