'A View From Space' shows new look at world

The California Oil Museum will host a new traveling exhibit, "A View From Space," from Oct. 3 through Dec. 28 at 1001 E. Main St., Santa Paula.

The exhibit will open at 6 p.m. Fri., Oct. 3 with a special reception and viewing party hosted by the Ventura County Astronomical Society. Families are invited to bring children to this event to view the new exhibit and gaze at the night sky. Refreshments will be served.

"A View from Space" is a bilingual, interactive, handson science exhibit that allows visitors to see the world from a satellite's perspective. They can track a hurricane from space, send a satellite spinning into orbit around a model Earth, study images of the planet captured by NASA's Earth Observing System and see how satellites help keep track of environmental and seasonal changes.

Children can take part in a drawing station with satellite stencils, a free-play activity table with space-themed toys, and a reading area.

"'A View from Space' is designed to introduce visitors to the latest and greatest of the Earth observing satellites and give them an appreciation for the value of studying Earth from space," said Jeanne Orcutt, museum director. "Visitors will be challenged to become the scientist, study satellite images and try to answer important questions about the workings of our dynamic planet."

The exhibit was created and is toured by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Portland, Ore., and made possible with funds provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Tickets are $4 for adults, $3 for seniors and $1 for children.

For more information and museum hours, call (805) 933-0076.