The Solar System

How was the Earth formed?
Where does gold come from?
How old is the Universe?
What does it look like on Mars?
How was the Moon formed?
What is Denmark doing on Mars?
What are meteorites?
Where do they come from and where can one find them?

Get the answers to these and many other questions in the new permanent exhibition in the Geological Museum:

The Solar System
From the Origin of All Things to the Beginning of Life

 
Origin of Earth 

Briefly about the exhibition

The purpose of the Geological Museum's new exhibition is to put Earth in a cosmic perspective. Why are we here? How has it all come into existence, and what does it look like in the Solar System - our small corner of the universe? What happened 4.6 billions years ago, which caused a civilization to emerge on the third planet from the Sun, a civilization that is advanced enough to begin reconstructing the chain of events?

A recurring feature of the exhibition is that Danish scientists - via video screeens - tell you about their fields of research and explain the objects on display.

The first room of the exhibition tells you about the time up to the creation of the Solar System. Here you will among other things learn how the different elements were formed - e.g. that gold is formed in giant supernova explosions. The room also displays the World's largest meteorite slice - a 5 cm thick slice of the Agpalilik meteorite from Greenland.

Planets

The next room deals with the planets, moons and asteroids of the Solar System. Meteorites from Mars, the Moon and the asteroid Vesta are on display and you are told about the Danish experiments that are currently driving around on two American rovers on Mars.

Meteorites

The last room are dedicated to the meteorites. Here all types of meteorites from remote corners of the Solar System are on display. On the video screens you can among others see how we hunt for meteorites in Antarctica and what happens when a meteorite falls.