My 5th grade class went on a field trip one day to the Space Planetarium.
That morning my mother gave me a dollar to spend as I wished. I remember getting change for my dollar so I could buy a bag of peanuts from the vending machine for five cents.
Part of the tour took us into the Planetarium store that has all kinds of really neat science and chemistry related things. One item that stood out in my mind was a Crookes Radiometer, named for the inventor...
Sir William Crookes. The device also goes by the name of Solar Radiometer.
Basically, it's a tiny weather vane inside a vacuum globe. One side of the vanes are painted black. When sunlight hits the vanes... the heat energy causes the vanes to turn... It's purpose is to demonstrate solar energy. When you remove the light, the vanes stop turning. It requires no batteries and as long as there is sunlight shining on the Radiometer, the vanes will continue to turn.
Well, I wanted one, but it was a dollar and I only had 95 cents. So I went home without it.
3 years ago, I had another chance to visit the Space Planetarium, this time it was for the Midnight Laser Light Show... with music from Pink Floyd.
I walked into the same store some 42 years later and found they still sell Solar Radiometers.. This time the price was $20. The person I was with thought the price was outlandish and needless to say, I went home (again) without one !
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Click >> HERE << for a sample of the laser light show similar to the one in Miami.
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read more blogs!
Blogs by chatillion:
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| Crookes Radiometer... photo included |
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missliss78
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Jan 1 @ 12:24AM
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Dang, chat....why didn't ya just SPLURGE, man?
BTW...Happy New Year to ya!
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oceanlover734
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Jan 1 @ 12:35AM
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Reading this blog brought up good memories. Growing up in Miami we always went on great field trips. I remember going to the Planetarium and loving it. We went there and to Venetian Pool and Vizcaya often. I remember being terrified at the Zoo at Miami Beach...Crandon (sp) Park Zoo I think. I have memories of being on Miami Beach on Christmas Day several times. Long, long time ago. Happy New Year!
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chatillion
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Jan 1 @ 12:40AM
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Happy New Year Ladies... 
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hereshannon
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Jan 1 @ 12:47AM
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Great blog! That really brought back some old memories. One of my favorite grade school field trips was also to the local planetarium, and as I recall I came home with a similar gadget. And I had to laugh, many years later I also returned for the Pink Floyd laser show. Thanks for the memories, I hope one day you get your Crookes Radiometer.
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glevelius
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Jan 1 @ 1:00AM
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You know, I share similar memories but unlike the rest of you unlucky people, I actually HAD one of those  Have no idea where it is now, but I think I'd have shelled out the bucks just to say I had one 
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Journeyhawk
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Jan 1 @ 1:10AM
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I remember those globes from when I was a little girl. I thought they were the coolest things! I never owned one, though.
I am still waiting for the New Year to come in, but I will certainly wish you a
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ForumMod
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Jan 1 @ 1:45AM
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 $10.95
ps get the drinking bird, too. 
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AutumnSilk
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Jan 1 @ 1:53AM
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Yes, the drinking bird...and the smoking monkey....
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chatillion
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Jan 1 @ 8:58AM
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SNG... thanks for the link !
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whatagal
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Jan 1 @ 9:09PM
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I want the gyroscope!!
Happy New Year Chat!
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teddybearagain
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Jan 1 @ 9:17PM
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I want any of those that starts with "gyro", .. as in gyrohips 
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