ELEMENTAL STRUCTURES

This activity-based mural was created in partnership with the Fiske Planetarium with support from Colorado Scholars of Astrophysics and Art, Zachory Berta-Thompson, and ASP. Each of these seven, 7-foot tall, pillars depict an element's emission spectrum. Each element has its own emission spectrum "fingerprint," seen through a spectrometer, that gives astronomers the ability to know exactly what elements make up far-away stars and gas clouds. Elements included are Iron, Hydrogen, Helium, Carbon, Neon, Nitrogen, and Oxygen. Check out the accompanying “Fingerprints of Light” activity at the Fiske Planetarium to see if you can match each pillar to its corresponding element.

“Elemental Structures” is on permanent display at the Fiske Planetarium in Boulder, Colorado. | Completed March 2021