Visitor Center Provides Cool Summer Activity - Ice Art

Parent Theresa Dagenhart assist son Robert with putting petri dish in freezer

Goddard astrophysicist Peter Wasilewski has studied the Antarctica ice for 10 years, which has influenced him to create art from the various colorful formations that are created from light reflections. Wasilewski explained to a group of student participants how ice studies are conducted with the use of polarized sheets. "Through a process called birefringence, wherein the refraction of light in two slightly different directions forms two different rays of light, the ice crystal is manipulated to display vibrant and arresting colors, and as the

Takim Herring reviews frozen ice with polarized sheets. Photo Credit: Larry Gilbert/293

ice is forged, striking shapes and shadows arise." The polarized sheets allow one to view the inner crystal shapes, which vary in formation depending upon the age, oxygen content and the rate of freezing ice. Participants then created their own ice art by freezing water in Petri dishes and viewing the ice through polarized sheets.

All of the participants enjoyed the activity and were imparted with some Earth science knowledge. The Goddard Visitor Center continues summer activities throughout the summer. For more information on upcoming events, visit: http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/
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