We have a beautiful collection of crab fossils on display at the museum right now. But how would you recognize one of these crab fossils out in the wild, before it’s been prepared for display? Most of the crab fossils Bruce prepares begin as concretions. These are round-ish masses of sedimentary material that usually form around a central node (in this case, a crab that was buried in sediment). Because concretions are harder than the rock matrix in which they form, they often become exposed naturally as their host stratum erodes when exposed at the earth’s surface in an outcrop. Do you see the exposed white concretions in these pictures? After collecting at an outcrop, Bruce brings promising concretions back to his shop to examine them and determine which ones are of sufficient quality to warrant the 15 to 20 hours it takes him to prepare them for display. (fb)

Mark your calendars! Space Day is Saturday, June 21st from 10am-2pm. Solar Telescope Viewing with Rose City Astronomers Peer safely at the sun through powerful solar telescopes and witness our closest star like never before! Space Presentation by Rose City Astronomers Blast off on a journey through the universe with an engaging, expert-led talk about the mysteries of space. Meteorites vs. Meteor-Wrongs Get hands-on with real space rocks-can you tell which ones are true meteorites and which are imposters? Gems & Space Discover the cosmic connections between dazzling gems and the universe beyond Earth. Constellation Crafts Station Create your own sparkling constellation art to take home and light up your room! Meteorite-Themed Cornhole Test your aim and challenge your friends in a space rock twist on this classic game. SlackTide Fish Food Truck Serving up the finest fish & chips, chowder, burgers, chicken tenders, and more-fuel your space adventure with delicious eats! Alongside interactive activities, Space Day invites you to explore the fascinating links between our planet and the stars-celebrating the spirit of discovery that connects us all to the universe! Free for members. General admission nonmembers. Pictured: Pallasite, a class of stony-iron meteorite. (fb)