Since Galileo first glimpsed the rings of Saturn in 1610, the beauty of the outer Solar System’s giant planets – Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune – has captivated us. Now scientists are seeing beyond their beauty to gain a deeper understanding of their importance. Tools such as the Hubble Space Telescope, the Keck Observatory, and the Cassini spacecraft are helping us understand the origins of our Solar System and the formation of stars and planets. The National Science Foundation and NASA has provided major funding to the Space Science Institute to develop a 3,500 sq. ft. traveling exhibition about the giant planets that will bring these new discoveries to the public and the classroom. The exhibition began its national tour in 2008 at the Orlando Science Center. The project also includes an education program for host museum educators and an interactive website.

© 2007 Space Science Institute, All Rights Reserved.