December 2011

Monthly Archive: December 2011

Next Stop Mars! New NASA Rover Launched

Posted: December 30, 2011 - 09:30 , by royal
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By Brendt Hyde, Mineralogy Technician

A view of the shuttle launch!

Curiosity starts its journey towards Mars! (Image Credit NASA/Scott Andrews/Canon)

Things to know when you meet a Maya High Priest

Posted: December 29, 2011 - 10:42 , by royal

By Justin Jennings, Associate Curator, Department of World Culture.

Winter Visitors in Hands-on Biodiversity

Posted: December 28, 2011 - 12:38 , by Sarah Elliott

It’s that time of year!  ROM for the Holidays is finally here, and we’ve been hard at work in the Keenan Family Gallery of Hands-on Biodiversity (HOB for short) getting some new hands-on activities ready to go.

First up is the brand-new, never-before-seen touch table that we put together in honour of our lost baby bison.

Green with Envy

Posted: December 21, 2011 - 11:47 , by royal
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Every day at the museum is a good day, but when a new object-specimen gets added to the collection, it is a great day.  It was a particularly stellar day in Earth Sciences when we were able to acquire this lovely princess cut, 23.24 carat peridot from Myanmar (Burma).

Green Periot Gem

Meteorite or “Meteor-wrong”?

Posted: December 16, 2011 - 13:00 , by ROM
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ROM Earth Scientists receive dozens of requests each year to identify possible meteorites. This is especially the case when there is a spectacular fireball similar to the one which recently streaked across southern Ontario on December 12 of this year (the video was captured by astronomers at the University of Western Ontario). Do you think you have found a space rock?

6 Holiday Gift Ideas for Museum Lovers

Posted: December 15, 2011 - 10:53 , by royal
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‘Tis the season of giving, so we thought we’d share some of our favourite ROM-themed gift ideas with you!

Image of c5 and ROM book covers.

There's something for everyone at the ROM.

1. Wrap up a ROM membership

“They Were Hoist By their Own Petard”

Posted: December 1, 2011 - 16:02 , by ROM

They organized extravagant spectacles, each more lavish than the next. They built imposing monuments, ever larger to outdo their predecessors and rivals. Over centuries, the Maya leaders elevated themselves far above their subjects. Yet in the end, these all-powerful rulers were caught in a trap of their own making.

Picture of a maya party event