Science of Discovery

It’s hundreds of millions of kilometres from Earth, but Jupiter’s Great Red Spot is luminous inside a theatre-style immersive dome at the Discovery Centre in Halifax.

Many corners of the universe are accessible from the comfort of the planetarium’s 65 cushy chairs — everywhere from Singapore’s night sky to Orion’s Belt.

But there’s one place audiences are always eager to see: Earth.

“You can show people any cool simulation or image of space, but honestly, nothing is as staggering as the hovering above Earth,” said Japna Sidhu-Brar, the dome’s fulltime presenter who uses data from the Hubble Space Telescope to create custom-built audio and visual experiences.

“The software is amazing. You’re getting a very accurate simulation of the solar system, of the planets, of the universe itself.”

The new three-level Discovery Centre — which bills itself as a hands-on science centre — is set to open Feb. 12.

It was a staple on Barrington Street for more than 25 years before moving into the newly constructed $20-million facility on the Halifax waterfront.

The old centre was aimed primarily at children and their families, but the new Discovery Centre is seeking to attract people of all ages with travelling exhibits, interactive astronomy shows and invention workshops, said Dov Bercovici, president and CEO of the centre.

The centre’s bottom floor is where travelling exhibitions will be set up for three- to four-month stopovers.

The first exhibit is one that explores the scientific side of music.

Tucked into the back corner of the bottom floor is a workshop style room dubbed the “innovation lab.” Inside on a recent day several people are sitting on stools and hovering over long wooden tables. Dozens of simple circuit boards — made from nails and blocks of wood — are scattered throughout the brightly lit space.

It’s here where visitors will be able to learn how to invent and fabricate things like a potato battery or drone.

On the second floor guests are greeted by a life-size yellow Piper J-3 Cub, a lightweight aircraft first produced in 1938. It’s part of three themed galleries: flight, health and energy. Each section features interactive and handson activities that teach about the science behind our society, such as harnessing tidal power and human anatomy.

Light pours in through large windows overlooking the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market and the Halifax Harbour on the top level of the centre, where the kids-only section is located.

There’s a farm, supermarket and doctor’s office — all designed to teach children about how their cities function.

It’s also home to a relic from the original Discovery Centre: The ever-popular PVC pipe organ, which children slap with flip-flops to create music.

Every floor will be equipped with science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) facilitators.