The American Museum of Natural History in NYC Adds Another Interactive App

To commemorate the 10th Anniversary of Rose Center for Earth and Space at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) launched a third free application titled "Cosmic Discoveries."

This app designed for the iPhone and iPod Touch consists of 1,000 images that comprise an interactive photo-mosaic. These images are from both the museum's collection as well as from observatories and space agencies from around the globe. On the app's initial screen, these images are stitched together to form the shape of the plant Saturn and its rings.

By clicking on each image, one can get information about a range of items in the cosmos such as the Milky Way, planets, stars, and the sun. Those who want to dig a bit deeper can find either stories that contain in-depth information about a range of cosmic discoveries like Pulsars, Comets, X-ray Galaxy Clusters, and Neutrino Bursts. Other stories are in developing so this app will continue to unfold with new discoveries. Built in social networking tools allow users to share this information with others. A You Tube video demonstrates how this application works.

With the Cosmic Discoveries app, the ANNH continues to expand its digital platform by offering people a chance to visit the museum virtually if they are unable to make the trek into Manhattan. Their first app Dinosaur enable fossil-hunters to pursue the AMNH's vast fossil collection by offering an interactive mosaic with over 800 images from the museum's archives along with in-depth information and other factoids for those seeking a more in-depth experience. A demo of the dinosaur app is available via You Tube.

Their second app "Explorer" was an indoor GPS that enables budding archeologists to tailor a n expedition by plotting out a trip through portions of the museum's 500,000 square feet that includes 45 permanent exhibition halls, restrooms, cafes and shops. The non-GPS portion of this app can be used offline, thus enabling folks to see some of the museum at home. Hand held GPS devices containing this app can be used for free by those with paid admission to the museum, who don't have an iPhone or an iPod touch.

These apps require OS 2.2.1 and work with iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone4, and iPod Touch (second generation) and iPod Touch (third generation). Download all three apps via the iTunes store. Those who want to further engage with the AMNH social media sties can follow them on Twitter or like them museum on Facebook.