DEEP SEA-DEEP SPACE EXHIBIT EVOLVES AT OREGON COAST AQUARIUM
Satellites flying high above the earth have a lot in common with robotic camera's probing our deep oceans. The "deep sea-deep space" connection is explored in a new exhibit at the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, Oregon.
(PRWEB) June 29, 2002
NEWPORT, Ore - There's a connection between high-tech satellites above the earth and robot cameras at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean explained in Passages of the Deep at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. A new exhibit, in partnership with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), links the concept of deep space to the deep sea.
NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory provided information about the Deep Space Network, the international network of large-dish antennas supporting interplanetary spacecraft missions. The exhibit also illustrates radio and radar astronomy observations in the exploration of our solar system and the universe, including northern lights above the earth and long-range photos of comets streaming long tails.
The transitional link between deep space and the deep ocean is provided by the many satellites circling the globe and the land and water observations made by NOAA. Ocean researchers use mapping data gathered from satellites, ships and remote-controlled cameras on the ocean bottom.
The NOAA portion of the exhibit details ocean-bottom research work taking place at the Axial Seamount, located 250 miles west of Newport, Oregon) as part of the NeMO (New Millennium Observatory) Project. The site has been under observation for the past four years and is best known for its seafloor hot springs or underwater volcanoes, called hydrothermal vents, where organisms live which may be some of the oldest on earth. The Aquarium's exhibit includes a split section of a hardened chimney core from one of the smaller hydrothermal vents.
In addition to viewing the scientific information about the NeMO Project, visitors may try on for size a genuine World War II-era Mark-5 dive helmet formerly used by deep-sea divers. The brass and copper helmet with glass windows was donated to the Aquarium by retired U. S. Navy diver Greg Apodaca.
Located just south of Newport, the Oregon Coast Aquarium is named one of the top 10 aquariums in the nation by Parade magazine. Immerse yourself in Passages of the Deep and walk beneath the waves through a 200-foot clear underwater tunnel that snakes through three ocean habitats. Encounter sharks, rays and thousands of other fish swimming around you. Experience an exhilarating sensation when you look around and realize you're completely surrounded!
Outdoors, rugged cliffs, caves and pools showcase the many fascinating fish and invertebrates of Oregon's coastal shores. Discover curious seals, sea lions and sea otters. A giant Pacific octopus lurks in an undersea coastal cave, and cartoonlike tufted puffins and other seabirds make their homes in one of the largest walk-through aviaries in North America.
Experience the magic of "Enchanted Seas" while taking a journey into the mystical world of seahorses, sea dragons and other magical sea creatures worth protecting. This bright new exhibit features painted murals by artist Michael Cole and displays a collection of ocean gems featuring seahorses hanging onto seagrass with their prehensile tails; a rainbow of tropical reef fishes flitting among the coral; sea dragons trailing frilly appendages; cuttlefish hovering like blimps; and children enjoying gaze-to-'gator vision of baby American alligators in a crawl-through tank. Visitors who crave a bit of the familiar will still find sea nettles, moon jellies and other jewels of the sea included with "Enchanted Seas."
Indoors, take a peek "Under the Lily Pad" at the Ocean Exploration Station for an up-close view of frogs, newts and salamanders as you discover the there's more to a pond than scum and explore the role these soggy spaces play in a healthy ecosystem. Visitors dip into the microscopic life of a pond community and see if they can identify the many creatures in the "duck soup" found in a pond ecosystem. Learn what's lurking beneath the pond's surface as you watch bluegills, compare newts and salamanders and search for tree and red-legged frogs. You'll be ribbetted!
The Aquarium is open every day except December 25; hours are 9 a. m. to 6 p. m. through Labor Day. For additional information about the Oregon Coast Aquarium, surf www. aquarium. org or call 541-867-FISH (867-3474).
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