Interpreting the Cosmos through Evolving Technologies
Paul Knappenberger and Naomi Knappenberger
Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum
The desire to understand and explain celestial phenomena
provided the impetus for many cultures to create instruments that are both
beautiful and useful. It is in these technologies, used to educate and
inspire others with the wonders of the Universe, that we see a true marriage
of the arts and sciences.
From exquisite, jewel-like astrolabes and orreries
to computer-driven planetaria, examples from the Adler's extensive history
of astronomy collection illustrate how the evolution of our understanding
of the Universe has inspired the development of increasingly sophisticated
technologies for educating others.