A museum is a non-profit making, permanent institution in the service of
society and of its development, and open to public, which acquires,
conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits, for purposes of study,
education and enjoyment, material evidence of people and their environment
The article identifies science centers and planetaria as museums.
Science centers and planetaria share characteristics and principles of
museum exhibitions. Science centers, anyhow, are different from museums in that
they focus on ‘hand-on exhibitions’ that allow visitors to participate, observe, and
experiment on scientific activities and shows in order to gain knowledge and
experience related to their lives (Association of Science-Technology Centers
[ASTC], n.d.).