Spacing Out

MIDLAND Stepping into an indoor planetarium can be a little scary.

It's dark. There's not a whole lot of space to move around.

But it's only scary until the show starts.

Suddenly the entire planetarium lights up with stars, planets and plenty of stories from Karen Winkler, part of the Museum of the Southwest's newest exhibit, the Space Spot.

The Museum of the Southwest Children's Museum is holding an opening celebration from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free.

"You should see it when it really lights up," Winkler said. "It really gets you going."

Full of hands-on kiosks to help kids learn about space, the Space Spot will be a part of the Museum of the Southwest Children's Museum from now until September 13.

Kids can test the weight of an actual meteorite from Argentina. Looks like a normal rock. Feels like a dumbbell.

Or find out how much a can of Diet Coke would weigh on the surface of the sun. Provided that the can didn't melt, of course.

The Space Spot is designed to get kids actively thinking about all those stars in the night sky.

"Kids learn best when they can fully engage," Winkler said. "We get them started, and then they can explore the information kiosks themselves."

Exploring the exhibit inevitably begins with the Space Spot's most interesting addition, the indoor planetarium that looks like a giant black exercise ball from the outside.

Built to replicate the current Midland sky, kids can step inside the indoor planetarium-which holds up to 25 children, depending on their ages-and find out about Saturn, Mars, Jupiter and the Big Dipper.

At first the planetarium is dark, but Winkler makes sure the kids feel at home.

"We come in and put the lights on so they can figure out where they are," Winkler said. "We tell them we're going to be talking about the stars and planets, and I can turn the lights back on if they get nervous."

By the time the kids leave, they have a new understanding of our solar system.

And a much better grasp the next time they stare into the night sky.

 WANT TO GO?

>> What: Opening celebration

>> When: 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Saturday.

>> Where: Museum of the Southwest, Midland

>> Admission: Free