THE PLANETARIAN Journal of the International Society Vol. 24, No.4, December 1995

Articles 5 Role of in Education ...... James G. Manning 9 Fundraising Tips from Walter Gilfilen ...... Jim Manning 11 The AAS "Teacher Resource Agent" Program ...... John C. Scala 12 Polarizing Effects ...... Miguel Bretos 15 Overnight Extravaganzas at Carter Observatory ..... Wayne Orchiston & Frank Andrews 20 Star Gazing, Philosophy, and Teaching ...... Douglas A. Fowler 23 Glimpses of the Rising Sun ...... David Linton Features 29 Mobile News Network ...... Sue Reynolds 31 Planetarium Memories: Grand Canyon Suite ...... Kenneth E. Perkins 33 President's Message ...... Jim Manning 36 What's New ...... Jim Manning 41 Planetechnica: Reinventing the Wheel ...... Richard McColman 47 Gibbous Gazette ...... Christine Brunello 49 Forum: School Programming ...... Steve Tidey 54 Regional Roundup ...... Steven Mitch 56 Focus on Education: Mass ofJupiter/Universe at Fingertips ...... Stu Chapman 60 Book Reviews ...... April S. Whitt 66 Jane's Corner ...... Jane Hastings \,/,,1, "<·rr.l .. rrrr.~ ,'11/',' ~1."pp',M.-r 11, ,/,-/ /11/'

The Starmaster Model ZMP

"111,,11111 du",''''''''', ,,·r... ,!,I,· ,,' 1'• .'rh,.,I1.",,-,· ~ EILEFl I N STRLJIVIE N T I ,·.III""'!! Ih,·I.II,... ! ",",".1(",,,_ '" l.>rl /t.,,, kl1" I" h".,I".:, .1 I ' 1 I 170 E. K" kh:om A."., 5<. loui., MO 63,," I 111>"""1'1" ~'~I,'''' 1I',liI"I",,1 ~I'" l·r")O.'!"'"·I~'rt.'I>I " ,,,"'r,,II""" .11\, '\;(" _'I t ,t."I••• 11 oI,·"~,, th.11 ""<'I;r.'h'~ lilt" ",,,, II'': tdl,,,1 "r 1"'rrh"~~,'1 .t~~w ~,,, ... ,'I " ~ h',' 1'1"" ,.,1 "''''''''n" ,111""",,,1,,1,1,· I", d"", , ·~ d,,'''wt'''f~ "~I ~'I" I~ I,~'t New Orleans Sales Office 1 - 800- 726-9905 ( .,11 ,,,'" .... ·'1.·' 1",,,u""'1\1 "'I''''''''"",m " ,,'r .1"1 ,,,1, FAX, 504-764-7665 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Planetarian (ISN 0090-3213) is published quarterly by the International Planetarium Society. ©1995. International Planetarium Society, Inc., all rights reserved. Opinimls e},pn!ss~x:I """"'ATJII-''-K7JI rian by authors are personal opinions and are not necessarily the opinions International Planetarium Society. its officers, or agents. Acceptance of advertisements, announcements, Vol. 24, No.4 other material does not imply endorsement by the International Planetarium Society, cers or agents. The Editor welcomes items for consideration for publication. Please consult December, 1995 request) "Guidelines for Contributors" printed in the September 1995 issue. The Editor r"'''','''M\''~''' I!;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;!.I the right to edit any solicited or unsolicited manuscript to suit this needs. , Executive Editor ]ohnMosley INDEX OF D ERTISERS Griffith Observatory 2800 E. Observatory Road Bowen Productions ...... &: Los Angeles, California 90021 USA 213-664-1181 work phone Commercial Electronics 818-708-7314 home fax Davis Planetarium ...... [email protected] DSC Laboratories ...... Advertising Coordinator East Coast Control Systems ...... Sheri Barton Trbovich Evans &: Sutherland ...... cover Hansen Planetarium 15 South State Street Goto Manufacturing ...... Salt Lake City, Utah 84111 USA Joe Hopkins Engineering ...... 801-531-4949 Laser Images, Inc ...... 801-531-4948 fax [email protected] Miami Space Transit ...... Minolta Corporation ...... Membership NEOS Technologies ...... cover Individual: $40 one year; $70 two years Institutional: $150 first year; $75 annual renewal Orlando Science

Library Subscriptions: $24 one year Planisphere Productions ...... u ...... Direct membership requests RS Automation Industrie ...... and changes ofaddress to the Treasurer!Membership Chairman Scientific Universe Products ...... LP. S. Job Information Service Seiler Instruments ...... cover To receive word of new position openings Sky-Skan, ...... in the planetarium field, send up to six Spitz, Inc ...... self-addressed stamped envelopes to: S. Fentress, Director Strasen burgh Planetarium P.O. Box 1480 soci ditors Rochester, New York 14603 USA Jon U. Bell Steven Mitch Back Issues of The Planetarlan Opening the Dome Available from: Charlene Oukes Jeffrey H. Bowen Sound Advice PJJmE~tarttlm Memories IPS Back Publications Repository Strasenburgh Planetarium Christine Brunella P.O. Box 1480 Gibbous Gazette Rochester, New York 14603 USA Stu Chapman Steve A cumulative index of major articles that have Focus on Education Forum appeared in The Planetarian from the first issue Jane G. Hastings Wilson through the current issue is available on paper Jane's Comer COlml0u1~er Reviews ($12 ppd) or disk ($5 ppd) from the Exec. Editor. Richard McColman Final Deadlines Planetechnica March:January 21; June: April 21 September:July 21; December: October 21 Jim Manning What's New

Vol. 24, No.4, December 1995 The Planetarian President Executive Secretary 1998 Conference Chair Elections Co:mnrlit1tee Ch.airmsm. Jim Manning Lee Ann Hennig, Planetarium Undine Concannon Thomas Stec Taylor Planetarium Thomas Jefferson High School Planetarium Administrator Central Bucks East H.S. Museum of the Rockies 6560 Braddock Road London Planetarium Holicong and Anderson Roads Bozeman Montana 59717 USA Alexandria, Virginia 22312 USA Marylebone Road Buckingham, PA 18912 406-994-6874 703-750-8380 London NWl 5LR England 215-794-7481 406-994-2682 fax 703-750-5010 fax (44) 071-486-1121 [email protected] [email protected] (44) 071-465-0862 fax Awards C(llm!rni'tte~e Phyllis Pitluga President Elect Treasurer and Membership Historian/Photo-Archivist The Adler Planetarium Thomas W. Kraupe Chairman John Hare 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive Forum Der Technik Planetarium Keith Johnson Bishop Planetarium Chicago, Illinois 60605 USA Museumsinsel 1 Fleischmann Planetarium 201 10th Street West 312-322-0319 D-80538 Muenchen University of Nevada Bradenton, Florida 34205 USA Germany Reno. Nevada 89557 USA 813-746-4132 49-89-21125-250 702-784-4812 49-89-21125-255 fax 702-784-4822 fax Publications Chair International Planetarium [email protected] keithj@equinox. unr. edu Undine Concannon SOciety [email protected] Planetarium Administrator c/o Hansen Planetarium 1996 Conference Chairman London Planetarium Past President July 13-16, 1996 Marylebone Road 15 South State Street William Gutsch Dr. Tadao Nakano, Director London NWl 5LR, England Salt Lake Utah 84111 USA 25 The Crossway The Science Museum of Osaka (44) 171-486-1121 Smoke Rise Nakanoshima, Kita-Ku (44) 171-465-0862 fax Kinnelon, New Jersey 07405 Osaka 530, Japan Please notify the Editor 201-492-8165 changes oj IPS 201-492-1836 affiliate rer;)reSeTlta~tives. [email protected] s..

Association of French-Speaking Great Lakes Planetarium Assoc. Nordic Planetarium Association Russian Planetariums Asso~~iatiQln Planetariums Dayle Brown. Pegasus Productions Lars Broman Zinaida P. Sitkova Agnes Acker 713 Cushing Broman Planetarium Nizhny Novgorod Planetarium Planetarium Strasbourg South Bend, Indiana 46616 USA Fjaderharvsg 87 Pokhyalinsky SYezd 5-A Universite Louis Pasteur 219-282-1885 S-424 66 Goteborg-Angered Nizhny Novgorod, 603 001 Rue de L'Observatoire Sweden Russia 6700 Strasbourg. France Great Plains Planetarium Assoc. +46-2310 177 +7831-2-34-21-51 88-36-12-51 April Whitten. Business Mgr. +46-2310 137 (fax) +7 -831-2-33-46-05 fax Mallory Kountze Planetarium lars. [email protected] [email protected] Assoc. of Mexican Planetariums 60th & Dodge Streets http://www.nrm.se/om/tc-npa.html Ignacio Castro Pinal Omaha. Nebraska 68182 USA Southeastern Planetarium Museo Technologico C.F.E. 402-554-2510 Pacific Planetarium Association John Hare Apartado Postal 18-816 402-554-3100 Lonny Baker Bishop Planetarium CP 11870 Mexico City, D.F. MexiCO [email protected] AstronOmical SOCiety of the PacifiC 201-lOth Street West +5255-16-13-57 390 Ashton Avenue Bradenton, FlOrida 34205 USA +5255-16-55-20 fax Italian Planetaria's Friends Assoc. San Francisco. Calif. 94112 USA 941-746-4132 ext. 15 Loris Ranlponi 415-337-1100 941-747-2556 fax British Assoc. of Planetariums National Archive of Planetaria 415-337-5205 fax Undine Concannon c/o Centro studi e ricerche Serafino Southwestern Association London Planetarium Zani Planetarium Assoc. of Canada Planetariums Marlybone Road via Bosca 24. CP 104 Ian D. Canleron Donna Pierce London NWI 5LR. England 25066 Lumezzane (Brescia). Italy Lockhart Planetarium Highland Park Ind. School District (44) 071-486-1121 30-871861 500 Dysart Road 4220 Emerson (44) 071-465-0862 fax 30-872545 fax Winnipeg. Manitoba R3T 2N2 Dallas, Texas 75205 USA Canada 214-523-1836 planetarium office Council of German Planetariums Japan Planetarium Society 204-474-9785 214-522-4515 fax Dr. Erich Uebelacker Dr. Tadao Nakano. Director 204-261-0021 fax [email protected] Planetarium Hamburg The SCience Museum of Osaka [email protected] Hindenburgstrasse Oe 1 Nakanoshima. Kita-Ku Ukranian Planetariums D-22303 Hanlburg. Germany Osaka 530. Japan Rocky Mountain Planetarium Dr. Alexander P. Lenin +49-40-514985-0 Association RepubHcal Planetarium +49-40-514985-10 fax Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society Bess Amaral 57/3 Krasnoarmeiskaia Street Fred Stutz Robert H. Goddard Planetarium Kiev 252005 European/Mediterranean 302 Beechgrove Court Roswell Museum & Arts Center Ukraine Planetarium Association Millersville. Maryland 211 08 USA 11th and N. Main 044-227-51-66 Dennis Sinl0poulos Roswell. New Mexico 88201 USA 044-227-51-66 fax Eugenides Planetarium 505-624-6744 Syngrou Avenue-Amfithea 505-625-6765 fax Athens. Greece [email protected] +30-1-941-1181 +30-1-941-7372 fax dps@eugenides_found.edu.gz

Produced at the Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles, California

4 The Planetarian Vol. remaining 27 percent are uncertain, but would probably be distributed among the The Role of Planetariums in other categories. Housed within these vhme·tariurns Astronomy Education variety of star projectors: the one seen here ... familiar dumbbell as in this model Zeiss ... the more recent sin­ gle-sphere type, in this case, the Minolta An Address to the Education Symposium of the Infinium projector ... the fisheye lens of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific Evans &: Sutherland computer graphiCS system. The theaters themselves June 24, 1995 vary greatly as well, ranging from small and cozy-this theater sporting a Goto instru­ James G. Manning ment ... to the cavernous tilted-dome the­ aters, this one housing a Goto Helios President, International Planetarium Society tor ... to hundreds of portable theaters like Taylor Planetarium Starlab, operating around the world in addi­ tion to the 2,000 fixed theaters, Drlngllng Museum of the Rockies astronomy directly to schools, aU4dit4Jrill.lmlS, Bozeman Montana 59717 shopping centers, and other venues. In all of these theaters with all of these instruments in all parts of the world, it has Good afternoon. The first projection planetarium was been estimated that 20 million people visit In the 1940's, chemical engineer and phi­ demonstrated by the Zeiss Optical Company planetariums each year. Personally, I believe lanthropist John Motley Morehead at the Deutsches Museum in Munich, Ger­ this estimate is low. But if one takes it at face approached the eminent Harvard astron­ many in 1923. It was permanently installed value, assuming an average of 10,000 visitors omer Harlow Shapley with a question. More­ there in 1925-70 years ago. By 1970-the per planetarium per year, and calculates head wanted to build either an observatory height of the Apollo moon program-there backward over seventy years, one ends up or a planetarium for the children of his were an estimated 700 to 800 planetariums with more than 450 million people served native North Carolina, and he asked Shapley in the world, half of them less than six years since the first planetarium opened at the which the astronomer would recommend. old, constructed during the peak years of the Deutsches Museum. Even for McDonald's, Shapley suggested that a planetarium would Space Race. Today, 25 years later, that num­ that's a lot of hamburgers! be better-because he felt the people of ber has more than doubled to a little over Oearly, planetariums represent one of the North Carolina were among the "most astro­ 2,000. biggest and most visible avenues for present­ nomically ignorant" people in the United ing astronomy and related subjects to the States. public-surpassable perhaps only by televi­ Morehead responded that if Shapley sion. This gives planetariums an enor­ would amend his statement to say that mous potential for supporting both for­ the people of North Carolina were mal and informal astronomy educa­ among the "most ignorant in astro­ MORE THAN tion. nomical matters," he would build a In defining the role that plaJr1etillr- planetarium. Shapley did, and 450 MILLION SERVED iums play, it's useful to review their Morehead did, and the rest is histo­ strengths. We all know that ry-46 years of history, to be precise, tariums can reproduce the during which more than four mil­ sky for any place on earth on any lion people have been introduced to day of the year for many years past the wonders of the universe at the Morehead Based on figures compiled in the 1994 IPS and future, creating a view that simulates the Planetarium-thanks to the hard work of Planetarium Directory, we find that slightly three-dimensional I~ackyard" sky. And that two generations of planetarium staff. more than half of the world's planetariums they can accurately reproduce the apparent In many ways, the Morehead story is not are located in North America, with large motions and cycles of the sky-in speeded-up unique; planetariums for decades have been numbers in Asia and Europe, and relatively fashion so people can see what happens over created to serve the cause of astronomical few in other parts of the world If we consid­ time. But planetariums also create environ­ enlightenment-to offer people knowledge er distribution by country, we find that half ments that encompass the audience, and understanding and a sense of place in a are in the United States, more than 300 are in fig them into the experience in a way that universe far bigger than themselves. It's an Japan, and Germany ranks third with nearly classroom, book, television or computer important role and one that we continue to 100. Nineteen countries have ten or more screen cannot. They can combine and effec­ play-changing, we hope, as times, technolo­ planetariums. tively use audiovisual technology to gy, education, and our view of the universe Some 33 percent of these planetariums are create these experiences. And they possess change. located in primary or secondary schools; 17 tremendous flexibility in how these audiovi­ To best appreciate the role of planetari­ percent are at colleges and universities; 15 sual resources can be used. ums, it's important first to understand the percent are part of museums and science cen­ It is these strengths which allow the plane­ broad reach that they have today. Consider ters; 7 percent are associated with observato­ tarium to effectively demonstrate astronom­ these facts and figures ... ries or other institutions; the settings of the ical principles and to present and reinforce

Vol. 24, No.4, December 1995 The Planetarian 5 concepts and information in ways that other optics to create stars that look like true media cannot. And we take advantage of points of light, creating an exceptionally At the South African these strengths in the goals that we set for realistic-looking starfield. The Digistar com­ iumin ourselves. puter graphics system allows the audience to a Silicon GrclPi;LICS First and foremost, we strive to educate, in travel through a stenar data base in Star Trek ways ranging from curriculum-based school fashion, can show the proper motion of the lessons to popular-level programs. We also stars over hundreds of thousands of years, strive to enlighten, which I think is not quite and creates many other three-dimensional galaxies out to 250 million the same as to educate; we want people not learning opportunities. from the southern helnisph(ere. ua.laJU.'>;;;> just to know but to understand and to incor­ This is how the interior of the London color-coded white to blue to m

6 The Planetarian Vol. facility extensively for hands-on lessons of a lens to create all-dome laser images for use in grams of 1'&>~II_~Il'V special kind: Air Force cadet training in top­ star shows ranging from grids to astronomi­ we show ics ranging from aeronautics to survival cal effects. methC)QS. and at we have star skills using a compass and the planetarium But the efforts of planetariums extend to them find their around the sky. more than just the star theater; astronomy sh()WilI1£ them cosmic for real. In all of these educational efforts, planetar­ classes, seminars, and workshops regularly And at the Buh! Planetarium at tans work to meet the local and regional sci­ combine classroom, planetarium, and out­ ence curriculum objectives to be relevant to door learning at many of our facilities. schools. Planetarium educators have thus Teacher workshops offer in-service training with the Mount Wilson been interested reviewers of the U.S. and resource materials to teachers of all California, them control one National Academy of Sciences' draft propos­ grades; this one took place in a tipi at the telescopes there and engage in research al for national science education standards, Museum of the Rockies' paleontology field jects. which advocate, among other things, uni­ camp, and included work in a portable And of course, when versal curriculum goals, activity-based teach­ Stadab and observations under a pristine around, we gell1e!~aHy ing, emphasis on scientific inquiry, and Montana sky. we were there with audiences wClltclnnu! improved teacher preparation and resources. At places like the Museum of the Rockies, the remarkable discoveries of the Vn'u::tor&>11'<;: A similar movement is currently afoot in outreach efforts are vitally important. We as they ... we were a Europe, with key participation by planetari­ live in a big state with a sparse and scattered Halley-mania a decade ago and got ans. population, much of which lies too far away people at the ... and mall1al~ed While our primary focus remains astrono­ to come for a visit. So we go to them-ship­ impress my education, we've also come to realize ping four Starlab planetari urns around Shoemaker-Levy Nine's revenge on that our planetariums have evolved into Montana with lessons, for which we offer last summer. multimedia environments capable of perfor­ periodic training sessions, and which have Planetarium efforts also extend mances in the arts and humanities as well­ served well over 100,000 people-mostly stu­ hibits. For last summer our as this flyer from Morehead demonstrates. dents-in the last eight years. We also curated an exhibit called "Pioneering Musical concerts, poetry under the stars, and small traveling telescope trunks to schools; at our Museum, built around NASA actors in performance are periodiC additions these trunks contain Edmund Astroscans models and the to many planetarium's schedules. And the with instructions and exercises for learning U.S. manned space program. A few Hansen Planetarium staff can tell some hair­ about telescopes and observing the real sky. away, people could see a comt:Helment;uy raising tales about Van de Graaff generators! Stadabs and other portable planetariums program called liThe Final Frontier" in At the Taylor Planetarium, we've had story­ are often used by facilities that have no fixed teller Lynn Moroney in performance under planetarium facility, widening the reach of the stars, telling Native American sky tales. astronomy educators. Sue Reynolds in New my eXlJerienc:e-lust And at Hayden, Bill Gutsch and staff have York heads an IPS committee which regular­ to mind are the Griffith ()h.~l""l:1tnr"v produced live performances of African songs, ly collects and distributes tips and edllCa­ Angeles and the Adler with its 1In~I"U"'lrUl<:: dances, and sky stories. tional exercises to assist portable planetari­ collection instruments. The most ubiquitous of these special pro­ um users in their efforts. The Lakeview Museum Planetarium grams is the laser light show featured at Having already referred several times to Peoria has a scale model many planetariums, drawing in non-tradi­ telescopes, I should point out that planetari­ solar system that has made the The ""''''' ...... tional audiences to be introduced to the ans recognize that one of our primary Book dome planetarium and encouraged to attend other tives is to teach people with our simulated offerings. But even the laser is being diversi­ skies so that they can better understand and are fied in its use: facilities such as the Adler enjoy the real one outside. Many plame'tal'i­ and De'V011Q--Wnn Planetarium in Chicago use them regularly urns have telescopes associated with their in their astronomy programs. Jack Dunn at facUities, and even more have regular pro- the Mueller Planetarium in lI't-ir'Y"'~ll"t-" a Lincoln, Nebraska, has spective on the solar developed a program for And while an of this people with visual impair- NUMBER OF PLANETARIUMS BY COUNTRY going on, we check ments such as retinitis pig- our sources for the latest­ mentosa, using the intense United States 1044 information from light of lasers to create Japan 333 the universe to pass on to starfields and visual effects Germany The It a I y that give them back a France Science Institute in Baltimore night sky they thought Russia has been was to them lost forever. Great Britain And the Hayden Plane­ India 30 Canada 21 tarium in New York em­ South Korea 19 information on the remark­ ploys the Omniscan sys­ able discoveries of tem developed by Audio­ and has assisted pf()minently Spain-H, Mexico-15, Ukraine-15, Poland-14, China-12, Taiwan- Visual Imagineering, in 12, Australia-10, Brazil-10, Czech Republic-10, 59 Countrles-g which laser light is project­ or less. ed through a wide-angle

Vol. December 1995 The Planetarian etarians are blasting in cyberspace as weB, Basics: nothing can currently beat the munities of scientists, edt.l.CatOi~, sharing information and snaring resources planetarium in its ability to demonstrate omy groups will continue from NASA and other places, all of which basic astronomical principles and simulate and open new avenues of diaJ~;ue·-as help us to do our the backyard sky. This will be of vital sented this syrnp[)Sillm. We also help each other through organiza­ tance especially to school planetariums and be of mutual """"7.. ",,1"1f" tions such as the International Planetarium planetariums with a large student clientele. advance our common Society and its eighteen affiliated planetari­ People will still need to know the basics. The Thomas um associations world-wide. The affiliates Interactive: hands-on, activity-based pro­ did not sOl1net)Ody meet annually and IPS biennially, bringing grams will become increasingly important in together planetarium professionals and meeting science curriculum objectives. astronomy educators to discuss and debate People learn better by doing, and planetari­ the issues which concern us, to share ideas ums will be getting on board that bandwag­ and experiences, to examine the latest prod­ on in greater numbers. ucts and technologies, to see what others are MultidiSciplinary: schools and govern­ doing in their planetariums, and to support ments are working increasingly toward the and encourage each other in our work. integration of science and math and science Recent meetings have been held in the disciplines to better prepare students for real­ how came to mountains overlooking Salt Lake City and at world experiences. The advantage of the ... that some of Cocoa Beach, Florida. We meet next year in planetarium is that it can synthesize these planets ... that Japan, hosted by the Science Museum of disciplines, relating astronomy not only called the Osaka, and in 1998 we travel to London mathematics and the other sciences, but where we will be hosted by the London even to history, the arts, and language. This verse. Planetarium. will be a strength. We teach them the The exchange continues between meet­ Multicultural: as our societies become about the wanderers we find there ings through affiliate newsletters and The more diverse and the modem world shrinks why the earth is a Planetarian, the IPS Journal edited by John even further, it will continue to be of. Mosley. IPS also engages in special initiatives tant to learn about other cultures. the tools and methods and special publications-one of the most body's got sky stories and most have astro­ us to think what we think and prominent of which is the biennial directory nomical histories, and the planetarium will what we know We ten them where of world planetariums, which facilitates continue to serve a role here. been ... and where we may go in the communication among planetarians around Outreach: the ability to serve constituen­ We remind tha t the globe. cies outside of the star theater will become WeH-I hope this small sampling from just increasingly important as a way to diversify, a few planetariums helps to give some to broaden our reach, and to maintain visi­ dimension to the role of planetariums in bility. But it may work in the other direc­ will go. Our task is to supporting formal and informal astronomy tion, too, as research grants increasingly sions enJlgl1lterled education. Our challenge is how to use this require an education or outreach compo­ In the pJanet:arllum prcltesstoll1, resource most effectively to help solve some nent which planetariums may be able to so much the astronomy of research of the problems outlined here today. But if help fulfill. covery as it is the astronomy this is where we are-where will we be going Financing: many planetarfums will con­ tion and We in the future? tinue to have to scramble for the dollar or the distance between the scientist Prediction is always tricky, but if I had to, I peso or ruble that keeps them open and oper­ between the individual and would summarize future trends in eight ating. We win be probably be verse. We strive to channel human rea4:ticlD words-which I think not only reflect trends increasingly to grants, endowment opportu­ to the in the into in education, technology, and SOciety, but nities, and other fundraising methods to undelrstim<1mg of the universe from which will also be survival strategies for at maintain our operations. we least the near term. And finally, I might add one more word­ This is the role we every Diversification: it will become increasing­ perhaps less a prediction than a hope. And our own way, in two thousand plame'tarllunls ly important for planetariums to diversify that word is partnership. I hope that the across the than 450 U.,u'UAV'U their activities and offerings appropriately to community of planetariums and the com- served and cmmtinsr serve and maintain the widest class enl:oHm{~nt, possible constituency and to sup- a teJlescople, port their operations. mer Technology: we can't compete PLANETARIUM SETTINGS Thank you. with an $80 million Spielberg movie, nor should we really try, but we can employ new technol­ 666 ogies to enhance our strengths and improve the quality of both our education and our tions. Updating our facilities where and when we can will be important.

8 The Planetarian Vol. • • I I

are you opleraltITI$(? know.)

3. Review fives. (Fund requests should further not them. It's hard to descrU)e you need rnr'ee··ve:u ttmdin$! At the 1994 IPS Conference in Cocoa, Florida, a train waiting to leave the station, he saw donor or agency if you are unsure I moderated a workshop called '''Selling' Your little children outSide, picking up whatever measurable be met.) 4. Planetarium, " in which a panel of local profes­ they could get, for food. One girl, about 7, pose. (Is it still current or 30 years sionals from outside the planetarium field picked up a banana skin discarded by a train date?) offered insights and ideas on development and passenger, and dividing with her toddler brother, started eating it. My friend was fundraising, marketing, public relations, and aghast at that Sight. Eating a discarded Now relate this or~~anizational plannin$! optimizing the financial potential ofplanetari­ banana skin! H that little girl were you, and to funldralisiIl~ pjlarunin~. ums as nonprofit educational institutions. The you were hungry, what would you have panelists included Bonnie King, Marketing done? She had fallen on hard times. The Specialist for the Brevard County Tourist owner of the banana enjoyed good times. Development Council, George Meguiar, Director What purpose for this story? of Marketing for Spaceport USA at Kennedy Space Center, and Walter Gilfilen, Associate 1. Sometimes your Planetarium Experiences 1. What is their OPilni(m of and kno~rle(i2:e Vice President for Development at Brevard the Good Times. Widow Gotrocks dies and Community College in Cocoa. wills your organization $500,000.. ("Life is aboutyolurl~anet:arj,unil 2. Do think your target "-...... ~" •.I"., .. A written account ofthe workshop appeared good!") You apply for and get a Federal grant _ renewable for 5 years! is attainable within two in the 1994 Conference Proceedings, but Walter 2. But Sometimes the Bad Times. Gilfilen's comprehensive hand-out which docu­ Sometime, you and your V~l"alUL.,aUVU mented his presentation was inadvertently may be down to your last banana, and the B. What are your stre'nrths weaknesses as omitted. Feeling that it would be useful to share skin doesn't look too bad! (The grant runs an oI}:~anizatiO]ll his fundraising tips with colleagues unable to out, and the former planetarium director attend the workshop, I've reproduced them here. also ran out with the bank account bal­ mamaJged well? Mr. Gilfilen has a background in adminis­ ance, and you have your new faU schedule tration, education, and development at several starting next week.) colleges in addition to Brevard Community College. He's responsible for an average of more This story makes us think... than $7 million U.S. in government and private 1. What are we giving to our cOlmnlUI1U,'1? grants annually since 1994 and for more than (Especially when times are good for us). $72 million U.S. in total grants at Brevard since What are we doing for the POOR in our 1967. community, to enjoy the wonders of the other costs? Mr. Gilfilen's experience is in development planetarium? There is value in SHARING and fundraising in the United States, and this the wealth, and also telling the communi­ Reference: Winter 1994 experience is reflected in his notes. But I think ty (and your patrons) that you do. American Research Association, that international colleagues will also find 2. What are we getting from our communi­ Plaza Drive, Suite 209, Westmont, IL much common ground and much useful and ty? In an ideal situation, you both give and USA: adaptable advice and information. take (hopefully more of the latter). A num­ This article discusses the gap h""l'~A7<":""" Oh, and what do banana skins have to do ber of ways of getting:. Capital campaign, large and small nOlrlprofit o~ani.:~aUons' with fur,rd((;lisil'1Q? annual funds, planned gifts, etc., and these will be briefly discussed cess at locating donors However, Don't forge the peel! It may have Ma,n!€.llret Elliot states: 1) more value than you think! (We'll discuss growing information gap between A friend traveled through India WhUe on that later, also). small (who has the money

Vol. December 1995 The Planetarian where are they located?); 2) The gap doesn't unteer time is invested.) You need to ask ($100 U.s.), or on compact disk stem from Disparity of resources, but dispari­ yourself: is that enough revenue per hour of vate sources ($295 U.s.) ty of knowledge about fundraising methods; YOUl: time invested, or are other fundraising Other privately puuu,.. n;;u 3) As a result, the smaller organizations com­ procedures producing more per hour of your grant list services, pete for shrinking resources, with increasing­ time? Do you have success with a "member­ or $500 U.S. per year, focused on ly outmoded tools and methods; 4) However, ship" or a "friends of the planetarium" annu­ tariums or museums. the gap can be overcome through fundrais­ al small gift? If so, continue it! (These are Information on Private Sources: ing education, which includes training in good sources of annual cash flow for operat­ About half of in 1993 the acquisition and use of information; 5) ing costs.) to churches or synagogues; 12% The cost of acquiring donor information Can you invest the time in a planned gift cation and 8% to arts, culture should be kept as low as possible to help the program (gift annuities, estate planning?) humanities, to a smaller non-profit. Time invested here will have the greatest dol­ by Giving USA] lar payoff, but it reqUires much patience by Foundation (4-7% of all ...... ,i"'~'i"'" 6. futablish fundraising objectives. (Don't say your Board It may take four to eight years to annually):

IIwe need lots of money," but realistically see receivables of $1 million U.s. or more, but Foundation Center n;.,or+." .. " how much is needed to meet your goals, it can happen with perseverance, staff train­ Center, New York ($160 U.s.) and over what time period can you collect ing and patience. Planned gifts are for larger In addition, regional aU'ec1tortes, it.) organizations, primarily. topiC directories, and state directories Do you have time to invest in finding and are also (It's ...... "'... t':llnt Determine how you are going to identify tapping government grants and contracts (fed­ to know someone on that foundation's prospects and who will solicit them. Set your eral and state)? Cost-benefit ratio is excellent board who will endorse your propos­ fundraising practices to match your fundrais­ here: My experience is $1,000 to $10,000 U.S. al ... Your "angel" on the inside.) ing staffing and budget. Match fundraising per hour of income to the college for my Corporate Donor Prospects (About 5-7% of methods to your mission and image. time invested in grant writing, when we win. all national giving is done businesses Many of us have fundraising functions. (Nothing if we lose). annually): Most of our Which better fits your planetarium: a $200-a­ It's important to know who to ask. depend heavily on corporate support plate black tie dinner or a $5-a-plate fish fry? Examples of Data Acquisition: and sponsorship, especially UYI.dPr'uJrith,u Calculate the cost/benefit ratio of staff Federal funds: special shows, etc. Write for annual time for fundraisers: $50 to $500 U.S. income Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance reports from corporations and corpo­ to the organization for each hour of staff (CFDA) Hard copy annual publication rate for information on time invested. (It depends on how much vol- of U.S. Superintendent of Documents applying for grants. The "Dialog" electronic access system collection of data bases and networks) is AJAX PLANETARIUM, INC good, but the dock runs while Strategic and Operational Plan on line, and this costs your oll~anization $10 to $200 U.s. every time you Dialog. Internet also grant information, but not as focused as Dialog. Individual donor prospects about 85% of aU giving comes from individu­ als): You can but develop your own from fundrais­ ing activities, responses to direct mail solicitations, etc. Dialog and other ser­ vices also search for Df()snec1:s-ior a fee, of course.

7. Initiate your fundraising activities (Requilres EVALUATE INITIATE MONITOR RESULTS & lead gifts by your Board and as wen FUNDRAISING I---~ FUNDRAISING REVISE ACTIVITIES ACTIONS as heavily involved wealthy volunteers OBJECTIVES and friends) For a capital 50% should be pledged before with it.

8. Monitor activities (It won't run

ESTABLISH ASSESS itself. Set a calendar and follow it. Evaluate FUND RAISING FUND RAISING the pulling power of various direct mail POTENTIAL OBJECTIVES solicitation activities.)

IPS Cooferenc&-' 91).4 Cocoa Beach, FL -Brevard Communrty COlleg ....

10 The Planetarian Vol. No.4 I December .. .. I I I .. I

t edge of how these activities cOlrre:mcllld the physics of the In this AASTRA teachers would benefit tying in with a local planetariUlTI ence center. This would serve enhance the of the .. n,rj<>w·I,,_

sion. ""r' ...... '...... A contingent of astronomy educators are minimum of two hours in length and pre­ the plaJnetc:Lriulm C()ffiInurlity actively engaged in bringing an understand­ sented to a minimum of ten participants. more teachers into the AASTRA program, ing of the universe to classrooms across the The primary purpose of these workshops who will in tum use the materials country, and the planetarium community is to reach and teach elementary school back in their own classrooms where can provide invaluable assistance in their teachers classroom techniques and activities sters will meet with the excitement and efforts. developed in STAR (Science challenge of astronomy and ask their ents to them to the nl;!np't::lri It is our mutual benefit reach out and help each other in learn more!! It i.s to our mutual benefit to to reach out md each other in this this effort .. , and not to shelter ourselves behind tious "turf' mentalities. STAR ... SPICA ... GEMS ... these are some of through its Astronomical Roots), GEMS The summer of 1995 saw the "' ...... ,UHIUl the activity-driven astronomy curriculum (Great Explorations in Math and Science), AASTRA training session, so now a corps of programs created during the last several SPICA (Support Program for Instructional another 75 educators are to years. They were intended to enhance and Competency in Astronomy), as wen.as other original 75 in astronomyedilcation improve the teaching and comprehension such curriculum programs. Instead of work­ to the masses. Should you be amJroadled of astronomical topiCS and concepts in the ing through these activities alone, AASTRA an AASTRA resource teacher, welcome elementary and middle/junior high school workshop teachers lead the classroom teach­ and offer your every assistance. If you levels. However, it was left to highly moti­ ers through the activities so that can like to make your facility available to vated teachers to attend workshops to better serve their own students back in their nearest AASTRA resource teacher indoctrinate themselves in the lessons and home classrooms. contact the AASTRA office thl~ou2hDr. activities these programs offered The original 75 AASTRA resource teachers Kay HpIT\pn ....''''.:7 In an effort to bring these and other excel­ were selected based on a number of factors, American Astronomical lent student-discovery driven programs to a induding knowledge and/or interest in of Texas, larger audience, the American Astronomical astronomy, experience in having ...... ",.",;""",11" The e-mail [email protected]. Society (AAS) Educational Office created the presented workshops, and geographic distri­ Phone (512) 471-1309. "Teacher Resource Agent" program (AAS­ bution. Although TRA). Funded through the National Science several teachers were Foundation, a pilot group of seventy-five astronomy educa- announcement (75) elementary and high school teachers tors, including plane­ were competitively selected to undergo an tad urn professionals extensive four-week long training program and Starlab coordina­ The vision of excellence in science education during the summer of 1994. These sessions tors, most had little is clarified in the landmark were lead by professional university astron­ formal background National Science Education Stand.uds omers with the assistance of Master Teachers in astronomy educa­ which will be released the of Astronomy at sites in Flagstaff, Arizona; tion. This is where National AGldelmv Chicago, Illinois; and College Park, Mary­ the professional ISBN 0-309-05326-9, $19.95 land. The AASTRA program is the brainchild planetarium com­ To order your copy of Dr. Mary Kay Hemenway, Education munity-at-Iarge can VISA/MasterCard/ American Officer of the AAS at the University of Texas contribute to the call 800-624-6242 or 202-334-3314. at Austin. success of the AAS­ Orders may be faxed to 202-334-2451. Participating teachers are committed to TRAprogram You may also order through your favorite bookstore or hosting and presenting four workshops over The AASTRA electronically via the Internet at nnp:/IW1WV\,r.ncl..S.eall. a two-year period Each workshop must be a workshop leader

Vol. December 1995 The Planetarian take small scissors and cut the four Uttle p larizin Effects airscrews marked in figure 2b. Match the direction of the airscrews with the direction of the polarizing filter. Miguel Bretos Stick the four little airscrews over the self­ Planetario de Pamplona adhesive tape which is glued to the transt)ar­ entpaper. c/o Sancho Ramirez sIn Turn the polarizing filter 90 degrees to the Pamplona, Navarra 31008 right and put another label on it with a black arrow as indicated in figure 2c. The proce­ Spain dure is the same, but now you must cut the 48-260004 others four airscrews marked in the 2b 48-261919 fax with the black arrows. Before be careful to match the sense of the black arrows. This article explains how to make your your imagination. (Others examples: a bird Finally, dose the Wess slide and load it own polarizing effects and how to use your moving its wings, a seal moving a ball on its into the slide tray. If you want to see the zooming and slewing projectors to put these nose, the smoke of a cigarette, etc. ".) effect, take a circular piece of polarizing filter special slides on your dome. The advantage First, you need to design a funny heli­ (the radius must be at least equal to the of this system is versatility because you can copter. Remember, it is easier to make it at a diameter of the lens of the projector), and move it opposite the lens. You'll see the heU-

This article explains how to make your own polarizing effects and how to use your zooming and slewing projec­ tors to put these special slides on your dome. The advan­ tage of this system is versatility ... show more than one polarizing slide (e.g. 80 large scale that is proportional to or 140 depending on the slide tray) using a the size of a slide, 36 x 24 mm, so slide projector (Kodak or similar) instead of that you can include more using a special projector which can show details. See Figure 1. only one slide. Normally, before making a special effect, people make a prototype. This way they can test if the effect is as they expect. First make the drawing by hand on trans­ parent paper at full scale. After finishing it, put it in a profes­ sional slide mount (e.g. from Flgurt 2b Wess plastic, mc.). Cut a piece of transparen t - Figure 1 self-adhesive tape that has glue on both sides. You must cut the adhesive equal to the ar.ea where The Polarizing SHde you are going to put the Uttle To illustrate how to make this special polarizing fil ters. effect, imagine that you are in a school show For the helicopter, you want to and you need to see a helicopter to explain get the sensation of movement to the students who invented this wonderful in the two airscrews. Take a machine (Juan de la Cierva of Spain). That is polarizing filter (48 x S1 cm) from just an example because you can make the Rosco Company and label it slide anything that you want, depending on with an arrow (Figure 2a). Now Figure 2e

12 The Planetarian Vol. 24, No.4, December 1995 start to move when it arrives at the Mr3 swi tch. Then you can fade the slide tor's lamp and move the helicopter around your dome thanks to the X- Y mirror. If you don't need this device acti- vate the POLH switch and the engine will go home for a rest. See Figure 3b to understand the system that drives this device.

The Electronics To drive this device you only need two different instructions or cues. If you want to place the disk of polarizing mter oPIPm;ite the lens, activate the POLP switch (POLariz­ ing device to go opposite to the PrCljec:tOI:). Then the relay RL1 is ON, which orders (RLl,l) the engine M1 (the wagon) to go towards the slide projector. RL1,3 the system against mistakes such as ~r+;..,,,,,H""

activated I which stops Ml. Now you can project the slide in your dome. If you don't need this device you must activate the POLH switch for a second (POLarizing device go Home). Then RL2 is P Polarizing filter mounted on a transparent plastic M1 Engine 1 ON, activating RL2,3 (this is the same M2 Engine 2 tion as before) and also ordering the wagon Mr1, Mr2, Mr3 Switches to go home, thanks to RL2,1. When the Lg Lineal gear wagon arrives home, Mr2 is activated, which W Wagon Sb Sheet bar stops the system definitely. At the moment that the wagon starts to go home, Mr3 is OFF, so that M2 also stops. Figure 30 This control works with 12 V de. so that you need to buy or build a typical power supply. (Ref.: Planetechnica, The Planetarian copter moving the airscrews as fast as you where you want to glue together the airs­ Vol. 24, No.2,June 1995). move the disk of polarizing filter. crew and repeat the procedure as described at the beginning. M1 is an engine which works at 220 V ac., 60 The Final Slide r.p.m., and has two senses of movement. It The Polarizing Device has a nylon gear in its rotor to move the If you are satisfied with this effect, the wagon with a linear movement along a next step is to add different colors. You can Obviously, is not necessary for a person to linear gear (or rack) guided by two steel do this in two ways. manually rotate the disk of polarizing filter bars. One way is to make the final drawing in if you make the device I indicate in Figure M2 is an engine which also works at 220 V 5:1 scale and paint it as you desire. Remember 3a. Put it between the lens and the X-V mir­ ac., 60 r.p.m., although you can choose the to blacken the space around the drawing or ror (Figure 4). You can drive this device by characteristics of this engine depending mask it to avoid residual light on the dome hand or with your control system. In the the effect you need. first case you only need two switches which when you project it. Then photograph the To avoid electrical danger (220 V.CA.), there drawing and make a slide of it. you activate when necessary. is a little plastic box, joined to the engines, The other way is to use a computer. First Normally the device is at the home posi­ where you connect the wiring. The con­ take the original drawing (scale 5:1) and scan tion because you don't need the polarizing trol works at 12 V de., so there is no electri­ it into your computer. Use your software to filter when you project a typical slide. cal risk in the switches Md, Mr2, and Mr3 apply the colors that you desire. Don't forget When you need to project a polarizing if you touch a pin. to blacken the space around the drawing. slide, send the tray of the carousel projector Then save it to a floppy disk and send it to to the right position and activate the POLP your photo shop to produce as a slide. The switch from your control system (or by My grateful thanks to my colleague of the next step is to put the shaped adhesive hand). The disk of the polarizing filter will Planetario de Pamplona,]oaquin Saro. *

Vol. 24, No.4, December 1995 The Planetarian 13 9. Evaluate the results ties and revise

needed.

10. Then go back to review OICimetat"iUlI11 mission, etc. fundraising objectives, needed.

A~3 RLI ""1 -"1l1lI o-p

AlZ ....U Ml'lI ...... 0 III .... •

ILl Mr3 ~ but for a smaller Olanmmg our for this involved NASA's Video Telecommunications tern (VITS) aU the NASA Offices and their He,adq:llilJrteI'S-.at Figura ]I) (From 1:00 to 2:30 this anernooltl, our third teleconference with other munity .... v."' .... F;, ... "'.' This was my banana Something of great but ORIGINAL target. This may be x-v Mirror greater value than

-a donated service from a corporate sor. -Donated or use of sorne()m~'s property (donated 11"""" Ll"'F;"', II!W" etc., to if you carero'Uv guidelines such gifts valued at $5,O()(}). -donated surplus or excess eqr,lip,ne'lt government, or individu- als not on your -a donated or loaned executive from a busi­ ness, or other volunteer expert who not on

Zoom Don't overlook the gem of the in front of you chasing for the same local dollar as local Girl Scouts, United university or homeless shelter. fund sources (the local ones) are obvious. Look for the not-so-obvious. That's where

our in over $7 U.A1LU'U'U annually in external and cOfltracts. About half are the 4"\"" .. 11""'."" those not found Figure 4

14 The Planetarian Vol. No.4 , December I ud Ni ht Under ston, 1995). Zealand's only professional p,lan,etaJrlWD th Stars: Brunello,1995), potential of such a II • 1993; Sampson, 1993). A further dev'elopment rnl ht Extrava an as" criterion has been to use the planet:arllllm provide activities and programs entertaining and and not at the arter bservat educational (see 1992; Tidey, 1993). Wayne Orchiston and Frank Andrews As part of the initial de~{eI()prnerlt Carter education Carter Observatory, PO Box 2909, lowing of the Zeiss pJanetariulffi, Wellington, New Zealand it was decided to introduce ·'("\"",,:.. ninh I'[email protected]'f

Introduction which, together with public astronomy, has since 1992 witnessed major developments "astronomical eX1JerlenCe-- Carter Observatory is the gazetted (Orchiston and Dodd, 1996). These were opportunity to National Observatory of New Zealand, and largely precipitated by the winding up of the tory. Our first {lvPrTlliutlt E:xtr:avalQ'alI17.a was opened in 1941 December (see Orchiston, Wellington Planetarium Society and the held on the 1994). It is situated in Wellington Botanic donation to the Observatory Board of a func­ 26/27, and Garden, a short distance from downtown tioning visitor centre complete with small mately intervals ever since. This Wellington, the nation's capital. Currently Zeiss planetarium. This in turn led to the paper describes the Carter the Observatory has four distinct functions: appointment of new staff and to a re-evalua- Ovemight Ext:ra"V'agC:lTIZ

Vol. 24, No. December 1995 The Planetarian duced and the current one em- two slide projectors and a tape with commen­ tary, sound effects and theme music, and is about the GalUeo space probe. A new show, liRa: God of Light" (focusing on the Sun) will be available from 1995 November. Other attractions in the theater and dome room are assorted astronomy dis­ plays, while breath-taking space murals adorn the ceil­ ing and interior walls of the foyer. The didactic value of astronomical displays in planetariums and observa­ tories has long been recog­ nised (e.g. see Fierro, 1994). Another feature of the foyer is the Shop", which carries an ever­ increasing range of books and booklets, posters, cards Carter Observatory, located WeHington,New Zealand and postcards, planispheres, tektites, in-house astronomical leaflets, holo­ there is a very extensive slide collection, space constraints groups are .IU.U.UL~U graphiC products, and other didactic stock should these visual aids be required maximum of 30, with a reclwlred minimum lines, as wen as novelty "astro-gifts". the evening. The visitor centre also contains ratio of one adult to VCRs and monitors are located in both the PCS, which use the program ISOrbits" to pro­ dren. R~~ar,dless theater and the video room, and staff are vide extensive data about our solar system. standard able to draw on a large collection of video­ Finally, the Carter Observatory is located includes a 12.5% Goods and Services tapes for Overnight Extravaganzas. Similarly, in the historic Wellington Botanic Ga\"den (see Shepherd and Cook, 1988), which offers two unusual T = toilets features of = staff area relevance to Over­ night Extravaganl.(llS. Immediately cent to the Obser­ vatory itself is the "Sundial of Human Involvement", and a to the ac(:ornpan'viru! ten-minute walk and away, near the Glen '- Foyer Street entrance to the Garden, are numbers of worms.

um where it is treated to the "current" tarium program. On dear everyone then moves to the dome where are introduced to some Overnight Extra­ wonders of the southern / vaganzas are spe- the 23-cm tel€:~SCClpe. designed for ble stars children in the mary and intermedi­ The visitor centre at the Carter Observatory. For scale, the planetar­ ate school age range ium chamber is 10m in diameter. (Le. 5-12). Because of

16 The Planetarian who wish to on a visit to the worms. AU stunned the unfolrget- table appearance of these abundant little creatures, whose singular blue colour differs so markedl y from the multicoloured stars visi­ ble in the southern Some of the children also compare the random distri­ bution of the worms with various constellations. Generally a few children and one or two adults stay behind at the n ...""' ..... ,!lIt-..u·,, watching a videotape and discussing with the second astronomer. Once the group is assem­ bled again in the theater supper is served, and fueled by milo and biscuits it takes only a few minutes for the Observatory staff to prepare the "communal bedroom". This is done by all Children generally find the computers captivating. forty reclining seats to the . others, has highlighted the importance of Keen, 1992). outer waH of the 10m diameter planetarium combining a planetarium show with "live" By around 11.00 p.m. (the precise time auditOrium, generally with the willing assis­ viewing through the telescope). varies from one Overnight Extravaganza to tance of some of the children and accompa­ While the viewing session is in progress, another) one of the astronomers takes those nying adults. some children spend most of their time down­ stairs at the computers or wa tching videos, and simply pay fleeting visits to the dome room each time a new object is announced. Other chil­ dren remain in the dome room throughout. On doudy nights the observing session is repli­ cated in the planetarium, via a "Southern Night Sky" program, with appropriate slides and a live (rather than taped) commentary. This gener­ ally takes the form of a discussion session with lots of questions. When­ ever possible during the evening the children are encouraged to work out answers to questions themselves, either indi­ vidually or through group interaction. This proves good for morale, and in most instances defuses any emerging Bedding down in the planetarium chamber under the stars. discipline problems (c.f.

Vol. 24, No.4, December 1995 The Planetarian 17 Those who wish to can now bed down on are on their way home too. a kitchen (colmpllete the floor of the planetarium chamber under with oven, microwave and refrigera.tOB~)p the stars, while others watch videos, discuss 41dining room" (cum th~~atler), "b~edl:oc'm:s" astronomy with the Observatory staff (some­ Carter Observatory Overnight Extrava­ (once the theater, and the pl;;metar'imn times with the assistance of selected slides), ganzas have proved particularly popular auditorium), and two "reallive astronomers", or linger at the computers. Over a half-hour with brownies and gUides, and to a lesser In staffing Observatory staff are aat;~quate, period most of the children gravitate to their extent with cubs, scouts and girls brigade. ticularly or boisterous new bedroom, accompanied by one or two Primary school and church groups have of the adults (the others usually choose to group can make for a very shown only marginal interest (see Table 1). It sleep in the theater), and one of the is Significant that many more girls than boys exhausting To date 15 ditter~ent Carter ()h"::d".'U~tnl'·" astronomers brings the evening's entertain­ have participated in Overnight Extrava­ ment to a fitting close with a final short tour ganzas, which mirrors the increased support of the overhead "sky", to an increasing sym­ for secondary school science by girls, as phony of snores. But first he or she warns reported recently in New Zealand by the that like all good Wellington skies the plane­ popular media. tarium sky is also prone to cloud over and that tonight this will almost certainly be no Table 1: exception. Groups participating in The astronomer's last duty for the evening Overnight Extravaganzas is to sUp into the planetarium chamber towards 1 a.m., carefully make their way to Type of Group No, of Visijs number is a the central control console, and switch off attendance the planetarium projector. They then return Brownies 10 ing staff. to the video room, the Observatory Board­ Guides 9 To evaluate the and effectiveness room or the Library, each of which can serve Girls Brigade 5 of Overnight we solicit feed- as a "staff bedroom" depending upon indi­ Scouts 5 back from groups, and the cumula- Cubs vidual preference. Throughout the night, 4 tive results have been hd":::II'I,t,P1I"Ii.ncr Other Girls Groups 2 lights are left on in the corridor leading from children, the hi!l~hHghts Schools 3 the visitor centre foyer to the toilets. sessions, "1r~l_""''''''''''ii'''',''' sleelpmlg On the Saturday morning most children Church Groups 2 stars, and that non-celestial "stellar" emerge around 7.30, although there are usu­ Total Number of Visiting Groups 40 the glow worms, Another real treat ally a few enthusiasts at the computers opportunity to stroH the Holtan:ic much earlier (we leave both machines on all Many of those who have participated in Garden late at to the acc:oDlpa:nying night). After breakfasting in the theater it is Overnight Extravaganzas have also been on serenade of divers birds and posslllm5i-Clmd time to pack up, and the adults and astron­ Zoo overnight camps, and although the con­ even more so if it to be omers dean up the visitor centre, and return cept of overnighting in an "alien" environ­ moonless d"u""nirIO' the planetarium auditorium and theater to ment is the same, they find the two For the acc.:::oIIlpanying their original condition in preparation for ences quite different given the outdoor focus Extra.vagalnzilS are de1:ini,lely u.n"·U,,,,,,hi the start of public sessions at 10 am. Some of of the Zoo visit and associated constraints despite the effort and expense. the children help while others explore the imposed by the weather, By contrast, the as good value for money and a "Sundial of Human Involvement", have one only component of the Overnight Extrava­ rience, and the children with last tum on a computer, or remember those ganza program to suffer in wet weather is the able "talking afterwards at challenging questions they wanted to ask sky viewing through the andoutinthecornrrtunity last night but forgot! Meanwhile, the glow worms continue to per­ From the flh""".... "",,-tnnl"., ,,,."".... I'Y'V'I.int Immediately prior to the departure of the form regardless of the weather, which is the extra drain on staff time and resources, group we take the opportunity to thank as well since there are always children who everyone for their attendance and to pro­ want to see them even if it is raining! mote our next planetarium program and A successful Overnight Extravaganza audio-visual show, the forthcoming holiday involves a good deal of planning Obser­ program, and any other upcoming 41special vatory staff, the children participating in a for astronomy, events" that will be of interest. visit, and particularly their accompanying enhanced awareness of the ()h,~v·V!'lt('jr·"I1 By 9:30 the last carload has gone, the visi­ adults. The latter must supply food and the facilities available there for the tor centre is ready to receive its first general drink for the supper and breakfast and bring All this reflected the increased lev- visitors of the day, and the "overnight" staff along cooking utensils, An of the visitors els of visitation that have occurred since have handed over to the weekend staff and bring their own bedding, while the Obser- 1992 (see Table 2). from a malrKet:1ng

Table 2: Carter Observatory Visitor

A~tlvlt~ ]~88-8~ ]989-~0 1990-91 1991-92

Education 2,745 8,377 6,721 4,973 Public Astr'y 1,110 2,304 2,270 2,143 Total 3,855 10,681 8,991 26

18 The Planetarian Vol. perspective. a public institution like ours nomical Union in The Hague. Mars: a Holiday Program at the Carter must be seen to be innovative if it is to sur­ Observatory. Poster paper at the vive and prosper, and Overnight Extravagan­ References Royal Astronomical Society of New Zea­ zas are very much a part of our new "corpo­ Andrews, F., and Budding, E., 1992 Carter Ob­ land Annual Conference, rate image". servatory's 9-inch Refractor: the Crossley Mullaney, J.,1993. The Role of the reIesco1'Je Connection. Southern Stars 34: 358-366. in the Planetarium. The Planetarian 22 (3): Conclusions Andrews, F., Leather, K. and Orchiston, W., 6-7. New Director for Carter Between 1993 November and 1995 August 1995. Coping with the new Curriculum: (inclusive) 40 different Overnight Extrava­ Teaching Astronomy at the Carter Obser­ Southern Sky 9: 12-14 (1995). ganzas have been held at the Carter Observa­ vatory. Paper presented at the Royal Astro­ Orchiston, W., 1994. Dr. William Ian tory, and these have proved highly success­ nomical Society of New Zealand Annual Inaugural Carter Memorial Lecturer. Wen­ ful in attracting new client groups to the Conference, New Plymouth. ington, Carter Observatory. Orchis ton, W., and Dodd, R, 1996. An Over­ Observatory, and introducing young people Brunello, C.,1992 Entertainment and Educa­ view of the Education and Public Astron­ to the fascination of astronomy in an enter­ tion: Are they Compatible? The Planetar­ omy Programs at the Carter taining and imaginative way. Carter Obser­ ian 21 (1): 10-14. PubL Astr. Soc. Austr., in press. vatory Overnight Extravaganzas are unique Brunello, c., 1995. Integrating the Planetar­ to New Zealand, and are one of the Observa­ ium into the Museum. The Planetarian Parker, S. K.,1995. Lessons from Museums and tory's most exciting innovations in recent 24(1): 8-9. Leisure Research. The Planetarian 24 (2): 9- 11. years. They reflect a new "public profile" Carr, H.,1994. Wellington Zoo Overnight Ratcliffe, M.,1993. Planetaria Astr. Now 7(9): which the Observatory is actively promot­ Camps. J. Int. Assoc. Zoo Educators 30: 22-23. ing in its education and public astronomy Fierro, J., 1994. Getting Started: An Astron­ 33-36. areas of operation. omy Hall for a Science Museum. Teaching Sampson, G. E., 1993. Bringing the Cosmos to ofAstronomy in Asian-Pacific Region 8: I-IS. the People: Planetarium Education in the Note: Earlier versions of this paper were pre­ Keen, R.,1992. Ask the Teacher: Keeping 1990s. Mercury Sept-Oct: 26-28. Shepherd, W. and Cook, W., 1988. The Botanic sented at the 1994 Annual Conference of the Control in the Theater - or - How to Survi­ A New Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand, ve a School Show with your Sanity Intact. Garden Wellington. Zealand and as a poster paper in the Commission 46 The Planetarian 21 (3): 18-19. 1840-1987. Wellington, Millwood Press. session (Teaching of Astronomy) at the 1994 Leather, K., Andrews, F., Buckley, D., Carter, B., Tidey, S.,1993. A Oash of Cultures. Astr. Now General Assembly of the International Astro- Hall, R, and Orchiston, W., 1995. Spaceship 7(9): 37-38. *

Nominations for Fellows of the International Planetarium Society

If you know of an IPS member who qualifies to be a Fellow, please nominate her/him by writing to:

Phyllis Pitluga Award's Chairperson The Adler Planetari urn 1300 South Lake Shore Drive Chicago, Illinois 60605, USA [email protected]

The qualifications are:

1. Continuous active membership in good standing in the Society for at least ten years or 2. Continuous active membership in good standing in the Society for at least five years, and substantial contributions in at least two of the following respects (a-d): a serving IPS in an elective office, diligent and devoted committee work, and the organization of conference meetings. b. relevant and Significant publications, and/or conference presentations c. cooperation with profeSSional societies, organizations and groups which bring attention to the importance of planetariums' existence d. the development of new methods and media in planetarium presentations.

Vol. 24, No.4, December 1995 The Planetarian 19 • • I I • I I

answer is again yes. We find support for this approach in American pragmatism; If at all take a group of students lady in the work OOOM Dewey. out into the country on a dear and moonless The above questions arise out of a com­ Overhead are the stars, not pictures in mon with science curriculums. a book or the points of light projected on thI'Olllgh science. Since they are centered on textbooks, these some planetarium dome, but the real stars. In some sense, the curriculums carry the implication that stu­ Each student, surrounded by the nocturnal be viewed as series of new ideas dents and teachers will contribute very little landscape and held to the Earth by gravity, fined ways that tralnSlcerlOC'O looks out into the universe. The faint starlight has traveled down from other suns Astronomy teaching must over distances so vast that the mind reels. would argue that this kind Can this serve as an effective way to begin the study of astronomy? The current van­ between pedagogy and content. We find guard of innovative science educators would defense for innovation in experiential answer yes. Such teachers engage students in teaching. an experience of science through a continu­ ous progression of demonstrations, observa­ to what is taught. And despite the tnken tions and experiments both in and out of the input granted to teachers in some ., .... AAV\JA.:>, laboratory. But this kind of teaching is not most curricula remain unrelated to the expe­ yet found throughout science education, rience of either students or teachers. The and convincing colleagues and administra­ result is a void in the curriculum cO]lsi~itirlg tors of its is not always easy. This of what is not taught and certainly not paper is an attempt to direct science teachers learned. Yet students, from their eXlperle:rJtCe, toward a body of educational philosophy often suspect that a good deal of know'!eC1ge that would enable them to defend innova­ about the real world exists in this curricular tive approaches. void. When we teach, we must playoff that In the more general case, is it possible to experience. We then go on to fur­ improve science education by allowing stu­ ther constructive experience. The argument dents to experience nature directly? Can we tion is whether the man ever goes here will be buH t around an of take students into natural settings, not just as the If we define what can done in the teaching of basic an occasional lark, but to allow them to gen­ mean to go armmd sorne1tntng, astronomy. Watching the stars can nfC)VI(le erate out of the need to under­ the argument vanishes. In students with an experience that initiates for stand what they see? Can we structure the say that the man goes around the them a process of inquiry. This can form the curriculum around these questions? The a frame of reference fixed with basis for an entire course of int:roduct()fY it is also correct to say that the man Douglas Fowler currently teaches astronomy. A philosophical foundation for do this in the reference frame this kind teaching and learning will be estab­ part-time in the Department of =>4LUHIC!. The to define different lished within the framework of Dewey's ence frames transcends the Physics and Astronomy, Youngs­ pragmatism. town State University, and co-writes In the above there is Science curriculums driven by choose one reference frame over and co-produces many of the offer­ mance on worksheets and multiple-chOice the true frame. would ings of the Ward Beecher Plane­ tests supply knowledge that has no other use frames as instruments that are tarium. He also is actively involved than answering more test questions. It has no process. The choice of connection to the student's or in giving workshops to teachers on ence frame to use would U"-LA-J".... 'Vu UA<_ ....-"-..'" ways of teaching physical science even real science. As Dewey argued many lion asked. We the both in and out of the classroom. years ago, we gain useful knowledge through instrument how useful

20 The Planetarian Vol. with a of an program. First, an y instrument is an action taken as part of more than This emergent is should work As an consider the way we teach When we observe the stars we immediate­ the concept of length. In the traditional cur­ ly encounter the idea of riculum we have students memorize a defi­ in their this nition. Implied here is the existence of a dic­ concept in the same way: How is it mea­ i-in·.... "' ..·'" definition of that students sured? A cross staff, an ancient instrument could reproduce on a test. The here that is nothing more than a hand-held is that this definition would always use syn­ extension of a protractor, can be used onyms such as distance, space, displacement students to make rough measure- or dimension. It does not define anything. It ments in the These can be buHt equates synonyms. this and in any school lab. with velocity-an object's displacement per the is all that is necessary. unit of time in a given direction. This dictio­ is remembered most for emtptllasiz- n':'IIrV-llIlP definition is and usable and eXjperierlce in the debate over can be translated directly into a mathemati­ whether we build curriculum from the struc- cal formula. ture and content of a or devel- The point here is trivial for any good op it around the of a child. He physics teacher, but so often students are asserts that the entire is in eXlpm;ed to just these kinds of definitions the false assumption that there is a actual dif­ before they Worse stu­ ference in kind rather than dents come to expect this from a science (Dewey, 1963a). What enters into a child's course. In our a student at this experience and what is found rlp'~lpl.r.n>"rI point would still not know what we mean matter are aspects of the same by length or have any idea of how to mea­ It is the job of a teacher to ear­ sure it. We would have to start over again in lier of a student and build on even the simplest lab exercise. The memo­ those that broaden the range of 1-',.. " ••uO", ...... course content evolved out of rization of a definition turns out to be use­ for further eXlperienlce. J::xIJerilen<:e interests. The instructor's less except for answering test questions. the unfamiliar to create geJluine n ..t .... hlprr\~ weave these into some rnnJP>~nl:l'''' If we wish students to apply the concept and stimulate thinkilng whole. Mallon's second program of length to actual measurement, as the new school children and their ...... , rhetoric of curriculum reform would have us first with OJ ...... do, we are stuck. How are students able to We now consider two eX(llmJ)Jes induded in the pJannllng apply a concept that they do not under­ entialleamilng in astronomy. Both have as stand? At best our attempt at definition their to observe the appeals to some vague intuition that a stu­ heavens. In the first examlpI,e, chocolate and cookies. dent mayor may not already have from pre­ "'lo·... i1l'" ...... is facilitated within a vious experience. district. In contrast, the second ",,"'-'''.Ur,JA'­ Experience is the key word. The solution involves a group of dedicated hobbvists encourage parents and chiildlren to this dilemma involves, as Dewey would to continue some involvement suggest, action. We students with In programs, learning experience. The act of measuring non-thneatenilng environment becomes at the same time our definition of goals of each remain similar. From these sim­ the traditional classroom. Mallon's length. There is no need to memorize any­ successful ex1tensioln ...... u ...... , we can develop a few thing for a written test. We define length education out into the cmTIrrnmlity, lines that are to any situation in simpI y by showing a student how to mea­ which students are to rli"or'H", sure it. We then hold students accountable scale. for the skill involved. Even from the ning our teaching must allow students to 1. Celestial Oassroom Sidewalks and National Parks engage in It is worth Before his death in 1991, Gerald MaHon belaboring this simple example because it so directed the Methacton School District wen illustrates how action and eX1Der'ierlce Planetarium in Norristown, pplnn'.. vlv~·ni~ can cut through and resolve what seems to For almost twenty years he J,;.ACA.IJIJ.I"""" be a pedagogical dilemma. The concept of the problem of off~erirlg ~T·lu't:>n·l"~ length and how we teach this concept are mcntary and secondary, an with one in the same. If we try to make a distinc­ star (Mallon, 1988). He stressed that tion here, we get it wrong. This may shed planetariums, star charts and other models of on the common observation that the sky are difficult to understand school students often have trouble without that 1980 more than rulers and meter sticks. Meanwhile an Amish In his Mallon describes the educa- looked the carpentry business thrives with only the tional criteria for a successful observational 1980).

Vol. December 1995 The Planetarian The Sidewalk Astronomers build most of any high school physics class. The ultimate Thoreau was transcendentalism their telescopes. Dobson is credited with an challenge would be grinding a mirror rather behind. 1860 he was among alt-azimuth mounting design that is famous than buying one. For those less ambitious, American naturalists to read Darwin's for simplicity and stability. In small refracting telescopes can be built from Origin ofSpedes. With the recent first what is now called the Dobsonian Mount, a PVC pipe fittings and surplus copy lenses cation in 1993 of his The box-like supports a Newtonian (Linas, 1988). sion we now rec:ogni~~e reflector. The housing rotates in the azimuth 2. Observing is done in a setting that is among the first to on bearings made of Teflon pads. The trun­ non-threatening. The atmosphere is social adaptation to field research (Rich.ard,s011, nions also rest on Teflon. The Sidewalk and a sense of community is encouraged. 1993). Thoreau had become a scientist. Astronomers grind and polish the mirrors for Activities consist of sharing skills and there is Earlier, in his these telescopes. no need to fear failure. us in his entry for Dobson (1980) described building his first 3. In both examples we see an effort to pro­ he watched a telescope while living in a monastery. vide access to nature. We encounter the stars stem of a tree Having no place to keep the finished tele­ not in pictures or models but as real starlight. observing this scope, he mounted it on wheels and took it And in this encounter we not only have the enced the we as science teachers must argue the Like Thoreau, we as science teachers must argue the value of of nature. To see the stars experiencing nature. need dark skies. As (1975) liThe night, like clean water and the getting away from us. Our cities are into the surrounding neighborhood. A group stars-we also get wind, weather and the with children who have never of curious children would gather and landscape itself. The experience is total. Even " 18). Dobson would ask if any of them would if we can observe only a planet or bright star want to borrow the telescope. In this way from an urban Sidewalk, we are still looking arrangements were made for storage in a at a neighboring world or seeing the light of Bode, C. (Ed.). (1984). The Portable Thoreau. garage belonging to the family of one of the a distant sun. New York: children. Sneaking out of the monastery on Dewey, J. (1%3a). The Child and the Curricu­ dear nights, Dobson would then hold Conclusion lum and the School and observing sessions for the neighborhood Watching the sky yields a new set of activ­ Tni~[1Pt'I\1ihT of Chicago. kids. ities available to any science teacher. Simple Dewey, J. (1963b). Experience and Education. Later, after leaving the monastery, he astronomical observations can encourage New York: Macmillan. would regularly set up a 12-inch telescope on students to experience more of physics in Dobson, J. (1980). Have TPI,pc:.r-r'l1I"tPC: a comer in downtown San Francisco. He was the larger world outside of the classroom. Travel. Sky and often thronged by enthusiastic crowds eager Astronomy shows us an evolving universe Halverson, W. H. (1976). A Concise to look through it. Out of these informal with physics on the grandest scale. Th~first duction to Philosophy (3rd ed.). New observing sessions came the idea for the step in learning about this universe is to go Random House. Sidewalk Astronomers. By now the group out and look at it. This experience unites James, W. (1964). Cleveland: manages to hold observing sessions at dark teaching and learning into a dynamiC inter­ World sites throughout the Sierras and in many action. A process of inquiry, observation and D. B. (1989). The Riddle national parks. By 1980, their 24- inch reflec­ reflective thinking begins, the methods of Culture. Baltimore: tor had already traveled some 30,000 miles which give, in Dewey's words, "intellectual University. on trips to Death Valley, Yosemite and the integrity, sincerity and power in an fields" Linas, C. F. (1988). a The Grand Canyon. (Moyer, 1982, p.174). If we deny students this Science Teacher, 55. (9),33-34. kind of experience, we act like the teacher B. (1975). The Passing of the Similarities who talks about length but never hands out AU,C1ut)On. 77 18-25. Described below are three areas of similari­ a ruler. Dewey wants us to prepare students for ty found in both Mallon's star gazing pro­ to think scientifically. This includes lem:TIirlg 'UII"44I'/;;I4. 17 grams and the public sessions offered by the to think of scientific laws as useful and logi­ Sidewalk Astronomers: cal tools that are subject to modification MaBon, G. L. (1988, Ex1tendirlg the 1. Everyone is invited to participate. AU (Moyer, 1982). The common misunderstand­ School Day into the Night! present­ can share equally in the adventure of visual­ ing of seeing scientific law as some kind of ed at the Biennial Conference the Inter· ly exploring the heavens. In themselves, transcendent eternal principle is the very national P!ane'tariiWlQ S4xiet observing and the activities that go with it thing that pragmatism rose up against. Mayer, B. (1980). on the Sidewalk. cost next to nothing. AU that is required is In high school, Henry Thoreau is often Astronomy, (8) (4), pp. 24-28. time and planning. Even with a telescope portrayed as a transcendentalist. That is one Moyer, A. E. (1982). this cost is minimal. A small high-quality who subscribes to the view that some eternal Teaching. The Physics instrument can still be purchased for less existence or principle lies behind aU of Richardson, R. D. (1993). Thoreau's Broken than a personal computer. For far less money nature (Halverson, 1976). Bode (1964) tens us, Task. In B. P. Dean (Ed.), Faith in a Seed finished mirrors can be purchased and used lilt is true that nature itself later became to 3-17). DC: Island to build Dobsonian mounted reflectors. Thoreau less of a deity and more of a collec­ Torrey, B. and F. H. (Eds.). (1949). The Plans can be drawn up from ideas and guide­ tion of detail; ... " (p. 17). Bode's choice of Journal D. Thoreau. JU'V"'~'''U, lines found in past issues of Sky and Telescope. words fails to emphasize the importance Houghton Mifflin. Such a project is well within the means of Thoreau's attention to detailed observations.

22 The Planetarian Vol. No.4 , December be one of transplanted American food. Glimpses of the Rising Sun We have come to Japan to immerse our­ selves in the culture as much as we are and I cannot bring myself to go to either David Linton, Professor of Astronomy McDonald's or Colonel Sanders. Other stores may be restaurants or hardware stores-their Parkland Community College appearances are so unfamiliar that I wiU not Champaign, llinois 61821 know without further inspection. [email protected] o As I conduct my search, my resolve ually gives way to hunger, to weariness, to the responSibility of feeding my I I can't begin to describe how eager I am to o Departing N ari ta airport on December stop in McDonald's to order, attend the IPS meeting in Osaka next July. If I 27, I have a previous expectation dashed pointing at the pictures of various dishes. can possibly scrape together the necessary almost immediately~ I had planned to drive The menu is not the same as in the US., but funds, there is no way that I shall pass up an in Japan, renting a car on occasion. But now, communication is eased by the similarities. opportunity to again visit Japan. no way! The freeway information signs, the Upon my return to the apartment, I am wel­ My fondness for the Land of the Rising Sun billboards, everything is written in a lan­ comed as a hero, and I am asked, "what is it and its people began late in 1991. Offered an guage I do not read, in an alphabet I do not like out there?" opportunity for a 4-month teaching assignment comprehend, and I have the feeling that I • Every day is an adventure. We have now in Japan, I jumped at the chance. Traveling will be hopelessly lost if I were to venture tried the grocery store (Fukudaya's) as a fami­ with my entire family, I saw Japan through the ly, getting our exercise by walking (or two of eyes of each of my family members. At day's end, I learned what unique experiences each I can't begin to describe how eager I am to attend the IPS meeting person had h~ whether it was my son Duane in Osaka next July. If I can possibly scrape together the necessary (10) and younger daughter Chandra (11) funds, there is no way that I shall pass up an opportunity to again attending public school (no, my children did visit Japan. not initially speak Japanese!), my wife Jennace pushing our handicapped daughter Melinda (13) two miles in a wheelchair in order to do the even a short distance from familiar territo­ us biking) there at least once a o;nJ'-c)ur grocery shopping, or all of them visiting the ry-hopefully some territory will become refrigerator is too small to hold enough for a Japanese mothers and children who had familiar in due course. family of five for long, probably because of befriended us. At times, ofcourse, we did things o The first night is spent, as most will be, the Japanese emphasis on IIfresh" foods. The together, like riding the Shinkansen (bullet sleeping on the floor of our four-room apart­ (extremely) fresh fruits and vegetables are train) to Tokyo to sight-see and shop, visiting a ment in the boys' dorm. Three of theiooms beautiful-displaying them is an art form in local farm or religious shrine with friends, stay­ are used for sleeping, but the space will be Japan-and most we recognize, although a ing overnight with friends, or (on rare occa­ reclaimed during the daytime, when the few are too expensive. I will not pay $30 for a sions) driving the Japanese roadways. bedding will be placed into a doset and the cantaloupe! Locating low fat milk is a chal­ Throughout it all, the people we met were sliding panels opened to create one modest­ lenge, and there is a different taste to the extraordinarily friendly and helpful. They sized living/dining room/kitchen. We are milk that we are able to find A colleague has went out of their way to assist us, to make us quite comfortable, covered with thick told us of buying what he thought from the feel welcome, and to help us to understand Japanese blankets and a heavy qUilt. Only a label was peanut butter, only to learn it was their culture. We felt far safer than in U.S. nighttime visit to the toilet (the Japanese do Moo soup base. We discover a delightful ice cities, and still think of our Japanese friends not use the euphemism "bathroom") alerts cream treat; the fruity flavor we are told is, whenever the phrase IIgood host" comes up in us to temperatures that must be in the 40's "may ron." We have no clue as to what that conversations. When we lett Japan we were in (Fahrenheit). Covered only with socks, my is, and cannot find it in our dictionaries. It is tears, saddened by leaving a place which had feet have seldom been as cold as they are only much later that we chance upon this become as much a home as a place could possi­ during these first two days. We conform to flavor in written form: IImelon." The Japan­ bly become in only four months. the custom of not wearing our shoes in the ese have imported many of our words, and What follows are recollections, including apartment, and our slippers are in the lug­ yet have much trouble with the English 1'. some excerpts from our diaries and from our let­ gage being delivered from the airport-we o Jennace tries to pay her first grocery bill, ters to U.S. friends. These recollections are neces­ brought too many suitcases for one vehicle but cannot understand the words spoken to sarily from the viewpoint of a white, middle­ to carry. her by the checkout girl Jennace opens her class, Anglo-Saxon, U.S. planetarian and his o I arise early (just what time does my wallet, and the girl takes the correct amount. family who entered Japan without a great deal body think it is, anyway?) on our first morn­ After this, we are able to simply read the ofpreparation. Although I thought I had read­ ing in Japan, and set out on the noble quest cash register display of the amount owed, ied myselfand my family, there were delightful of feeding my family. Little food exists in and then count out that sum. A visit to an discoveries awaiting each ofus at every turn. As the apartment, but we had been told there old shop in the downtown area offers a set­ such, this was the most stimulating experi­ are restaurants in the area. Dressing warmly back, however. The sale price is calculated ence-intellectually and emotionally-that any and putting my shoes back on, I depart on on an abacus, and once again Jennace opens member ofmy family has ever had. my own into a very alien environment. My her wallet to the salesperson. first meal in Japan, I resolve, is not going to .. Etsuko, the college secretary, helps

Vol. 24, No.4, December 1995 The Planetarian 23 .1--'---'-- learn to deal with the grocery store. pay her for her efforts or her gas. I cannot III Our stumt)iirllg Going into the store, discuss the but marvel that I must have deserved a biUty like an umibr(;~Ua. break stolen-umbrellas are left in a rack outside Ja~)anese do not use central .. u .. " ...... "', the door. Etsuko's attitude: would any­ and where needed A two- to them!" burner an electric water heater for ___ , .. ______discovers coffee and tea, and a gas water heater for the that Etsuko has DUm~DS€~funv left the car shower and tub are all turned on when unlocked and her She needed This is true even of water heated for and now has lIan oVleri'llan:ll:. didn't want to lose them, she Etsuko use in the kitchen sink. (PHot are III (From Ipnn~,~p'",- has many She if we eat U";;'~U";;'U, to lessen fire turkey (which she has tried) at Thanks­ in case of a felt giving, and when we confirm that we she our first tremor IVIr.. n(1I~U m()min~;). says I feel very sorry for YOul" When we found most in t1ere.stirlg that the school teach- faculty clean their build­ table's underside and a comforter hangjlng InSl~S-lnSlQe and out, with their students­ down between the table so as to warm Etsuko asks how it is done in the US. We teU the lower extremities of those seated (on the determined to make it a better her about our custodians, and she remarks floor) at the table. I have even seen electric bat homesickness I decided on with disbelief, "Oh, I cannot imagine. carpets in some of the stores. the den! I ran a tub hot

III It is New Year's and we are to visit ~., ...... i'~,p of aU was another ",..,'nn,,.,,,_ it with bath salts and climbed in wi,thll''IIut new-found in another part of "!l .., .... l'!li..,,,,.. the heat only where need- town, and then to venture by bus, ur.,,",~.,.,...,._'~'/"1t1IP toilet in the col- in the tub and even shaved my as will many Japanese, to a Shinto shrine up in the mountains, near Nikko. With book and card in I call a cab from the pay phone near very warm. A are very narrow, often uyiit-ht"\ut- the I read the appropriate phrase I literally stood up in <':IH'.... ri"""._ walks, and the (or oo::aSlOl1laU from the book, together with a pre:paJrea revealed the seat to be into the wall! open drains) come up to de5;cri,ptilon of our location. Unfortunately, • Our apartment building, and many more (The average Ja):lanese the person on the other end of the line either wherever we go, meet the solar crite- honne lot is 2200 does not understand me or is to tell ria better than the vast of U.s. hous- so often almost aU is used for me something he considers to be of great The building is laid out an E-W itself.) Even the street be<:0I111eS importance. My book is no longer of direction with the entrances on the still find an y use. Is he saying that a cab will be by which maximizes the number of windows immediately, or that his company is closed on the south side and provides each unit for the holiday? I have no idea Mter saying with both north and south windows for not a wise in a country "s1.;lffiilmclselrl," I up and discuss the situ- summertime ventilation. The bUiJdiJngs is done on the left side of the ation with the The decision is constructed just far enough apart that none (From jennace's letters) David has reached to walk down the street to will be shaded at noon on any of the Iy checked out the school car, and McDonald's-they are the most likely ones year, as the south side is used not us on on the street to enough to lect heat and light, but to dry .",,",'nl'1o-" assist us, and perhaps they will be to air bedding. In urban environments, I call the company again on our behalf. to determine directions The idea is a good one. Two or:r-QUIV apartment buildings. workers at McDonald's, speaking far better 41 I return to our apartment to pay my English than our Japanese, express concern respects to an afternoon of over our difficulty, and the cab com­ 1<>...... ""-,,,,'", Global a local org;anization pany. When the young lady gets off the of "education mothers" interested in she explains that a cab will arrive for cultures. are the best of friends to us in one hour. Apparently our facial and were eager to have us in their homes and expressions, she asks us what is wrong. We for our children to with their children. inform her that one hour may be too long, As I enter, four of the mothers who had that we must make connections with a bus. arrived are a plate of and

We continue to discuss the situation with that Jennace had ...... &' .... "" .. ""rl naiF' David's her friend, and she abruptly departs from the reluctant to to the restaurant on her bicycle. Two or three min­ you eat raw ve:get:ables'r utes later, she returns to this moment is born my to try most administration: if one person time driving the car. She takes us every food I will encounter in it is customary for the where we wish to go, dear to the raw fish (sashimi). for every late. other side of town, and refuses my offer to every food is an taste.

24 The Plane tarian Vol. schooled in the Japanese system is difficult that to which I am familiar. for a US. teacher. as I may, it is very diffi- expresses that I am able to learn to cult to elicit a response to a QUle5tllon use his planetarium so quick! y. asked of the class as a whole. Much less likely (II On Wednesday some of the is for the students to ask a of me. male students drive me to the Junior For the most I resolve to ask questions School, where the college basketball team leads us into two consecutive cJassf'oOlms, of specific individuals. This wiH certainly pr'lctlces. It is more of an intramural than and we presume that these will be have to do at the planetarium, where the intercollegiate team in nature, but that rooms for Chandra and Duane. students may seek to "hide" from palrtic:ip;:l­ makes no difference. The Japanese pelnCJlarlt duced first as teMtmIOmrak.' k.o tion in the darkness. Group projects seem to for regimentation is clearly in eVidence, as amy teacher). I have been IntrOtlU(:eO work well. we first do lay-up drills from the right, then way (in but • Accompanied by two representatives of from the left, and then from the center. the college, I go to the Kanuma Civic Cul­ Following a full-court, 3-on-2 fast break tural Center to seek use of their planetarium we all line up in order of height, cmmtm2" in the teaching of the astronomy course. We off (ichi, ni, san) to assign each person to a are received by officials of the Center, team. All this is smoothly accomplished and ah's are even more pr()n()UflCeIQ, including the planetarium director, Ugajin­ with no coach present. To decide which two wonder how an inner San. We meet and exchange introductions teams will play first, what seems to me to be U.S. would react to this cxpel'iellce and business cards (mine have been printed the national game-jan, kin, pon-is used with my visiting professorship expressed in In the US., we know this game as "paper, Jar)anese on one side and in EngUsh-with SCissors, rock." In Japan, it takes on a very my US role-on the other). Green tea, rice important function. SiblingS who might oth­ crackers and tangerines are served, and pre­ erwise have conflict over a treat or a sents are exchanged. And through an lege learn at an early age to decide every interpreter and advocate from the college, issue with a round of jan, pon. One my needs are discussed, and the Cultural my children are teaching neU!flO()rn,Oa,Q Center officials cordially agree to make the children to play an unfamiliar card game planetarium available to me. (Uno). They listen carefully to the rules, then I would like to bring my class to the plane­ immediately begin by using jan, pan to tarium on several occasions, and to use the decide who is to go first. In a grade school star projector myself in teaching the class. gym class, I find the children paired off in a elsewhere in town and served My assessment is that the learning process version of the game like jumping jacks. dents themselves in the dassr~OOln--crlanOra will be difficult for my students. They will split forward and back represent scissors, be listening to me, speaking in a language apart represent paper, legs together repfP,sent they are trying to with no visual rein­ rock. [Back in the US., three Japanese forcement for the spoken word other than students visiting us decide, using the sky overhead. I shall have to pon, who will sleep in the guest on the provide my students with a printed vocabu­ floor, or on an air mattress. Yoshiaki tens us lary to use in conjunction with our visits. the next morning that he has on the Upon viewing the planetarium console, floor. /lOh, you lost!" says I however, I realize that I, also, shall be won," replies YoshiakLl reqUired to learn. The dials and switches on • We wish for our second and third chil­ the Goto console are labeled-of course, in dren, Chandra and Duane, to attend Japanese-and there is some difference in the school part-time. They speak no net set of functions included. Ugajin-San Jarlan1ese, and their would-be fellow students explains his instrument with care, but it is speak virtually no English. After as up to me to effect the translation into my our advocate in taking the matter to the language. Carl Sagan's IICosmic Rosetta School Committee, Etsuko reports that the Stone" comes to mind, as Ugajin-San and I school with the greatest in host­ share the common language of the sky and students is Minami JU'JlF,"'AAU the mechanical controls that make its simu­ (South Elementary School). Etsuko arranges lation possible. The learning curve is to be an interview for the family, and drives us to further improved a few days with the the school at the time. welcome arrival of an English-language ver­ We are with the tradi- sion of the operator's from the Goto tional green tea and tangerines. We converse COIl"p()ratton in Tokyo. It seems, that in with Yasuno the able some way, the Goto instrument shares a common thread of with my ese I have met where Zeiss MI015 back in In the sub- to lead us around the if had weeks set of the console that includes the most­ school With the rest of the seem unable to fathom the COltlCC;~pt. used dials, I find the same layout as think that in this country with

Vol. December 1995 The Planetarian death from overwork (hatarakisugO that • Yoshihiro Migita from Minolta station. 'l,;.t!:l'll111'UI' long vacations are common. ation meets us in the Osaka subway station

III Makiko, smiling with delight, meets us at and takes Jennace and me to dinner at a the Osaka Shinkansen station, and gUides us sushi restaurant. It is a beautiful evening and two through numerous changes of surface and we have a delightful time, discussing what I the subway trains, stepping out of the last train have learned about planetariums and sci­ Hiroshima, and what it reJ]lresen1:s, and crossing the street to her mother's pastry ence museums in Japan and Hong Kong and ied in the Peace Park. To see the shop. Her father, who works for an insurance where I might still visit, and visiting about Dome, the museum, and the various company, returns from his day's work with a friends we have in the planetarium profes­ ments in the is unj:oQ~ett:abJle, rented van big enough to hold both families. sion. Migita-San presents us with a plaque of meaningful are the vicieotar)f(i intoP1I"'U'1oP'«JIT¢: During the next week, we are treated as I calligraphy he has done personally, listing all survivors. This offers the greatest OP1JOctUfai­ might have dreamed I would be treated once the japanese cities and towns we have visit­ ty we have ever had to discuss with in my life. Otou-San (father) drives us every­ ed during our travels-it will long be a prized men the of war, and the where to Sight-see, saying he never gets the possession. This is one of the few times we World War II Ten opportunity himself. We tour Osaka castle are without our children in Japan. Makiko we shall have more discussions and visit Kato-San at the Osaka: Science and her boyfriend are sitting with the chil­ visit Pearl Harbor Museum, spend two days visiting Kyoto, one dren this evening. It is ironic that on this llUnois. day in Nara, and one day at the Samurai night without Melinda, we have noticed, for As Village, the movie set for a popular televi­ the first time, an elevator in a subway or home for a visit one a sion sitcom. Otou-San and Okaa-San take us train station. japan appears to us to not be ese family of their desire to to their spacious home, prepare dinner for very handicapped-accessible, and we have memory." This is did for us, and then turn the house over to Makiko, seen few handicapped citizens in public. created who will entertain the Lintons. The parents III Taking the bullet train from Osaka and memories. It is my fervent wish will stay at grandmother's home during our stopping for lunch to see the lovely castle in members will use the 1996 meetirl~ Visit, coming over only to prepare dinner Himeji at cherry blossom time, we arrive in a memory for themselves that and to take us sightseeing. It is an incredible Hiroshima in mid-afternoon to find, to our sure forever. experience. surprise, a very handicapped-accessible train

IPS Directory ~.III• .a.""''''''lWI.''''''.II.JIi.o,JII Thanks to everyone who has been sending in corrections and additions to the 1995 IPS Directory. Current to be published after the 1996 Osaka conference. However, there were several correction" that your humble tre.asulrer before that time, for various reasons. These follow below. You may send changes to Keith johnson at any of the addresses listed on page 4.

McLaughlin Planetarium Forum der Technik Pla:net:arilum , CANADA Museuminsell (416) 586-5736 D-80538 Munchen GERMANY (416) 586-5887 fax +49 (89) 21125180 1vu·n>l-Hrv.o'l"C! Jenoptik Univ. 23/6 Installed 1968 +49 (89) 21125 255 fax 22.9 m. 350 concentric seats. Opened 1968. +49 (89) 21125 250 director Mus'/Sci. Ctr. Public Shows Zeiss VII Installed 1993 [other information correct] 20.0 m. 275 unidirectional seats. "-'OJ·...... Mus'/Sci. Ctr. Public Shows Zeiss-Planetarium Fiber-optic 6 VIO,EOJ'Oal[a Deutsches Museum slews, Beta ..,'1C,f-o·rn· j\Jh'If-'i·u'i'c.,n...... Museuminsell random-access .L4...... ~'JL .....' ...... , ..."" .."",..· ...... 'ro. D-80538 Miinchen GERMANY to 10 shows per +49 89 2179 456 director Thomas W ...." ... CJ'uu..... U~irect(>r +49 89 2179 350 office E-mail: tIe(g~eS(J.01f', .A\J~''''v• .1(JI'7(jj,lcolrnlJluse'rve~com +49 89 2179 324 fax Angelika Zeiss MI015 Installed 1988 Bernd Lanwer, 15.0 m. 157 concentric seats. Opened 1925 Stefanie Lobernstein, Mus'/Sci. Ctr. Public Shows Giftshop Wilhelm Schnell, Tech. First planetarium projector developed and constructed for Deutsches Museum, 1919-1925. "Zeiss Modell" projector on dis­ William A Gutsch,Jr., Ph. D. play in exhibit on astronomy/astrophysics (1100 sq. meters). 25 The Crossway Show times 10 am, 12, 2, and 4 pm Smoke Rise Dr. Gerhard Director Kinnelon NJ 07405 USA (201) 492-8165 voice/fax Email: [email protected] Consultant/writer/producer for planetariums/sdence centers/television. 2S years experience worldwide.

26 The Planetarian Vol. No.4 December k.c nt I t I •••

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This workshop was advertised to be of value to all levels of experience, bring partic­ Brought to you by and of interest to: ipants up to date on the latest astronomical provide more resources for the tealchers Powerful Interactive Planetarium Systems discoveries, introduce numerous classroom planet:ari,ms in my network. activities, and provide many useful teaching I would have attended more techniques. To come early and stay late was Susan Reynolds the best advice given to obtain the greatest benefit from the workshop. picked up some of the hand-outs B.O.C.E.S. Planetarium The Universe in the Oassroom Workshop sessions for me. I was DaJrtlC:Ulal1'lV int:en:~st~~d and the ASP Education Symposium were a in curriculum and activities P.o. Box real treat. Because my goal was primarily able for Grade 9 Earth Science classes Syracuse, New York professional development, usually I attend High School As1:rOinOlrnv Phone: (315) 433-2671 conferences to give multiple papers and update my teacher workshops. Of special interest to me was the and was aware of fax: (315) 433-1530 acquisition of a more extensive bank of effective hands-on materials at [email protected] proven age appropriate activities and (Project Star, Mallon Stu resources as wen as validation for present man lessons and some P.ASS./ GEMS Please note the change in e-mail address. OCM BOCES programs. I am in the process of als). Just as one conference ends, it seems researching new evaluation tools and was Neil Comins talk was both int:rigulrlg another begins. Before rushing off to the hoping to get some feedback in that area too. <>n1r<> ..·~",;,,,;,,, .... <..;~uesti()ns such as "What European Meeting in Italy and then GLPA, Discussion of national trends and implemen­ Moon Didn't Exist" and "What if the Earth 111 share some of my thoughts on the Astro­ tation techniques, of course, are of interest to was tilted like Uranus" can be used nomical Society of the Pacific meeting (June everyone in the field "hook" for outst,an4jinl~ instruction 1995) as promised in the last column. Several goals were reached during the two day workshop. New friends from this and Speaking of Schatz's The Universe in the Classroom other countries were made and professional demonstration of comet was won- Workshop and ASP Meeting contacts formed. The most Significant derful as well as informative. The results of friendships and contacts developed were putting the comet on an overhead As planetarium specialist for Onondaga between me, an astronomer from Mexico, really be to students. Cortland Madison Board of Cooperative and a planetarian from Australia. Julietta, Education Services (OCM BOCES) it is imper­ from Mexico, made a tremendous ,.,..","" .. .0<'_ ative to seek experiences which augment sion with her enthusiasm and creativity in Goldstein's 41 Asteroids professional development. The OCM BOCES providing top notch astronomy education job deSCription for planetarium specialist Comets: Collisions with Earth and for the people of her country. Besides a added to my bank of such includes: developing curriculum materials full time researcher, she is also dedicated to ics and was the and lessons, traveling with a Starlab to helping other countries facilitate the dissem­ \h" •.,. ..nl ...... with the Hubble school buildings in 21 school districts to pre­ ination of education at all levels while sent lessons (maximum of six classes a day), ing information to aid her work in Mexico. training assistants, training teachers in basic Learn" was very informative. Steve, from Australia, is also a tre'mE~n(loulS!Y astronomy and space science topics, provid­ The and Color: Activities positive and energetiC force in the field of Classroom" was not new to me and seemed a ing teachers with effective pre and post-plan­ astronomy education and the world etarium visit activities and updates on the bit and shallow due the eta ria. He too freely shared his enthusiasm, room it was in (see comments about facilities latest astronomical discoveries. Our pro­ expertise, and tales of experiences in his grams impact 30,000 students a year and uti­ later in this and to my ...... "... U.H country. This dynamic duo are now a part of knolwlpnQ'p of the PASS/GEMS exp'erirnents lize many of the materials and techniques my world-wide web of influential and which I conduct for students in Starlab. received at the POPS summer institute in resourceful people who will others Eg(:x:e~nt]ric

Vol. No.4, December 1995 The Planetarian

The parts of the program started to come reel-to-reel recorc1er. tog;ettler. A friend had rafted down the Colorado River on a White and he had plenty of slides. Girl Scout

a .... '.J U.:l.Ull LaJ' .... ''-" had a donkey would lend From the came a multicolored wheel on a one rpm motor that the into the Painted Desert. Also from the was a flattened plywood box whose side teetered back and forth with an Erector set motor and eccentric arm. A borrowed don- rode on the rocky-box the "On the Trail" movement while the Colorado River slides alternated from two carousel

Little did we suspect a built-in Drc)bI4~m­ the On the day of the program Bill's band stu- audience.

"Unbelievable. Look at II muttered dents paraded the entrance. The students were Bill as he looked around and around. "Grand were greeted at the double doors flank­ walked out the Suite, Fantastique ... hmm ed by bales of hay and straw as ranch hands around Ugllrirlg ... " as he continued to talk half to himself in plaid shirts and broad-brimmed hats Suite. With and half to me. and carrying real, live kerosene lanterns ush­ William Holland was among the ered them into their seats. his class of students. school teachers who had just seen an As they entered the planetarium chamber ini:roductc)ry mini-show in the new brushed past a real, tarium at Smith Junior High School near breathing donkey standing n",t"jp1"Ilthr Dayton, Ohio. The time was fall, 1970. muted spot bulb. Bill was awed with the array of slide The students didn't know until later about projectors around the of the plane- the problem with the donkey. tarium projection and he was one of the As the donkey was delivered gaspers as I turned on the stars with the Mars truck to the rear loading. It took the first few movement of Holst's Planets from steps through the service room without any the stereo sound hesitation. Once inside the corridor system. the stopped, sat down and refused to Our school system p!(me~taj~iUlm move. cated to the idea that the ~A'U".L""'''-A''UAA The donkey still sat as it was and shoved a team-a team from the planeitar­ though it was the science teachers that made ium, the custodial staff and the DH:K-un a recommendation for the new truck. Down the corridor, around two cor­ school. Their recommendations included a ners, to the planetarium. Once in the science auditorium with no windows, dim­ tarium, under the spotlight, it stood n"'Ir1Plr1._ mable movable chairs and possibly a ly through three shows oats, for Olanet:arilLlm prcljectiOln. and potato chips. it """,'"1-"" ..... ',, plcmetm'imn was to be As the left the was didn't have to. It walked ml.l1tHlisctp.lin.:uy in func­ pulled and shoved along the main cOlrridlor, tion for all grade levels and for whatever sub- through the Commons room, past the windows of the Media Center to the Soon Bill returned with a yellow paper fuB loading dock. All of this before it made a of notes and a head full if ideas. mess. memories from under two He had the record of Ferdi Grofe's Grand When the show was three years win welcome memories from Canyon Suite. He planned to talk his high later, the donkey had died and was .. "" ... ,I"'/~.,...-I domes. school band students into as ranch a ginny who walked calmly into the Col umnist Ken Perkins was hands to be the ushers. What about slide bu:ilding. After the ginny, I had to clean three photos of the What could we do for messes from the planetarium chamber car­ "The Painted Desert?" Where could we get a pet. donkey? Do you have any guns that As the student audience arrived, the stars you have collected? What about a were up and the crickets were The sound was a six foot length of quarter inch bale or two of straw or Do you think served as 1J ...... H~ .. U, ... , .....u be able to borrow a How recording tape pulleyed around two Pe·ter:sbtlf£" Junior machine bobbins and the playing head of a 1980-1994.

Vol. December 1995 The Planetarian Space Shuttle and A Goto Planetarium What do a/l places common? A spectacular a

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4-16 Yasaki-cho Fuchu-shi, 183 JAPAN TEL: Inti No. +81-423-62-5312 FAX: Inti No. +81-423-61-9571 Email: [email protected] GI014si the while Sheri Trbovich and verse had a random character u';'H-",u,t walkie-talkies affixed to 11",rio,rl",i .... ", if order. the sides of their heads, planned the lOgiSU!CS nutshell, Ha'WK:in!Z Pr€~seJn.t€rl for subsequent wheelchair "walk" alternate view, to the site of the lecture. That site and from La Place's was the nearby Huntsman a cav­ notion that if one could chiara.ct~!rU~e ernous which would guaran­ PO:SltlOn and of every n!llrti,rlp tee that no one would be turned away this past or present universe, one time. the future universe ... to the advent Following the reception we made our way tum mechanics and the to the Center and scattered to our various Inr",rt,.in1ru PJr1n<:ipJle, which says

... this man did something I've never seen done in quiet attention while he explained the finer theory which had nothing and everything to do

Greetings! Last summer, the Hansen Planetarium seats. I had a particularly good vantage folks invited me down to a lecture by emi- from which to witness the proceedings, in a nent British Stephen Hawking back row on the floor of the auditorium, just which they were Professor off the center aisle. From there I watched aU Ha'wkinQ: had visited previously in 1993 for around me as rings of seats to the holes swallow material and the opening of the Hansen show "Fate of the rafters began to fill with people--st1uQlent:s, "e~la[)OratE~" and themselves, Universe," which he had co-written; his talk teachers, families, the interested, the curious, remove information from the univ(~rs(~-lthe that time proved so popular that more peo- the handicapped who find of a loss of information m~~aI1inlg had been turned away from the crowded very special sort in Hawking and his work. It even less about the future uniVE'rse lecture hall than could be admitted So they was a truly amazing Sight, just before the than n ...n"nl1"" were doing it time in a bigger beginning of the program, to look up at a sea throws dice, but he sometimes throws facility, and as part of their 30th anniversary of faces ringing the auditorium-9,OOO them where cannot be seen! celebration. strong! A throng seemingly more aDloHmI'i­ This can be pretty esoteric Re!co~~nizinlg a rare opportunity when it ate for a basketball game or rock concert, yet Hawkin!Z presented his case in an aP1Pealling, smacks me in the nose, I accepted the invita­ here for a scientific lecture. When was the ea~~v-to-·tOIIIOW way, laced AAL, ... au tion-and in mid-July I motored through the last time you attended a science lecture with, humor, and he held his audience wilds of Idaho and northern Utah under a 9,000 other people? The feeling was almost waning moon to be present in the city by surreal. the Great Salt Lake for the much-anticipated When an were seated, Hansen director event. Von Del Chamberlain opened with a cogent rplphlrit~,O His to make cOlnplex Mark and Carolyn Collins Petersen had introduction, adding that with Professor ics understandable and int:ere:stilng? also come down for the presentation, and on Hawking's permiSSion, this would be the first ular books? A fascination with the evening of July 17th we found ourselves in a series of annual science lectures caBed of black thrown together with the busy Hansen staff, the Stephen W. Hawking Lecture Series. fellow colleagues Irvin and Nel Lo Bassett Next, the head of the Salt Lake from Provo, and what seemed like Commission added a few words. At several million invited guests at a reception Hawking himself appeared on stage. The for 30 years, about wit:ne~)sirlg in the Museum of Art on the campus of the rock concert analogy occurred to me of brilliant mind in University of Utah at the foot of the craggy as I watched from my vantage as he bereft of most motor functions? Wasatch Mountains. There we had an oppor­ negotiated his motorized wheelchair up a or none, perh,lps tunity to meet Professor Hawking Oooking ramp at the back of the stage. It looked as if whatever reason, this man did sOInethilng just like he did on "Star Trek: the Next his shadowy figure was up tm~ou,!Zn I've never seen done before: hold Generation"!) and his fiance while the floor of the stage itself, before he roBed attention while he eX1Plaim~d Diane Beam from Hansen showed video forward under the lights to warm and sus­ of cosmOlogical excerpts of the film project Hansen is devel­ tained applause. nothIng and pv,pruthiinO" to do with their oping with Hawking. For the professor was Then his lecture began as he also in Salt Lake City to review the script for each sentence of his prepared talk thl:OUlsrh It was an amlazilng a film adaptation of Hansen's "Fate of the his computer-controlled voice sYlnuleSlZ(;~r, The next Universe," in which he has the preeminent whUe slide visuals flashed in accompani­ invited to role. We saw wonderful footage of him at ment on a screen above his head. His talk small entourage at the Evans & SUlth€~rlalnd at work in his position as was entitled "Does God Throw Dice Where facility, where had an nnn.ryrhlni1tu Lucasian Professor of Mathematics-the They Can't Be Seen?" The of to several of the cmnp'ID)r's chair the Sir Isaac Newton once held-amid course, was to Albert Einstein's famous utter­ halls dripping in scientific history. ance "I shan never believe that God plays Diane, the of the film, dice with the world"-which ""v ...... ,"c~'''''rI shot down an aircraft. Thereafter, reviewed the progress and needs for Einstein's disdain at the notion that the uni- it was farewells an around as we pr€~pared

Vol. December 1995 The Planetarian head for our various otllig,iW)m;-rntrle eXI>eriments that blew up and sucked somewhere the other side of the wilds of into bottles and made kids' hair stand Idaho. on end. I don't know if he was a real scientist On the way home, I turned the eX{)erlen<:e or not, but what a great way to introduce sci­ of you who attended the over in my mind. It seemed to me that ence to kids! tain/pacific Planetarium AA;oclatllon Hawking's brand of scientist is doing But somehow, the Mr. Wizards seem to ence here back in 1991 very much what the first investigators who have gotten lost in the cultural tas(:m.:ltirlg talk on Qucmt1um tunlneling. caBed themselves that were trying to do. hodge-podge somewhere. We too is a strong supporter While we think of Copernicus and Gameo the Science Guyon American TV tries, inno­ and the work do. and their ilk as SCientists, the word itself vative science museums try, media science And I ... .,.(J'I1I~I ... h' wasn't actually coined until 1840 at Glasgow, editors try, goodness knows science teachers Scotland by the British Association for the Tr'l}'_~lrlrl planetariums try. How are we suc­ Advancement of Science-according to ceeding? CoHn Ronan in his book Science. It was an There are victories won in the organization, he said, which had been creat­ battle against scientific but I think ed nine years earlier to provide a forum sometimes it's hard to say. I still see a lot of where scientists could meet and openly dis­ ambivalence toward science and scientists cuss their work in a way that could be could out there-in the midst of religious funda­ be generally understood mentalism, New Age pop culture, , we do, who are audiences are, and In a way that could be generally under­ ignorance, boredom, political activism and a promises we must make. And stood In other words, by 9,000 people sitting lot of other things that seem to muddy our their in to us. in the Huntsman Center on July 17th. By attempt to create a dear of the world There many others like everybody. and universe around us. too-Jim for eXC'lmlJle, Ronan further writes that the founding of What's perhaps even more is tist/educator at the the British association was symptomatic of a that there's a lot of ambivalence of a sort who has become a fixture at me:etilngs growing realization by scientists of the day toward scientists even among plametariarls! Great Lakes Planetarium Association, that their work was significant-and that it Get a group together and start them talk­ annual astronomy talks needed to be communicated to the public. It ing about it, and you hear lots of interestirlg latest in astronomical res,earch. was done through popular lectures and opinions about scientists. Some are favor- And the of Colorado astronomers books, and it increased "an already wide some are not. Some some that RMPA conference attendees interest in science." who've come up through the scientific met at Fiske Planetarium, who take So what's happened since? Why are there research "system") talk of ivory-tower role in astronomy education in a m!01lM.u.lnl1<1: so few scientists like Hawking and Carl Sagan dwellers who care only for their collaborative effort with the Fiske staff. and Patrick Moore who seem to have enter­ coming down only to drink at the trough of Nor must we underestimate the ed the popular culture? public financing with the rest of us before the and Carl Perhaps what's happened was best put by heading back up. Some talk of the scientist­ Arthur C. Clarke: "Any sufficiently advanced as-savior who shows up at their plametarimn technology is indistinguishable from magic." entrance with an "I'm a scientist and I'm create interest that can lead Perhaps science got so complicated and tech­ here to help" line. Some talk of how scien­ their local of information nological so fast that it's become magiC to tists eschew the work we do-and we eschew ration. people. Add to that what myoId college right back. So-what we need do is .... "H;,,,,,,i·,,, astronomy professor once told me-"People And while all this eschewing is on, rel.iti()m:hij)s with scientists, and fear what they don't understand-and they the scientifically illiterate children of the do this as we never have before. What's don't understand science"-and perhaps we past few generations are growing up, have a recipe for the scientific illiteracy that elected to legislatures, and killing orga­ seems so rampant today. the Texas supercollider and shc:lfpenilng nizations as NASA, which tens scientists now I think back to my own childhood vision ax for the international space station and the that if want research money, had of scientists, and I think perhaps that's not so Pluto probe, and giving out awards like for­ better have for an education out- hard to understand. Back then, it seemed mer U.S. Senator Proxmire's fleece" reach component. Who knows, we that scientists were either mad-and trying awards mocking basic research. may be more lines like: "I'm to dominate or destroy the world in those So ... what do we do? We cultivate. We col­ tist, and I've got this money for Saturday afternoon matinees (and we were laborate. We and the scientists get on the reach 1/ always saved by heroes more favored by same side and work together. AU fine and but what if brawn than brains), or else they were faceless There are wonderful success stories of such tower dwellers won't come down? Then worker bees in white lab coats in commer­ collaboration, and I can look for scientists who live down with cials or documentaries-miracle workers here. At our museum, we recruit "'rt", ..,,"'r the rest of us, or who can be who would give us a world of automated curators of science from the Montana State Look for those who understand ease and luxury by-geez, no later than the University staff. Dr. Larry Kirkpatrick is our tance of education and who turn of the millennium I'm not sure which adjunct curator of astronomy-an academic stand the mutual value of coJ!lalbOI,atlOn vision was worse. with scientific credentials who is Scientists the experts The only alternate note I seem to remem­ also a strong advocate for education-from rlkro'U'Pl"v' we're the experts in mt:enJre'tatton ber is Mr. Wizard-a man named Don Her­ teacher training right on down to kinder­ pn:~seIltation. There's a bert, I believe, who appeared on TV every gartners. He was a strong supporter of the week with a new kid assistant, doing nifty planetarium when it was only an idea, and is

34 The Planetarian Vol. Ever since the discovery of ancient bones and the first use of the word "dinosaur" to describe the creatures they once were, people around the world have been fascinated by these prehistoric beasts.

N ow, your audiences too can share the excitement and wonder at the diversity and magnificence of these beings who once dom­ inated the earth as no other group of creatures has since.

Presented in a smoothly-flowing narrative style, "Dinosaurs!" takes your audience back for the feel of the time of the dinosaurs and explains how geologic time works in a method that is at once effective and easily understood.

By using fresh, new and exciting depictions of the dinosaurs themselves (more than twenty overall), this dynamic show answers the following questions:

• Exactly what were the dinosaurs? • Were all creatures of that time dinosaurs? • Are there any dinosaurs left? • How big were they? • Did they live all over the world?

• What did they eat? From some of the smallest to the most gigantic, from the • How did they die? very earliest to the latest, "Dinosaurs!" tells their story! • How did we find out about them?

Best of all, this dramatic 30-minute show featuring more that 150 exciting slides is only:

(Plus Shipping) ORDER FROM: ~ $795.00 JHE Joe Hopkins Engineering • P.O. Box 14278 • Bradenton, FL 34280 Call 1-800-JHE-5960 9 and the earth and Omnimax film "Yellowstone," asteroid, the space shuttle with the Hubble Dennis Mammana and put tos;~etlher space cornets, an staff there, it does a nice, dome and other sequences. the mechanisms that Timo writes that he's to sen his to animations, and that while yet been fixed, a figure in the neHrtlbc)rhood of .$150 U.S. per animation and postage costs is considered. Prices for more than one can be discussed. He also writes that customized animations can be requested. From what I could see, it looked like good stuff. For a sample tape or more Fleet is n1"1'·"' .. 1n ..... It should be December as you read, and contact Timo e-mail: .$695.00 with ShilJphlg ITlIOUaea that means spacecraft GaHleo and its doud- piercing should have reached larlislDhc~re Produc­ by about now, and the should have tions, 1117 Road, Monterey, California made its suicide plunge into the gassy 93940 USA, 408-649-4361, e-mail: 71514.3145@ and Gali1eo should have close past Io compuserve.com, has his first laser disk out and gone into a orbit around the It includes a of "scenes" (animations planet, settling in for its extended 15 to 75 seconds) including zoom-ins reconnaissance. That's a lot of shoulds, but size comparisons between the after Phobos and Mars Observer and a cer­ earth and the other planets, the evolution of For more information or to tain problem of a certain stuck antenna on a the solar system, a comet, a supernova at the above address. certain spacecraft ". explOSions, Galileo, and other If all has gone weB, there should be won­ effects. derful data for us to revel in for the benefit of I've seen a tape (as weB as our audiences-but of course, not for a while. pn~selntalticlfl at the RMP A conference-more about RMP A later) and the stuff is very nice·· As we look for to amuse ourselves conference in Colorado. There are while the data begins to trickle in, you Iy rendered Except for a solar system nebula to be seen and learned consider the potpourri of items that follows. rot,atiIlg as a wheel (really effective crossfade to a schematic solar system, though), it was here. all quite realistic and effective and colorful and pleasing to the eye, and you get Timo and Rasmus Rahunen at the Tam­ tatium in-house and "UYlrn,l"£"I_ pere Planetarium in Finland, have been developing their own three-dimension­ nization rights in the process. successfully used a al computer animations for use in their Jupiter/comet collision sequences at our shows. I learned of this over the Internet this plametartmn in a program about-what else­ summer, and Timo has sent me further infor­ cosmic worth a mation. look! For the technically inclined, Timo writes indicates that future laser disks are that the animations are generated on a high­ planned, to include many new scenes-"real­ end Silicon Graphics INDY workstation with Iy cool" flybys, .. At·')'!"" ...... ,. F,u.'U.I1,n.. ,." Microsoft Softimage 3D software as wen as eclipses, flyovers of Venus and Mars, and Digital DEC Pentium PC's with Autodesk 3D scenes with "academic ...... I.... AA'-UUU' Studio software. The animations are ren­ dered on hard disk frame frame using the celestial sphere, retrograde motions of the tribution of glolbular EurolJean PAL format with an image resolu­ planets, Venus phases, of liked) in the summer Newton's laws, and so on. tion of 768x576 pixels full color 24-bit rh",f',princr in the direction of the F,UJIU'-LA'- Planis;phere Production's laser disk sells for or 32-bit images. nucleus. Some were of .$535 U.s., but individual scenes may still be The sequences are then recorded from in which aU-skies were used hard disk frame frame with a Laser I-'LAIL'-AA,.....,'.... at a rate of $60 for one, .$200 for Videodisc recorder on a CRV (Component five. Custom services are available. For more Recording Video) disk. From the CRV information and a video, contact Tony at the address and numbers the animations can be transferred to a vari­ above. ety of video tape formats in both PAL and American NTSC format, or in digital For the more visually inclined, Timo also sent me a sample video cassette. Although it Not ago (as I write), the Reuben Fleet wasn't formatted for my VCR, I could see Theater &: Science Center, P.O. Box in a very effective way. enough to be very lmprICSseQ-t'urrHHing 33303, San California 92163 USA sent I'm not sure if Fiske's a .... -"'.... u ...:lI asteroids, rotating me a sample tape of a ten-minute show on able-but ask (Fiske Planetarium's sequences between Jupiter and Comet geysers to accompany the '<7", ... <,11+u of Colorado,

36 The Planetarian Vol. (Campus Box 408), Boulder, Colorado 80307 opportunity to visit Jim Beaber's Jonnson tors, lighting, effects-all the usual USA.) Like Tony Fairall's mentioned last Planetarium of the Jefferson County Public stuff-and offers fun manual control a time, these are wonderful and attractive Schools (or jeffCo) in Lakewood, Colorado, computer keyboard. Every circuit is inde­ teaching sets. Talk to Katy Garmany, Bob for a demonstration of the relatively new pendently and simultaneously accessible,

Stoller, or Geoff Skelton. Zeiss Skymaster Model ZKP3-doubtlessly to and the system uses lIuniversal mod­ Another demonstration that sent me become better known as the I4Baby Zeiss." ules" which-with a clever adiius'tmen1t-<:an hunting for my socks afterward was Audio­ People were practically cooing at it! It's a be used for carousel projectors or Visual Imagineering's presentation of their cute, tiny blue version of the familiar Zeiss effects. Contact Bruce for more information Omniscan system. Man, has it come a long silhouette, but it packs a real wallop in the and a price list. way from the quivering green sphere seen in 33-foot (lO.1m) dome of the jeffCo Plane­ Incidentally, Bruce's demo used an excerpt Salt Lake City in 1992! We were dazzled by tarium. The system produces a lovely rich from a new show kit called a 13- some amazing multicolor abstract and astro­ starfie1d, and has a sharply-phasing moon minute program the space art of nomical effects, and it was jaw-dropping to that we were all drooling over. John Foster and a soundtrack Randall J. see the system trace out lovely constellation For more information, you can contact Young produced by EagleHght Prcldu1cU()flS, line figures in the intense colored light of a Pearl Reilly, Sales Manager for Seiler Instru­ 108 NW Ninth, Suite 214, pm'uano, laser beam-with nary a wiggle in the ment, 2-B Houmas Place, Destrehan, 97209 USA, telephone 503-242-0034, fax 503- images. And all this from a remarkably petite Louisiana 70047 USA, telephone 800-726- 242-2919, e-mail: eaJ~el1,grlt~ISnaelprc).C()m. system design. 8805, fax 504-764-7665 (the U.S. distributor), The show was not cOlmnler'cially Hayden Planetarium in New York has had or the Zeiss company in the time, but it is now. Nice musiC, nice the system for some time, and I understand In another demonstration at JeffCo, Bruce slides-and if I understood the it's going in the new planetarium being built Spainhower showed off the TCS-l System slides can be used for other shows and pur­ at Carole Rutland's place in Columbus, produced by his new company, Focal Point poses once you buy them. Doublecheck Georgia. If you have an opportunity-see it. Systems, 1500 SE Hickory Street, Portland, this-and check out the program And ask Joanne McCullough about it, at Oregon 97214 USA, telephone 503-239-4989, At the Air Force Academy Planetarium (as Audiovisual Imagineering Inc., 10801 Cosmo­ e-mail: [email protected]. JeffCo has the you can see, we conducted a of naut Boulevard, Orlando, Florida 33824 USA, system, and it ran the planetarium's projec­ Colorado planetariums at RMP A this telephone 407-859-8166, fax 407-859-8254. tors through their paces very nicely. The sys­ Carolyn Collins Petersen demonstrated her During the conference, we also had an tem offers fully automated control of projec- latest Internet the Henrietta Leavitt

Vol. 24, No.4, December 1995 The Planetarian 37 Flat Screen Planetarium, offering assorted annular, with side pictures displaying Baily's tively laid out and still priced at $25 U.s. tidbits of astronomy, a flat-screen show, ref­ Beads, the diamond ring, and prominences, shipping. Yet another fine and useful refer­ erences, and other useful astronomy and satellite snapshots of the 1991 shadow on the ence in your planetarium work! For more planetarium-related topics. Very clever-if earth, diagrams of the geometry of total and information or to order, contact Loch Ness you're surfing, stop in and have a look. I annular eclipses and a scale diagram of the ProdUctions, P.O. Box 3023, didn't get the address, but I'm sure the Loch moon casting a shadow on the earth, a world Colorado 80307 USA, telephone +1-303-455- Ness people can provide it. map displaying paths of eclipses to come 0611, fax +1-303-455-1742, e-mail: malrkp,et@ Lest I leave anyone out, the RMP A confer­ with an accompanying table, and assorted scicomalphacdc.com. ence had also planned to progress to Gates eclipse facts and figures, all attractively laid InCidentally, you've probably noted that Planetarium in Denver, but a heavy unsea­ out. If you like eclipses, you'll want this. And Loch Ness' STAR*LINES series of constella­ sonable snowfall coincided almost perfectly you'll want to sen it in your gift shop, too. tion figures has added a new a'\r>ect-~:Iotn{~s_ with the conference, breaking a lot of tree The poster has a suggested retail price of AU of the people figures now come with or limbs, closing Denver's parks-and the $9.95 U.S. (very reasonable), with a wholesale without-depending on your taste and sensi­ Denver Museum of Natural History along price of $4.90. For more information, contact bilities. They're $12.50 each, plus postage and with them for several days. As if hardy Steve Peters as given above. handling. Contact Loch Ness above. Rocky Mountain planetarians are afraid of a I've examined the flyer showing the vari­ few falling trees ... Compendium et al ous versions of the figures, and I have The latest edition of the Loch Ness one question: what about the centaurs? Eclipse Poster Compendium is out and about, newly updat­ I'm a sucker for eclipses, so I'm a big fan of ed with lots of new entries including many The Informal Science one of the latest products from MindMatter portable planetariums, listing 2,558 planetar­ Sheri Trbovich Barton recently let me Publishing, 9685 Genesee Avenue, Suite G-2, iums in all Plus assorted tables, indices, arti­ examine a copy of a newsletter caned "The San Diego, California 92121, telephone 619- cles, and pithy sayings filling up white spaces Informal Science ReView," edited Bob 558-9233, fax 619-558-8490, e-mail: 74462 as in earlier editions, and several new fea­ Russell and Mac West-a of [email protected]. It's a poster called tures including a portables summary, a informative articles from a number of infor- "Solar Eclipse," and it's wonderful. World Wide Web index, annual attendance mal sources. The The colorful poster boasts dynamite pho­ when known, indication of laser shows issue incl uded articles on Project Astro, the tos of the 1991 total solar eclipse and the 1992 when known, and a few others-all attrac- Lakewood Museum's solar system model in

38 The Plane tar ian Vol. No.4 , December 1995 cOlm]:letitlon from virtual arcades, ogy Drive, Warren, N.]. 07059, 800- It's be~~injninlg mI'-D1rOIH science recreation, and other for- 524-2481, fax 908-668-0022. It's filled with informal science, and an in<:reasing educational on science and math reHance of informal science insti­ for the youngest school. tutions on earned revenue and more The consist of CD- en1:rer>reIleurial efforts. ROMs, teacher and other assorted includes a In such we should be interested A news- materials-crammed fun of useful letter costs $45 US. for one year and lessons, by the look of it. These pa<:ka:ges of six issues. For more informa- from a few hun­ tion, contact The Informal Science Review, deiJendinlg on Box 42328, DC 20015. how and a learnllng palckC:lge you get. Even the teacher are $70 US. NASA on But the stuff looks and there's received a on a new NASA edu- astronomy too. If you have a little cation videoconference series for loose check it out. its education division by the "Teaching from You Never Knew Existed ... /1 from Oklahoma State University, the IOflnson Smith 4514 19th 308 Room A, Oklahoma Street Court East, P.O. Box 25500, Braldellton, organ Florida 34206. A romp a assort- order the amltomilcaH 74078, teje~pn(me 40.5-744-6784, fax 405-744- ment of gag and but lots of Mr. Hand and Mr. 6785, e-mail: naSa{~d1JLtv@smtpgat€~.mm.llQ .nasa.gov. The programs are received via C­ "Star Trek" materiel is too. We're dress- brain band satellite system, and include up our show operators in Next Gener­ educational materials if you as a par­ ation tunics from this company for ticilpatinlg institution. The programs air from etarium's run of "Orion Rendezvous" from OMSI. They look and are of cos­ 4 to 5 p.m. in the Eastern Time Zone. The on will have aired the time tume you read this. The other two, called "International Station" and "Fire & Life-The Sun-Earth Connection," will be broadcast on 25 and April 11, 1996,

If you're interested and want to as palrtic:ip

It must be that time tiOOdJ.ng in. Here are a few-some aU worth m{~ntlmunlg

The 1995-96 of the Astronomical of the Pacific, 390 Ashton Avenue, San Francisco, California 94112 USA is out­ fun of great astronomical parar)he~r­ and items-this year poster mentioned above among other posters, slides sets, etc. A must­ have. The 1995 Art is out also-and I always want to frame it. The artwork is from such space art notables as Kim Poor, Don Davis, Bob Eggle­ own Joe Tucciarone, Foster, William K. David A. Alan Gutierrez, and others. Items range from $8.50 (U.S.) crrl',,,,tincr cards to limited edition of several hundred dollars. A feast for the For a copy, write Art P.O. Box 37197, Tucson, Arizona 85740 USA. I received the Data 1995-96 catalog from Optical Data School Media, 30 Technol-

Vol. December 1995 The Planetarian

While this works fairly wen in certain appli­ more, since the wheel rotates opera- PI cations-introducing an undulating, wavy tion, any heat induced into the in the netechnica quality-it also creates a fairly large, diffuse gate area is soon as that part of the "light cloud" which surrounds the image. wheel is rotated out of the gate. Though this may be desirable for specific sheet acrylic with a thickness of about 3mm Reinventing applications, a less doudy-sUITound rippling (1/8 inch) will suffice-yielding a wheel with effect can created by placing the ripple wheel into the gate area of the Wheel the projector just a few millime­ ters forward of the slide (Figure 2). For a different effect altogether­ Richard McColman in which the slide image stays in Morehead Planetarium sharp focus, but with a rippling CB #3480 Morehead Bldg. of light within-the slide can be mounted a bit forward of its stan­ University of North Carolina dard pOSition, and the ripple Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3480 wheel introduced behind it (Figure 3). [email protected] In general, the other types of wheels are most effective-or only effective-when placed Rotating wheels or disks are some of the within the gate area. Although more common contraptions found on con­ color wheels can be positioned in ventional special effects projectors. For fron t of the projection lens to example, the traditional ripple wheel-per­ provide very subtle color haps the most prominent example of this changes, more "texturized" or device type-is mounted on projectors in "detail-intensive" (though still many planetariums. Motorized image-modi­ somewhat de-focused) coloring fying wheels provide some of the easiest effects are best achieved wi thin

Motorized wheels on single-slide projectors are among the Simplest. least expensive ways to add visual impact to your programs.

ways to add visual dynamism to programs, the gate. The same is true for pat­ and come in a variety of forms and effects. In tern wheels. And by their very this installment, we'll explore some of their nature, image wheels require variations and applications, as wen as a few sharp focus in order to project handy techniques for making them. their photographic imagery, and Basically, wheels fall into five different therefore must be placed at the categories: gate. In addition to introducing a * refraction wheels, a more technically­ wheel into the Ught path of a descriptive name for ripple wheels; projector, selective focus can be * color wheels, which introduce dyna­ used to further alter the character mically changing colors into the of an image. By de-focusing the lightpathj slide image with the projection * pattern wheels, which superimpose lens, focusing on the wheel itself, mOVing, opaque lines or other geo­ or setting focus between the metric shapes onto the projected wheel and the fixed slide, a vari­ image; ety of subtle changes in the pro­ * image wheels, which place an actual jected image can be achieved. moving photographic image into the In general, the best material for projection beam; making wheels is clear sheet * and polarizing wheels, made of a acrylic (sometimes referred-to polarizing material to be used in con­ generically as IIPlexiglas"). While junction with polarization-pattern acrylic can warp when subjected films. high heat, typical use of the material is no problem in an Placement of the wheel has a large impact application like this as only a on how the image is modified For instance, small portion of the wheel is in ripple wheels are often found mounted out the light beam at a time. Further- in front of the projection lens (Figure 1).

Vol. 24, No.4, December 1995 The Planetarian 41 low mass and plenty of rigidity. Acrylic sheet Also, remember that faster drill and saw teredo This variation is great for can be purchased at most plastics or glass speeds generate heat that can melt blobs of rocket flames, or else which suppliers, or at the larger home improve­ excess plastic as they cut-blobs which then rapidly change ment stores. Sometimes, plastics suppliers re-harden around the edges of the cuts. (Wheels with exa.gge·ratE~d win even maintain a "cut-off bin" into Going with slower speeds will minimize this suitable for the which they throw smaller sections discarded phenomenon. tor, for example.) from cutting acrylic sheet for customers. Simply apply the clear gH.lle-Inat:enal This can often be a convenient way to pur­ Adding Ripples and Colors your choice to the wllee.I-lcOllcentlratilng chase a small amount of material at a time. Most of us are more than familiar with the the donut-shaped swath which intersects Though wheels can be cut to a wide vari­ ripple wheel. Among other things, a ripple light path as it rotates through the prcljector ety of sizes, it is generally best to go with as wheel can be used to simulate the effects of gate. Spreading the epoxy, etcetera, aU small a size as possible to keep the effect-pro­ atmospheriC turbulence on Earth-based tele­ the wheel, or in areas other than where light passes simply wastes the material. jector compact. Motor placement will usual­ scopic views. As the light beam in a single­ way to guide is to mount the ly be the deciding factor, with a working slide projector passes through the ripple radius determined by measuring from the wheel, the transparent but wavy material on the projector, and the disk center of the motor shaft, and fully across bends the light in complex patterns, distort­ motor, and trace out with an indelible the projector's slide gate. If the motor can be ing what would otherwise be a pristine, mounted with its shaft placed very close to focused image of the slide on the projection the projector case, the overall size of the spe- surface. With this wheel rotated through the light path by a motor, the passing ripples cause dynamiC changes in the light refrac­ tion. In a telescopic Mars projector, for in­ stance, this rippling-light phenomenon has both educational and aesthetic justification. To create a ripple wheel from an acrylic disk, simply apply to the surface of the wheel a transparent substance which has a wavy surface of its own. As with convex and con­ cave lenses, the eventual bulges and troughs of the ripple wheel's surface will refract the light which passes through. Products used can include clear epoxy, Duco cement, and Household Goop. (In the original IPS Spedal Effects Sourcebook, some of the effects ideas suggested smearing petroleum jelly ont0 the wheel. While this can achieve some interest­ ing effects, I'd recommend not making this choice as the perpetually gooey substance will forever remain a "mess waiting to hap­ cial effect can be kept relatively small (Figure pen" when working around it, as well as con­ 4). On compact single-slide projectors, this stituting a real"dust catcher".) The main cri­ er the inner and outer boundaries the makes the minimum wheel diameter around teria for the chosen material are that it be applicable while the wheel After application, monitor the 140 mm (5.5 inches). However, on occasion, clear and relatively colorless, that it have a progress of the material as it nr.mn'p.;:c;ivIP]v there may arise the need for a larger-diame­ rather viscous conSistency, and that it set ter wheel (Figure 5), as when very rapid linear fairly quickly. If the substance is too thin thickens. Using a nan or similar motion of the wheel through the gate is and runny, it will flatten out smooth across implement, stir the glue around as it thick- needed Larger wheels may also be necessary the acrylic sheet, minimizing the refractive ens. You'll notice that, as the pro- when less-discernible arcing motion through potential. I prefer using 5-Minute Epoxy, gresses, any early "relaxation" of that the gate is required mainly because-while it sets up pretty you form with the nail begins to lessen. The I find a band saw to be the easiest tool for rapidly-it does provide enough time to more the material thickens, the easier it is to stir-in exaggerated ripples-so in this manner cutting sheet acrylic. Since the material manipulate the material if need be, and is comes with an adhesive-baked paper or plas­ fairly thick. it's possible to control the subtlety, or exag­ tic backing, you can simply draw (in the case Now that we've discussed I'ripple" materi­ geration, of the rippling. of paper backing), or scribe (in the case of als, let me add that Iinot all ripple wheels are I like to keep a few IItest" wheels around­ plastic backing), a circle of the desired diame­ created equal". Wheels with a slightly wavy each with a different degree and character of rippling to experiment with when wClrkiln2: ter with a compass, and cut. Once cut out­ surface can create amazingly different effects and drilled for the motor-attachment hub at from those with more exaggerated undula­ up new ideas. In this way, it's easier to the center-the protective backing is simply tions. Many effects are better off with onI y view" just what sorts of possibilities are avail­ peeled way. By the way, when drilling for slight rippling, as the overall character of the able for creating effects projectors. the hub, make sure to place a small piece of slide image remains, though it is visually dis­ ing and available a stash of wheels, trial-and-error in effects n"'~;Y"'I,nn_ plywood underneath for support. Otherwise, torted. Exaggerated ripples, however, are as the drill bit exits though the bottom of great for situations where the original image ment can be reduced remember that the acrylic, it can crack out a larger, irregular should be dramatically broken up and scat- adjustments in lens focus, and the placerneIlt crater on the bottom side of the drill-hole. and distance of the wheel relative

42 The Planetarian Vol. the fixed slide can provide further variation Using Patterns in the appearance of the final projected Rather than merely refracting image. And be aware that rotational speed or filtering, wheels can also be will playa major role in the look of the used to block light in varying effect. For this reason, it's good to keep a patterns. This can be done by number of different-speed motors around. either hand-brushing with The main "rule of thumb" is to feel free to black model paint and a small experiment with an these variables to artist's brush, or by tape-mask­ achieve the image you want. ing and spray-painting (for We've created rocket flames by merely wheels which are mainly painting on a glass slide mount with Kodak opaque with only small clear Opaque-leaving a roughly flame-shaped areas within). Pattern wheels area clear for light to pass through-adding produce a whole realm of inter­ colored gel in the mount, if needed, and esting possibilities. Line on slide using a rapidly-spinning wheel with exagger­ Take the problem of teaching ated ripples in front of the slide. Comet tails audiences about waves. While a can be done in a similar fashion, but with a static Kodalith image of a sine slow motor, and a moderately-exaggerated wave provides a rudimentary ripple on the wheel. Besides using a subtle the slide, but as long a large-diameter wheel idea about waves, it really does little to ripple for a telescopic Mars effect, it's best to is used, the angular skewing of the interfer­ impart an understanding of the dynamics of create a wheel with epoxy dabbled only spo­ ence lines is minimized The intersection of radically-leaving small areas on the sine wave and moving radius in the acrylic which are uncoated. the illustration represents the por­ This produces a more natural simu­ tion of the slide image which is lation of telescopic "seeing" condi­ actually projected. As the motor tions where the image seems to spins the wheel, the radii trace out intermittently stabilize between the wave patterns dynamically air-current distortions. For this Radius ..--. onto the dome. effect, place the wheel in front of (on disk) By rotating a wheel with alter­ the slide, and use a medium-speed nating clear and dark radii across a rotation. slide with a single straight line, the Color wheels can be created in a suggestion of light or radio trans­ couple of ways-either by using spe­ missions traveling between two cial "stained glass" transparent pOints can be easily achieved. And paints, or by taping gels to the the speed of the motion can be wheel (though gels are only applica­ enhanced by orienting the slide ble for use greatly de-focused, or for and wheel so that each wheel­ more artificial-appearing effects). In radius and the slide-line intersect the case of stained-glass paints, you each other nearly parallel to, rather can find the materials in most hobby or craft Plgure6 than perpendicular to, each other shops. These paints usually come in two dif­ (Figure 7). ferent forms-either in assortment kits hav­ A variation on this was recently incorpo­ this phenomenon. It's easy for audiences to ing a dozen or so small containers with dif­ rated into Morehead's Journey By Starlight get the impression that waves are simply a ferent colors, or in larger, individual bottles. stars how. An effect was needed to illustrate bunch of static squiggly lines out there, Don't worry if the paint you buy doesn't laser-light directed at the Moon, bouncing rather than gaining the knowl- appear transparent in the bottle or when it's edge that particles are actually first appUed-it will begin to clear as it dries. vibrating in space. Be aware that you'll probably need to apply However, by spinning a several coats of paint in order to achieve wheel with thin, clear radii on good, saturated colors. Simply apply the an otherwise opaque wheel in paint with a small artists' brush in whatever front of the Kodalith sine-wave color patterns you like. Again, some experi­ slide (Figure 6), the dynamiCS of mentation is in order here. As with the mate­ the phenomenon can be easily Radial slit rials used for ripple wheels, stained-glass illustrated. (Keep in mind here (on wheel) paints induce some refraction into the that the black lines and the image, so these provide a dual effect, particu­ white background in the illus- larly when placed in front of the slide. Really tration correspond to clear lines complex and impressive color and ripple and opaque background, respec- patterns can be created by using two wheels, tively, on the slide and wheel.) either rotating at different speeds, or rotating Of course, to be totally accurate, in opposite directions. This creates neat pos­ the moving lines should remain sibilities for nebula or primordial universe perpendicular to the imaginary types of effects. center-line of the sine wave on

Vol. 24, No.4, December 1995 The Planetarian 43 off a reflector-type instrument left behind position of the main by Apollo astronauts, and returning to Earth engines)-the projector created an effective (used by scientists to precisely calculate the illusion of bright flames out from necessary Earth-Moon distance). We started out creat­ the shuttle and across the launch in and eQtliplnel1t ing such an effect by generating a Kodalith opposite directions. In this case both wheel slide with a thin-line "V" shaped pattern and and slide patterns were de-focused, which for these pJ.'()jec:tm'S. an aluminum wheel with six thin radial slits. helped create a natural-appearing flame With this arrangement, as each slit pa~ses in effect. front of the "V" (inverted, of course, when For yet another show, entitled Fire From projected onto the dome), it appears that a the Sky, we wanted a dynamic title sequence beam of Ught rapidly shoots up from the which visually evoked the meaning of the horizon area, reaches an apex, and then program name-in this case, a title which bounces back down to another point near appeared to be on fire. Our staff artist created the horizon (Figure 8). To complete the illu­ the title slide from artwork with orange let­ Sion, we used a relatively fast motor (5 RPM), tering and an airbrushed red glow extending a 35mm lens on the laser-bounce projector upward and tapering off-all on a black back­ tions, the (to create a sense of great distance) and then ground. We then combined this slide with a separately projected a large Earth chord at motorized clear wheel with flame-shaped the horizon and a tiny Moon image near the lines painted around-altogether in a single­ zenith-at the bounce-point of the "light slide projector complete with motorized beam", zoom lens. The result was a foreboding-look­ Our recent installation of a show requiring ing show title, set ablaze and falling toward m()vim! patterns are ge]lerated a shuttle launch precipitated yet another use the audience. for a pattern-wheel type of effect. Though The pattern wheel, along with a very short we'd gone through great pains to create a focal-length lens, is a fine way to ...... ' ... rhu.. /t> films can be sandwiched with another special-effect-based shuttle launch (complete some all-sky effects such as moving clouds. of film a Kodalith mask) with launch-pad panorama, slewing shuttle Though it requires a bit more artistic flair slide mounts and with the po,larilzirlg with rippling flame plume, and revealing than some of the other patterns discussed spirmulg ttrrotlgh the and bHlowing bidirectional launch-pad earlier, it's possible to paint a black "sur­ smoke) the otherwise impressive-looking round" onto a large disk interspersed with effects sequence seemed to be missing some­ small, soft-edged dear areas. This wheel is thing. What it needed were some bright then mounted onto a very slow motor flames blasting across the launch pad as the (about 4 RPH, or 1/15 RPM) and rotates main engines first ignite-pre-liftoff. We cre­ through the projector gate without a fixed ated this pad flame effect by opaqueing out a slide. As with the pad flame effect, the wheel glass mount except for a dear, irregular hori­ is projected de-focused to give. the "dotids" a zontal pattern, and painting two sets of irreg­ natural, soft look. A used lens for a 35mm ular, diagonal lines around a dear acrylic SLR camera around 24mm in focal wheel (Figure 9, which shows black as black, can work wen as a projection lens to cover and white as dear areas-though wheel and most of the dome with douds. However, within the when in slide patterns are shown here not superim­ using it will usually major modifica­ the wheel material and the film pattenls posed). With the wheel rotating on a fast (60 tions to the front of the projector for lens manufactured items, and must be pUlrch;ased. RPM) motor-and positioned with the small mounting, as well as possibly increasing the One of these materials is condenser-lens-to-lamp distance-to better dear region between the sets of diagonal &. Co., Inc., 529 Franklin lines superimposed directly in front of the focus the light-cone into the rear of the (610)374-8335. small center-bulge in the slide pattern (the adapted short-focus camera lens.

Wheels A wheel can be attached to a Image wheels in a number of ways, the photographic transparen- mounted to the pr

44 The Plane tarian Vol. other I've nominated initiate this post. His credentials sis if I ever heard one. include a doctorate in astronomy, dassr~DOIn We aU need to search out and cultivate our Kirkpcltri,cks and Hiscocks and Kalers, and to take of the work of the Hawk:ins!s and the Sagans and the Moores, to continue the work that the original coiners of the word "scientist" had in mind: to not only realize that scientific discovery is Significant, but to communicate it to the public. stead as he represents our Vif'Wfloilnt" At the conclusion of his book A Brief IAU. Please contact him with your History of Time, Stephen Hawking writes: IIIf tions and ideas. we do discover a complete (unified) theory I've also apJ)ointed (of the universe), it should in time be under­ Buhl Planetarium and ...... u,.... standable in broad principle by everyone, Center to chair a new Outreach Comrnlttee. not just a few scientists. Then we shall all, which will and carry on the philosophers, scientists, and just of communication people, be able to take part in the discussion orjl[anizatiol!1S and the scientific Another way to attach wheel and motor is of the question of why it is that we and the with something I call a screw hub (Figure 10). universe exist. If we find the answer to that, It is a hex-head machine it would be the ultimate triumph of human in demonstrates his screw or bolt, with a hole bored down the reason-for then we should know the mind and dedication to this cause. Please "..ro,"" ...... center and a set-screw hole drilled and of God" sideways through one side of the Noble words, and worth in mind head and clear through to the center bore. as we go about our work. For Professor The motor shaft fits into the center hole of Hawking reminds us that if we're going to the committee, the bolt-and is locked with the set screw­ reach an age of general scientific enJllgllten and the screw hub is held into a hole drilled ment, we're an going to have to get there One of Martin's committee members will in the center of the wheel with a hex- or together: the scientist, the planetarian, the be Dale Smith of Ikn~liT1lQ' This is similar to what is supplied ordinary person who wonders if we're talk­ with some of the AC synchronous timing ing science or magic.. Let's be sure to do our mittee which will focus on and enc:oulra~re motors sold by Edmund Scientific. In fact, it part-collaborattvely-to turn magiC back used to be possible to purchase Edmund's into science. May's Education SYlmj:)osilWl!1. versions of these screw hubs separately by each in the world of science _~~'~n,~~l.. order-but apparently no longer. r ... ".. .. it"".1'iI Bits However, it is to drill and tap your I'n keep the rest of my remarks brief this re{ne:serlt our th~[)U!>!hits own screws if you have the proper eqUip­ issue-consider it my holiday gift to group. ment (metal drill press,and tapping Beginning with this issue, look for install­ set). If you are lacking in you can ments of the Astronomical of the thanks for your get some or all of the work done at a local Pacific's series liThe Universe in the Class­ interests of the group. machine shop. However, since a fee room" to appear in your mailing pn,U'pl,nn,p~ Von Del Chamberlain of the makes up a large of the typical with The Planetarian. Thanks Mosley etarium is maIChine~sh.op bill, it's probably best to get a and ASP's Lonny Baker for working out this National Science Foundation ...... ,.. """',,, .. 1 bunch of screw hubs made up at once. That arrangement which will put this excellent uev'elCln a conference for plame:tariarlS way, it'll be some time before you run pUOHca1t1On into IPS member's hands on a maUve evaluation. This is an excellent idea out, and the cost will be lower. Also, regular basis. of our SU1:)lX)rt; will become increasing:lv I ...... ·... "".· .. ""... i- try to find aluminum machine screws (prob- Note also that ASP is be~~inJnilllg to ably available from a specialty fastener series caBed liThe Earth in the ClC:lSSI~oo;m. evaluate not as will be much easier to which will be distributed as a cmnpanilon machine than important if to the U.S. radio show "Earth &: be any work your- developed self. I've received notice that the U.S. Motorized wheels on single-slide projec­ National Research Council will be rej~~asjlm! tors are among the simplest, least expensive the official version of its "National Science ways to add visual to your programs. Education Standards" in December. It will wishes to Von Del in his efforts! They very little technical 0."""0..-1-',,"0 cost $19,95 U.s. To order copies, call 800-624- and are lots of fun with which to experi- 6242 or fax to 202-334-2451. about seven months away. ment. * On the bridge-building front, I'd been '"' .... u ...... " and pesos and francs asked by John president of the IAU rubles and Commission on the Teaching of Astronomy, attend a conference. to nominate an official IPS representative to Un til next time, sayonara, and his commission. After consultation with the days!

Vol. December 1995 The P/anetarian Most Frequently Asked Questions: QUESTION: What is ~ most frequently asked question ~IIII about 'STAR HUSTLER'? ANSWER: Thafs easy. Everybody asks about our theme song which

is the classic I Arabesque #1' by Claude Debussy performed by '(,)(,)111' Tomita on the still available ·Snowflakes Are pancing- album (RCA) III QUESTION: At what times and days of the week can I see 'STAR HUSTLER'? ANSWER: Most TV stations air 'STAR HUSTLER' just before nightly sign-off. However, due to 'STAR HUSTLER's' enormous popularity a number of stations find the show's 5-minute format can fit anywhere during the broadcast day and air the show more frequently. Local TV listings seldom include 5-minute shows, so irs ~ best to call the station for the broadcast schedule. aUESTION: If I can't find 'STAR HUSTLER' on my hometown PBS ~ JACI JlQIIBII.II; station, how can I see It where I live? ANSWER: 'STAR HUSTLER' is provided free of charge by WPBT, ~&IAIIIII&I'I&y, Miami to all PBS stations. If you can't find it, write or call your local PBS station and ask if they will air it and remind them that it is. available free of charge. THE INTERNATIONAL EDITION QUESTION: Is It necessary to get special permission to use 'STAR The world's first and only weekly TV series HUSTLER' for astronomy club meetings, teaching In the on naked-eye astronomy dassIoan, science nueun CI' pIanetartm use? ANSWER: No. In fact many astronomy dubs, teachers, science muselJ'TlS and planetariums have been taping 'STAR HUSTLER' off "... one of the few writers who can the air and using it regularly as a way to reach their public. translate sophisticated disciplines into

popular language without losing the science. PI QUESTION: Is there any way I can get 'STAR HUSTLER' other Dr. Sidney Fox, Nobel Laureate than my local PBS station? ANSWER: Yes. A month's worth of 'STAR HUSTLER' episodes are fed monthly to a satellite from which all PBS stations take it for "... knows how to come down from the ivory tower and make astronomy their local programming. ~ with a satellite dish is welcome to the satellite feed. Again, no permission is required. For satellite accessible. " feed dates and times call Monday through Friday (Eastern time) George Lovi, Astronomer 305-854-4242. Ask for Mrs. Harper or Mr. Dishong. American Museum/Hayden Planetarium QUESTION: I am ateacher planning RTf a.rricuIlITl and would like several 'STAR HUSTLER' episodes In advance, but I do "... 1 never miss it. As someone totally not have access to a satelll1e elsh. Is there any gb£ way I involved in science fiction, I'm enthralled can obtain 'STAR HUSTLER'? with Jack Horkheimer's science fact. .. John Nathan Turner, ANSWER: Any teacher anywhere around the world can obtain 'STAR Executive Producer, 'Dr. Who' HUSTLER' episodes in advance through their NASA C.O.R.E. Teachers' Resource Center. For details write:NASA C.O.R.E.; Lorain County Joint Vocational School; 15181 Route 58 South; A Nationally Syndicated Production Obenin, OH. 44074. of Wpbt2 Miami QUES110N: Why does 'STAR HUSTLER' always say "Keep Looking upr' at the end of each show? Produced in cooperation with Miami Museum of Science & ANSWER: Have you ever tried star gazing looking down? Space Transit Planetarium

Seen on PBS 9) stations throughout North America and Internationally via satellite, the Armed Services Network & NASA C.O.R.E. received honorable mentions. The planetariums of Ohio are cr~~atiln2: to Keith Johnson (Fleischmann Plane­ book on their history and current ;;rtivilr1~ ib ous tarium) for all of his efforts on the IPS It's being edited (Westlake Directoryll! I heard he spent some long hours Schools Planetarium); I'd like to no,minate formatting the software. AU corrections and her for one of the busiest Gazette new information should be sent to your etarium field-she's regional representative, who' will pass it another project in addition to her planet:ari­ Christine Brunello along. urn. Don Harrington Discovery Jerri Panek (Digistar) has sold 14 .u~,lSIillrs Center Did You Know ... this year-they're like l:'~ •• ~_i""'•. _._A Paso! have an Internet address. Unfortunately, sev­ Don Hall (former Director of Strasenburgh Planetarium) is going to head the techni- eral of us on staff are sharing the same cal support, and Allison will in Planetarium) was given a wonderful retire­ address, so please note in some way (for ment party, complete with junk food for charge of show distribution. example, under "Subject") that your letters hoI'S d'oeuvres. Don's planning on reading a SWAP was a really wonderful conference are to me. Send me any type of informa­ in Houston this year-the visit­ book, possibly writing a book on Depression tion-gossipy, funny, or even Earth-shatter­ glass (a hobby of his), enjoying American Art ed NASA and handled meteorites from ing news. Let everyone else out there know Antarctica, saw astronauts training in the and pottery, and possibly filling in at how things are going with you Strasenburgh by doing the occasional school pool, and toured the Kuiper Airborne show. Also retiring in the future is Harold Observatory. They discpvered that Adler astronomer Whitt has been one of the Congratulations van Scha1k (Garland Planetarium). lucky individuals flying on the KAO this to Jon Bell (Indian River Community Col­ Zinaida Sitkova (Nizhny Novgorod Plane­ lege Planetarium, Florida) who will be a tarium) has really improved her English. She, year. Conference attendees were also amazed at Houston rush-hour traffic: Brad W,·lrit1bn father by the time you read this. He and his Jim Manning (Taylor Planetar!.um) and lovely wife had one last wild fling before be­ Donna Pierce (Highland Park ISD (Richardson ISO, Dallas) tried to Carolyn Sumners (Burke Baker Planetarium) coming parents by taking a summer trip to Planetarium) went hang gliding via Virtual as she crossed 4 lanes of traffiC, England and Wales. Checking it out for 1998? Reality during the IPS Council meeting. I Charles Hemann (Univ. of Arkansas at Little to Gllbert Valentin (Manitoba Planetar­ hear Zinaida didn't enjoy it much. Appar­ Rock) suggested he might need to his ium, Winnipeg) on his baby boy, and to Ian ently jim was busy throwing nuts at people Griffin (Armagh Planetarium) on his baby during one of the dinner excursions. Boy, shorts when they arrived girl. Additional congratulations to Ian for you just can't take some people anywhere. Need extra help during a cOloferenlce? receiving the Director's position at Brevard I've heard that Lee Ann Hennig (Thomas Schran (Spitz, Inc.) has been coerced into Community College. jefferson High School planetarium) is "hen assisting at several SWAP conferences-he was seen operating the television eQlllPlnellt Belated congratulations to Bruce Brandle on wheels" -her preparations and organiza­ (Marion High School planetarium) and Carol tion for the last council meeting truly at the last one. Woolsy who were married last summer. impressed the other council members. The Lakeview Museum Planetarium host­ Last, but not least, to Stephen Fentress Laser Fantasy International has added ed an Interplanetary Bicycle Ride last sum­ (Strasenburgh Planetarium) who is the new Scott Huggins and Julie Morris to their mer. Riders included But (Ceman Earth and Space Center) who went to Director. He's got some big shoes to fill­ Planetarium Theater Division-he now is good luck! hard at work updating packages and incor­ Neptune and back, and Chuck Greenwood porating Cambridge high-speed scanning (Staerkel Planetarium) who traveled the Other Kudos: into their programs, and julie's providing inner solar system and assisted with the advertising and promotional support for commentary on planets. Sheldon Schafer to Carolyn Collins Petersen (Loch Ness (Lakeview Museum Planetarium) took a one­ Productions) for receiving the Web IICool planetarium laser shows. Mike Lutz (LFn reports that his baby boy has been sleeping way trip to Pluto. There were over 100 other Site of the Day" in August for the Henrietta riders braving the 96"F heat. Leavitt Flat Screen Space Theater-if you often-"It's so cool. He's great" haven't seen it, check it out! Carolyn also l.m:s Broman (Stella Nova Planetarium) has been doing great with his solar observatory Please, if you have any news (news-wor­ won an honorable mention in Griffith thy or not), please let me know. A little tidbit Observatory &: Hughes Aircraft's 1995 con­ project. Evidently, he's offered to host the next IPS council meeting in the non-confer­ of my own-I'm engaged and before the next test. Other winners included Dr. George Reed IPS I will be Christine Have a ence year of 1997. Sweden was truly beauti­ (Spitz, Inc.) who won 4th prize, and Noreen warm winter (or for those of you south of ful, but those midnight twilights take some Grice (Hayden Planetarium) and Francine the equator, a nice cool summer. Jackson (Providence, Rhode Island) who getting used to.

Vol. 24, No.4, December 1995 The Planetarian Last July, Florida's Brevard Community College hosted the International Planetarium Society. Pictured above are some of the nearly 500 planetarians from around the ON world who gathered to exchange ideas and witness America's first Minolta Infinium FROM E Planetarium. The result was nothing less than dazzling. For more information about MIND the Infinium and other model projectors, call your nearest Minolta representative today. After all, at Minolta we know that once you have seen our sky, you too will believe. M Worldwide: In North America: In Japan: Minolta Company, Ltd. Minolta Corporation Minolta Planetarium Co., Ltd. Planetarium Operations Planetarium Division World Trade Center Bldg. 2-4-1 Esaka CTS Center 101 Williams Drive Hamamatsu-Cho 2-30 Toyotsu-Cho Ramsey, N.J. 07446, USA Minato-Ku, Tokyo 105, Japan Suita-Shi, Osaka 564, Japan Tel: (201) 934-5347 Tel: 03-3435-5511 Tel: 06-386-2050 Fax (201) 818-0498 Fax 03-3435-5520 Fax 06-386-2027 strange environment in less than one hour? If you could somehow magically get the stu­ dent so interested, so excited, that wanted to study astronomy and make obser­ Grand vations back in the classroom or at wouldn't that also help fulfill these same responsibilities and make the teacher's easier? So the two extremes for a plane- tarium seem to be a) do one (or a series) of participatory planetarium exercises the school year, or b) do a planetarium pre­ sentation on a single topic which mayor may not fit into the schools curriculum. As stated above, either approach may be effective at facilitating learning. But which is Greetings from across the pond. better? This issue's Forum topic was suggested by Currently at the Chaffee Planetarium we Gary Tomlinson of the Chaffee Planetarium have only a public show. (We just moved in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I would like to into a brand new facility with new and dif­ thank Gary for taking the time and trouble ferent technology). That one public show is to send on his topic. The Forum is an about shown to all ranges of students and adults, the sharing of common concerns amongst including many school groups. It was writ­ programs to serve the needs plalIletariaIllS, and Gary has set a good exam- ten at the 9th grade reading level. Even groups. though most of the groups who have Some of the educators we serve His worthy topic was worded: viewed this program have been elementary, cerned with educational .r.hi;,.,. .... 'H ... ,',,'· we have had very few complaints, which is, they to the planetantlm, How can which on one hand, frightening. Why aren't teach­ see school children ers demanding a more appropriate program once or twice In their for their money? On the other hand, it is school careers, do r"lllI',nnll'2Im ... good for us because we need all the money broaden. the horizons of their students lives mlng consistent with current we can get. Of course it is possible that teach­ exposing them to an eX"tra~Drdlimuv US educational reform (I.e. ers will come to see what we have to offer cational eX1PeI'ierlCe active palrtI4:lpiltl lon. and when they see a program that would be tlon to the very difficult for their students to get any­ thing out of, they may simply just not come In response to these apparent ","'-in.", back. Or if the program was "glitzy", the stu­ eXJJcctatJlOnlS, we have dents were excited to go back to the class­ grams that are a blend of and room and learn more? Or maybe the teacher The of every program just didn't care-that whatever we do would pn~re~olrde{1 soundtrack with be fine. I would hate to believe that state­ effects to the ment, though. level but every program also includes Maybe both approaches are effective. So a live of the constellations and maybe it's not a choice of either/or. there could be a third option, a combination grams ind ude an ovnOJrI<.u of the other two extremes. .,,..+-',,,Hu for the audience. \1;,--I-.,,,,,lIu Quality education may not need a mil- planet:artum program that is prcldu~ced lion donar piece of eqUipment. and dU1JHcaticm and distriblltion. Gary kicks the ball into play with some sticky tape can be very effective. the Drclduced to anow for palrticipa,tm'v thoughts of his own. same is true with planetarium shows. "* "* they don't have to be a $100,000 Hollywood are not, can be made to accommodate such What should public planetariums do for glitzy type of show. Maybe there can be "'nt-.r...... " r .....·.,.u',fTn creative and schools? Are they a fun-filled trip or an edu­ some highly educational (i.e. and cational presentation? Can fun field trips sticky tape) portion fonowed by some An essential element to affective even survive in this age of accountability Hollywood glitzy production. Or maybe education has been and will contin- and budget tightening? I'm really in a you offer all types of shows and let the ue to be the quandary. On one hand, wouldn't teachers teacher choose. presence. Personal attention, m(x1e~Ung, want curriculum-based planetarium shows So, how should public planetariums han­ (at least two-way communication that talk directly to the goals and objectives dle school show programming? Is there a are a few of the best tools that educators they are working under? After all, it helps to right or wrong answer? I really don't know. apply to and fulfill their teaching responsibilities and also I'm hoping other peoples answer to this essential for the ...... ,.-n<... u helps the teacher who is science shy. On the question will help gUide me on an appropri­ mentary level student. Bringjlng other hand, how much can you teach in a ate course. "old-fashioned" pelfolrIn1m(:e

Vol. December 1995 The Planetarian tarium program in the form of star representatives of many schools, probably school boards and teachers. point-outs, participatory activities, question­ will be regarded highly. The programs, with always will be between and-answer sessions, or as an integral part of the guidance and approval of the region's schools. The who the multi-media presentation will go a long educational establishment, may be more schools the best are the school planeltariuml5. way toward achieving our educational goals. successful than any that the planetarium In these days of financial Unfortunately waning support and waning staff alone design. Of course, enthusiasm and lenge is to these plc;me~talriums resources in the education field have taken a attendance result in higher revenue for the The next ChGLlleltlge great toll on the already under-appreciated public planetarium, a welcome factor that do not have plGme'tarllUD1S planetarium industry, and have helped to beyond that of proViding valuable service to of portable planeltariumt5. send spiraling into a gravitational wen of education. sionals is to make sure schools and tea~chers increasing reliance on technology. If, as plan­ Planetarium staff are very important etarians, we expect to maintain (or perhaps members of any school program plan com­ achieve) our place in the educational infras­ mittee. They should make suggestions and tructure we must concentrate our efforts on carefully listen to responses and other ideas. we instituted our human resources. For a successful plan, the committee idea portable teachers as part of the cOJlterenlce, Alan Davenport must be more than a name-only situation in and it was a success. A paper will Maynard Jordan Planetarium which the planetarium goes ahead with The Planetarian on this University of Maine pre-conceived offerings. And a school-mem­ Some 2nd Floor, 5781 Wingate Hall ber directed plan, which has little input Orono, Maine 04469 from planetatians, almost certainly will not can come utilize the potential of the planetarium. institutions like us, the Fels, and Since some students come to public plan­ Methods are an important aspect of a the Hayden can't do it. In any school show etariums during school time, the implication good school presentation. Planetarium staff we have many students from is that they do not have access to a should be aware of opportunities and limita­ school districts three or four states. school-operated planetarium. Therefore the tions for participatory (question-answer, The same show may also mix students public planetarium is filling (or is being modeling, hypothesizing) activities. If sever­ and retarded students. We try to group asked to fill) an experience or curricular al classes or more will visit the planetarium age levels and that is it. We do many live, need. Just as schools sometimes include together, careful participatory dynamiCS interactive shows as well as the mul­ entertainment events which have educa­ need to be worked out. Pilot programs, eval­ for the best. We, tional overtones in other field trips, a teach­ uation, and modifications should precede however, are the pl(lme'tariluTIlS that the er may want a public-type program at a level large-area advertising. best chance of to small that can be understood by the class. I see In addition to these two types of pro­ experimental PfCljects nothing wrong with this. The public-type gram, exclusively-educational programs and over to small plame~tar'imns, after program can be very entertaining and moti­ level appropriate public programs, I think mine the work and what reslom~ces vational. that a third type of program would be an are needed The Adler and the Hansen However, I think for best help to area effective addition to the public planetari­ really We also schools and students, a public planetarium um's repertoire. Unlike most school planetar­ the with the resources can and should offer programs that are con­ iums, which do not have collections of develop new shows with new COilcepts sistent with local curricula and with many special projectors and operating sys­ our show "Follow The ....,"u .."u,,""' state/national guidelines. There is opportuni­ tems for them, public planetariums are fre­ ty and challenge for public planetariums to quently equipped with these. The public has to look at its own .... vu... 'u"uu present effective goal-directed programs for planetarium has the opportunity to Pf()dllCe resources, and determine what the many students in its region. In the US a hybrid program consisting of multi-effect best. the Project 2001 (particularly their astronom­ sections and participatory sections. If the Richard &: Gloria Rall ical Benchmarks recommendations) should total number of concepts, the concept densi­ New Jersey State Planetarium be examined by public as weB as school ty, and the concept level are not too 205 West State Street, eN 530 planetariums. The Benches list contains the result should be both high motivation J. a..A,' ~'.IJ", NJ 08625 many valuable concepts, ones which may be and long-term conceptual learning by stu­ interesting to educators throughout the dents. (I believe that programs for the gener­ Planetariums can world. 1 think that each planetarium should al public also would benefit from such pro­ work with local school districts to integrate gramming, an idea strengthened by Sharon .... UIUU..... U, rarlgirlg from clarification these, and/or other educational reform ideas Parker's excellent article, "Lessons from concept which are believed locally to be important, Museum and Leisure Research" [The Plane­ ium program, to a res'tructulrin,g into program offerings. Staff of the public tarian,June,1995]). ment of their entire school science program planetarium can form and work with a com­ Jeanne Bishop by assisting school officials in the mittee of representatives from different Westlake Schools Planetarium science curriculum, and work- regional schools to determine some of the 24525 Hilliard Road shops for teachers. ~"""Al0'''<>'' content and methods, paying attention to Westlake, Ohio 44145 method used by the presenter is what the planetarium experience can do bet­ very in how effective the ter than a classroom lesson. Pre- and Although there is much national dia­ tatium is to be. post-classroom lessons, tied to the planetari­ logue about educational reform, one needs The methods of lealTIiIlg um lessons, can be designed. The resulting to remember US schools are locally con­ the new reform documents planetarium curriculum plan, advertised as trolled and managed Exactly what is taught, tion, connection to the real world, construc­ the collective product of planetarium and and how, is decided locally by local elected tivist and collaborative learning)

50 The Planetarian Vol. is not new to the planetarium field In 1975, The concepts that visitors learn gram which sometimes at a meeting of the Planetarium Association the Stonehenge program are in the "one-room schoolhouse" scl.:~nariols, of Canada in Toronto, a small group of plan­ sense that understanding the sun's motion became VHJDlernla etarium professionals Oeanne Bishop, Dale the year lays a foundation for a more the Jangw:tge Etheridge, Samuel Farren, Jane Geoghegan, comprehensive understanding of seasons. Ron Hartman, Paul Knappenberger, Randy And a thorough and deep of Mullin, Tom O'Brien, Ron Olowin, Dennis seasons underpins a great many concepts in Schatz, Lee Simon, and Roger Woloshyn) meteorology, climatology, geography, and coined the term "Participatory Oriented such important and controversial issues as Planetarium" (POP) to refer to programs in global warming and the greenhouse effect. which students do activities and engage in Furthermore, if the planetarium director is discussions under the planetarium dome. A able to present a workshop to classroom POP program is based on the proposition teachers before or after their students come that people learn more from what they say to the planetarium, he or she can demon­ and do, than what they see and hear. strate a variety of activities that students can The basic principles of the POP approach do to deepen their understanding and relate have recently been updated and published it to the real sky. For example, students can of the audience in the learfllmg eXlper'ieIlce in the 12-volume series entitled Planetarium track the rising and setting points of the sun offered the plame:tar'iUlm Activities for Student Success (PASS), which is from their own backyard throughout the increase. available from the Lawrence Hall of Science, year. two visits may Learning Technologies Incorporated, and While it is undoubtedl y easier to use in testable outcolm€~, the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. physical materials or have students move Volume I of the PASS series summarizes sev­ around in small or medium-sized pl,metaI'i­ eral research studies which show that ums than in large facilities, clever presenta­ through active learning methods, students tion of challenges and questions during the once or twice their careers! are able to unravel misconceptions about show could vastly improve the educational For some of our local sctl0()1S, pivotal concepts in astronomy. effectiveness of programs even in the dents become at the pl,metariurn, Let's envision, for example, what stu­ planetariums. the dents might learn from a program about In conclusion, planetarium perS()fll1el one show Stonehenge (by Alan Friedman, documented can play an important role in deve.lo]:>ing the main obstacle seems to in Volume 12 of the PASS series). During the students' understanding of pivotal concepts tion, members of our Teachers lI.rlui"nr'u show students learn about the famous in science because: 1) the planetarium is an shared several stories with monoliths on the Salisbury Plain in England, excellent tool for clearly demonstrating a how costs (as opoo:)ed and the theory developed by astronomer wide variety of astronomical phenomena; 2) show fees) have made field Gerald Hawkins concerning its intended the planetarium instructor can select the almost imoossilJle. purpose as an astronomical observatory. But most important concepts for the few oppor­ The "visit" must start before details of the theory are not presented pas­ tunities that he or she has to work rlu'or'''u arrives. With ad(!Qu.ate gm.QaJl1ce sively. Instead, challenges are posed and with students; and 3) it is possible to enlist a school show which explored throughout the program. In one of the aid of classroom teachers, who have fur­ these, visitors observe where the sun rises on ther opportunities to expand the eXIJerien<:e a curriculum the longest day of the year-the summer sol­ base on which students construct their learnllng and behavioral r'Ih'ipr1riuop... stice-and are asked to predict where it will understandings of the universe. teacher can a plarnetarmID set. They display their ideas by placing Sneider, Director into an sound CUlrnC:Wtun. pointers on the cove of the planetarium so William Holt Planetarium assist teachers in which shows that everyone can see the range of different Lawrence Han of Science would work best for them, we ideas. A few moments later, they test their University of California sheet with a matrix maltclhiIlg

various ideas against the "reality" of solar ll.or'lroicnT CA 94720 show offered to the North "-Art-;-'"",h, example of constructivist learning in which what is learned from the experience A live age to ask for more information. students have opportunities to express their show for 500 7th graders is a challenge, but teachers email ao:mm1:s initial ideas about a topiC, compare and con­ because the planetarium environment is so the load of CI11,PTV'-:::1T1","rpriinu trast their ideas with others, then have a unlike the classroom, behavior problems chance to test their ideas against evidence. tend to be the exception, rather than the The experience allows them to actively con­ rule. (But then I'm 6' 4/1/250 Ibs-I wonder if struct a deeper understanding of solar that has anything to do with it.2). teacher me:ettngs motion, not simply be passive recipients of In past years our facility offered a basic, statements about how the sun moves. live-narrated, "what's-up-in-the-sky" pro- nonexistent.

Vol. 24, No. December 1995 The Planetarian Having a presence on the World Wide of planetarium shows that touch upon this Education SYInp1osi1um Web has already proven useful, not omy for sensitive area of modern life, the thought dors area were teachers seeking information or resources occurs to me: extensive benefits. A new contact directly from our site, but as an internal staff with a coneague who to ~n"'lnn1l',," aid to answering questions in a timely man­ To what extent (If any) should search for curriculum and lesson ass~esslne]lt ner. planetarium programs II"A1i'iIAr1i' tools by helping to tools for Apart from the planetarium shows them­ environmenbllssues1 ic situation and the statis't1c

52 The Planetarian Vol. No.4 I December t

Weare preparing to open our New Orlando Science Center in 1 new planetarium domed theater will house a Digistar II and an 1 projector. As a result, we have for sale the following

Minolta MS .. 10 star projector 40 foot (12 .. 2m) ptiz pace Systems 120 planetarium chairs from 15 foot Ash obse Numerous laser shows on 1/2inch accompanying sl Miscellaneous incandescent s

These items may be bid on separately or

For morC! dC!taiis or to submit a contact:

Scott Niskach at Orlando Science Center, 810 E .. Rollins St.. ., Voice ... (407) 896 ... 7151 Fax ... (407) 896 ... 3561 Email -Cosmic88@AOL .. com • "'''''.. n,',,,.,.. Planetarium is also I to build a robotic entrance and I restrooms are its views rH ..."',....i-II'" and Planetarium. First is sometime in 1999. The Liverpool Planetarium also 'I'Pr't>nt-hr audio system and are planning n1l'i'V111rt> their own laser discs in the near future. The London Planetarium su(:ce!;sttlHy fin- for three years. Ohio pJane1:anans and the show "Cosmic ble a book det,ailulg Undine Concannon reports that school contain their excitement "''"' .. ..,'on across the Solar System and through our The new digital sound system is very much to the excitement of the pl;:me~taI1Uin staff. By the time this article arrives to IPS mem­ bers around the the London Planetarium will have had its first IdStar I want to take this opportunity to thank Turns" week. This will have included a everyone for sending in material for Region­ Hc lecture Dr. Michio author of al Roundup over the years. I have been the Hyperspace, and two electronic music con­ Associate Editor for this column since certs featuring Jonn Serrie and David December of 1986 and it has been a real aC(:onlpalnh~d by and sure hear from so many people from all over effects. The reoentlv the world about what is going on in their is also ...... ,r.n... "..,. regions and facilities. This will be my last to be popular with the corporate mar­ the C01DCflnic1us Regional Roundup. Added responsibilities ket as a result of the of have forced me to resign as the Associate the Digistar. Editor. The newest member of the British Until a replacement Associate Editor is Association of Planetariums is area science fairs for many years. found, please direct your contributions to Observatory and Planetarium. It was official­ Cincinnati John Mosley (address on page 3). The final ly on July 6th by Patrick Moore. The "'nl"int>"~':l ..~r of the deadline for the next issue is January 10,1996. home-made plcme~taliulm's given a reward by a IOl.:lr-Vear

British l""loJlJPv ...... are we outside?" iums (BAP) James Planetarium in now has a 7.6 meter dome with a Goto The Armagh Planetarium installed a Digi~ star II this past summer and is doing very projector. It was dedicated Patrick well. on 29th It was also the The Scottish National Science Center record turnout for the local amateur astro- which will include a new planetarium has nomical earlier in the month. been place on the "short list" for Millenium funding. The Kent Astronomy Roadshow, a port­ able planetarium operated by Pete Bassette, The Great Lakes Planetarium Association reports that his modified multimedia, com­ Conference is held within a of puter/video, interactive system is working days of the deadline submission for this reliably and has proven to be extremely cost de. So, many of the conference nalDp(~mlngs The Treviso Planetarium, effective. Pete has gone into partnership will have to wait until the next issue of Professor G. Martinazzo and with another mobile user, Pete Golding of Regional The conference was held hold Astrodome, to produce a non-astronomical October 25-28 at the new B. Chaffee show as a result of a proliferation of mobile PlanetariUITI, which is part of the new Van courses for tealcn1ers, planetariums and of the reduction of astron­ Andel Museum in Grand Rapids, .VJLA ...... "I"t~AA. es on weather data '-'U'LA ...... ~U'.I!'J omy in the National Curriculum. The conference hosts were David hetto. Work is progressing wen on the recon­ and The "Gira-Sole" Planetarium struction of William Lassell's 24" in The Planetarium in East ,.....,.. ~~.. ,." Liverpool, which should be completed for Michigan is closed until late or the 150th anniversary of Neptune's discov- October for construction. are

54 The Plane tar ian

diameter of Jupiter (j.d.) after similar treat­ ment by Blitz and A'Hearn (1991) and by the P is the of the moon's Fo CLEA project (1995). On our 30 foot diameter sured in years. The Spitz A4 dome, we place our slide projectors amount of time reclwlred E which will be projecting the Galilean satel­ plete circuit of the moon lites at such a focus that the equatorial diam­ eter of the projected Jupiter on the dome is equal to one half of a ten-minute interval of right ascension. This is useful for us since J each ten minute interval is distinctly marked. Thus each ten minute interval of right ascension is equivalent to 2 j.d.s. If we for high calculate the ratio of the j.d measured by this units. method to that of the astronomical unit, we find that 1050 j.d.s would be equivalent to Data Collection: Four to one a.u. (or 1 j.d. == 0.00095 au) Another teams will be assembled method would be to prepare a Kodalith slide teacher. Each team will be assigmxt

of a I4ruler" measured off in j.ds so that the one of the moons to observe. For students will be able to measure. The labora­ nine days you will record the moon's tory exercise and suggested references fol­ tion E or W of the in a hyp01:hetic,aI low. unit called a jd Diameter). Assume This column is in dire need of some con­ that right is west and left is east, as tele­ tributions.. If you or your organization have scope. Measure to the nearest tenth a participatory planetarium lesson which and record your data below. [email protected] you would like to share with the readership, why not consider contacting me to have it Reduction of the Data. The serrlim,ajor axis, Introduction: Perhaps the best source of considered for publication in this forum? A, and the period, P, can be determined material available for those planetarians You can send submissions on a 3.5 inch flop­ directly if the data is in grclptlicaJ who are teaching in the school setting is the py disk, in either IBM or Mac format; form. Plot your data on the Planetarium Activities for Student Success specify which word processor was used. series (PASS), jointly published by the Law­ The moon plotted below is: rence Han of Science of the University of The Mass of Jupiter California, Berkeley, and the New York Hall of Science of Corona, New York. In this labo­ Outcome: Students will calculate the mass of ratory exercise, we expand on the concepts the planet Jupiter by simulating ol:)serva­ You may wish to omit the "CO,()Kl'oo,rc presented in Volume 7, Moons of the Solar tions of the planet and its moons telescopi­ type of information below System, to encourage high school students to cally in the planetarium courage students to complete their attempt a calculation of the mass of planet reduction and to arrive Jupiter. Students simulate an observation of Materla.ls: pencil, calculator, lab sheet tion. You will, however, have to Jupiter and its Galilean satellites over a nine equivalent to 0.00095 a.u.-and be day period, where they record the moon's Introduction: When one body such as a they don't confuse this "invented" unit with the elongation (cast or west) of the planet. Then, moon orbits around a parent body that is Julian date! they put their data in graphical form to much more massive, Kepler's third law is: Certainly, the educational value determine the period in days of the moon's ifstudents arrive at their own conclusions. For orbital period. By determining the value of those who are experiencing the moon's semimajor axis (mean distance where: them to arrive at the information below rather from Jupiter) and its sidereal period, Kepler's "giving" it to them!) third law can be used to determine the mass M is the mass of the parent body, in units of the planet Jupiter in solar mass units. A of the mass of the sun. When you have completed prC::SCJ1ltiIllg helpful strategy is to convert units of the data in the sidereal period to years and the value of the A is the length of the semimajor axis of inferred from measuring the time in semimajor axis to units of a.u. before the moon's elliptical orbit in terms of from crest to crest of the wave. One attempting the mass calculation, since this the mean Earth-Sun distance, 1 A.U. od .can be inferred from the time will force the value the constant k in Kepler's (Astronomical Unit). In this lab, we will in days from crest to trough. The ",,-a.UU"A"o'..,a law to be equal to unity. assume the orbits to be circular, so that axis in j.d. can be inferred from me:asllriflg The measurement of each Galilean satel­ the semimajor axis, A, will be equal to the amplitude of the wave. lite's elongation win be made in units of the the radius of the moon's orbit.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9

56 The Plane tar ian Vol. No.4 , December Convert ~d. to au. (1 ~d :: 0.00095 au.) :: RESULTS: Activities for Student Success), Lawrence ___ au. Hall of Science, University of ca1iiforni,a, If you use the PASS Volume 7 slides, Images Berkeley CA, 94720 Convert days to years (assume 1 year:: 365.25 5-14 and assume that 1050 ~ds are equivalent Similar laboratory activities involving the days) years to the au, the following results will be calculation of the mass of Jupiter can be obtained: found in the exercises below. Should you Calculate the mass using Kepler's third law, decide to utilize these, a planetarium will mass ___ suns For 10, P :: 2 days, A :: 3.2 j.d : not be needed-only a PC or a Mac. Jovian mass:: 9.36E -004 suns Blitz Leo and Michael A'Hearn, Experiments Post Planetarium ActIvity: Determine the For Europa, P :: 4 days, A:: 5.0 j.d : in Astronomy, 3rd ed., 1991. (Experiment 4, average mass ofjupiter in solar mass units by Jovian mass :: 8.86E -004 s The Moons of Jupiter, p 41) Burgess Inter­ averaging all class data: For Ganymede, P = 7 days, A :: 7.4 ~d : national Group, Inc. Jovian mass:: 9.42E -004s Contemporary Exercises in Astronomy (CLEA) mass (from 10) For Callisto, p:: 16 days, A:: 12.0 j.d.: has both Macintosh and Windows ver­ mass (from Europa) Jovian mass:: 7.72E -004s sions of a similar Jupiter's Moons simula­ mass (from Ganymede) tion. You can download either of these for mass (from Callisto) References: use from the world wide web site: Sneider Cary 1" and Alan D. Gould, Moons of http://www.geUysburg.edu/project/physic Average mass the Solar System, vol. 7, (Planetarium s/dea/CLEAhome.html. '*

8

W 7 E S 6 T 5

4

3

2 ,

1 o

1

2

3

4

5 E A 6 S T 7

8

DAYS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

A= j . d. p= days

Vol. 24, No.4, December 1995 The Planetarian 57 Eighty-seven activities are divided among thirteen different topic sections. The activi­ observations at ties are by topic and grade level. in a class Many of them are targeted at students in This can be followed 4-9, but most can be extended at least one or two grade levels above or below the optimum ones. A chart listing aU of the activities a teacher to quickly select one or more appropriate to the topic and grade level. The thirteen topiC sections are titled: Our shadow on the moon, Moon's Phases and Eclipses; Sun and Seasons; reconcile that misc()flc:eptioifl The Planets; Scale of the Solar Systemi that do not occur every Comets and Meteors; Star-Finding and Con­ The Sun and Seasons section c011tains stellations; Stars; Galaxies and the Universe; activity called liThe Reasons for :sealSOlrlS" Space Exploration and SETI; Tools of the (from the of California), Astronomeri Debunking Pseudoscience; mended for 6-10, I use it suc:ce~;sftlllV Astronomy in Different Culturesi and Across with fifth A chart with ", ... ,,,,, .. ~>h the Curriculum. You will find many of the altitude coordinates pelrmHs "+ •• rI.~",f·,,, activities familiar, for there is little here that record the of the sun is original with this book. That is not a criti­ day of each season. This is where cism, merely an observation. What we have tatium instrument comes in. In This book is a of here is a collection of the greatest hits of minutes, students are able to ASTRa, a program to astronomy astronomy activities. Specific lessons come over the course of a year. teaching resources and activities carried out from such wen-known sources as see the different and by teachers and the Astronomical Society of STARt Lawrence Han of the Pacific the AAVHLo'JU, the Pacific. The effort was worth it, for they Science Center, the American Association for have a conveni.ent, weU-organized the Advancement of Science, and many oth­ resource of value to an not except- ers, including local school districts. The ing Thanks to the descriptions and worksheets are identical an I use with teachers and other arrival of this I will be able to clear out with the originals. Again, the value of this tors to demonstrate the power of the one whole drawer of my filing cabinet! Now work lies in its convenience and ~'j;;.

58 The Planetarian To p/anetarians who say:

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The best media control system money can buy now costs less money. A lot less. Take our new TlfYME II Data/ Time Interface. It costs over 60% less than its predecessor. Our new NUTMEG utility cards make automated dimming and switching functions dramatically less expensive. New pricing on existing SPICE Automation hardware delivers even more savings. If you1re planning a new or revi­ talized theater, call us for a quote. The best is within reach. Sky-Skan.. Inc. 51 Lake Street Nashua NH 03060-4513 USA Toll-free 800-880-8500 Tel. 603-880-8500 Fax 603-882-6522 themselves. Often, and so, the common denominator among these is their mutual scale. Unlike The and its pIE~celmeal

Whether you shoveling snow or sweel0Wlg retlefejnc~~s. credits and minutiae about every always fun to relax with when the chores are in the book. At times the neces­ finished, with the great sary is yet buried available in the astronomy p .... LHhU •.U,.t; in the back pages is as much information world. Look for some ideas in the reviews supporting the images as in The Journey por­ below. as we're for a tion itself. few reviewers. Call, write, or e-mail me while emphasizing scale, is a with your name and favorite stellar na1tchlW(nK of scientific Leaving this or do not area (planets? people?). Get some book on your coffee table is like rlknl!'luin,CT pel~sp~~ctllve needed to copy aC(:uriiteJly free books! And out your fellow vacation and travel brochures for on page 28). tarians at the same time! this is of the mind I assume in the interest Many thanks go to the reviewers for this issue: Chuck Bueter, Sandra Fran- A viation and cine Jackson, Matthew Projects, Dr. Ben ."AAAA"iJ'..... jI;llA, Mickey Schmidt, Steve TAB Books, P. O. Box 40, Blue Wyrick. Ridge Summit, PA, 17294-0850, 1992, ISBN 0-8306-2156-3.

Powers of Ten, Morri­ Reviewed by University of son et Scien tific American Rhode Island Planetarium, Providence, RI, curricula with all or part of Library, New 1982, ISBN 0- USA this book. 7167-6008-8. An kids love dinosaurs and space. Their Reviewed Chuck Bueter, for dinosaur materials was sated after Fairview Ohio, USA the movie Jurassic fol-

Surely you have seen the film. From a ten ten (1()2) meter scene comes to space, except for a few in Chicago, viewers are whisked away from announcements of Shuttle launches and Earth to experience lithe relative size of short mention of the in science things in the universe." ten seconds the concept of going up into space has no the frame's length and height increase ten­ apparent spot in today's curricula This book Reviewed Jose fold, thereby visually lithe could be a in filling that effect of adding another zero." A viation and Space After reaching a panorama about one bil­ a introduction to the atrnm;ph.ere lion light years across the direction of its cOIDJ:llet:e re-write of the First is reversed, and the scene contracts down to demonstration of air mass, then describes co-authored and Sweetsir) the realm of In less than ten minutes, how machines can use or coun teract Hshed much of the known (or perceived) universe, effects of the atnrlos;ph.ere from macrocosm to microcosm, is traversed front cover, The film Powers is a strah!ht-Hrle eX(im:ple of an David Frantz, color ph.ot«)gH~aphs, journey. This printed version is its accompa­ to to black and white nying travel gUide. Rather than zoom non­ Each concept is short and to the stop along the exponential elevator, the pOint. Using Orville own words to paperback traveler can now push a relate his and his brother's first flights pro­ step off at any floor between 10-17 and 1025, vides a dramatic and concise of and take a casual look around. the hazards aviation. Half of the book focuses on The .n.11,....,"'" In other sections, the is literally and Sights along A main image from broken down and each part is dearly labeled each order of mGlgI1lltULOe (dipped from the The section on and their use is very

60 The Plane tarian and includes an excellent illustra­ This is an excellent book. Its author, tion showing the relative sizes of the Moon Michel Maurette, a French investi­ and Earth's umbra and Solar, gator of lunar and Research Director partial, annular, total and penumbral of the CNRS (the French National Scientific eclipses are then ~xplained, as well as "eclipse Research Centre) gives us an seasons" and frequency." account of how he and fellow astronomers Chapter Three eclipse observ- collect and study meteorite and micromete­ ing and vision safety (always throwaway orite samples. It is evident from his valuable any rear-mounted solar observing work that today more than ever astrono­ filter!). Chapter four gives wise counsel on mers drawn into multi-diSciplinary USA expedition planning and presents the fields of study, and that they have to observe authors' clever ECLIPSE method: the in order to understand the Establish, Chronicle, Localize, Instrument, macroscopiC universe. Practice, Sustain, and Evaluate. The favourite haunts of meteorite hunters Pages 23 to 38 are devoted to solar eclipse are barren spots in the Australian ou-maCK, observing from the partial phases through Antarctica, Greenland and the Sahara Desert. the diamond ring, Bailey's Beads, the corona They employ four-wheel drive vehicles, and the sky at totality. Chapters 13 thr,ou,g~h traveling at 2.5 and space 20 feet apart, 15 discuss lunar eclipse observing, with to search for some of the 100 tons of mete­ Chapter 14 detailing a "lunar eclipse contact orites that fall to Earth every year. The read­ timing program" that yields information er learns how they separate the wheat from about the size and shape of the earth's the chaff, weeding out terrestrial rocks umbra. which look like meteorites. Other types of eclipses can be observed in Maurette and his colleagues have melted the solar system, and these are covered in hundreds of tons of Antarctic ice to collect Chapter 16. Some of these include transits of large amounts of what he calls ...... '.. "'''nl'' .... Mercury and Venus (the next transit of micrometeorites, which were formed before Venus will occur on June 8,2004), eclipses of the Sun and planets coalesced out of the the sun as seen from the cloud tops ofjupiter solar nebula. If they land on a suburban roof (satellite shadow transits), and eclipses of they will last just a few months before erod­ Jupiter's satellites by its shadow. And of ing, but at the poles they remain in course there are occultations of stars by the condition for thousands of years. moon and planets and eclipsing binary stars These presolar interstellar dust in deeper space. Chapter 16 makes it dear us tantaliZing glimpses into the conditions that eclipse phenomena are not limited to which prevailed in the nebula, and the sec­ able resource. Earth! ond half of the book delves deep into this At the heart Those who enjoy recording eclipses pho­ new and fast-evolving branch of astronomy. tographically or electronically will find the We learn about the tools of the such as relevant adequate and instructive. the ion probes which pulverise the surface of Observe Eclipses is the finest publication micrometeorites, gases which are now offered by the Astronomical League analysed by spectrometers. and clearly stands out as its most impressive. In the face of competition from commer­ The marvelous cover photo of an 1870 total cial meteorite "smugglers" Maurette formed solar eclipse expedition party at Cadiz, Spain EUfomet, a highly successful group of alone is worth the price of the book! But get European meteoricists who sy~;telma.ticaHY Observe Eclipses for the content. Co-author gather samples for scientific Michael Reynolds is a knowledgeable eclipse demns the smugglers, but admits that scien­ chaser who has packed this book with the tists sometimes have to buy their saInples experience and knowledge he has gained in just to get the variety need. the field. the books and booklets The text occasionally that are currently available, Observe Eclipses nalese, and the absence of is is the one to buy, keep and have with you at sometimes irritating, as one would like to see the next solar or lunar eclipse. the samples which the author discusses with such ineffective enthusiasm However, these are small quibbles. Hunting for Stars, by Michel This is certainly not a book for the Maurette, translated from the ner, but it does make the kno",rledgealble French Chasseyrs d'etoiles by amateur want to go out and learn more Isabel A. Leonard, McGraw-Hill, about the subject, and after an, isn't that New 1993, ISBN 0-07- what any educational book is to Much 041029-1 do? musical urns with Reviewed by Steve Tidey, Southend-on-Sea, find this ... ,,~"'-'-.""u Essex, England.

Vol. December 1995 The Planetarian you, too. Whether you are recording live ning of human knowledge and the mytholo­ article indicated the great length He1thertn:g­ music or transferring something in an analog gy about the beginning, fonowing through ton went to include all possible cosmollog;ies. or digital format, the end result is the same: logically with chronological discoveries and For the book's purpose, d'cosmology" is not you can manipulate the tracks on the com­ theories. limited to the origin, evolution and structure puter, format them any way you desire, and Perhaps his most interesting discussion is of the universe as a whole. of the then transfer it all to analog or digital for an on the formation and characteristics of Native American cosmologies dealt with the outstanding final product. Throughout the galaxies. "By probing fossil fluctuations in origins of seasons, land, game, etc. The book, interviews with professional musi­ the distribution of matter on the one hand, Neanderthal cave drawings' most SOI)hi!sti­ cians let you learn how the subject matter and fully formed galaxies on the other, the cated cosmology dealt with the lunar applies to real world settings. oldest stars and the largest structures, one This section was also written by H!:1I'uylrinc Becoming a Computer Musician is an inter­ can reconstruct almost the entire history of and drifts into Jungian psychological esting, easy-reading introduction to this new cosmic evolution." ophyat the expense of any real discussion of and valuable tool. Silk's professorial habits are evident cosmology. But most of the other authors throughout the book, in that he explains stick admirably to the subject. every concept so that even a lay reader who This is one of those dangerous books A Short History of the Universe, studied astronomy a few years ago can fol­ where you may start looking for a by Joseph Silk, Scien tific low along. The book often reads like a histo­ topiC, say cosmic string theory or cold dark American Library, distributed ry book. The author explains who, why, and matter, and become engrossed in the next by W. H. Freeman and Com- why not. He also presents mathematical rea­ entry, or jump from reference to reference, pany, 41 Madison Avenue, New soning. This 246 page book is quite compre­ only to find out you've wasted an entire York, New York, 10010, 1994, hensive. afternoon. In fact, every time I tried to write ISBN 0-7167-5048-1. this review, I kept getting so sidetracked reading the book and taking notes that I ran Reviewed by Sandra G. Holland, Horned Encyclopedia of Cosmology, edit­ out of the time I had set aside for the task. Toad Academy, Pleasanton, Texas, USA. ed by Norriss S. Hetherington, The book covers enough modem cosmol­ Garland Publishing, Inc. New ogy to be useful to planetarians, and a wealth A Short History ofthe Universe, another cos­ York, 1993, ISBN 0-8240-7213-8. of other aspects of cosmology to be interest­ mology book by Joseph Silk, follows The Lett ing to anybody who is curious about how Hand of Creation: The Origin and Evolution of Reviewed by Wayne Wyrick, Kirkpatrick humans view the cosmos. the Expanding Universe with John D. Barrow Planetarium, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in 1983 and The Big Ban&. revised in 1989. Like USA. the previous books, this one sweeps the uni­ The Search for the Killer Asteroid, verse in a very readable style. In each case, he Cosmology-the science, theory, or study by Gregory L. Vogt, The Mill­ works to update readers on the latest of the universe as an orderly system and of brook Press, 2 Old New Milford paradigm of scientific creation. laws that govern it. That's a definition we'd Road, Brookfield, Connecticut, Although this book has no glossary, the all recognize. But this book even presents the 06804, USA, 1994, ISBN 1-56294- author explains all his terms and concepts in cosmology of Neanderthals, based on cave 448-7. text. The book is quite technical. Silk intro­ draWings. I doubt they thought much of the duces each term with an explanation that scientific laws. They were simply glad to see Reviewed by Sandra G. Holland, Horned the nonprofessional reader can understand, the sun rise every morning. Toad Academy, Pleasanton, Texas, USA without boring the professional reader. This book covers cosmology from many Cosmology has been said to be of utmost viewpoints-science, metaphysics, even reli­ This book from a former science teacher is interest to readers because it purports to gion. There are 17 pages under the heading intended for readers in fourth through sixth explain origins, and everyone is interested in "Religion and Cosmology," ten pages under grades. My fourth and sixth graders enjoyed how things came about. "Medieval Cosmology," seven pages under it. Vogt is currently at NASA's Education Silk notes, liThe story has been told before, "Chinese Cosmology." Geoffrey Chaucer is Division in Houston, where he works on the but there are two good reasons for a fresh even given four pages to explain the cosmol­ development of educational videos for approach. The study of the cosmos was ogy of his pilgrims. The book is not straight schools. recently revitalized with the discovery of academia Gerald S. Hawkins of Washington, This is the story of the scientists who fol­ seed fluctuations from which structures later DC (no other affiliation listed) authored a lowed the dues to determine when, emerged. This was the crucial missing link section titled "Cosmic Mindsteps" in which where, and which asteroid destroyed the needed to reconcile the big bank theory he describes the stages of cosmic enlighten­ dinosaurs. with the large-scale distribution of matter ment (cosmic mindsteps). The fifth stage, It is written in language that children can

around us, and it injected a note of reality humankind's next step, is the I Age of Cosmic follow, but which also challenges them to into the science of cosmology. From a cos­ Connection' characterized by, among other learn more about science. There is a good mic perspective, one might say that pregalac­ things, communication with extraterrestri­ index, suggested reading list, and glossary. tic material was discovered that is yielding als. He feels we're close. "In England and else­ The illustrations are minimal but useful. intimate clues about an origin in the remote where," he writes, "there are mysterious crop There are a couple of sideboxes, one on NEO past. This is a timely moment to describe our circles apparently of non-human origin sightings (near-Earth objects, or "asteroids view of cosmic evolution." which, at the time of this writing, seem to and comets that orbit the Earth's uir-'''''''i1"u'''\ Much of Silk's book details discoveries and show an intelligence of unknown origin." and the other on the differences between research that have occurred in the last ten Remember, this book was written in 1993, asteroids, comets and meteoroids. years, since this writer got out of graduate before crop circles' very human creators Geology is explained in enough detail to school, but he begins with the very begin- admitted their hoax. The inclusion of this make the story interesting and understand-

62 The Planetarian Vol. 24, No.4, December 1995 able. An example is the cenotes of the humankind to explore. He recounts the geologist's and paJleOlnt'OH>glSt Yucatan Peninsula, which are related to the famous voyages of explorers and considers view, to go to Mars to see if life meteor strike. them voyages of conquest, pilgrimage, and once existed there. He The story develops step-by-step as scien­ of exploration. He divides man's exploration pelHng arguments for smme~ctj.m! tists pick up on little bits and pieces, and into three phase, then ties these phases have. Walter and Luis Alvarez search among these together in an envelope of perceived human Timothy Ferris pieces for the resolution of the theory that needs. "SOCiety must have a reason to choose ing there are two outlooks on life and eventually led to Chucxulub. ... discovery ... (something) ... greater ... than a ing and that people are The book begins with a narrative on the national hobby, or a jobs program." To fur­ cover the depths of their own i,gntor;mc:e. dinosaur "Old Paras" to draw children into ther this exploration, we must recognize this view is lost on those the story. II Acid rain washed out to sea, poi­ that the rewards of future exploration are soning the waters. Floating plants died, and not in the "goods we will import, or people the animals that ate the plants died along we will meet," but in some, as yet unrecog­ with them. So did the animals that ate the nized, great purpose. animals. Many months later .. , the sun gradu­ Harrison J. Schmitt, the only scientist to ally reappeared .'" Dinosaurs, which had held visit the moon, writes of his experiences and dominion over the land for 160 million insights. He eloquently states that the liftoff years, were gone, And gone, too, were more of Apollo 17 marked the 'lend of the begin­ than 70 percent of all the living species on ning," The age ended with the realization Earth. No animals bigger than small dogs sur­ that earth is a fragile island in the great Walter E. Massey Cad vived" ocean of space and now we have a "need" to Cosmic calendar by compressing the The speculations of scientists are made understand and preserve the Earth (a con­ of science into the life of an 80 year old enjoyable to children. 1I0ver the years, many cept as yet not fuHy appreciated by society grandmother. She was born when Columbus scientists have tried to explain why the and politicians). While on the moon Schmitt set sail, she was 23 when Newton was dinosaurs disappeared. Their explanations said, liThe next generation ought to accept 65 when the Wright brothers flew and 69 have ranged from the commonplace to the this as a challenge. Let's see them leave foot­ when Neil uttered his famous silly.," One of the strangest hypotheses sug­ prints like these some day." words from the moon. Basically, tec:hnol(>gi­ gested that certain plants that dinosaurs ate Edward C. Stone, thQ familiar face and cal evolution is accelerating. He further helped them with digestion. When the voice we heard from JPL with each of the expects that humans place great faith in sci­ plants became extinct, the dinosaurs died of Voyager encounters, writes of our nation's ence because "knowledge and undeI'Standmg constipation!" What ten-year-old would fail successes in exploring eight of the nine plan­ (even if are to to guffaw at that, true or not? ets. He recounts the steps involved in such a rance and superstition." I think, however, major undertaking. His statements are good reviewer, that I see ample proof in reading and lead to insights in the planning see that statement is not a truism Where Next Columbus? The required to produce the successes these The ubiquitous Carl Sagan once Future ofSpace Exploration, edit­ unmanned vehicles accomplished writes about the human adventure ed by Valerie Neal, Oxford Reading these three articles, I was struck ing past and ex'pj(>rati University Press Inc., 200 Mad- by the idea that exploration by man was, in Projecting into the Sagan relates the ison Avenue, New York, NY the past, driven by great internalized goals. growing number of nations. He 10016,1994. ISBN 0-19-509277-5 The same three goals the Spanish invoked also notes that Spain, and China during the first great age of discovery: God, were, for a time, the world leaders in great Reviewed by Mickey D. Schmidt, USAF Gold and Glory. These are lacking in space ocean voyages. They faded into relative Academy Center for Educational Multi­ exploration at present, so we have not ven­ obscurity. Just so, there is no guarantee that media, USAF Academy, CO 80840 tured forth in great zeal as previously done. Russia and the US will sUll be "in This last article brought to mind an example when the great rewards of space eX1Jlolratl,on Where Next Columbus? is a book which of a potential explorer, peering across a begin to flow. tries to optimistically project the reader into chasm he is, as yet, unable to safely cross. He concludes with much the same a future bright with space travel and explo­ The Voyagers and Pioneers were after aU I have about the future of space travel: " ... ration. It has an ample amount of graphiCS, vehicles that carried our sense of vision to what kind of future are we for our some new and exquisite. Some aptly illus­ remote places. Until we find lithe compelling children? We have offered them visions of a trate the text, but some of the art is of older reason to leave the cradle" we will remain at future in which-unable to read, to graphics we have seen elsewhere many home. invent, to compete, to make things times. Thomas E. Lovejoy writes of terra-form­ anticipate events-our nation sinks The book is actually the compiled works ing, building a home for members of our into lethargy and economic decay,,"" The of ten authors induding the book's editor. race to colonize. He speaks of Mars and the visions we present our children the Each has his/her own perspective on such pros and cons of attempting such a feat. He future. It MA TIERS what those visions are. things based upon a unique profeSSion, be it further recounts the effects of our burgeon­ Often they become self fulfiUiIlg ]J:rophe<:ies. histOrian, geologist, or astronomer. The book ing population on the Earth. The decrease of Dreams are maps." (Emphasis mine) is divided into three areas: a perspective on bio-diversity, the human encroachment into Robert L Forward speaks to the technlDlqg­ past exploration, views on exploration biological niches where our presence has ical limits of space exploration and dreams today, and questions for future exploration. deleterious effects and the general impover­ of starships. He realizes that cannot Stephen J. Pyne reviews and writes elo­ ishment of our biological resources. use the energy resources of which are quently about the seeming naturalness for Stephen Jay Gould offers reasons, from a too limited. Sunlight, focused and beamed

Vol. No.4, December 1995 The Planetarian Is this book a caU to action, a a waminQ", or a dire window on the future? As its pages to read of and groups of de'{ejlom~rs. but instead I came away sobered. is but eX1PJo1ra1tiolO: a man will have to decide how and when to impelrative wanolerulSt, economics, venture out of the cradle. My own view of difficulties in does not bode weB for us in the short eC()lOg1c:aHy SlJeakirlg the more than a guarant€~d either. Do we go for port. Ms. Neal real reward in we have a future GROWTH? tells us Guido Casadei last ;)eiHem[~f.

Italian Planetaria's Friends As!;ociatilon

of the Brescia ... .,.A uuu Association. He also lectured vatories and o~eratoo was an expert the Starlab IItectonic r"\ITliin(1

memory. The 1995 National Me'et1rlg etaria was held in (01O)1.llnCncm Em~op@ean Me1etulg of Small Planetaria October 13-15. The Italian Planetaria October.

River. More information ence win appear

The Pacific Planetarium """,,,,UL.n

Vf'or'o.... 1"lu held its fall conference California, Science Teachers Association. ers from an over the state had ty to take part in paper sessions, W()fKSh()PS and got to, learn more about urns as a resource. New officers for the Pacific Planetar'imn Association were elected

64 The Planetarian Vol.

planetarian would drive seven hours on a to Chile. Steve said "I met two in1:en~stilng Friday evening after work to sleep on the people on this trip. One was a J floor of a planetarium? from Iowa who raises llamas. He The Park management provided floor buy two. The other was a young space an around the museum for sleeping Richard, from Maryland. This was ...... "'..... Jefferson (we chose the planetarium, naturally) for eclipse and he was excited anyone who dared That meant no showers, experiment he had thought of to do Planetarium but if you didn't get too close ... the eclipse using ultraviolet filters. Guess what? It felt like a planetarium con­ beginning of the eclipse, I saw Richard: he Richmond, 23230 ference! In fact, several participants were fel­ was taking a out of a was low planetariansJon Staib from James Madi­ the packing box in which the telc~sc()pe son University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, purchased. He had never put In my previous column, I admitted that I and Rita Fairman at the University of Tenne­ before! He was very dis:appoinlted his read newspapers, magazines, The Planetarian, ssee in Knoxville. proposed eXj:leriInerlt. fil- (and sometimes books) from back to front. Why did it feel like a planetarium confer­ ter back at the hotel." Someone must have thought I preferred it ence? Well, for one thing, people were - A special feature of this un;..... L"Uj<, was that way, as evidenced by the arrival of my always standing around in little groups, talk­ presided over mark from new 1995 IPS Directory of the World's Plane­ ing, even in the wee hours of the morning! Bristol, Tennessee. It was a ... ", .. ie.t"", show tariums. My Directory is backwards! The spi­ For another, Rob Landis, of the Hubble caned "Starry Night Live!" He with ral binder is on the right side of the stacks of Space Telescope Institute, was the guest "Did you ever think what AsltroJoolmy pages, not the left! Is yours that way, too or speaker! (He keeps popping up at IPS, region­ be like without light?" As we this, did someone make special accommodations al conferences, on Dome-L off the Internet; he continued, "Let's simplify the current just forme? does he ever sleep?) controversy over the of the universe: The last page in the stack is really the first There were door prizes ... lots of door the universe is too old, and it's the page of alphabetical information. Since prizes, like at planetarium conferences. There wrong direction." everything is bound backwards, that means were some familiar items: astronomy-related Mark continued with another clone: that that when the book is open flat, the lower­ caps, left-over T-shirts from the previous of ex-TV talk host Johnny Carson's 14Carnac right entry on the right-hand page is fol­ annual gathering, Rob Landis' HST posters the Magnificent;" Mark called it "Starnac' the lowed by the upper-left entry on the facing and lithographs, CD-ROMs, computer disk­ Magnificent." He held a sealed and left-hand page. You follow that? ettes, videotapes, and magaZine subscrip­ appeared to conjure up an answer to a ques- Don't toss it! Just follow the page numbers tions. Some prizes were not as familiar as tion in the He told the answer at the bottom. As the old saying goes, "Shift those at planetarium conferences: a folding then opened the envelope and read the ques- Happens!" The information is all there, and a chair, a collimating tool kit, many bottles of tion. Here are: practiced back-to-front reader like me can lens cleaner (dispersed one at a time). A book, A: "azimuth" graze with no problem at all!* At Home in a Dome, was probably not about Q. "Who is the science fiction writer who's life in a planetarium. The Big Prize, as at written over 200 books?" I love to sleep out under the stars. I like to many planetarium conferences, was a pair of A: "light just unroll my sleeping bag on top of a pad binoculars from Bushnell Q; "What is the or air mattress and He down on my back, I guess the real reason it felt Uke a planetar­ for the U. S. n,p1n", ..+vn,,,,n+ looking up at the night sky. On a recent ium conference is that aU the stars we saw a light bulb?" rainy evening in October, I did just that. And were fake: planetarium stars. It rained the A: "equinox" I didn't get wet! My vantage point was from whole week-end, tailings from some Gulf of Q: "What is the term two the floor under the dome of a planetarium! Mexico hurricane. I can't wait for the next knocks that are equal?" The floor space was rather generous and "Starfesti" I wonder what the real sky looks - Another performer in the inexpensive overnight accommodations like from Bays Mountain? Live" variety show was the IIRed-Neck provided by fellow planetarians Mike Ches­ Astronomer." I'm sorry that I didn't find out man and Adam Thanz of Bays Mountain Overheard and seen at his "real name," but he explained: Park in Kingsport, Tennessee. Adam was host "You know you are a red-neck astronomer if: - Rob Landis assisted the Buhl Planetarium of an annual event at the Center called IIStar­ 1. you ask the used car salesman. 'do you in Pittsburgh with the production of a fest." It's a gathering of about ninety amateur think my 10-inch will fit tarium-show-for-sale version of the Hubble astronomers which seems to draw primarily into the back of your Saturn?', Space Telescope story. Rob admitted that the from residents of Tennessee and North 2. you have red light bulbs in every Carolina sound of the shuttle taking off in the HST show from Buhl was really produced by spe­ receptacle in your trailer, Well, I hesitate to admit this for fear of 3. the roof roUs off your outhouse, cial sound effects of "trees breaking" mixed being ridiculed by fellow planetarians, but I 4. you think that 'meteor' refers to with "avalanche." The real thing just wasn't had never been to Stellafane, the Texas Star hamburgers, real enough! Party, or any other gathering of amateur S. a 'supernova' is Dale Ernhardt's latest astronomers. When Mike and Adam sent us - Mike Benson, participant from Nashville, en try in the N ASCAR circuit, Tennessee, has in teresting automobile an invitation, my husband George and I 6 a 'dew is the bottle cap off 'Moun- decided to give it a try! Who else but a crazy license plates which read "DEEPSKY". The tain Dew' soft front white license plate had blue letters and 7. 'canopus' is cat food, the back white plate had red letters! Occasionally a copy is misprinted Let me know 8. 'MSO' is an entry on a AND - Steve Krauss gave a talk about his experi­ ifyou get a bad one, and I'll send a replacement. 9. '' is a brand of chewtmz tobac­ ences on an October, 1995 eclipse excursion - f. Mosley, Exec. Ed. co!"

66 The Planetarian Vol. No.4 , December 1995 e (NO, ... NOT h )

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