AMNH Announces Public Programs For October 2011

The American Museum of Natural History is one of the world's preeminent scientific and cultural institutions. Since its founding in 1869, the Museum has advanced its global mission to discover, interpret and disseminate information about human cultures, the natural world and the universe through a wide-ranging program of scientific research, education and exhibition.

Strange New Worlds with Ray Jayawardhana
Monday, October 3
7:30 pm
Hayden Planetarium Space Theater (Enter at 81st Street)
$15 ($13.50 Members, students, seniors)
Soon astronomers expect to find alien "Earths" by the dozens in orbit around distant suns. Before the decade is out, telltale signs that these planets harbor life may be found. If they are, the ramifications for all areas of human thought-from religion and philosophy to art and biology-will be breathtaking. In Strange New Worlds, renowned astronomer Ray Jayawardhana brings news from the front lines of the epic quest to find planets-and alien life-beyond our solar system. A book signing will follow.

Lunchtime Bird Walks in Central Park
Three Tuesdays beginning October 4
Noon-1:30 pm
Northeast corner of Central Park West and 77th Street
$40
Join Paul Sweet of the Museum's Ornithology Department on midday bird walks through Central Park. As the days turn crisp and the leaves begin to change color, songbirds begin their southward migration, passing through Central Park on the way to winter homes in warmer climes. Learn to identify the "confusing fall warblers" and the "little brown jobs" that fill the trees and bushes at this time of year.

Please note: walks begin across the Museum on the northeast corner of Central Park West and 77th Street. Enrollment is limited to 25 people per series. For more information, call the Bird Walk Hotline at 212-313-7579.

SciCafe
Wednesday, October 5
7 pm
Wallach Orientation Center, fourth floor (Enter at 77th Street)
Free (Space is limited)
21+ with ID
The popular after-hours series featuring cocktails, cutting-edge science, and conversation returns on the first Wednesday of every month. For more details and information on monthly speakers, visit amnh.org/scicafe.
Proudly sponsored by Judy and Josh Weston.

Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for Our Time
Tuesday, October 11
5:30 pm
Kaufmann Theater, first floor (Enter at 77th Street)
Free
This poignant documentary directed by Steven Dunsky follows the professional and personal life of Aldo Leopold, widely regarded as the 20th century's most important conservationist and a central figure in the development of environmental ethics. Green Fire shares intimate details of his loving relationship with his wife and children, which centered around their exploration of nature. The film highlights Leopold's extraordinary career, revealing how he shaped the debates within the conservation community and continues to inspire people today. The screening will be followed by a discussion with Brooke Hecht and Dr. Curt Meine of the Center for Humans and Nature.

Café on One will offer refreshments for purchase before the event from 4:30 to 5:15 pm.

The Mind's Eye with Oliver Sacks
Monday, October 17
7 pm
LeFrak Theater, first floor (Enter at 77th Street)
$15 adults; $13.50 Members, students, seniors
In The Mind's Eye, physician and author Oliver Sacks tells the stories of people who are able to navigate the world and communicate with others despite losing what many of us consider indispensable senses and abilities: the power of speech, the capacity to recognize faces, the sense of three dimensional space, the ability to read, or the sense of sight. Join Sacks for a discussion of this book, which reveals how people are able to adapt to a radically new way of being in the world. A book signing will follow. Café on One will offer refreshments for purchase before the event from 5 to 6:45 pm.

Adventures in the Global Kitchen: Beer and Cheese
Wednesday, October 19
6:30 pm
Linder Theater, first floor (Enter at 77th Street)
$30
Join Garrett Oliver, Brooklyn Brewery brewmaster, to celebrate the release of the Oxford Companion to Beer, which he edited. Oliver will be joined by Aaron Foster from Murray's Cheese in a discussion that explores the nuances of beer-cheese pairings and the ways beer and cheese pairs can highlight subtle flavors in both treats. Tastings of multiple seasonal beers and cheese will be provided by Brooklyn Brewery and Murray's Cheese.

Fly Me to The Moon with Carter Emmart and Andrew Chaikin
Tuesday, October 25
6:30 pm
Hayden Planetarium Space Theater (Enter at 81st Street)
$15 ($13.50 Members, students, seniors)
Join Apollo historian Andrew Chaiken on a journey to the farthest reaches of human exploration. Using the latest data from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, combined with mapping photographs taken from lunar orbit by the Apollo astronauts forty years ago, the Museum's Director of Astrovisualization Carter Emmart will lead a flight simulation over our nearest celestial neighbor in the Hayden Planetarium dome.

Museum Information

Hours
The Museum is open daily, 10 am-5:45 pm.
The Museum is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Space Show Hours
Space Shows are shown Monday through Friday every half hour, 10:30 am- 4:30 pm except Wednesdays (first show on Wednesday begins at 11 am). Saturday through Sunday, every half hour, 10:30 am-5 pm.

Admission
Suggested general admission, which supports the Museum's scientific and educational endeavors and includes 46 Museum halls and the Rose Center for Earth and Space, is $19 (adults) suggested; $14.50 (students/seniors) suggested; $10.50 (children) suggested.

The Museum offers discounted combination ticket prices that include suggested general admission plus special exhibitions, IMAX films, and Space Shows.
o Museum plus special exhibition, IMAX film, or Space Show: $25 (adults), $19 (students/seniors), $14.50 (children)
o Museum Supersaver, which includes the Space Show, IMAX, and all special exhibitions: $33 (adults), $25.50 (students/seniors), $20.50 (children)

Visitors who wish to pay less than the suggested Museum admission and also want to attend a special exhibition, IMAX film, or Space Show may do so only on-site at the Museum. To the amount they wish to pay for general admission, they should add $20 (adults), $16.50 (students/seniors), or $11 (children) for a Space Show, special exhibition, or IMAX film.

Public Information
For additional information, the public should call 212-769-5100 or visit the Museum's website, amnh.org.