Vol. 37, No. 1 March 2008

Journal of the International Society

Geoscience visualization in the dome…Page 6

Articles March 2008 Vol. 37 No. 1 6 A Do-it-Yourself Approach to Fulldome Visualization Tom Kwasnitschka Executive Editor 10 ’s All Around Us Sharon Shanks Steve Tidey Ward Beecher Planetarium 14 Preparing for IYA with the Astronomical Youngstown State University Society of the Pacific One University Plaza Jim Manning Youngstown, 44555 USA 16 Interactive Exhibition at Planetarium, (1) 330-941-3619 [email protected] Nataliya Kovalenko 18 The Changes of Meteorological Quantities Advertising Coordinator During Solar Eclipses Chuck Bueter Miloslav Machon 15893 Ashville Lane 21 Minutes of the IPS Council Meeting Granger, Indiana 46530 USA Lee Ann Henning (1) 574-271-3150 [email protected] www.ips-planetarium.org/planetarian/ratesheet.htm Columns 67 25 Years Ago...... Thomas Wm. Hamilton Membership 66 Calendar of Events...... Loris Ramponi Individual: $50 one year; $90 two years 31 Digital Frontiers...... Ed Lantz Institutional: $200 first year; $100 annual renewal 36 Educational Horizons ...... Steve Tidey Library Subscriptions: $36 one year 38 Forum...... Gary Lazich Direct membership requests and changes of 41 General Counsel ...... Christopher S. Reed address to the Treasurer/Membership Chairman 65 Gibbous Gazette...... James P. Hughes 5 In Front of the Console ...... Sharon Shanks Back Issues of the Planetarian 43 International News...... Lars Broman IPS Back Publications Repository maintained by the Treasurer/Membership Chair; 68 Last Light ...... April S. Whitt contact information is on next page 50 Mobile News...... Susan Reynolds Button 54 NASA Space Science News...... Anita M. Sohus Index 28 Past President’s Message ...... Martin George A cumulative index of major articles that have 25 President’s Message ...... Susan Reynolds Button appeared in the Planetarian from the first issue 57 Reviews...... April S. Whitt through the issue is available online at 61 What’s New...... John Schroer www.ips-planetarium.org/planetarian/planetarian_ index.pdf Index of Advertisers Final Deadlines allsky.de ...... 52 March: January 21 Astronomy for All...... 40 June: April 21 Astro-Tec Mfg., Inc ...... 53 September: July 21 Bays Mountain Planetarium...... 20 December: October 21 Clark Planetarium ...... 33 Digitalis Education , Inc...... 59 Associate Editors Evans & Sutherland ...... outside back cover Galileo’s Telescope ...... 42 25 Years Ago General Counsel NASA Space Thomas Hamilton Christopher Reed News Global Immersion...... 5 Anita Sohus GOTO INC ...... 56 Calendar Loris Ramponi Gibbous Gazette Reviews Konica Minolta Planetarium Co. Ltd ...... 49 James Hughes April S. Whitt Learning Technologies, Inc ...... 64 Digital Frontiers Last Light What’s New Mirage3D...... 29 Ed Lantz April S. Whitt John A. Schroer R.S.A. Cosmos ...... inside back cover International Education Lars Broman Rudinec & Associates ...... 27 Steve Tidey Scott Electric...... 17 Mobile News Forum Susan Button Sky-Skan, Inc ...... centerfold, 46, 63 Gary Lazich Spitz, Inc...... 58 White Tower Media...... 15 Zeiss, Inc...... inside front cover International Planetarium Society home page: www.ips-planetarium.org

Planetarian home page: On the Cover: Author Tom Kwasnitschka, his supervisor, and the construction support www.ips-planetarium.org/planetarian team during a preliminary projection alignment test using the Uniview platform inside his do-it-yourself dome project. The story begins on page 6. Photo by author. Guidelines for Contributors and Advertisers: www.ips-planetarium.org/planetarian/ guidelines.html

March 2008 Planetarian 1 Affiliate Representatives

Association of British Italian Rocky Mountain Brazilian Association of Planetaria’s Friends Planetarium Officers Planetaria Association Association Alexandre Cherman Dr. Tom Mason Loris Ramponi Dan Neafus President Planetário do Planetarium National Archive of Planetaria Manager, Gates Planetarium Susan Reynolds Button R. Vice-Governador College Hill c/o Centro Studi e Ricerche Museum of Quarks to Clusters Rubens Berardo, 100 Armagh BT61 9DB Serafino Zani Nature & Science 8793 Horseshoe Lane Rio de Janeiro RJ 22451-070 Northern via Bosca 24, C.P. 104 2001 Colorado Boulevard Chittenango, New York +55 (21) 2274-0046 ext. 264 I 25066 Lumezzane Denver, Colorado 13037 USA +55 (21) 2529-2149 fax +44 (0)2837 524725 (Brescia) 80205 USA +1 315-687-5371 [email protected] +44 (0)2837 526187 fax +39 30 872 164 +1 303-370-8352 +1 315-432-4523 fax www.planetarios.org.br +44 (0)771 0013453 cell +39 30 872 545 fax +1 303-331-6492 fax [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.armaghplanet.com [email protected] www.planetaritaliani.it Russian Planetariums Past-President Association of Canadian Association Association Martin George Dutch-Speaking of Science Centres Zinaida P. Sitkova Launceston Planetarium Planetariums Ian C. McLennan Queen Victoria Museum André Milis #404 - 1275 Haro Street Planetarium Society Planetarium Street Planetarium of the Royal , Shoichi Itoh Revolutsionnja Street Launceston Observatory of V6E 1G1 Canada Research Expert and 20 Tasmania 7250 Boechoutlaan 10 +1 604-681-4790 Project Leader 603002 Nizhny +61 3 6323 3777 1020 , Belgium phone + fax Public Relations Center Novgorod +61 3 6323 3776 fax +32 (2) 474 70 60 +1 604-240-0938 cell National Astronomical +7 831 2 30 51 51 Martin.George@ +32 (2) 478 30 26 fax [email protected] Observatory of Japan +7 831 2 30 51 66 fax qvmag.tas.gov.au [email protected] [email protected] National Institute of [email protected] www.planetarium.be Natural Sciences [email protected] Council of German 2-21-1 Osawa, Mitaka, www.planet.nn.ru President-Elect Planetariums Tokoyo 181-8588 Japan Dr. Tom Mason, Director Thomas W. 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[email protected] www.armaghplanet.com [email protected] thomas.kraupe@ Novins Planetarium www.sepadomes.org [email protected] planetarium-hamburg.de Ocean County College Executive Secretary www.rdp-planetrium.de College Drive, PO Box 2001 Southwestern Lee Ann Hennig Toms River, New Jer- Association of Planetarium, Thomas European/ sey 08754-2001 USA Planetariums Jefferson High School Association of Mexican Mediterranean +1 732-255-0400 ext. 2111 Donna Pierce for Science and Technology Planetariums Planetarium +1 732-255-0467 fax Highland Park Planetarium 6560 Braddock Road Ignacio Castro Pinal Association [email protected] 4220 Emerson , Virginia 22312 USA Torres de Mixcoac, A6-702 Manos Kitsonas www.ocean.edu/planet.htm Dallas, Texas 75205 USA +1 703-750-8380 C.P. 01490, México City Eugenides Planetarium +1 214-780-3858 +1 703-750-5010 fax D.F. México 387 Syngrou Avenue +1 214-725-8131 cell [email protected] +52 (55) 5500 0562 17564 P. Faliro Nordic Planetarium [email protected] +52 (55) 5500 0583 fax Association [email protected] Treasurer and [email protected] +30 210 946 9674 Lars Broman +30 210 941 7372 fax Teknoland Ukranian Membership Chair [email protected] Stångtjärnsv 132 Planetariums Shawn Laatsch SE 791 74 , Association ‘Imiloa Astronomy Association of Spanish Great Lakes +46 2310 177 Klim Churyumov Center of Hawai’i Planetariums Planetarium [email protected] Scientific and 600 Imiloa Place Javier Armentia Association www.teknoland.se Educational Centre Hilo, Hawaii 96720 USA Planetario de Dave Weinrich Kyiv Planetarium +1 808-969-9735 Sancho Ramirez, 2 Planetarium Str. Velyka Vasylkivska 57/3 +1 808-969-9748 fax E-31008 Pamplona Minnesota State Pacific Planetarium Kyiv 04053 Ukraine [email protected] Navarra University-Moorhead Association +380 44 287 27 81 +34 948 260 004 1104 7th Avenue South Gail Chaid klim.churyumov@ob- +34 948 260 056 Moorhead Independence Planetarium serv.univ.kiev.ua +34 948 261 919 fax Minnesota 56563 USA 1776 Educational Park Drive [email protected] [email protected] +1 218-477-2969 San Jose gestion@pamplonetario. +1 218-477-5864 fax California 95133 USA infonego-cio.com [email protected] +1 408-928-9604 +1 408-926-9515 fax Great Plains [email protected] Planetarium [email protected] Australasian Association Planetarium Jack Dunn Society Ralph Mueller Planetarium Planetarium Martin Bush University of Nebraska-Lincoln Society of Planetarium 210 Morrill Hall Position currently vacant 2 Booker Street Lincoln, Nebraska Spotswood 3015 68588-0375 USA Victoria, Australia +1 402-472-2641 +61 (3) 93924503 +1 402-475-8899 fax [email protected] [email protected] www.spacelaser.com/gppa 2 Planetarian March 2008 Standing Committees IPS Permanent Mailing Address Awards Committee Conference Host-2010 Membership Committee Lars Broman, Chair Dr. Omar Fikry Shawn Laatsch, Chair Teknoland Head of Shows & Programs Unit Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii International Planetarium Stångtjärnsv 132 Planetarium Science Center 600 Imiloa Place Society SE 791 74 Falun, Sweden The Library of Alexandria Hilo, Hawaii 96720 USA +46 2310 177 PO Box 138 +1 808-969-9735 c/o Shawn Laatsch [email protected] El Shatby, Alexandria 21526 Egypt +1 808-969-9748 fax Treasurer/Membership www.teknoland.se +20 3 483 9999 ext. 1881 [email protected] Chair +20 3 482 4988 fax Conference Committee Publications Committee Imiloa Astronomy Center Susan Reynolds Button Elections Committee Dr. Dale W. Smith, Chair of Hawaii Quarks to Clusters Steve Mitch, Chair BGSU Planetarium 600 Imiloa Place 8793 Horseshoe Lane Benedum Planetarium 104 Overman Hall Chittenango, New York 13037 USA Oglebay Park Physics &Astronomy Department Hilo, Hawaii 96720 USA +1 315-687-5371 Wheeling, West Virginia 26003 USA Bowling Green State University +1 315-432-4523 fax +1 304-243-4034 Bowling Green, Ohio 43403 USA [email protected] +1 304-243-4110 fax +1 419-372-8666 IPS Web Site: [email protected] [email protected] +1 419-372-9938 fax www.ips-planetarium. [email protected] org Conference Host-2008 Finance Committee Dr. Paul Knappenberger, President President, Past President, Presi- Adler Planetarium dent Elect, Treasurer, Secretary Please notify the Editor 1300 South Lake Shore Drive of any changes on these , Illinois 60605-2403 USA +1 312-322-0325 two pages. +1 312-322-9909 fax [email protected] www.adlerplanetarium.org Contact the Treasurer/ Membership Chair for in- dividual member address Ad Hoc Committees changes and general cir- culation and billing ques- Armand Spitz Job Information Service Script Contest Committee tions. Planetarium Education Subcommittee Steve Tidey, Coordinator Fund (Professional Services Committee) 58 Prince Avenue Finance Committee Steve Fentress, Chair Southend, Essex, SS2 6NN Strasenburgh Planetarium United Kingdom Education Committee Rochester Museum & Science Center [email protected] Dr. Brock Schroeder, Chair 657 East Avenue Strickler Planetarium and Observatory Rochester, New York 14607 USA Strategic Planning Committee Olivet Nazarene University +1 585-271-4552 ext. 409 Tom Mason, Chair One University Avenue +1 585-271-7146 fax Armagh Planetarium Bourbonnais, Illinois 60914 USA [email protected] College Hill The Planetarian (ISN 0090- +1 815-939-5361 Armagh BT61 9DB +1 815-939-5071 fax Outreach Committee Northern Ireland 3213) is published quarterly [email protected] Jon W. Elvert, Chair United Kingdom by the International Planetar- www.olivet.edu Irene W. 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March 2008 Planetarian 3 gleam in Max Wolf’s eye. There are two Associate Editors mentioned. In Front of the Console I’m pleased to be able to mention everyone; what I did then. Why can’t those memories we have a full complement of columns for stick around longer? this issue, including the premiers not only of I can’t help but wonder how my grand- 25 Years Ago, but also of Gary Lazich’s editor- mother, who was born in 1906 and who has ship of Forum. been dead now for 20 years (yes, I know she’s Steve Tidey shares with us an amusing story dead, so I won’t call anyone by her name), of astronomical references that permeate our would have thought about the pace of change world, and Tom Kwasnitschka contributes an- now facing us. She only lived through simple other cover article from . Tom also changes: the rise of the automobile, the in- made me feel old, by the way. In addition to vention and use of airplanes, the invention of his work at allsky.de, he’s a master’s student television, the first artificial satellite, humans in with a focus on volcanology who walking on the Moon, and the rise of person- works in the field in great places like El Salva- al computers. dor. He’s also probably about the age of my When I think of the changes I’ve lived son. through, grandma’s exposure to change seems Even younger than my son is the next au- to be so overwhelming that mine are paltry thor, Miloslav Machon, a Czek grammar by comparison. But she had an edge. She had school student. I felt the topic was a bit off the time to absorb them. usual for the Planetarian, but I also felt that a “The pace is killing me” is a cliche and I’m bright, budding student in astronomy, spon- certainly not dying, but it certainly feels like sored by a Czek observatory and planetarium, the speed of change today is doing me in. Plan- deserved a couple of pages to share his work. etarium technology is changing faster than The “international” in IPS is well represent- Sharon Shanks we can buy the equipment to implement it. ed again this issue, and our cadre of authors is Ward Beecher Planetarium Corporations are changing and business prac- rounded out by Nataliya Kovalenko, a mas- tices with it, trickling down now so that busi- ter’s student at Dalarna University in Swe- Youngstown State University ness models are being presented as the way den, who writes the final report in a long se- Youngstown, OH 44555 USA that the “business” of education should be ries published in the Planetarian. Lars Broman, run. Some of us are living that particular little in his introduction to Nataliya’s article, re- [email protected] horror right now. ports that the Science Communication Mas- Even the Super Bowl, that icon of Ameri- ter’s Program at Dalarna University has been Several times during the editing of this is- can—something, I don’t know what—is chang- closed down by the University’s rector. sue, I started to feel really old. Before any- ing. The game is secondary; people are tuning That news comes at the same time that we one points out that I’m “only” 51 and that’s in just to watch the multi-million-dollar ads. learn in President Susan Button-Reynold’s re- nothing, you’ve got to see it from my point They cost $2.7 million for 30 seconds of air port that a new publication for science com- of view. Over 50 means you’re a half centu- time this year. What I could do in my plane- municators called Communicating Astronomy ry old already. Just a blink, in light years. But tarium with the money for just 10 seconds! with the Public (CAP) has come online—literal- when you’re the person facing the birthdays, James Hughes made me feel old by men- ly. It is “a free peer-reviewed journal for astron- there’s more years behind you than in front tioning reaching the 25-year milestone at the omy communicators, online and in print,” al- of you. There’s so many experiences and bits Carnegie Science Center/Buhl Planetarium. though today’s new generation of astronomy of knowledge stored in your brain that some Tom Hamilton, our new 25 Years Ago colum- educators is sure to feel more at home with the of it gets pushed out as your struggle to absorb nist, helped offset that denying that he was online version. Me? I think I’ll sign up for the more. It reminds me of Stephen King’s Dream- around when the first planetarium was just a free print version. I’m too old to change. I catcher. One of the main characters reveals his “memory warehouse,” a metaphor for how the human brain works. But, as the work pro- gresses, the line between metaphor and reali- ty blends (as it always does with King) and the warehouse becomes a physical place. When he needs additional storage space, he actual- ly throws old files into a furnace and burns them. Wouldn’t that be great? I’d love to get rid of some memories from high school, for ex- ample, and make room for learning how to do fulldome video editing. Out with that bad ex- perience when I called a cousin by her moth- er’s name (her deceased mother’s name), and Ah, the decisions an editor faces. Which picture to use for Tom Kwasnitschka’s article? The one on the in with knowing, off the top of my head, the right has a bad case of red eye, and I don’t have a good red eye editor. But it’s a better mug shot, and Ohio fifth grade science standards and how I there’s Mars in the background. The picture to the left is cool, and will make a good mug shot if it’s covered them in that “wonderful job you did cropped correctly. But if I use that as a mug shot, you won’t see his two friends, and they truly make the picture. (Obviously armed escorts on a field excursion.) So, I’m pulling editorial priveledge and am using last year.” It was a live talk and I have no clue both. Both images provided by Tom, whom I thank for making me have to pick one.

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March 2008 talk to us tel uk:+44 (0) 845 0 globalPlanetarian (456225) tel usa: 303-357-4760 email: [email protected] 5 Unde ce r t n he ie D c s A do-it-yourself o o approach to m e fulldome e G visualization

Tom Kwasnitschka Leibniz-Institut für Meereswissenschaften IFM-GEOMAR Wischhofstr. 1-3, Kiel D-24148 Germany [email protected] istockphoto.com

Originating out of a masters thesis of visualizing geoscientific data in a dome environment, the author not only created the datasets, but also designed and built the dome BesidesBesides my work as executive associ- and projection system on a limited budget with ate of the image agency allsky.de, I am a mas- emphasis on quality. Cooperation with two ma- ter’s student of geology specializing in vol- jor vendors provided two independent solutions canology. I was only truly introduced to the possibilities of real time astronomical data vi- for image generation. This article is an account sualization during the Zeiss Innovation Days of how the dome and the projection system 2005. There I met Staffan Klashed, proud fa- were conceived, followed by a discussion of the ther of the Uniview software, and we instant- Tom Kwasnitschka ly started a discussion on transferring the idea used software and the scientific content devel- of domed science visualization to the geo- oped for it. Rather than to serve as a dome sciences, compiling something like a digital construction tutorial, this text shall be an entertaining account atlas. of using some of the established fulldome tools. As time went on, I started looking for a top- ic for my diploma thesis in physical volcanol- ogy. Since I am infamous among my teach- creasingly serious: there was no dome around for its complex manufacture process. Support ers for my dome work, my supervisors came where I could easily carry out my research as by air offered an alternative. up with the idea of a classical study of a cal- I wished. There were a number of further criteria: the dera volcano in El Salvador, connected with dome was to be mobile and lightweight, yet an effort to visualize the gathered data in the Dome Construction weatherproof, sturdy, and flexible to accom- new immersive form I had been proposing. Obviously, a budget was nonexistent, as was modate a number of different video and au- Returning from fieldwork, it turned out that as the intention of my institution to invest in dio setups. There should be a possibility for a sloppy comment I’d made on even building a large facility at the whim of a master’s stu- changing the canvas to try different levels of my own dome if the need arose became in- dent. A hard shell design had to be ruled out reflectivity as well as rear projection capabili-

6 Planetarian March 2008 Left: Test assembly of the support structure. Note the modular foundation ring at the base. Correct dimensions were validated using a theodolite. Right: Rear projection test without the inner canvas. Note the projector (on boxes) and the evacuation nozzle at left. The dome rests on 10 vertical metal struts of 2m length. The projection (one channel active) is calibrated for 180° FoV. All photos by and/or courtesy the author. ties for inside-out projection. ing one week in our garage, not knowing if in the lenses; just walk up to them during a Astronomers look up, geologists look my work was precise enough to fit together. It demo.) This system had great appeal to me, down. My very personal opinion is that tilted was. PVC proved to be an inexpensive, robust, as it kept the center of the dome clear of any domes are intriguing compared to non-tilted and easy-to-manufacture material, especially equipment and still only used two channels. domes, yet the cinematic language we use is when using a heat fan. The whole structure is At that time, a friend of mine had just or- still very close to movies. For the sake of mak- made of 300 struts of seven different lengths, dered four Sony VPL-VW 50 full-HD projec- ing a difference and exploring truly omnidi- which are easily attached to each other using tors with SXRD chips for teaching, which he rectional setups, I wanted a hyper-dome of screws and bolts. No piece is longer than 2 m, showed me after installation. In a way, they 220° that reached below the horizon. On the and the overall is about 400 kg. were a miniature of the big systems we know other hand, the design should allow the entire Both the outer and inner hull were to be from fulldome video. Together, we discov- dome to be tilted if desired. Just a slight tilt of made from fabric and manufactured by a spe- ered that the Raynox DCR-CF 185PRO con- 10° would thus allow the simulation of a 30° cialist. For the outer hull, we chose white Ny- sumer fisheye converter, in combination with tilted theatre, facilitating show production lon, 220g/m², and laminated on one side, thus the projector’s zoom and shift lens, was able to aimed at several different dome tilts. becoming a rear projection canvas since much warp the image precisely in the necessary way. This led to the design of a dome of 6 m in- of this article would ner diameter and 220° screen coverage. It was still be readable if supported by a fourth frequency geodesic stuck behind it. The hemispheric framework made of PVC tubing inner canvas (the ac- with an additional section covering the twen- tual projection dome) ty degrees below the horizon down to a ro- is a special polyes- bust foundation ring made of PE tubing. The ter black-out canvas structure was to be covered by an outer can- coated with cotton. vas attached airtight to the spring line, along From behind, the in- with an inner canvas attached to the spring ner canvas has lash- line from within. By evacuating the space be- es to attach it to the tween the two fabrics, one could get a perfect- geodesic structure; ly spherical dome held up by negative pres- therefore, it will not sure. Since the diameter of the outer canvas fall down on the au- and the support structure was 30 cm larger dience and the equip- than the inner canvas, there was still 15 cm of ment in case the neg- space to fit an array of small speakers between ative pressure fails. the two hulls. While positive pressure would not have required the complex geodesic struc- Projection ture, it would have demanded airtight walls or Equipment sitting on the floor. By sheer chance, I found a very detailed tutorial on geodesic I had learned what structures on the internet, kindly provided by the edge blends of a a man who builds them for the Burning Man single warped chan- Festival.1 I essentially just followed the instruc- nel for a Sony SXRD tions and fabricated the entire structure dur- system looked like. The author during a demo of the isopach simulation on Digistar3 SP2. The (It is obvious that gore seams have not yet been sealed, aiding the development of projector 1 www.desertdomes.com there is a reflection alignment setups.

March 2008 Planetarian 7 Left: Closeup of a dome master of the isopach animation. Above the grey map of Central America there is a suite of color coded eruptions with their respective approximated eruption column geometries. Right: Geometry model of an outcrop in El Salvador with its reconstructed fault planes (yellow). The camera is on street level, the road has not been modeled. Note advertisement graffiti on the walls.

I borrowed two lenses from friends and two the use of Uniview was its ability to load data and teaching itself, entertains a very fruit- projectors from my preferred hardware deal- in the format of Google’s™ Keyhole Markup ful cooperation with E&S, and it was in turn er. language (KML), which offered a direct inter- through my ties to both of them that I had Since the hangar was not always available, face to geoscientific software packages such as the chance to tap into this resource. Over the the dome has been set up three times during ArcGis. This led to a very friendly exchange span of three evenings, Markus Schack, head a period of four months, each time limited to with colleagues at the Denver Museum of Na- of the Development Department of the Medi- just a few days. Therefore the projector align- ture and Science, who gave me a jump start endom, installed the system for me, for which ment was intentionally never perfected. into this application. I am deeply thankful. The other key feature was the ability to Using the D3 system, we were able to dis- Image Generator Software stream high resolution map data from World play a whole range of other content pouring Parallel to months of dome construction, I Map Services (such as the server of Google out of our department: video footage. In fact, had been carrying on with my research and Earth) from various NASA and NOAA institu- the whole presentation was a single fulldome the preparation of data. I was fortunate to gain tions. This technology allows browsing large video since our group did not want to take any the support of SCISS AB, which kindly provid- geoscientific datasets or extremely high reso- risks with the still unfinished real-time ver- ed me with a copy of Uniview for the sole pur- lution satellite imagery on a dome and, since sion of their data. Although the hardware was pose of my thesis work and possibly the devel- it is accessible from the internet, one can share somewhat different, the D3 SP2 system behind opment of data. the data with other institutions running desk- it ensured a very rapid and standardized work- Uniview by itself does not warp the image top or dome applications. The challenge with flow that led to the completion of the show for dome projection, but relies on relay soft- these services is their complexity: You do not just in time. Maybe it would also be useful for ware or graphics hardware to do that. In my upload anything to the existing servers. If you an institution that is already equipped with case, I chose the OmniMap geocorrection li- want to display your own content, you need the large Sony System, but needs a compara- brary, which is freely available from the Elu- to run such a server. The software to do that is ble downsized alternative for production. menati2 website. Even though it assumes the free on the web. use of a fisheye camera and one can quite ex- At this point, I was asked to present my Content tensively manipulate the site and orientation work (and a bit more) to a delegation of the There was a suite of data available. My own of the projector relative to the dome, it was German Research Foundation (DFG) visiting research in El Salvador involved the complete written with single lens projection in mind our institution and evaluating our work (that geological mapping of the outcrops along and I was told there had not been a dual chan- is to say, they were deciding on the continua- about 40km of the Panamerican Highway. nel setup. tion of all our jobs). Suddenly, I found myself Geological maps and elevation data were pro- Nevertheless, I was able to align the system facing not just my own data, but that of an- vided by the Geological Service of El Salvador for 180° projection until the only alignment other ten or so scientists, with four weeks over (SNET). errors were due to the makeshift prototype Christmas to produce a 16-minute fulldome In addition to traditional techniques, I took lens and projector mounts. I am convinced data visualization show. The institute even multiple high dynamic range (HDR) allskies of that the alignment would have been perfect bought the projectors for that. all locations, which were later illustrated ac- with the final adaptors, but this was a test lim- My luck was perfect when Evans & Suther- cording to my geological interpretation. Fur- ited to a few days. land supported my project through an experi- thermore, I captured all rock walls in mosaics Apart from our longtime mutual plans for mental setup of a Digistar3 SP2 system. Not far of stereo images, which were later used to re- geoscientific data visualization, the reason for from where I work is the Mediendom of Kiel construct the entire location as a measurable at the University of Applied Science. This in- referenced 3D-model using the software Joint- 2 www.elumenati.com/products/omnimap.html stitution, heavily involved in dome research Metrix of 3GSM. So far, those models could

8 Planetarian March 2008 only be loaded into the dome as an off-line rendering since they are extremely large. That way, it was possible to revisit the sites in the dome and study them at a resolution of only a few cm, later taking re- mote measurements on a workstation computer. This demo also saw some successful fulldome 2k live capture that I had shot on one of our research vessels two years before. While this work had initially been done for allsky.de, i.e., for entertainment, it proved to be a great emotional framework for the show and we are currently discussing its scientific impact considering the advances in technology. In a later demo, we included high resolution time lapse of the Hawaiian volcanoes to which the scientists involved also reacted very positively. My institution, the Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences IFM-GEO- MAR, focuses on marine research and geosciences, comprising a world class suite of submersibles and remotely operated vehicles. Conse- quently, two complete dive sites at the Central American Trench were processed, including their bathymetry, the vehicle tracks and dynam- ic video windows of the underwater robot’s cameras.3 My supervisors provided maps of ash layer abundance4 (isopachs) for the volcanic systems along the Central American segment of the Ring of Fire. By attributing height information to individual layers of sediment, the geometry of the eruptive ash clouds could be recon- structed and thus their reaction to changing wind directions could be studied using the real-time model. Geophysical tomography data of the Earth’s mantle was exported to 3dsmax from the GOCAD software. These real-time models were in- corporated into the above-mentioned models on physical volcanolo- gy. Their volumetric nature could only be approximated as transpar- ent planes, yet the visual impression was already convincing. For all models, their functionality as real time objects could only be validated using the 3dsMax animation window and a 3D mouse. There was no time to port the models to Digistar3, although it could be done and is planned for a later stage.

Conclusion The overall goal of my dome effort was to validate the usability of domed displays for scientific work. Frustratingly, the scientists I ques- tioned emphasized the use for public outreach over their own benefit, yet the average reactions ranged from positive to enthusiastic. There was a clear consent on the usefulness of illustrated allskies in science and teaching, especially since they are static. I watched with great happiness as my institution and the Medien- dom work closer together, using the Mediendom’s 9m dome. The only drawback was the dome cost me more money than I had, therefore I need to sell it. It will be set up during the ADP meeting 6-8 April 2008 at the Mediendom in Kiel. You can read more about the project on www.tomsdome.de, but I strongly advise you to consult your vendor if you have plans for a fulldome system.

Acknowledgements: I would like to thank the companies Evans & Sutherland and SCISS/ Uniview as well as The Elumenati and 3GSM for their generous non- profit support of this academic undertaking. Practically all of my friends and family were involved in the construction or assembly of the dome. A big thanks to them, especially to Lars Wind. The Mediendom Top: Allsky image of a Salvadorian outcrop overlain by stratigraphic and tec- crew invaluably supported my work in a jump start. I would also like tonic interpretation based on field notes and image interpretation. Depicted to thank my supervisors, Dr. A. Freundt and Dr. S. Kutterolf, who had is a sequence of pyroclastic surge deposits. Bottom: Dome master of an ROV the guts to support this project. I dive site. Above the terrain model (grey) there are the tracks of two dives (red, yellow) and the positional data of the species mapped (point cloud). Note that the dataset has multiple layers. The model is surrounded by video windows linked to the tracks (white lines). 3 T. Schleicher, Diploma Thesis; Leibnitz Institut für Meereswissenschaften IFM- GEOMAR, (2006). 4 S. Kutterolf et al., Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst., doi:10.1029/2007GC001631 (in press)

March 2008 Planetarian 9 Everywhere you look ... Astronomy‛s All Around Us

Steve Tidey Freelance Astronomy Educator 58 Prince Avenue, Southend, Essex, SS2 6NN England

Picture the scene. You wake up on the morn- the Sumerian civilization—which was located Earth was covered with so much ice it was a ing of the day that you’ve decided to make a in what today is Iraq—is thought to have been small wonder nobody had yet invented whis- mental note of all the things you come across the first society that used their astronomical key and soda, our ancestors etched marks on in the course of your business for the next 48 knowledge to divide day and night into equal bones to mark the number of days in a lunar hours that have an astronomical connection. halves of 12 hours. Today this forms the basis cycle. Yet, long before that era, their ancestors You’re not an astronomer or a planetarian, for our modern 24-hour day. probably used the ocean to keep a rough but you do have a more than passing interest Getting out of bed, you study the calendar track of time—tides that are the product of the in astronomy. hanging on the back of your bedroom door, gravitational tug-of-war between the Earth, The heavens do influence us, you muse as checking social engagements for the rest of Sun and Moon. you lay in bed, staring at the ceiling and listen- the month. Ah, yes, you think. Month. That Before you’re done catching up with your ing to the radio. Astrologers were right, but for word derives from “moonth,” an old word social life, you ponder that the word “week” the wrong reason. For thousands of years the that described a full lunar cycle of phases. comes from an ancient German word mean- planets and stars haven’t had any spare time You recall how a variety of calendar systems ing “change”—in this case, the changing lunar to affect our personalities; they’ve been far over many millennia have been linked to sky phases. And then you remember that there too busy, thank you very much, inspiring our motions. As far back as 25,000 BC, when the are seven days in the week because the an- creative intellects and influencing the devel- opment of numerous calendar systems. And there are many everyday words and sayings of astronomical origin that are increasingly seen in the world of commerce, which is what you sense you’ll realize throughout the next two days. The more you think about it, the more you suspect that astronomy’s cultural influ- ences, handed down through the millennia, are surprisingly many and varied.

The fi rst infl uence you notice strikes as you glance at your Pulsar watch. Most watch faces are round, and you pon- der the belief some people hold that when the shape was adopted by early watchmakers in the 16th century, it was There are seven days in the week because the because they were influenced by the circular sundials that had been in fashion for thou- ancient Babylonians revered the seven celestial sands of years. Another thought: perhaps the objects (Sun, Moon, Mercury, , Mars, hands rotate clockwise to reflect the motion of the gnomon’s shadow. , and ) which they realized moved Pondering the 12 digits on the watch face, independently of the background stars.

you reflect that approximately 8,000 years ago Illustrations by Mark Stay, istockphoto.com

10 Planetarian March 2008 cient Babylonians revered the seven celestial You go downstairs to prepare breakfast spring. “You know, Wayne, when Emperor objects (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Ju- for yourself and your 7-year-old son, Wayne. Caesar made some changes to the calendar in piter, and Saturn) which they realized moved Turning on your Quasar television in the the first century AD, because of the problems independently of the background stars. The kitchen, you open the cupboard to grab some that the Earth’s motions were causing with Babylonians were also superstitious, and be- food. You’re faced with the sight of a bag of summer starting too early, he decided that lieved seven to be a lucky number. Sun chips and Cocoa cereal. Upon March should be the first month of the year. glancing at the washing machine below the That made September the seventh month. cupboard, you’re reminded that an acquain- And you know what? The word September What‛s today, you ask tance in England says you can buy Zanussi comes from a Latin word that means ‘seventh yourself as you get dressed. washing machines over there that have Sat- month.’” Saturday. All of a sudden urn as the company symbol. Here in the U.S., “Yeah, I learned that at school the other you’re remembering the as- Maytag makes Neptune washers and dryers. day,” he responds as he washes up his plate. tronomical background behind You open the fridge and pull out a carton of “Our science teacher said that May is named how the names we give the days of orange juice. Behind it you notice a bottle of after a Greek goddess, called Maia. She was one the week came about. The ancient Chaldean Palomar spring water. Wayne comes into the of the seven women that were called the Ple- astrologers, who lived in the Mesopotamian kitchen and sits at the table. iades. I think they’re names in that star clus- region of the Middle East, believed that each “Easter’s coming up next month,” you say ter you showed me through the telescope last of the seven revered celestial objects ruled a to him, as he tucks into his cereal. Another week.” different day of the week. Sunday, Monday, and Saturday, so their belief went, were the charge of the Sun, Moon and Saturn, respec- tively. The French words for the other days re- veal their origin: Mardi (Tuesday) is Mars Day, Mercredi (Wednesday) is Mercury’s day, Jeudi (Thursday) is Jupiter’s day, and Vendredi (Fri- day) is Venus’ Day. The corresponding English words are derived from various Norse gods, which were substituted for the Roman equiv- alents when the Roman seven-day week was introduced into Germanic countries. Wednes- “I do declare! day comes from Woden’s day (equivalent to Mercury). Thursday is Thor’s day (Jupiter). March is the Tuesday comes from the Norse god of war, Tiw (Mars). Friday is Frig’s day (Venus). She fi rst month was Woden’s consort, and the goddess of love and beauty. of the year!” That memory pulls along with it yet anoth- er one as you wash and shave. You remem- ber that the Egyptians believed that the sev- en bright celestial objects ruled the different hours of the day, and so the order of days dur- ing the week was determined by the object that ruled the first hour of a given day. The Egyptians had an Earth-centered idea of the Universe, and they believed the reverse order of objects, from the most distant moving in- wards toward Earth, was Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, the Sun, Venus, Mercury, and the Moon.

Starting with Sat- urn, therefore, Saturday connection. “Did you know the date for Eas- As Wayne gets dressed upstairs in his room, became the first day. Cy- ter Sunday is determined by the Moon’s phas- you browse through the newspaper. There’s cling through all seven objects es? A long time ago some bishops in Europe an article about the 2012 Olympics in Lon- for the next 24 hours they finished with Mars, decreed it should fall on the first Sunday fol- don, and you read that the dates on which and so, as the first hour of the next day was lowing the first full Moon after the vernal the ancient Greeks held the original Olympic ruled by the Sun, it became Sunday. Carrying equinox.” Games were determined by the Moon’s phas- on in the same vein, the other five days be- “Cool,” he replies, through a mouthful of es. From the first full Moon after the winter came Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Wednes- food, as he picks up his orange juice in a Com- solstice, they counted eight more, the last of day and Friday. You don’t recall ever seeing an et cup. which would mark the halfway point of the explanation as to why Wednesday and Thurs- That little factoid reminds you of a few Olympiad. day were later reversed. other things you want to pass on to your off- Elsewhere in the paper, you glance at a piece

March 2008 Planetarian 11 On the back seat of the car lies an arrange- ment of flowers for the bride, purchased through FTD. This florist’s symbol is a stylized version of the wing-footed Greek god, Mercury. Did they re- Driving through open farm alize that when they country, you admire the were fl ying at 1,000 k/h, fields of corn, which re- minds you that the Farm- the physics of time dilation, er’s Almanac includes a as described by Einstein, en- table that lists the most sured that, for them and the favorable planting times for various crops, based rest of the people aboard on the Moon’s phases. that plane, time was slowed For thousands of years down by an infi nitesimal- farmers have used the Moon’s predictable phases ly small fraction of and movements to simplify a second? the timing of planting seasonal crops, preparing for the rainy sea- son, etc. Later, you glance at fields which, a few months ago, were filled with pumpkins for Halloween. You muse how that festival dates back to the ancient Celts of Europe. They held about the Chinese New Year that recently be- noise, you think. Yes, I read somewhere that an annual festival approximately midway be- gan. The author informs readers that the “Chi- a small percentage of that is composed of nat- tween the autumnal equinox and winter sol- nese Year of” practice derives from a 12-year ural radio noise from the Sun and the rest of stice to mark the beginning of winter. It was a cycle based on Jupiter’s movements through the Galaxy. terrifying time for them, as they believed the the zodiacal constellations, a timeframe that Backing out on to the road, you glance up world was at risk of being invaded by mali- reflects the time it takes the giant planet to or- at the roof of your house, and you realize the cious spirits creeping through tears in the fab- bit the Sun. But, curiously, the order of con- drainpipes need cleaning after a heavy win- ric of nature as the seasons changed. stellation characters in the cycle is the reverse ter. That sets off a train of thought about the On the radio news you hear a feature about of the order in which Jupiter passes through tiny percentage of grit on an average house Lebanon, a Semitic word that derives from them. roof that’s composed of micrometeoroids that “Moon.” This item is followed by news of You fold up the paper and put it in a rack have gently fallen to ground from space. explorers in the Arctic. You’ve known for a on the floor. Now for the main business of Near the first stop sign you come to, you long time that word dates back to the ancient the day, you think. You’ll be setting off soon notice some trees that have been felled by re- Greeks, who noticed that as they traveled in your car with Wayne, to attend a family cent high winds. While you’re waiting for the northward, Ursa Major and others constella- wedding in Jupiter, Florida, many hundreds traffic to pass in front of you, you muse that tions rose higher in the sky. The Greek word of miles and several states away. It’s a two- the width of tree rings are partly determined for bear is “arktos,” so they called regions in day journey. You pull out a road atlas to check by solar activity. the far north “arktikos.” the route. After a while your gaze takes in the A few miles further on, before you get to As your car eats up the miles you smile whole of the USA, and you realize how many the highway, you drive down Aldrin Way in broadly; yesterday you got a promotion at other places have names with an astronom- a part of town where the council decided to work. You’re feeling great—in seventh heav- ical origin: Mars and Moon (), name a few streets after famous astronauts. en. This phrase harks back to the ancient Neptune (New Jersey), Earth (Texas), Orion The journey is only 30 minutes old, and Greeks, who thought there were seven trans- and Aurora (Illinois), and Star City (Arizona). Wayne has already asked, “Are we there yet?” parent spheres surrounding the Earth. Each several times. He’s had his head buried in a was thought to carry the seven bright, revered picture book that relates the classic children’s objects. “Seventh heaven” referred to the far- Bundling Wayne into your tale of Jack and Jill. But it neglects to explain thest of these, deep in heaven. car, a Saturn, you think that the story originates in an old Scandina- about other space-re- vian myth about the Moon. Jack was origi- lated car names: the nally Hjuki and Jill was Bil. The myth’s detail During the long journey you spot some Jowett Jupiter in the United is disputed, but one version has it that Hjuki state flags. Searching for a clear ra- Kingdom, the Ford Taurus, the was admiring the Moon’s spotless reflection in dio signal, you find a program various cars from Subaru (the Japa- the bottom of a well. Lowering himself down on PBS that informs you that nese word for the Pleiades, which is Subaru’s with a pail to get water, he got into difficulty almost half the U.S. logo), the Chevrolet Vega and Nova, the Nis- and Bil came down to help. But she got stuck, state fl ags feature ei- san Polaris and Pulsar, the Mitsubishi Eclipse, too. They were rescued by a beam of moon- ther the Sun or Moon. and so on. light and cast heavenwards, where they are The Moon shows its face on Turning on the radio, your ears are assault- seen today as the Moon’s mare. The Scandina- the flags of many Muslim coun- ed by white noise, which reminds you that vians pictured those markings as two children tries, too. The program closes with the you’d left it tuned between stations. White carrying a pole and bucket. information that the Southern Cross (Crux)

12 Planetarian March 2008 appears on the flags of , Austra- no heed to an old Irish folk-tale that claims if believe so. In a non-scientific sense, after all, lia, Western Samoa, and Papua New Guinea. you sleep with the Moon shining on your face “influenza” is a variation of an old word that After several hours Wayne complains of you will suffer a mild form of idiocy, called reflected a belief in a malign heavenly influ- a headache. Probably , you “moonstruck.” Seeing the Moon’s reflection in ence on our earthly affairs. This trip could be a think, so you stop at a strip mall to buy some a puddle outside as you speak reminds you of disaster, you fear. Oh, yes, disaster—that means pain reliever. The drug store displays the fa- “moonrakers,” a word sometimes used to de- “ill-starred.” miliar Rx symbol on its signage outside. You scribe simpletons. It became popular after an After another five hours of driving, at last already know it’s a modern version of an an- event a few centuries ago in Wiltshire, Eng- you arrive in Jupiter. Seeking out the bride cient Egyptian symbol representing the heal- land, when a group of people were seen trying and groom, you hand over the flowers and ing eye of the god Horus, which the Egyptians to rake the Moon’s reflection out of a pond. remind them that the tradition of using the saw in the sky each month as the waxing Wayne drops off to sleep quickly, and you ring finger for marriage dates from medieval Moon. The clerk puts your purchase in a bag get a full night’s sleep, too, which, you de- times, when palmists associated that finger that bears the classic coiled serpents symbol cide, only happens once in a blue Moon. This with the beneficent Sun, ruler of spiritual life. of the medical profession. The serpents are en- phrase refers to the supposed rarity of a sec- Gold, too, was linked with the Sun, and a vein twined round the winged caduceus, or staff, of ond full Moon in the same calendar month. was thought to run from the ring finger to the planet god Hermes (Mercury). But you recall reading in Sky & Telescope that the heart. You wish them all the best on their in reality it’s not unusual for this occurrence honeymoon, a word that may derive from the to occur twice in the same year. You dream Moon’s golden, honey-colored appearance in On the way out of the store you glance at of vampires, creatures that for centuries have June. Its lower altitude in the summer makes the display of sweets. Milky Way been associated with the Moon and eclipses. moonlight more prone to being distorted by and Starburst attract your eye, Thinking about it as you wake up, you drag the atmosphere and air-borne particles. Sev- but you resist their temptation. up a memory that one of the earliest transla- eral centuries ago, people who got married in You still miss the Mars tions of the word vampire was a lunar eclipse- June were said to have a “honey moon.” bar, which your friend can eating dragon. Observing everyone milling around in get in England but you can’t And didn’t an acquaintance in England the sunshine, you realize that here is a typi- buy any more in the states. once tell you that a cricket match in India was cal cross-section of society. There are people After several more hours of driv- temporarily stopped by a ? who are mercurial of temperament, as quick ing you pass through a time zone. As you ad- Before getting back on the road, you check to change moods as Mercury is to move in its just your watch, you think about how the 50 the weather forecast in the local paper. Read- close orbit round the Sun; people who are sat- states of the U.S. cover five zones, and that a ing it aloud to Wayne, you talk about how urnine, gloomy and uncommunicative, indic- total of 24 are spread round the earth at 15 de- the word meteorology was originally coined ative of slow-moving Saturn; and others who gree intervals that mirror the angular distance to deal with all matters above the atmosphere. are capricious, as unpredictable and impulsive covered by the Sun each hour. You also check the weather in the Mediterra- as the goat-fish in the constellation Capricor- Around 5 p.m. you decide to stop at a mo- nean, as friends are vacationing there on the nus. tel for the night. You reflect on how the terms island of Rhodes. It got its name from the an- “a.m.” and “p.m.” are abbreviations for “ante- cient Greeks, who lived on the island and wor- meridiem” (before the Sun reaches the merid- shipped a sun god. They revered the rose, as it You spot a long-lost friend. “By ian) and “post-meridiem” (after it crosses that was believed to be the god’s favorite flower, Jove,” you exclaim, appeal- point). and Greek for rose is “rhodos.” ing to the name the Ro- Later in the evening you point out the You think about the flight your friends mans gave Jupiter. “By full Moon to Wayne. “Did you know the took over to Europe. Did they realize that Jiminy,” he cries, refer- full Moon in September is called the Harvest when they were flying at 1,000 k/h, the phys- ring to the twins of Gem- Moon?” you ask him. “For thousands of years ics of time dilation, as described by Einstein, ini, immortalized by the light from the full Moon rising shortly after ensured that, for them and the rest of the peo- Greeks in that constella- sunset in September has given farmers extra ple aboard that plane, time was slowed down tion. hours to work in the fields at harvest time.” by an infinitesimally small fraction of a sec- A man off to your right is laughing. Per- You go on to relate how the Latin word for ond? Not enough to notice in any practical haps he was born under the influence of Ju- the Moon was “Luna” and the modern word sense, but there nevertheless. And what about piter, as astrologers believe that planet infuses “lunacy” reflects an old belief that the Moon the gravity, you wonder. The closer they flew such people with happiness, hence the adjec- could produce weird behavior in some peo- to the equator, the lighter the Earth’s grav- tive “jovial.” He is with a group of venerable ple. Wayne is goggle-eyed, and you amaze itational pull would become. So for a while senior citizens. “Venerable” comes from the him some more with the story of how the U.S. they were slightly younger and lighter than ancient Romans’ honor and respect of Venus, Congress passed the Lunacy Act in 1842. This they would have been if they’d stayed on the and so today it used for people that should be described what could be done with the un- ground. A fountain of youth and a new diet respected. fortunate souls who, it was believed, exhibit- plan. What more could they want! You smile and surmise that, on the evi- ed aberrant behavior brought on by some lu- dence of the last two days, astronomy’s cul- nar phases. Their lucid periods were thought tural influences clearly go far beyond getting to coincide with the waxing phases. The tablets that Wayne took a sun tan or having to decide between buy- “Does that mean you’re going to put me yesterday haven’t worked, and ing a Milky Way or Starburst. Light pollu- away when I misbehave?” Wayne asks, ner- it looks like he may be coming tion may have stolen many of the stars vously. down with a virus. Do some from our skies, you think to yourself, but “No, I don’t think so,” you reply, hugging of these invisible raiders their legacy has tendrils that reach deep him really come from space? into the nooks and crannies of our every- Putting Wayne to bed, you tell him to pay you wonder. Some astronomers day lives. And we’re the richer for it. ,

March 2008 Planetarian 13 Preparing for IYA with the Astronomical Society of the Pacific

Jim Manning Executive Director Astronomical Society of the Pacific 390 Ashton Avenue San Francisco, California 94112 USA

Consider for a moment what we knew of lined these efforts, including the important strate their activities to their colleagues and the universe in 1608. Conventional wisdom role that can be played by the planetarium to target audiences: astronomy professionals, said it was small and cozy, and we were the Big community. Check out the IAU and AAS ef- classroom teachers, museum educators, the Cheese at the center, toiling away on a mun- forts at www.astronomy2009.org and www. amateur astronomy community and—not dane Earth under a divine and largely deco- astronomy2009.us, respectively. least—the planetarium community serving rative sky. There were contrarians, but they The Astronomical Society of the Pacific on the front lines of astronomy outreach. In tended to publish on their deathbeds (think (ASP) is also playing a role in the effort to mo- other words, the astronomy “intermediaries” Copernicus) or got flamed for their unortho- bilize the troops for IYA, for it dovetails very who exist between the data and the public dox views (think Bruno). nicely with our own decades-long education and who will be crucial to the goal of giving But when Galileo fixed some lenses in a efforts and our recently rearticulated mission as many people as possible, around the world, tube and took a peep upward beginning in to increase public understanding and appreci- an experience of astronomy in ways that not 1609, everything began to change. ation of astronomy as a vehicle for advancing only spark new interest, but can sustain it af- In 2009 we celebrate the 400th anniversa- science literacy. ter the year is done. ry of that audacious act in a year-long obser- Consequently, one of the ways we’re play- We hope you’ll consider joining us in ear- vance of the modern era of astronomy—when ing a role is to use our annual meeting in ly June for the AAS meeting/ASP IYA Sym- we began to use tools and an increasingly sci- posium. It will provide a key entific perspective to see the universe as it re- for planetarians to share their IYA plans and ally is. The United Nations, UNESCO, and the work, to learn what others are doing and how International Astronomical Union (IAU) have to incorporate it, and to network with profes- all proclaimed it the International Year of As- sionals beyond the planetarium community tronomy, providing a unique opportunity to to help ensure a supportive, interconnected, shine a spotlight on astronomical endeavors and coordinated national and internation- around the world. al effort as we all strive for similar goals. For The IAU is coordinating a global celebra- more information, including dates, deadlines tion through a series of activities and “cor- for registering and submitting proposals, and nerstone” projects to stimulate worldwide in- 2008 as a vehicle for advancing IYA prepara- other guidelines, visit our meeting website at terest in this oldest of the sciences, and has tions. We will use the AAS “meeting within a www.astrosociety.org/events/meeting.html. established national coordinating nodes in meeting” format to join the AAS at its summer IYA offers a wonderful opportunity for sci- some 100 countries. The American Astronom- gathering in St. Louis to conduct an IYA Sym- entists and educators to work together in com- ical Society (AAS) is the national node for the posium in partnership with the Society, June mon cause to advance astronomy awareness U.S. and is developing a series of national sig- 2-4. The symposium will bring together scien- and understanding among the public, and to nature programs and encouraging regional tists, formal and informal educators, and out- help them connect with a cosmos that could and local efforts in education and public out- reach professionals to share and learn from barely be hinted at through Galileo’s sim- reach under an overarching goal: “To offer an each other, and to plan together as we prepare ple telescope. We’ve come a long way since engaging astronomy experience to every per- our activities and programs and link our ef- then. Let’s go a little bit farther—to St. Louis son in the country, nurture existing partner- forts to the important themes of the big year. this summer and to the IYA Symposium—to ships and build new connections to sustain Two days of workshops (on May 31 and connect with each other and make the most publi,c interest.” Shawn Laatsch’s article in a June 1) will precede the symposium to provide of this singular opportunity to raise global previous issue of Planetarian (June 2007) out- opportunities for IYA practitioners to demon- awareness of our universal heritage. I

14 Planetarian March 2008 March 2008 Planetarian 15 A Bittersweet Report: The Final Master’s Project at Dalarna University, Sweden

Lars Broman Teknoland Stångtjärnsv 132 SE 791 74 Falun, Sweden +46 2310 177 [email protected]

I am proud to present the eighth master’s project in Science Com- publishing all of the theses as an IPS special publication in CD format, munication that deals with planetariums and has been supported by a so plans are to distribute them to IPS members later this year. grant from Armand Spitz Fund for Planetarium Education. I am at the I will also take the opportunity to again thank the Armand Spitz same time sad to have to report that the Science Communication Mas- Fund for Planetarium Education and the IPS Council for supporting ter’s Program at Dalarna University has been closed down by the Uni- the program during the five years it has existed. It has encouraged versity’s rector, so this is also the final report. me to continue with the program up to my retirement as professor at However, IPS Publications Chair Dale Smith has shown an interest in Dalarna University.

Interactive Exhibition at Kyiv Planetarium, Ukraine

By Nataliya Kovalenko

Reason, Aim, and Process • Developing and de- The year 2009 is announced by UNESCO signing hands-on as the International Year of Astronomy. It is materials for the hoped that public interest in astronomy will IYA2009. reach its highest level at that time. To be ready One of the goals was to fulfill such interest, we wanted to reveal to develop the survey public response on current activities of Kyiv with strategically-de- Planetarium to find out new ways for com- signed questions. Two municating science effectively and to devel- types of survey question- op hands-on materials for IYA2009. naires were designed: The Kyiv Planetarium is equipped with a one for middle school Zeiss Skymaster 4 projector, has a dome of 23.5 pupils and the other for meters, and 300 seats. The study was dedicated the public that attends to finding out audience response on tradition- planetarium programs al and contemporary ways of teaching astron- on weekends. The sur- omy and space sciences at a big planetarium. vey was anonymous and The tasks included: used for evaluation of • Studying the audience response on Kyiv the demand for innova- Nataliya Kovalenko, master student at Dalarna University and educator at Kiyev Planetarium, Ukraine. Courtesy of Kiyev Planetarium Planetarium’s activities and revealing au- tive planetarium activi- dience expectations from the planetari- ties and the educational um prior to IYA2009; impact of interactive style lecture and astro- - adaptation of the Astro-Quiz program for • Creating exhibits to explain basic astro- nomical exhibits. It also allowed us to reach Kiev planetarium audience nomical concepts and evaluating their other important goals: to get feedback on our - literature search and development of ex- educational impact; shows to help us improve our presentations, hibits • Finding out the educational results of to study our audience and their expectations - development of questionnaires for visitors the interactive program Astro-Quiz, writ- from planetarium, to learn what people are study and public response on interactive As- ten by Pierre Chastenay from Montre- curious about, and to estimate the general lev- tro-Quiz program al Planetarium (the script won the 2005 el of public understanding of basic astronom- - visitors study: questionnaires, interviews IPS/Eugenides Foundation Scriptwriting ical concepts. (more data needed for statistical drawbacks) Competition and was published in Plane- The project followed the following frame- - brainstorming for ideas for development tarian for June 2006); and work: of hands-on materials for IYA2009

16 Planetarian March 2008 - development and production of hands-on Exhibits Designed atmosphere for up to 150 km high; the Earth materials for IYA2009 (in progress, and will be The main idea of the exhibits was to em- globe; the Earth and Moon; the Sun; the Sun continued after the thesis project) phasis humanity’s place in space and time. For and inner planets; the entire ; the that purpose, such exhibits were developed: solar system as a tiny spot; the Sun with clos- Findings A Cosmic Calendar: A big polygraph- est stars (Procyon, Sirius, Alpha Centauri; the People accepted the question and answer ic calendar (paper sheets fixed together at the Sun among the stars, out to Vega, Betelgeuse, program Astro-Quiz very well. They were top by a spiral) that contains such pages as the and Deneb); the Milky Way Galaxy; galaxies; ready to play and interact. While family vis- whole year, just December, just the 31st of De- clusters of galaxies; and the part of the Uni- itors on weekends replied cautiously and cember, the last 10 minutes, and the last 10 verse accessible to modern telescopes. This ex- wrong answers were rare (the question about seconds. The idea of the calendar belongs to hibit was also made into a PowerPoint presen- the reason for Moon phases was the first con- , who explained the history of the tation. troversial one), pupils attending with their universe (13.8 billion years) in one year. With- Distances and Sizes in the Solar Sys- school classes answered more vividly, not be- in the scheme of the Cosmic Calendar, one tem: Similar to the Structure of the Universe ing afraid of giving a wrong answer. As a con- month of the calendar is about one billion exhibit and also made into a PowerPoint, it clusion, Q&A programs may run successful- years of universe history, and a human life is represents planetary distances from the Sun ly in big planetariums like the one in Kiev, equivalent to approximately 0.16 cosmic sec- in various methods of measure: in AU, light where close interaction with the big and dis- onds. A Cosmic Calendar was also done as a seconds and minutes, and years for a rocket, tant audience is still difficult. PowerPoint presentation to run before the plane, car, and pedestrian. The length is about The survey indicates (more data needed start of the lectures. The paper exhibit is good 4.5 meters. to get the sample big enough to draw trends for school groups, while the PowerPoint pre- of statistical importance) that many people sentation is suitable for big audience during Acknowledgements visit the planetarium for the first time. Even weekends. I appreciate the supervision by Lars Broman though, they have some basic astronomical Structure of the Universe: A poly- and Ernst van Groningen from Dalarna Uni- knowledge (they marked that they read or lis- graphic interactive exhibit that can be turned versity and Klim Churyumov from Kiev Plan- ten to, from time to time, space news in the off and developed, where every next page is etarium. I acknowledge the grant from Ar- media). The audience answered correctly such connected to the previous one by a spiral. Ev- mand Spitz Fund for Planetarium Education questions as: ery next page represents the object or part of that helped me to recover the study trip to • What is bigger: the Earth - the Moon - the space 100 times bigger in size than the pre- Sweden as a distance student of Science Com- Sun? vious one. The pages are a green leaf; a tree; munication Master’s Program by Dalarna Uni- • What is the biggest planet in the Solar Crimean mountains (up to 1500 m high); the versity. I system? The right answer also was not rare for such classically misunderstood questions as: — Serving the Academic & Scientific Communities Since 1987— • What’s the reason for Moon phases? a) shadow from the Earth, b) from the Earth we see different parts of the Moon surface Scott Electric shined by the Sun, c) other SPECIALTY LAMP DIVISION • What’s the reason for seasons’ change? a) Earth is closer to the Sun in summer and further in winter, b) axis of the Earth is PROJECTION & STAGE/STUDIO LAMPS tilted, c) other • What is the brightest star in the night Lamp ANSI Code GE LOW COST $ $ sky? DYS/DYV/BHC 8.75 6.10 Many people still answered that there are EHG 13.05 11.45 nine planets in the solar system. The most ELC 9.40 8.10 difficult questions were about the age of the ELH 9.10 7.70 Earth and of the universe; it appeared that ENH 26.40 10.40 people really don’t care about it in their ev- ENX 10.85 7.20 eryday life. Answering other questions, quite often EVD 11.00 8.20 people marked that they do believe in horo- EXR 9.10 7.70 scopes. They would like to know from lectures EYB 10.00 5.90 in Planetarium about UFO, ETs, black holes, FEL 12.40 9.95 the future of the Universe, space missions, ori- FHS 10.75 8.40 gin of planets, constellations, and lunar cycles FXL 11.00 6.10 and their impact on agriculture. The majori- ty do believe that life may exist somewhere in FREE Shipping & Handling the universe, but have no idea what it might Orders shipped same day they are received! look like. As expected for IYA2009, people mentioned 1-800-442-8045 FAX: 1-877-837-8906 it would be nice to mount a telescope at plan- [email protected] etarium, to prepare a lecture about the history of astronomical discoveries, to organize meet- CALL TODAY ings with scientists, and/or to have a star par- Request a Complete Catalog for more savings! ty.

March 2008 Planetarian 17 The Changes of Meteorological Quantities During Solar Eclipses

Miloslav Machon Grammar School Cheb Nerudova 7 350 40 Cheb [email protected]

The Observatory and Planetarium Plzen es with higher resolution and accuracy were devices mentioned above financially. was an organizer of two solar eclipses expedi- made in 2001. They were used during the total The decision was made to carry out cal- tions in 2005 and 2006. The first expedition solar eclipse in Angola and Zambia that year. ibrations of all measuring modules of the took place starting at the end of September Three identical weather stations of the third third generation devices at the Laboratory of 2005; its target was observing an annular solar generation were developed between 2001 and the Czech Hydro Meteorological Institute in eclipse near the Spanish town , which 2005. They were used -Libu. occurred on 3 October 2005. An expedition to for this paper, dur- southern was organized to observe a ing the annular so- The Progressions total solar eclipse on 29 March 2006. lar eclipse in Spain in of the A meteorological experiment was included 2005 and the total so- Measurements in expert programmes of both expeditions; its lar eclipse in Turkey In Spain, the three target was measurement of the meteorologi- in 2006. weather stations were cal and physical quantities during these astro- The amount of mea- placed within the path nomical phenomena. sured quantities was of totality, but only Post processing of the measured data from expanded during con- data from the station the expeditions resulted in the paper “The struction of the mea- located the nearest to- Changes of Meteorological and Physical suring devices of the ward the central line Quantities during Annular and Total Solar third generation of (in 90% depth) were Eclipses.” The work was entered in the contest the SEMM project (e.g.: processed. The long- Secondary Scholar Activity in the Czech Re- the colour of the solar term weather forecast public and it won in the branch of Physics on radiation, the temper- by Fred Espenak and National Competition 2007 in Prostejov. ature of the soil at 5 Jay Anderson of NASA, The paper realized its primary goal: to be cm under the ground, accessibility of the site, the first detailed description of the changes and wind speed and and financial possibili- in the progressions of the meteorological and direction). The accu- ties of the members of physical quantities during annular and total racy and sensitivity expedition were tak- solar eclipses and consecutive comparison of of the measurements en into account during these kinds of solar eclipse in the light of it. were also improved. the choice of a suitable Measured values are observational site. The Weather Station of the third generation of Meteorological Measurement recorded with a 10- The observational the SEMM Project. All images by author Meteorological measurements were carried second periodici- site was located in east- out within the frame of the Solar Eclipse Me- ty, but the rate drops ern Spain in the neigh- teorological Measurement (SEMM) project, down to as little as a 1-second period during bourhood of Alicante, at approximately 38° which has existed at the Plzen Observatory the 30-minut period before and after the to- 36’ N; 00° 02’ W and altitude 0 m. The weath- and Planetarium since 1998. All the devices for tal (or annular) phase of a solar eclipse. This er station was operated by Petr Masek and measuring the intensity of the illumination makes it possible to acquire a large amount of Jan Vit. Two measurements were carried out and the of the air during the to- information about actions at the bottom lay- there. The first one took place on the annular tal solar eclipse in August 1999 were made by er of the atmosphere during totality. Obser- solar eclipse day (October 3, 2005) and the sec- Vaclav Svab and Jiri Hofman. vatory and Planetarium Plzen, led by Lumir ond one, the second referential, the next day A second generation of measuring devic- Honzik, kindly covered construction of the (October 4). Due to the lack of time, the first referential measurement on 2 October was not accomplished. The operating staff did not ExpertConsultants: Lumir Honzik, Observatory and Planetarium Plzen; Vaclav Svab, ENVIC (Environmental Information Centrum), Plzen; Karel Martinek, Grammar School, Cheb. Eng- accomplish records about meteorological sit- lish Language Consultants: Dalibor Boubin and Zbysek Ouhleda uation at the place, which made the process- ing of the measured data difficult.

18 Planetarian March 2008 were smoothed by trend lines of the move- ment averages with appropriate periods be- fore the numerical and graphical data pro- cessing. The curves were described by time intervals and the fundamental arithmetic and statistics operations were used during numer- ical processing. Only some interesting quantities are men- tioned below, considering the limited extent of this article; the entirety of the processing can be found in the original work.

Intensity of Solar Radiation Processing of the intensity of the glob- al solar radiation confirmed that the quanti- ty decreased, as expected, during both eclips- es. Indeed, the numerical processing showed very high and interesting differences of the amount of the decrease between these solar Graph 1: The correlated colour temperature of the solar radiation during the annular solar eclipse eclipses. Silicon photodiodes were chosen to sense this quantity. They were installed inside cases that ensured the cosine correction of the sensors with front-end filters. The value of the intensity of solar radiation decreased about 8 times compared to the val- ue before the beginning of the annular eclipse, when the eclipse magnitude was 95.2%. The value of this quantity decreased about 41000 times in comparison to the value before the beginning of the total solar eclipse in Turkey, with its magnitude 105.0%. The measurement showed differenc- es in the times of maximal phases of the so- lar eclipses mentioned in the predictions. The size of the difference between predicted time and measured time of the minima of the glob- al solar radiation was 48.6 s during annular so- lar eclipse. The value of this difference was 5.5 s during total solar eclipse.

Temperature of the Air Graph 2: The correlated colour temperature of the solar radiation during the total phase of the solar eclipse The measurement of the air’s temperature at 2 m above the ground and its consecutive Only one observational site located al- The first referential was carried out on the day processing showed the decrease of this quanti- most on the central line of the totality path before the eclipse (28 March 2006). Unexpect- ty during annular and total solar eclipse too. was created during the expedition to Turkey. ed technical problems appeared during the The amount of the quantity’s decrease was Its choice was influenced by the long-term launching of the device, so the measurement again higher during the total solar eclipse weather forecast by Espenak and Anderson, was manually set with a periodicity of 10- (about 0.4°C) than during the annular solar the weather statistics by Martin Setvak of the second records throughout all measurement eclipse. A certain influence of the heating ca- Czech Hydro Meteorological Institute, and fi- time. The second measurement was carried pacities of the Earth’s surface and the air was nancial possibilities of the members of the ex- out on the eclipse day (29 March, 2006) and shown during the processing, which showed pedition. no problems occurred during the start of the mainly the delay of all measured temperature The town Side, located on the southern measurement. The passage of a warm front minima toward the minimum of the intensi- coast of the Turkish Republic, was chosen as above the observational site caused a marked ty of the global solar radiation. a suitable site for astronomical observations change of the meteorological situation, so the and the meteorological experiment. The geo- second referential measurement was not ac- Correlated Colour Temperature graphical coordinates were approximately 36° complished. The temperature of the solar radiation is one 46‘ N; 31° 23‘ E and altitude 2 m. Operation of of the ways to express the colour of the mea- the weather station was by Lumir Honzik, Mi- Data Processing and Interesting sured radiation. The acquired results are one loslav Machon, Martin Adamovsky, and On- Results of the most interesting points of this project, drej Trnka. Two referential measurements also The data was processed in Excel. The mea- considering the fact that the quantity is not were accomplished during this solar eclipse. sured values were rounded off and the graphs usually taken into the account during the me-

March 2008 Planetarian 19 teorological-physical measurements during light does not appear markedly during sensing crease of the wind speed could be connected solar eclipses. The colour of the solar radiation of sky colour using that large viewing field. to the beginning of the formation of a high was sensed by a RGB colorimeter, the size of The measured data of the quantity showed pressure area above the observational site in viewing field is 180°. Processing of this quanti- small differences between predicted and mea- comparison the pressure on either side of the ty showed that its progression is different dur- sured times determining the beginning and path. ing an annular and a total solar eclipse. the end of total phase of the solar eclipse. Total blockage of the direct solar radia- Conclusion tion does not occur during an annular solar Wind Speed and Direction The processing of the measurements showed eclipse and light from marginal areas of so- The speed and the direction of the wind are the fact that there are marked differences in lar disc strike the observational site. These ar- other extraordinary measured quantities dur- progressions of the meteorological and physi- eas appear darker as a consequence of the limb ing a solar eclipse. The wind speed was mea- cal quantities between annular and total solar darkening phenomenon. The incident radia- sured by the cup anemometer; the wind di- eclipses. It is possible to contend that the mea- tion has a lower value of the correlated colour rection was sensed by the wind vane. The surement by the third generation devices in- temperature, which means that there is high- measuring module measures only the hori- troduced new results or specified known piec- er amount of red photons. zontal element of the wind. es of knowledge about the changes of these The situation is opposite during a total so- A marked and short-time decrease occurred quantities. It is possible then to consider the lar eclipse because of the total blockage of di- shortly after the maximal phases of both target of the work to be accomplished. rect solar radiation. Diffused solar radiation kinds of eclipses. This phenomenon was prob- The acquired results can serve as the basis strikes upon the measuring sensors only dur- ably caused by the astronomical phenome- for other activities concerning research of the ing totality. It has a higher value of the corre- na themselves, because of the decrease of the Earth‘s surface, such as an atmosphere mod- lated colour temperature as a consequence of temperature pressure gradient between the el, feedback of the atmosphere during rapid Rayleigh’s and it contains a higher observational site and its neighbourhood. meteorological changes, or investigation of amount of the blue photons. The shape of the The change in the wind direction was also the fauna and flora during solar eclipses con- curve representing the correlated colour tem- noticed. It was of long duration during the sidering the fact that the decrease of the elec- perature was caused by shape of the horizon, annular solar eclipse and the fact that it was tromagnetic radiation during a solar eclipse the presence of a boundary line between the caused only by the eclipse is not probable, is an unique natural phenomenon by virtue sea and the land, and the aerosols in the air. considering the duration of the phenomenon of its speed and amount of change. The mea- The comparison of the measured data and itself. sured data could be important for education colour temperature of the solar corona ac- A markedly shorter duration of change in because the fundamental relations among quired from digital photos of the total so- the wind direction was measured during the meteorological elements can show their ele- lar eclipse by Jiri Polak of Plzen Observatory total solar eclipse, which, on the other hand, mentary dependencies (e.g. temperature and and Planetarium showed the fact that coronal could be caused by the eclipse itself. The de- humidity of the air). Current meteorology and astronomy do not pay much attention to these areas. It is desirable, then, to continue with these mea- surements, which could be made possible by including the experiments with the expert programs of future expeditions of Observa- tory and Planetarium Plzen to the total solar eclipses in (1 August 1, 2008) and in (22 June, 2009). Remote sensing of the weather stations and its neighbourhood by cameras would help make the processing of a measurement easier. In the conclusion of this article I would like to thank the director of the Observatory and Planetarium Plzen Lumir Honzik, Vaclav Svab, and Karel Martinek for their valuable guidance during this project. My thanks also belong to my parents for their financial sup- port during my expedition to Turkey in 2006. I would also like to express my thanks to Dali- bor Boubin and Zbysek Ouhleda. The work is available for download from the website: hvezdarna.plzen-city.cz/zatme- ni/semm/eng/index.html I

20 Planetarian March 2008 Minutes of the IPS Council Meeting Conference Room Rio De Janeiro Planetarium Rio de Janeiro, August 4 & 5, 2007

* indicates action items Planetarium Society of India (PSI) be completed by the end of October. The re- Russian Planetarium Association (RPA) port will be forwarded to Council members at In attendance: Ukrainian Planetarium Association (UPA) that time. Shawn pointed out that the Great President Susan Button Lakes Planetarium Association made a spe- President Elect Tom Mason Guests: cial contribution to the Armand Spitz Plane- Past President Martin George Dr. Dale Smith - Chair, Publications Commit- tarium Education Fund and the Star Partners Treasurer Shawn Laatsch tee Fund, and other regionals are encouraged to Secretary Lee Ann Hennig Larry Cupik - Adler Planetarium, Chicago, Illi- consider this as well. Lars Broman suggested nois, USA-IPS 2008 Conference providing some mechanism for on-line con- Affiliate Representatives: Dr. Jin Zhu - Planetarium, Beijing, Chi- tributions specific to these funds. Presently Association of Dutch Speaking Planetariums na-IPS 2010 Conference Bid they are linked to the IPS Dues renewal op- (ADSP) – Thomas Kraupe for André Milis Ms. Li Bing and Ms. Lin Xiao - Beijing, tion. Shawn explained that with the present Association of French Speaking Planetariums Dr. Jacques Guarinos - Saint-Etienne Planetar- software and billing arrangements, we cannot (APLF) – Dr. Jacques Guarinos for Agnès Ack- ium, Saint-Etienne, France-IPS 2010 Confer- separate the dues renewal from the contribu- er ence Bid tion selections. Association of Mexican Planetariums (AM- Omar Fikry - Alexandria Library, Egypt-IPS Council reviewed and discussed specifics of PAC) – Susan Button for Ignacio Castro 2010 Conference Bid the 2006 Financial Report, the mid-year 2007 Pinal Dr. Michel Sauma - President, Association of Budget, and the proposed 2007/08 budget. Australasian Planetarium Society (APS) – Mar- Brazilian Planetariums Lars Broman moved to approve the Treasur- tin Bush Alexandre Cherman - Scientific Director, As- er’s Report, seconded by Thomas Kraupe and British Association of Planetaria (BAP) – Dr. sociation of Brazilian Planetariums approved by Council with one abstention. Tom Mason Carmen Ibarra - President, Planetarium Foun- In the Membership Report, Shawn re- Canadian Association of Science Centres dation ported that total membership as of June (CASC) – Ian McLennan Ormis Rossi - Director, Rio de Janeiro Planetar- 2007 is 580 (246 International Members and Council of German Planetariums (RDP) – ium 334 United States Members). Council dis- Thomas Kraupe Fernando Vieira - Manager, Rio de Janeiro cussed the issue of lower membership num- European/Mediterranean Planetarium Associ- Planetarium bers and Shawn commented that in non-con- ation (EMPA) – Lee Ann Hennig for Diony- Nuno Caminada - Technical Engineer, Rio de ference years, membership renewals come in sios Simopoulos Janeiro Planetarium throughout the year, not in the first half of Great Lakes Planetarium Association (GLPA) – Luiz Sampaio - Zeiss Representative (Omn- the year leading up to the conference. He not- Dave Weinrich islux) ed that it is necessary for Affiliate Represen- Great Plains Planetarium Association (GPPA) – tatives to take an active role in encouraging John Hare for Jack Dunn The meeting was called to order at 9:05 A.M. their regional planetariums to take advantage Italian Planetaria’s Friends Association (IPFA) – by President Susan Button. Susan welcomed of IPS membership. Regarding the Associates’ Lars Broman for Loris Ramponi everyone to the meeting and introduced our Initiative, Shawn reported that 90 people par- Japan Planetarium Association (JPA) – Shoi- Brazilian hosts. President Susan Button pre- ticipated in this endeavor. This proposal arose chi Itoh sented our hosts with several gifts in appreci- from a recommendation by the Strategic Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society (MAPS) – ation of their efforts to organize and host the Planning Committee for making IPS more ac- Gloria Villalobos for Patty Seaton 2007 IPS Council. Following the introductions cessible to the international community. The Nordic Planetarium Association (NPA) – Lars of Council members and guests, Susan recog- intent of this initiative is to invite non-mem- Broman nized new Council members and reviewed bers around the world, at no cost, to become Pacific Planetarium Association (PPA) – Jon El- the format for the Council meeting as well as IPS Associates who will receive IPSNews vert for Gail Chaid changes in the agenda. electronically. The purpose of this proposal is Rocky Mountain Planetarium Association The Secretary’s Report on the Minutes to introduce non-members to IPS, to boost IPS (RMPA) – Tom Mason for Kevin Scott of the 2006 Melbourne, Australia Meeting had visibility, and to make IPS more inclusive. IP- Southeastern Planetarium Association (SEPA) been previously published in the March 2007 SNews and the IPS Website are the major vehi- – John Hare Planetarian. There being no corrections or cles for “Associate” information. Council will Southwestern Association of Planetariums additions, Martin Bush moved to accept the review this initiative at the Council Meeting (SWAP) – Shawn Laatsch for Tony Butter- Minutes, seconded by Dave Weinrich, and ap- in 2008. worth proved by Council. President Susan Button asked the Treasurer Treasurer Shawn Laatsch presented the about discounted IPS membership. Shawn ex- Affiliates not in attendance: Treasurer’s Report. Shawn reported that plained that discounted membership for IPS Association of Spanish Planetariums (APLE) the annual audit was in progress and should through an affiliate based connection would

March 2008 Planetarian 21 be very difficult in terms of accounting prac- nese associations which is now called the Ja- presented to the Council for consideration as tices. He encourages the affiliates to explore pan Planetarium Association. well as the first Technology Award nominee. this possibility from their side of the member- NPA Representative Lars Broman an- All nominees were approved by Council. The ship accounting procedure. John Hare moved nounced that their regional has grown to in- honorees will be presented at the IPS Confer- to approve the Membership Report, seconded clude the Faeroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, ence in Chicago. Chair Jon Bell announced his by Lars Broman and approved by Council. and Latvia. decision to step down from the chair position. Past President Martin George presented PPA Representative Jon Elvert for Gail President Susan Button appointed Lars Bro- the Past President’s Report and under- Chaid reported on the upcoming 2007 PPA man as the new chair of the committee. scored the importance of the continuity of Conference in Fairbanks, Alaska. the President-Elect/President/Past-President SEPA Representative John Hare underscored Elections Committee position in terms of strengthening that po- the significance of the upcoming SEPA/GLPA/ President Susan Button presented the IPS sition in many ways. Martin’s report will be MAPS meeting at Oglebay Conference Cen- Elections Committee report on behalf published in the September 2007 Planetari- ter, in Wheeling, West Virginia, October 9-13, of Chair Steve Mitch. The election results of an. He highlighted his commitment to build 2007. 2006 are as follows: on efforts to spread the ideals and objectives SWAP Representative Tony Butterfield was President-Elect: Dr. Tom Mason of IPS, forge new connections with other orga- unable to attend the Council meeting and Executive Secretary: Lee Ann A. Hennig nizations and associations, and develop stron- several unsuccessful efforts were made to con- Treasurer/Membership Chair: Shawn ger ties with existing partners. Martin will also nect with him through SKYPE. Laatsch continue to work as Chair of the Internation- Council acknowledged IPFA Representa- Elections Committee Chair Steve Mitch al Relations Committee to pursue its mission tive Loris Ramponi for his efforts in collecting will call for nominations in March 2008 for and goals. material from the regionals for the Interna- the next round of elections. Steve also submit- President Susan Button delivered the Presi- tional Calendar of Planetarium Events which ted a proposed statement to the candidates dent’s Report. This report will be published is available on the IPS Website. Members are regarding protocol during the elections pro- in the September 2007 Planetarian. Susan con- reminded to send any information regarding cess.* Council reviewed the document and centrated on the following topics: relevant conferences and meetings to Loris for expressed agreement with the content of the • Working with others to carry on the busi- inclusion in his calendar. statement. ness of IPS, publicizing the good work of IPS President Susan Button spoke to the absence and exchanging ideas of information regarding Portable Planetari- Publications Committee • Increasing communication among Coun- ums in the Affiliate Reports and urged Coun- The IPS Publications Committee Chair cil and Committees cil members to put forth an extra effort to Dale Smith reported on the activities of the • Revitalizing the Education Committee include news and communications with por- Committee. Sharon Shanks, who became Ex- • Making the IPS Website a more vital arm tables in their regions.* Susan will communi- ecutive Editor of the Planetarian in September of the organization cate with representatives from the Ukraini- 2006, has made an excellent transition since Dave Weinrich moved to accept the Past an and Russian Planetarium Associations in John Mosley’s retirement. Preparation of the President’s and President’s reports, seconded terms of their status as affiliates. 2007 IPS Directory (edited by Chair Dale Smith) by Lars Broman and approved by Council. is well underway and expected to be complet- Shawn Laatsch moved to accept all Affiliate ed by the end of the year. The Directory is also Affiliate Reports Reports, seconded by Dave Weinrich and ap- available in the members-only area of the IPS Written Affiliate Reports were re- proved by Council. website. The IPS Directory is published on a bi- viewed. In Affiliate News from the floor: ennial basis with updated files available on RDP Representative Thomas Kraupe report- New Affiliate Application the website between editions. ed that planetariums in and Switzer- President Susan Button introduced Alexan- land were members of their regional associa- dre Cherman, Scientific Director of the Associ- Special Publications: tion. Thomas also informed Council of a joint ation of Brazilian Planetariums, to present the The IPS Astronomical Songbook (Jon Bell, ed- project with ESA and European planetariums application for affiliation to the IPS Council. itor) and Moonfinder (Jay Ryan, artist/author) celebrating the International Year of Astron- The documents were reviewed and discussed. are near completion. omy 2009, which will result in a planetarium Council voted to accept the first affiliate in Status of other documents, publications, program for distribution. More details will be South America, the Association of Brazilian and efforts: forthcoming as the project develops. Planetariums. ABP President Michel Sauma • The Proceedings of the IPS 2006 Melbourne GLPA Representative Dave Weinrich men- announced that Alexandre Cherman will be Conference are in process. tioned the Triple Conjunction Conference in the IPS Affiliate Representative. • The archive of past publications has been October 2007 at Oglebay for GLPA, MAPS, and released as a set of 8 CDs: $75 for members SEPA. GLPA continues to donate to the IPS Standing Committee Reports and $175 for non-members. Star Partners Fund and the IPS Armand Spitz Standing Committee Reports were • Dale reported that IPS maintains three re- Planetarium Education Fund and encourages presented, reviewed and discussed.* Full re- positories of back publications: the U.S. Re- other affiliates to consider donating to these ports and updates will be posted on the indi- pository is with Treasurer/Membership important projects as well. vidual Committee WebPages on the IPS Web- Chair Shawn Laatsch; the European Reposi- MAPS Representative Gloria Villalobos will site. tory is with Chris Janssen at Europlanetari- share some news of an effort to assist planetar- um in Genk, Belgium; and the Asian Repos- iums in danger of closing (her facility faced Awards Committee itory is with Shoichi Itoh at the Suginami that possibility this past year). President Susan Button presented Chair Jon Science Center in , Japan. JPA Representative Shoichi Itoh reported Bell’s IPS Awards Committee Report. The on the reorganization of the 3 regional Japa- IPS Fellows and Service Award nominees were

22 Planetarian March 2008 Ad Hoc Committees be hosted by Marián Vidovenec. The Com- ship were approved and incorporated in the Ad Hoc Committee Reports were pre- mittee continues to seek contact people in updated version of the By-Laws. sented, reviewed and discussed. Complete re- each regional affiliate and news of their activ- Conferences ports will be posted on the IPS Website. ities for publication in the Planetarian. Affili- IPS 2006 Melbourne Conference ates are encouraged to provide information of Australasian Planetarium Society Repre- Education Committee interest to portable planetariums in regional sentative Martin Bush presented the 2006 IPS The IPS Education Committee Report newsletters and conferences. Conference Report on behalf of Tanya Hill. It was presented by President Susan Button on was a comprehensive report addressing all is- behalf of newly-appointed Chair Brock Schro- Professional Services Committee sues concerning the conference and will be eder. Brock has expressed an interest and com- President Susan Button reported that Chair a model for future conference reports. Coun- mitment in revitalizing the committee and Mike Murray had corresponded with her con- cil commended Martin, Tanya and their won- strengthening the role of education in the in- cerning some ideas and goals that the com- derful staff for an amazing conference. The ternational planetarium community. mittee should address. Mike will articulate blending of education, cultures, astronomy, these plans and move forward with the com- exhibits, and planetariums spoke to the well History Committee mittee to meet the objectives. organized and seamless nature of the Local Or- The IPS History Committee Report ganizing Committee’s efforts. was delivered by Historian John Hare. John Script Contest Committee John Hare moved to accept the Conference continues with the task of scanning photo- President Susan Button presented the IPS Report, seconded by Thomas Kraupe and ap- graphs and slides. He has also incorporated an Script Contest Committee report on behalf proved by Council. extensive printed materials section of the ar- of Chair Steve Tidey. Winning scripts from chive, which also includes many regional af- 2006 were printed in 2 issues of the 2006 Plan- IPS 2008 Chicago Conference filiate archives. “Voyaging Among Stars,” an etarian. The call for the next contest was offi- Larry Cupik reported on behalf of Paul autobiographical compendium by Von Del cially launched in the March 2007 Planetari- Knappenberger of the Adler Planetarium re- Chamberlain, was donated to the IPS Archives. an. The closing date is December 31, 2007, and garding plans for the June 27-July 2, 2008 John encourages members to pass on relevant the winners will be announced at the 2008 IPS IPS Conference to be held in Chicago, Illinois material for the IPS Archives. Conference in Chicago. USA. Larry explained that a serious problem arose concerning hotel availability during the International Relations Website Committee originally planned dates of June 15-20, 2008, Committee President Susan Button presented the IPS which necessitated a change in dates for the The IPS International Relations Website Committee Report on behalf of conference. Plans are progressing for all events Committee Report was presented by Chair Chair Alan Gould. The Council reviewed Al- related to the Conference and details will be Martin George. Martin reported on the com- an’s proposal for incorporating a planetari- posted on the IPS Website as they become mittee’s efforts to reach out to China, Brazil, um location map system on the IPS Website available. and Russia and encourage their participation and directed him to proceed with the project. in the global community of planetariums. The IPS Website continues to evolve under IPS 2010 Conference Bids were pre- The committee continues to work on the goal Chair Alan’s supervision. Council members sented by the following representatives: of completing the series of translations for the discussed their views of the website. Thomas • Dr. Jin Zhu, Beijing Planetarium, Beijing, IPS Membership Brochure and resolving some Kraupe suggested that the site should provide China. The dates for a Beijing conference of the issues of translations at conferences. a means of communication among members, would be July 4-8, 2010 not just to members. • Dr. Omar Fikry- Library of Alexandria, Alex- Outreach Committee IPS’ presence on the web is critical and andria, Egypt. The dates for an Alexandria IPS Outreach Committee Chair Jon El- should develop means of addressing topics conference would be July 12 -15, 2010. vert has reported on his committee’s efforts in and issues. * Council agreed to work along • Dr. Jacques Guarinos- Saint-Etienne Plane- the June 2007 Planetarian’s President’s Mes- with the committee on a vision for the web- tarium, Saint-Etienne, France. The dates for sage, as well as posting on IPSNews and on site’s potential. a Saint-Etienne conference would be July the IPS Website. Activities and plans are un- 17-21, 2010. derway for involvement in the Internation- No Reports were submitted from the Plan- al Polar Year 2007/08, the International Year etarium Development Group, Technology All of the representatives for the potential of Astronomy 2009 and related celebrations Committee, and Full Dome Committee. host sites conveyed their plans and visions of to those events. Jon has participated on IPS’s IPS 2010. behalf at several panel discussions and confer- Martin Bush moved to accept all Affiliate President Susan Button announced that the ences regarding outreach and media connec- Reports, seconded by Jon Elvert and approved vote for the IPS 2010 site would be the first tions related to the planetarium community by Council. order of business the following day in order and its interaction with other organizations. to allow time for discussion among Council Constitution Issues members and potential hosts. Portable Planetarium Committee Secretary Lee Ann Hennig presented the Dave Weinrich moved to adjourn the meet- Chair Susan Button presented the IPS Por- draft of revisions to the Standing Rules for dis- ing until August 5, 2007, seconded by Thomas table Planetarium Committee Report. cussion. *Additional changes for the Stand- Kraupe and approved by Council. Since a new editor for the Planetarian column ing Rules and Conference Guidelines will be HHH had not been appointed, Susan will contin- submitted to Council for comment and sub- The meeting was called to order at 9:25 A.M. ue to write the column. The Fourth Europe- sequent action before the end of this year. by President Susan Button. an Meeting of Itinerant Planetaria will be held By-Law changes placed on the October 2006 The Agenda returned to the Council vote Sept. 6/7, 2007 in the Slovak Republic and will ballot for consideration by the IPS member- for IPS 2010.

March 2008 Planetarian 23 The uniqueness and cultural appeal for the new chairs and has reevaluated the goals and ciety of the Pacific to planetariums [full dome wide range of potential conference sites made objectives of a few committees. and traditional planetarium versions]). An ar- for a difficult decision by Council. After re- Secretary Lee Ann Hennig reminded Coun- ticle describing the project will be published viewing the information and plans for each of cil members about the importance of utilizing in the December 2007 issue of the Planetari- the potential host sites, Council voted for Al- the IPS Council Yahoo Group site. This an. exandria, Egypt to host the IPS 2010 Confer- site allows Council to post large files for dis- Thomas Kraupe described an ESA project ence. Both China and France were urged to re- cussion purposes and other documents neces- aimed more toward the traditional planetari- submit bids for future IPS Conferences. sary for reference in business between Coun- um presentations. cil meetings. Outreach Committee Chair Jon Elvert re- Unfinished Business President Elect and Strategic Planning ported on the National Science Foundation, Secretary Lee Ann Hennig presented a draft Committee Chair Tom Mason plans to de- American Astronomical Society, and Astro- of Conference Guidelines documents velop a survey to address issues affecting the nomical Society of the Pacific project to dis- for Council to review. Feedback from Coun- membership regarding IPS services and proj- tribute tabletop telescopes. cil will be used to revise the documents and ects: topics will include organization and There will also be a 3-5 minute Kiosk pro- incorporate them into the revised Standing management of business affairs; long and gram component relating to this project. Rules draft. short-term goals of IPS. RDP Representative Thomas Kraupe reit- NPA Representative Lars Broman reported erated that there are a number of significant on the status of the Armand Spitz Plane- New Business anniversaries and celebrations in the next tarium Education Fund grant approved President Susan Button presented a plan to 3 years. We need to ensure that IPS is for two of the master students in science com- establish a Media Coordinator position for a bridge that connects the cultural munication at Dalarna University. Lars gave a the purpose of raising awareness/visibility for and geographical aspects of astrono- brief review of the entire program up through IPS and planetariums around the world. This my-this can serve to bring cultures to- the spring of 2007. Inga Gryl of Germany and person would be responsible for coordinating gether. Nataliya Kovalenko of Ukraine were the stu- publicity through IPS. * Past President Martin Martin George will be attending the IAU dents sponsored in 2007. Their theses will be George and President Susan Button will draft meeting this fall highlighting “Dark Skies- Our submitted for publication in the Planetarian a proposal outlining the duties of this position Universal Resource”. * Martin will work with in 2007. Although Lars would not be seeking and present it to Council for review. Thomas on ideas for coordination with these scholarships this year, he thanked Council for * President Susan Button announced that events. the generous and continued support provided Web Committee Chair Alan Gould will pro- Council dedicated a moment of silence in by the ASPEF. President Susan Button thanked ceed with the Website Map Project as dis- honor of our colleagues John Dickenson and Lars for the good work that he and the stu- cussed during the Committee Reports. Gabriel Muñoz who passed away this year. dents have produced. * Former President and MAPS Representative Gloria Villalobos re- Publications Chair Dale Smith and Lars were ported on an initiative of which she had per- With business completed, Jon Elvert moved asked to prepare a document outlining the sonal ties with: to adjourn the Council Meeting, seconded by procedure for Armand Spitz Planetarium Ed- “Save the Planetarium Fund, Inc.” Lars Broman and approved by Council. ucation Fund proposals. The group was instrumental is helping Glo- Respectfully Submitted, ria’s facility when it was in jeopardy of clos- Lee Ann A. Hennig Past President Martin George reported that ing. The group will act as intermediaries and IPS Secretary work on a Memorandum of Understand- offer support in the following ways: August 30, 2007 ing formalizing the flow of information be- • provide resources for assistance in the effort tween IPS and NASA has not been signed by to avoid closing a facility NASA. There appears to be some procedural • work with other organizations to assist points yet to be addressed as well as personnel planetariums in jeopardy changes within NASA that complicated the • design a plan of action for assistance to formal agreement. Jon Elvert commented that planetariums this has been an initiative which began under • serve as a clearing house for experiences of his tenure as President. As Chair of the Out- what works/doesn’t work in dealing with a reach Committee, Jon has an interest in seeing closing this MOU move forward as a model for agree- Council discussed the implications of dona- ments with other organizations. Tom Mason, tions/tax implications for non-U.S. countries Thomas Kraupe, and Shawn Laatsch also com- to this organization. Gloria remarked that the mented that there are other groups which IPS organization is in the process of applying for a will be considering as partners in a variety of 501C-3 status. endeavors and that an MOU template is an es- President Susan Button will follow up with sential vehicle in sharing information with the officials of the “Save the Planetarium the public. * The officers will move forward Fund, Inc.” with the project. Shawn Laatsch reported on the History of the Telescope Project celebrating “400 President Susan Button reported that she Years of the Telescope” as part of the Interna- was reassessing committee structure tional Year of Astronomy. The project will in- and would be making some announcements volve a two part PBS documentary, a thirty very soon regarding particular committees. minute planetarium program (distributed at The President has already appointed several no cost through IPS and the Astronomical So-

24 Planetarian March 2008 I think it will empower us to use our talents President’s Message and creativity to map out some action plans to ensure that planetariums not only survive, est in technologies, new content for various but also thrive in the future. This is one way systems, great speakers, excellent demonstra- to make the best use of our face-to-face time tions under the domes, quality workshops, together. and be able to network with colleagues from And there’s more! “Public Education and all over the world. Those of you who have at- Public Outreach” and “Ensuring Quality: Eval- tended IPS Conferences in the past know that uation, Research and Professional Develop- these things make it very worthwhile to at- ment” are two other major topic threads that tend. But that is not all! will be explored. What else will you gain? As I was speaking Keep checking for updates on the website with the planning committee I became very and if you haven’t yet registered, please do it interested and excited about their ideas to re- now by going to ips2008.org. ally impact the way we think about planetari- ums and their role in the future. They promise IPS Conference 2010 to help us define what is necessary to thrive Dr. Omar Fikry is already working hard on in the future by focusing and capitalizing on the IPS 2010 Conference and will build excite- the unique qualities of planetariums. We will ment for this meeting in Alexandria, Egypt leave this conference with concrete plans and with a presentation steps we can implement so that our commu- during the members nities, now and in the future, view planetari- meeting at the 2008 Susan Reynolds Button ums as vital institutions. Conference. The new Quarks to Clusters date of IPS 2010 will Big Issues for Planetariums be 26-30 June instead 8793 Horseshoe Lane Early in the conference you will be chal- of 12-15 July 2010. Chittenango, NY 13037 USA lenged to begin thinking about some big is- This is to avoid con- sues for planetariums and how the conference flict with members’ (1) 315-687-5371 will address these issues. Then you will experi- travel plans to view (1) 315-263-1985 (cell) ence sessions in various venues and hear about the solar eclipse on 11 how planetariums experienced success in the July 2010. To contact [email protected] past and in the present. After several break- Omar: Omar Fikry, Dr. Omar Fikry out sessions (panel discussions), where partic- head of shows and Marketing a Conference ipants will do some brainstorming, there will programs unit, Planetarium Science Center, We are all extremely busy and with our be a wrap-up session near the end of the con- Bibliotheca Alexandria, El Shatby, Alexandria shrinking budgets, many of us have looked ference where session reports and recommen- 21526 Egypt; work +203-4839999, ext.1465. upon real-time meetings as a special treat dations will be presented to conference dele- that we give ourselves. We seek to become re- gates. Professional Development freshed, gain a new perspective on our work, I find this a remarkable agenda that pro- I also have just returned from the exciting and to come away with concrete ideas for vides for real collaboration among colleagues. planetarium re-launch events in Hilo, Hawaii making constructive changes in our planetar- iums. Conference planners who want to cap- ture delegates, then, must make a strong case for each meeting by highlighting how peo- ple will benefit from attending. Too often we point out the great location, technology, spe- cial speakers, and the general features of the meeting and frequently this does not strike a strong emotional chord that will compel a colleague to spend the time and money to at- tend the conference. Keeping all that in mind, let’s talk about the IPS 2008 Conference. As this column is be- ing written, I am sitting in the Hyatt Regen- cy McCormick Place in Chicago. It is my en- viable job to try out this first class hotel, to make sure it fulfills our conference needs, and to meet with the conference planning com- mittee. And, yes, the hotel and its facilities are wonderful and you will enjoy them. These members of the Conference Planning Committee met with me at the Adler. The box that Dr. Paul Knappenberger and I are holding contains “the Bird” that is passed along to each conference host to re- It was a pleasure to review the conference mind them to work hard for us. Too bad you cannot see that it is wearing a “footie scarf” from its stay in committee’s exciting plans for IPS 2008, “Ex- Melbourne! Left to Right: Dr. Mark SubbaRao, Mark Webb, Larry Ciupik, Beth Azuma, Dr. Knappenberg- ploring the Edge.” Let me tell you what you er, me, Dr. Jose Francisco Salgado, Michelle Nichols, Karen Donnelly (seated), Julie Bishop. All photos pro- will gain from this meeting. You’ll see the lat- vided by Susan Button unless otherwise noted.

March 2008 Planetarian 25 on 13-14 January 2008. This was a grand event, nate and facilitate activities in support of the as the opening of the first 3-D stereo capable IYA among, as its name implies, visitor and sci- planetarium in the world was premiered. This ence centers, observatories, and planetariums. two-day event at the newly renovated plane- Watch this site for announcements and plans: tarium in the Imiloa Astronomy Center of Ha- astronomy2009.us/epo_centers/2007/08. waii was packed full of special demonstrations, If you have any suggestions that you think shows, and astronomer talks under the dome. should be incorporated into this group’s plans, It was a wonderful professional development go to “talk to us” and click on Forums. You can opportunity. I was grateful to visit with some read others’ entries and input your own ideas old and some new friends as we learned about and comments. some of the latest developments in technolo- Contact Information: Peter Michaud, pub- gy and research and acquired a deeper under- lic information and outreach manager, Gem- standing of the relevant science and cultural ini Observatory, 670 North A'ohoku Place, content. The astronomers were quite amazed Hilo, Hawaii 96720 USA; pmichaud@gemini. at the experience of seeing their data in this 3- edu; +1 808-974-2510; www.gemini.edu D stereo environment; some did not want to leave the planetarium! Can You See the Stars? Planetarium events/special programs we I have discovered over the years that many experienced included: planetarians are not aware of a terrific pro- “Hawaiian Celestial Navigation” by Master gram that is designed for students, teachers Navigator Kâlepa Baybayan, Polynesian Voy- and parents. The first time I was introduced aging Society; to this program, I was impressed. This pro- “Hawaiian Astronomy and Sky Lore” by Dr. gram is a natural fit for planetariums and our Paul Coleman, Institute for Astronomy, Uni- missions. It can provide a meaningful way for versity of Hawaii; planetariums and science centers to reach out “The Universe in 3D Stereo” by Steve Sav- to the community. The GLOBE at Night cam- age, Sky-Skan; paign in particular is a project that directly re- “Dawn of Space Age in 3D Stereo” by Robin lates to our efforts to raise awareness about Sip, Mirage 3D; light pollution. “Large Scale Structures in the Universe” by You can read about this program at: Dr. Brent Tully, Institute for Astronomy, Uni- www.globe.gov/fsl/html/aboutglobe. versity of Hawaii; cgi?intro&lang=en. These are some statements “KBO’s and the Outer Solar System” by Dr. from that page. There are also links to more in- David Jewitt and Dr. Pedro Lacerda; formation located at the bottom of the page. “Hawaiian Celestial Navigation and Astro- “GLOBE (Global Learning and Observa- nomical Exploration” by Dr. Paul Colem; and tions to Benefit the Environment) is a world- Dr. Kumiko S. Usuda, an astronomer from Subaru “HARP and UKIDS: 3D Astronomical Data Telescope, and I shared a wonderful conversa- wide hands-on, primary and secondary from Joint Astronomy Center” by Dr. Andy tion about the best practices for conveying the school-based science and education program. Adamson, James Clerk Maxwell Telescope & latest research to young children. GLOBE's vision promotes and supports stu- Dr. Antonio Chrysostomou, United Kingdom dents, teachers and scientists to collaborate on Infrared Telescope. the data so that we can present it in the most inquiry-based investigations of the environ- I presented “Professional Development in effective way! ment and the Earth system working in close the Planetarium.” Contact information: Shawn Laatsch, plan- partnership with NASA and NSF Earth System As a post-event, delegates were invited to etarium manager, Imiloa Astronomy Cen- Science Projects (ESSPs) in study and research travel to the summit of Mauna Kea and ex- ter of Hawaii, 600 Imiloa Place; Hilo, Hawaii about the dynamics of Earth's environment. plore inside the Gemini Observatory. 96720 USA, +1 808-969-9735, slaatsch@imilo- “Who is involved in GLOBE? Congratulations to Shawn Laastch and ahawaii.org, www.imiloahawaii.org. “Announced in 1994, GLOBE began oper- Steve Savage and their staff members for pro- ations on Earth Day 1995. Today, the inter- viding this ground breaking event. Shawn IYA 2009 national GLOBE network has grown to in- tells me that he will continue to provide pro- I have been in- clude representatives from 110 participating fessional development opportunities at Im- vited to participate countries and 139 U.S. partners coordinating iloa for planetarians. He will work together in planning for IYA GLOBE activities that are integrated into their with IPS to determine the most efficient way 2009 through the local and regional communities. Due to their to bring the astronomers’ data sets to planetar- Working Group for efforts, there are more than 40,000 GLOBE- iums. Shawn will also continue to work with Visitor/Science Cen- trained teachers representing over 20,000 the Mauna Kea astronomers and provide op- ters, Observatories schools around the world. GLOBE students portunities for them to use the planetarium to and Planetaria. Pe- have contributed more than 17 million mea- analyze their data. ter Michaud (Gem- surements to the GLOBE database for use in The next step is for planetarians to de- ini Observatory) is their inquiry-based science projects. cide how to present this information to audi- co-chairing this com- “GLOBE brings together students, teach- ences. Acquiring up-to-date data and present- mittee along with ers and scientists through the GLOBE Schools ing models to our audiences will enhance the Shawn Laatsch. Network in support of student learning and uniqueness of planetariums. Some of us may This working research. Parents and other community mem- need to learn more about the science behind group will coordi- bers often work with teachers to help stu-

26 Planetarian March 2008 On a cold crisp day in January, I strolled along the water’s edge (at a quick pace) and took my own picture of the historic Adler Planetarium.

dents obtain data on days when schools are “IAU President Catherine Cesarsky says, ‘We comparable titles from other major publish- not open.” are pleased to announce the first issue of the ers. For more information please send us an By the time you read this, the important Communicating Astronomy with the Public Application to Publish: www.aspbooks.org/ 2008 GLOBE at Night Campaign, from 25 Feb- Journal. The IAU is strongly dedicated to im- publishing_with_asp.” ruary-8 March 2008, will have taken place. proving the global level of astronomy educa- The nighttime observation data sets and anal- tion and outreach.’” Elections ysis summary from 2006 and 2007 are already Free subscription forms and the online ver- Looking for a way to increase your support available on the GLOBE website in the MAP sion of the journal can be found at www.cap- of the IPS and develop your leadership and section. It will be interesting to see what the journal.org. managerial skills at the same time? Here is 2008 observations reveal. Visit the website at your chance! IPS has announced the call for www.globe.gov/GaN/index.html and learn Publish Proceedings with ASP officer nominations for 2009-2010. Any cur- more about GLOBE and how your clients, at Here is another item that I found interest- rent IPS member is eligible to run for an offi- any time of the year, can measure how many ing. The Astronomical Society of the Pacific cer position and all positions will be voted on stars they can see at their location and com- announced, “We invite all professionals who by the membership at large. Send your nom- pare it to other locations in the world. are sponsoring conferences, workshops, sym- inations to Steve Mitch at SMitch@oglebay- posia, or colloquia to inquire about publish- resort.com or you can nominate candidates Journal for Communicators ing these proceedings with the ASP. We pro- from the floor at the members' meeting dur- Did you see this announcement? vide quality volumes at a lower price than ing the conference in Chicago. I “26 October 2007, Munich: In response to an increasing need among the growing com- munity of astronomy communicators, the In- ternational Astronomical Union is today an- nouncing the advent of a new journal called Communicating Astronomy with the Public. Subscriptions to print and online versions are free of charge to communicators. “A new peer-reviewed journal released to- day by the IAU will provide astronomy com- municators with important tools and in- novative resources to communicate more effectively the workings of the Universe to the public.

March 2008 Planetarian 27 Past President’s Message

been director of the Dorpat Observatory in from 1817, but from 1834 onwards he became involved in the construction of the Pulkovo Observatory, and was its director un- til 1862 when his son, Otto Struve, took over that position. I felt a degree of sadness while walking around Pulkovo. The observatory was de- The gravestone of F. G. W. Struve, the first di- stroyed by the Germans during World War rector of Pulkovo. II, and its museum display includes dramatic photographs and drawings of the ruins. There is even a section of the observatory's roof con- tical observatory buildings. There, one finds a taining a multitude of holes created by shrap- radio dish that is not in use, and an interesting nel. Fortunately, the objectives of its two early array of radio reflectors that operates as a tran- refractors—the 76-cm and Struve's original 38- sit instrument for observing the sun at a range cm—had been removed prior to the bombing of wavelengths from 4 cm to 21 cm. and were saved from destruction. All in all, it was a wonderful visit! What exists on the site today is, therefore, an observatory reconstructed since the war. Next: England, Greece The largest instrument on the site is a 65-cm Following my visit to Russia, I made a brief Martin George, Curator refractor, which is still in use. trip to England to speak at the presentation— Launceston Planetarium The main building contains a meridian line by Sir Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal— of the running right through its centre. This merid- 2007 Grote Reber Medal to Professor Govind Queen Victoria Museum ian was formerly the standard meridian for Swarup of India. Wellington Street Russia. After my England visit, I was off to Greece From a distance, Pulkovo looks impressive. for a most interesting conference: the IAU-or- Launceston, Tasmania Unfortunately, however, there are signs of a ganised conference titled “Communicating Australia lack of funding for proper maintenance, and Astronomy to the Public.” Pulkovo astronomers would agree. Today, There were over 200 people at the confer- +61 (3) 63233777 Pulkovo's domes appear a little “tired,” and ap- ence, including several IPS members. It was +61 (3) 63233776 fax pear to need some sprucing up. held at the Eugenides Planetarium in Athens, However, Pulkovo is still an active obser- which is directed by our colleague Dennis Si- [email protected] vatory in the sense that there are several re- mopoulos. It all went splendidly and there search programmes, and the enthusiasm of were very many speakers covering a broad I trust that the year has begun favourably the staff is very much still present. I was also range of subjects related to the communica- for you all, and that your plans are going well taken to the observatory's radio astronomy tion of astronomy. Particular emphasis was, of for attending IPS 2008 in Chicago in June. It’s site, a few hundred metres from the main op- course, placed on the upcoming Internation- going to be a great conference! Can it real- ly be almost two years since IPS 2006 in Mel- bourne? In the previous issue, I mentioned my visit in October 2007 to the observatory at Pulko- vo, near St Petersburg in Russia. Of course, this is an observatory, not a planetarium, but whenever I visit such places it makes me re- alise even more how our profession does not just involve what we do under the dome: we are communicators of astronomy, and bring- ing the excitement of what happens at the world’s observatories to our audiences is great- ly enhanced by visiting such places. Mikhail Propokenko from the St. Peters- burg Planetarium kindly organised my visit there, and we were assisted by Mikhail’s wife Yulia, whose interpretation skills are excellent (although Mikhail's English also is good)! It was well worth looking around Pulkovo. It was established in 1839 by Friedrich George Wilhelm von Struve (1793-1864), also simply known as Wilhelm Struve, a German whose name is famous in astronomy. Struve had One of the domes of the Pulkovo Observatory. All photos by Martin George, unless noted.

28 Planetarian March 2008 March 2008 Planetarian 29 al Year of Astronomy in 2009 and there were special sessions relating to this topic. Cath- erine Cesarsky, IAU president, was in atten- dance throughout the conference. While all the presenters were excellent, sev- eral talks stood out to me. As just a few exam- ples, Kevin Govender's presentations on com- municating astronomy in South Africa served as an excellent illustration of the state of as- tronomy in Africa and the connections be- tween astronomy and the African people; for- mer IPS President Jim Manning gave a most interesting presentation on the activities of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, of which he is now the chief executive officer; Janice Harvey and Antonienta Garcia spoke about the AURA-GEMINI observatories in Ha- waii and , respectively; and David Malin gave an excellent presentation titled “The Im- portance of the Public Talk.” The author with Mr Chee-kuen Yip at the offices of the Macau Science Centre. Photo: Hong Pan Sio The conference included a visit to the Ath- ens Observatory, not far from the centre of Athens, which was established in 1842. The original 1842 building now houses a most in- teresting museum, still under development, of astronomical and timekeeping equipment and literature. This building originally housed a 16 cm refractor. The other building houses a 40-cm refractor built in 1902 and which is still in use for public demonstrations. The Athens Observatory is located not far from the Acropolis and has a fine view of it; as the twilight set in, conference delegates were found to be crowding in front of the observa- tory to photograph the superb scene with the buildings of the Acropolis lit up. Today, the Athens Observatory is part of the Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics of the National Observatory of Athens. Out- side Athens, the observatory also has a 62.5- cm refractor at the site known as Penteli and a 1.2-m Cassegrain at Kryoneri in the Pelopen- An IYA 2009 session at the conference in Greece, with IAU President Catherine Cesarsky as the chair. nese. On my way home, I made a brief stopover in the USA to visit Santa Barbara, near Los An- Centre, which will incorporate a planetarium. ful lunch not far from the current offices of geles, which has a planetarium in its Natural In particular, I spent time with Mr. Chee-Kuen the planetarium staff. I am very grateful to Science Museum that I visited on a previous Yip, with whom I had been in contact for Mr. Yip and all of the staff for their assistance, trip. This time around, I was invited to speak some time in order to follow developments and look forward to visiting them again in the at a public evening at the Westmont College, there. Their science centre and planetarium not-too-distant future! an impressive educational facility with a fine are still in planning and will form an exciting After my visit to Macau, I made a point of 50-cm telescope. The subject of my talk was as- complex not far from the centre of the city. visiting the Space Museum, which tronomy in Australia, and following this was a It is being built on reclaimed land. The main houses the Hong Kong Planetarium. It's always public astronomy night for which several lo- building will be of an innovative cone-shaped a great pleasure to visit this most impressive cal amateurs also brought along their instru- design and will contain a central atrium with facility, which is located near the southern tip ments. I'd like to express my great thanks to science exhibits around its exterior. of the Kowloon Peninsula, immediately op- Michael Sommerman from Westmont Col- The planetarium, Macau's first, will be in a posite the famous (and very high class) Penin- lege for extending such a welcome to me and building separate from the main science cen- sula Hotel. My time there was made most en- for the opportunity to also promote the IPS tre and adjacent to a new conference cen- joyable by Mr. Ki-Hung Chan, the curator of and the planetarium world in general. tre, and will have an impressive dome visible exhibits, who kindly showed me around. An from a great distance. exciting future development for Hong Kong is A New Facility in Macau I was pleased to be able to give two talks to a new observatory complex in the eastern part November saw me make a brief trip to Hong the staff: one about the IPS, and another titled of Kowloon, which is currently in planning. Kong, mainly in order to visit Macau and “Planetariums of the World.” I hope that on my next trip to Hong Kong I meet up with the staff of the Macau Science Our discussions continued over a delight- shall be able to make a visit to the site. I

30 Planetarian March 2008 nois at Chicago), envisions massive gigapixel Digital Frontiers displays interconnected by terabit-per-second fiber optic grids. The initiative has already in- in the dome, largely due to the very high bit terconnected over a dozen ultra-high resolu- rates required. Consider that the full uncom- tion displays (OptIPortals) with 10 Gbps fiber pressed bit rate of 4k x 4k pixels at 30 fps with (the Global Lambda Integrated Facility) across 24 bits per pixel is nearly 12 Gbps (gigabits per a number of countries including Japan, U.S., second). Even dropping down to 2k x 2k with Canada, , Korea, China, UK, and 3 10:1 compression still requires 288 Mbps—still the Czech Republic. out of reach for most facilities. The largest of these OptIPortal sites is the Bandwidth limitations have not stopped HIPerWall at Calit2 at the University of Cali- the networking of domes using locally-gener- fornia, Irvine. The HIPerWall is a tiled display ated real-time 3D programming synchronized consisting of 50 30-inch Apple Cinema dis- through proxy commands, as described by plays (5x10 array) driven by 25 dual-proces- Carter Emmart (director of Astrovisualization sor Apple G5s50 computers, totaling over 200 at the American Museum of Natural Histo- million pixels! ry) in 20051 and demonstrated by Carter and Another impressive portal is Daniel Sand- SCISS AB using Uniview at DomeFest in 2007. in’s latest Varrier Autostereoscopic VR Display Locally-rendered satellite datasets at the from EVL at Calit2 in UC . The Var- Albuquerque, New meeting were re- rier uses 65 tiled barrier-strip autostereoscop- motely controlled by Carter in New York and ic 3D displays into a cylindrical configuration, Staffan Klashed (CEO of SCISS AB) in Sweden. achieving 45 megapixels per eye over a 180-de- 4 5 6 The demonstration was accompanied by a gree field of view. When I first saw this stunning display as Ed Lantz multi-way voice connection allowing alter- nating presenters to describe the datasets.2 The part of the Siggraph 2007 tour of UCSD, it fea- Visual Bandwidth, Inc. low bandwidth requirements of locally-ren- tured EVL’s Robert Kooima’s Mars Transport- dered, globally-synchronized programming 1290 Pike, 3 DeFanti, Thomas A., “The OptIPuter: Global OptI- allow telecollaboration over standard TCP/IP Suite 111 Portals on Lambdas,” NASA Research and Engineering internet networks. Network, Optical Network Testbeds Workshop 3, Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania While ideal for many applications, such an September 2006. www.nren..gov/workshops/ approach could not be used for real-time im- pdfs9/PanelB_OptlPuter-Defanti.pdf 19317 USA mersive telecasting of celestial events such as 4 Sandin, D., Margolis, T., Ge, J., Girado, J., Peterka, T., DeFanti, T., “The Varrier Autostereoscopic Virtual [email protected] the 1994 collision of Shoemaker-Levy Reality Display,” ACM Transactions on Graphics, Pro- with Jupiter, solar or lunar eclipses, spacecraft ceedings of ACM SIGGRAPH 2005, vol 24, no 3, pp. You may have noticed the recent ground- launches, or other live events. 894-903; www.evl.uic.edu/files/pdf/Siggraph2005. of live events being simulcast into re- pdf gional digital cinemas. New York’s Metropol- Change Is on the Way 5 Peterka, T., D. Sandin, D., Ge, J., Girado, J., Kooi- ma, R., Leigh, J., Johnson, A., Thiebaux, M., DeFanti, itan Opera is now networked to 535 venues This is about to change. The need for collab- T., “Personal Varrier: Autostere Oscopic Virtual Re- worldwide. Their first transmission of the orative visualization of large datasets between ality for Distributed Scientific Visualization,” Future season—Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette, starring distant locations is being driven by a number Generation Computing Systems, vol 22; www.evl. Anna Netrebko and Roberto Alagna, conduct- of diverse applications, such as metagenom- uic.edu/files/pdf/PersonalVarrierSciViz.pdf ed by Plácido Domingo—drew an audience of 6 Also see the work of Daniel J. Sandin et al at www. ics, geoscience imaging, biomedical imaging, evl.uic.edu/core.php?mod=4&type=4&indi=449 97,000 and sold out 88 screens in the U.S. Oth- and digital cinema. Re- er operas, symphony orchestras, and concerts searchers are scrambling are following suit. to meet these needs. Although not broadcast in real-time, the One project called Op- popular rock band U2 recently broke new tIPuter, an NSF Large ground with a widely-distributed concert Information Technol- shot in digital 3D—it is the first live-action ogy Research Grant led movie ever shot, produced, and exhibited in by Calit2/UCSD (Cali- digital 3D. Both the U2 concert and the new fornia Institute for Tele- Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both communications and Worlds concert in Disney Digital 3-D™ will Information Technol- be shown in select IMAX 3D theaters. It is not ogy, University of Cal- much of a stretch to imagine live 3D events ifornia at San Diego) being beamed into large-format digital cine- and EVL/UIC (Electron- mas and, ultimately, domes. ic Visualization Labora- tory, University of Illi- Varrier(TM) Autostereoscopic VR dis- Telepresence play by University of Illinois at Chi- In the early days of fulldome video there cago’s (UIC) Electronic Visualization were many discussions about teleporting our 1 Emmart, Carter, “The Powers of Ten with a Steer- Laboratory (EVL) installed at Calit2/ ing Wheel on the Global Visualization Superhigh- San Diego. Image courtesy of Dan San- audiences to far-away places via immersive way,” Planetarian, vol. 34, no. 4, pp. 19-26, Decem- din. Data source of real-time interac- cameras over broadband networks. Immer- ber 2005 tive Mars application is NASA. Primary sive telepresence has yet to be demonstrated 2 Lantz, Ed, “Digital Frontiers,” Planetarian, vol. 36, application developer is Robert Kooi- no. 3, September 2007 ma of UIC/EVL

March 2008 Planetarian 31 San Diego. We also screened numerous pieces in 4k x 2k video, including test productions from the Dalsa, RED, and Olympus cameras. Representatives of all three camera manufac- turers were on hand to discuss their camera and associated workflow. CineGrid nodes must have wideband fiber access and may propose official CineGrid proj- ects that utilize optical network access. Cal- ifornia Academy of Sciences theater director Ryan Wyatt attended the workshop and will be the first dome on a CineGrid node. I have offered to chair a CineGrid committee titled Domes and Beyond that will seek to intercon- nect fulldome theaters worldwide and initiate unique projects that demonstrate the value of wideband networks in digital planetariums and stereoscopic theaters. Stay tuned for more from CineGrid, or better yet, join our commit- tee (you do not need to be a CineGrid mem- ber) and get your dome onto the grid!

2008 Fulldome Meetings and Screenings The International Planetarium Society con- ference this summer (June 27-July 2) at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago is the most com- prehensive fulldome event of 2008, with rep- resentation from nearly all fulldome vendors, numerous papers and panels, and a dedicated Fulldome Summit on July 3rd (www.ips2008. org). The IPS 2008: Explore the Edge theme ex- plores new and innovative educational prac- tices as well as evaluation, research, and profes- The Global Lambda Integrated Facility global optical super-network. (Visualization by Robert Patterson, NCSA/University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, compilation by Maxine Brown, University of Illinois. sional development for planetarians. Among Earth Texture, visibleearth.nasa.gov) others, it will address the question, “How will planetariums and planetarium shows remain er application, an interactive scale model of cal grids worldwide, including CANARIE, CE- viable in the future?” Be sure to extend your Mars built using the Mars Orbiter Laser Altim- NIC, CESNET, Cisco Systems, CzechLight, Ja- stay a day past the plenary IPS schedule and eter (MOLA) terrain map data from the Mars pan Gigabit Network 2, National LambdaRail, sign up for the Fulldome Summit. We also Global Surveyor and high-resolution col- NetherLight, PacificWave, Pacific North West hope to present a scaled down DomeFest eve- or imagery from the Viking orbiter. Remote GigaPOP, StarLight, SURFnet, and WIDE. Grid ning event at IPS 2008. Keep an eye on www. collaborations between OptIPortal sites have access is provided to authorized CineGrid re- domefest.com for more information. been demonstrated across a variety of high- search and development projects that pioneer The European Workshop in Immersive bandwidth fiber networks, routinely exceed- new applications for wideband networks. Cinema, held the past two years in Espinho, ing the theoretical requirements of a high-per- CineGrid focuses on common high-end visu- , has been a major fulldome network- formance digital dome grid. alization needs driven by three user groups: ing event for Europe. This year the workshop entertainment, media, and art and culture; sci- moves to the UK and includes an expanded CineGrid™ ence, medicine, education and research; and Conference in Immersive Vision to be held in Until recently, multi-gigabit fiber networks military, intelligence, security, and police. In , UK, from March 25-28, 2008. have been the exclusive domain of Fortune two short years this organization has attract- The meeting seeks to explore how best to 500 corporations and well-funded research in- ed an impressive array of leading researchers, exploit the unique qualities of dome environ- stitutions. Last year I joined a non-profit group engineers, artists and entrepreneurs involved ments to enthrall, entertain, and educate our called CineGrid with a mission to “build an in all of these primary user groups. audiences. Confirmed keynote speakers, in interdisciplinary community that is focused At the second annual CineGrid workshop, addition to this author, are Thomas Kraupe on the research, development, and demon- held at Calit2/UCSD in December 2007, we (Hamburg Planetarium), David McConville stration of networked collaborative tools to were treated to the results of projects and pa- (The Elumenati), and Dan Neafus (Denver Mu- enable the production, use and exchange of pers that laid out the necessary groundwork seum of Nature and Science). Contributors in- very-high-quality digital media over photon- for networked domes, including image cap- clude content producers, science educators, ic networks.”7 ture, production workflow, and streaming digital artists, IT specialists, and cognitive psy- CineGrid, led by media veteran Lauren Herr, of both compressed and uncompressed, full- chologists from Europe and beyond. The con- has forged agreements with over a dozen opti- frame-rate 4k x 2k pixel video. ference will also feature a European Fulldome Projects included recording and real-time Standards Summit and an introduction to the 7 See www.cinegrid.org. transmission of an opera from to (Please see Digital on page 40)

32 Planetarian March 2008 BIZARRE HAS A LOCATION.

STRANGE HAS A PLACE.

WEIRD HAS A HOME.

An immersive 3D tour of extrasolar planets. Now available: clarkplanetarium.org/distribution March 2008 Planetarian 33 801-456-4949 34 Planetarian March 2008 March 2008 Planetarian 35 know, or think they know. Educational Horizons “A knowledge-centered strategy that fo- cuses on what is to be taught, why it is to be were drawn from the National Academy of taught and what mastery of the subject looks Sciences, a private, non-profit society of distin- like. guished scholars engaged in scientific and en- “An assessment-centered strategy that fo- gineering research dedicated to the advance- cuses on opportunities to make the students’ ment of science and technology. Others came thinking and learning visible as an aid to both from the National Academy of Engineering the teacher and student. and and the Institute of Medicine. “A community-centered strategy that en- The authors state up front that the exam- courages a culture of questioning, respect, and ples they give should be seen strictly as illus- risk taking.” trative, rather than blueprints for the “right” Without going into an exhaustive study way to teach. They cover ground that’s as rel- of the publication, here are my paraphrased evant to us space educators as it is to any oth- highlights of the remainder of the text: er educator, so it seemed to me like an ideal “Simply telling students what scientists thing to publicize in this column. have learned in any given area of science is The report’s three main chapters examine not sufficient to permanently change any in- the teaching of light at elementary school lev- correct preconceptions they may have about el, physical at middle school, and genet- important scientific phenomena.” Give the Steve Tidey ics and evolution at high school. little darlings a chance to test the theory for At an early point, we learn the three princi- themselves. Kids tend to believe what they Freelance Astronomy ples of good education standards: see, rather than what they’re told. Educator “Students tend to look for ideas that support their preconceptions.” 58 Prince Avenue, You know as well as I that they are 1. Students come to the classroom with “ mistrustful of “evidence” that is in- Southend, Essex, SS2 6NN preconceptions about how the world consistent with these beliefs. England works. If their initial understanding [email protected] isn’t engaged, they may fail to grasp Procedure vs Learning with the new concepts and information. Or Understanding they may learn the information for the Two groups of children were giv- ‘ow ya doin’? purposes of a test, but later revert to en darts (oh boy, bad move) and told Great, I’ve clearly got the New Jersey dialect their preconceptions. ” to throw them at a target located 12 all prepared in case I get a job in the profession inches under water. (Water+darts+k in that state. Ah, now, come on, don’t turn the 2. To develop competence in an area “ ids=nightmare.) One group had the page, stick with me until the end of the col- of enquiry, students must (a) have a advantage of having been tutored umn. Deal? Good. foundation of factual knowledge, (b) about light refraction, so they knew So, I have some good news and bad news understand facts and idea in the con- that would slightly alter the tar- for you. The good news is that starting with text of a conceptual framework, and get’s true location. The other group the next issue you won’t have to put up with (c) organize knowledge in ways that didn’t have this knowledge. And seeing that really old picture of me at the top facilitate retrieval and application. ” you know what? Both groups did of this column. (I’ll wait for the cheering to equally well. But the group with the die down.) The bad news is that you’ll have 3. A “meta-cognitive” approach to in- “ science knowledge did much bet- to look at an up-to-date picture. (It’ll be so struction can help students to take ter when the target was moved to up to date, the picture hasn’t been taken yet.) control of their own learning, by de- only four inches below the water’s There’ll be a competition for you to spot the fining learning goals and monitoring surface, because their knowledge al- difference, because there won’t be much. their progress in achieving them. ” lowed them to adjust their aim. In my last column, I quoted briefly from a Memory of factual knowledge fine recent publication that discusses the dif- is enhanced by conceptual knowl- ferent methods for approaching the chal- edge. And if you can add relevant lenge of education, and I promised to cover it A typical classroom environment should conceptual knowledge of the same topic, peo- in more detail at a later date. Well, this is the have the following four characteristics for ef- ple can use it to clarify and help organize large time. The book is How Students Learn: Science fective learning: amounts of important detail they’ve memo- in the Classroom.* “A learner-centered strategy that focuses rized. The NRC report uses, as advisors, a panel on the students’ preconceptions and begins A “learning with understanding” study of science education experts, some of whom instruction based on what students already took students who were encouraged to en- gage in self-explanation while solving math- ematical problems, and compared them with *2005, M. Suzanne Donovan and John D. Bransford, editors, Committee on How Peo- students who simply answered the problems ple Learn: A Targeted Report for Teachers, National Research Council, ISBN 0-309- without having to explain how they came up 54805-5, 264 pages. National Academies Press, 500 Fifth Street NW, Washington, DC, with their answer. Even though the self-expla- 20001 USA. Phone 888-624-8373. The pdf version is available through their web site, nation students took longer to answer each www.nap.edu/catalog/1112.html question, and therefore didn’t answer as many

36 Planetarian March 2008 as the other group, they had a deeper under- • Light exerts pressure, but not enough for ic. Students are then more likely to take part standing of the math because they had to jus- our skin to detect. This could be a lead in in discussions about potential answers to the tify their answers. to learning about light sails for traveling problems raised. “Addressing scientific preconceptions is round the solar system. hampered because everyday experiences can • The differential absorption and reflect- In Summary sometimes reinforce a misconception.” So ing of various wavelengths by an object So, to sum up the NRC report: Crikey! This what the person sees is contrary to scientific gives it color. When no wavelengths are teaching lark is a bit challenging, eh? What reasoning and facts, and they’re tempted to reflected our eyes see black, which is con- comes out of How Students Learn, apart from go with the evidence of their eyes. Take the trary to how we know colored paints are the fact that you should all read it, is that mas- reasons for the seasons as an example. The sci- mixed to form black. It can be a difficult tering education in general is challenging, re- ence tells us one thing, but the students’ eyes concept to explain. warding, and requires us to be something of a disagree and tell them another. psychoanalyst when judging the kids we tu- Tackling These Problems tor. And that’s half the fun of what we do. Use the Imagination A fourth-grade teacher elicited from her You see, every time we stand up in front of “One of the least emphasized aspects of sci- class 100 questions about light. The following an audience, whether they’re kids or adults, ence in the classroom, is that scientific enquiry day she gave them a written assessment de- be it in a planetarium or classroom setting, we involves use of the imagination.” If are faced with all the above complex you don’t encourage students to use factors that have to be considered to their imagination, they’ll probably maximize our chances of effectively view science as dry and unexciting. educating people. In some ways it’s (We’ve all been there, I’m sure). And “Understanding momentum an awesome responsibility, because so we shouldn’t be in the least bit and forces: when we do it right we see people surprised to read in the NRC report leaving the room smiling, as though that as this aspect of science educa- An experiment was performed with a light has popped on in their head tion hasn’t been as good as it could a group of elementary students com- and they finally understand some- have been up to now. Research has peting against college physics grad- thing that’s been puzzling them for shown that many kids see scientif- a long time. uates. Using a computer, they had ic work as dull and rarely reward- As Noreen Grice at the Hayden ing. For them, scientists are deeply to make one simulated object strike Planetarium in wrote in the uncool bearded, balding folk, work- another with minimum as it September 2007 Forum column, ing alone in the laboratory. (Wow, passed. Both groups failed misera- when we meet someone, they change I never viewed scientists like that us and we change them in subtle and when I was at school. The excite- bly, as they each started the object not so subtle ways. So who knows ment of discovery always made it moving at the point when the oth- what good influence and potentially seem like they had great jobs.) er object was level with it, failing to life-changing effect we have on the Many of the youngest students take into account the other object’s people we entertain with our presen- bring preconceptions about light to tations? the classroom. A classic one is that motion that would make it be some- This thought came back to me the light only reflects from shiny ob- where else by the time the first ob- other day when I watched It’s A Won- jects, and not from dull ones. But, of ject got there. The physics gradu- derful Life. In the film’s memorable fi- course, we can easily counter many nal few scenes, James Stewart’s char- ates said they could have answered misconceptions. For instance, very acter sees all the good he’s done over young children believe a shadow is a the problem correctly on paper with the years. He hadn’t realized what a physical object, but this notion can equations, but they had difficulty significant positive influence he had easily be amended by giving them putting their knowledge into prac- been on the sleepy town of simple experiments to perform that Falls. Our good influence may take a will feel like a game to them. tice.” while to appear, but appear it prob- Some of the problems with the ably will, consciously or sub-con- teaching of light are that: sciously. We won’t make future plan- • Light travels too fast for us to etarians, physics majors, astronauts, see it in motion. Pretty frustrat- or just regular teachers out of more ing on one level, this one. But than a tiny percentage of the people that’s where the large astronomical dis- signed to test their knowledge, and see if they we interact with. tances come in handy, because you can could come up with their own answers. Tack- But, for a much larger proportion, what they relate light travel from planets and stars ling the topic like this provides a good starting learn from us may shape their attitude toward to events earlier in the life of your indi- point for learning instruction. astronomy and our place in the universe for vidual students, or of recent world histo- much of the rest of their lives. For me, that’s a ry. Enquiry-Based Learning terrific incentive to continually explore ways • Our eyes don’t tell us how far light has One way to jazz up the hard science is to to improve my educational abilities. traveled. Annoying, yet it does give you model the text in the fashion of excerpts from Well, I can see the end of the page approach- the excuse to get the kids experimenting a notebook of a fictitious scientist who uses ing like some unstoppable, single-minded end with using simple, cheap spectrometers their notebook to think aloud. Sharing with of the page thingy, so I’ll stop here. that allow them to view and learn from the students the scientists’ observations of Phew! Just in time. I the spectrum. light phenomena like this humanizes the top-

March 2008 Planetarian 37 was “between jobs” and afforded vital encour- Forum agement. Is WAC attendance really decreasing? I can’t As a result, the question I inherited from answer that question purely from my own Steve Tidey proves quite pertinent. perspective; in my 22 years in the planetari- The number of people attending um profession, I’ve been to just three region- some planetarium conferences has, al conferences. The 2006 WAC conference in comparatively speaking, hit a few Lincoln, Nebraska (which I did attend) attract- troughs in recent years. Notable, ed what appeared to be a good number of par- but nothing terribly serious. What ticipants. I’ve been told that conference orga- should be done to reverse this trend? nizers were very pleased with the attendance. Or do you want it reversed? Is this a Why are some conferences—WAC or oth- sign from a growing percentage of erwise—well-attended and others not? Once the profession that they don’t neces- again I only have my own viewpoint to of- sarily feel the need to go to conferenc- fer, so I’ll rephrase the question: WAC in par- es anymore? After all, the profession ticular encompasses a large portion of the is gradually bringing in a new gen- country, and some conferences are simply eration of planetarians, and perhaps too far away for me to reach on my small they’re not the conference type. What travel budget—when I have a travel bud- do you think? get at all. Basically, if I have to fly to a con- ference, I can’t afford to attend. And some- HHH times, when I do have the necessary budget, I don’t have the part-time help to cover shows I think people will attend if they can de- in my absence. (I’m the lone full-time staff pend on learning/seeing something applica- member of a planetarium that offers daily ble to their professional development and spe- shows.) cific needs at their planetarium. Perhaps they So the stars have to align just so for me to just want to learn about new presentation attend any planetarium conference. Yet, dur- Gary Lazich, Manager techniques or they are look- Russell C. Davis Planetarium ing to upgrade or repair their projection system. 201 East Pascagoula Street I feel that a survey of the Why have I attended a few conferences Jackson, Missippi people who do attend might and not others? The answer is simple and help. It can tell you why 39201-4101, USA they did attend and what short: budget. [email protected] they gained from the experi- ence. Also you can discover what they especially appre- “Pay no attention to that man behind the ciated and what could be done better. If you ing a period of rapid change in the field, I be- console!” are brave enough, you could conduct anoth- lieve conferences are more important than Like cartoon character Boris Badenov, “Al- er survey, formal or informal, that is aimed at ever. I’ve heard some attendees pay their own low me to introduce myself!” I have worked in people who chose not to attend, and ask why way, but I’ve been reluctant to take this step planetariums for over 30 years in western sub- they did not attend. for a number of reasons. Outside of that, I’m urban Chicago, northern Minnesota, South Publicity should include specifics of plan- working to making conference attendance Carolina, south Florida, and Mississippi. Most etarium related workshops/shows/papers/ easier by trying to get my show schedule re- recently, I have inherited from Steve Tidey vendors (not just astronomy related speakers duced, cancelling shows if needed, lobbying the mantle of Forum editor. and side trips). Perhaps a short course or two for more part-time help, etc. Wish me luck. In Roman times, the Forum served as a ven- on presentations techniques and/or present- Dan Glomski, Director ue for public proclamation and debate. Over ing/designing digital full dome shows/lessons J. M. McDonald Planetarium the past several years, Steve has posed some should be part of the conference. Hastings Museum provocative questions to stimulate such de- Conference planners need to actively solic- 1330 North Burlington Avenue bate. I hope to continue that tradition. it help from vendors, museums, schools, uni- Hastings, Nebraska 68901 USA The image above comes from a paper I pre- versities and colleges in order to ensure qual- sented at Desert Skies 1999 on whether or not ity courses. Participants could also be given HHH planetarium shows cause misconceptions. I some kind of credits or certification for at- made the point then, as I did for a panel dis- tending. Conferences are difficult for many organi- cussion at IPS 1998 in . If you’re inter- In short, each regional organization must zations in this era of shrinking budgets, partic- ested in reading more on that topic, see sites. try to understand the needs and interests of ularly schools. I know that many teachers, al- csn.edu/planetarium/PPA/DesertSkies/20ds- their members in order to provide a valuable ready low paid, even buy their own supplies lazich.html. conference. for their students, and have traveled to confer- Throughout my career, I have found plan- And finally, if IPS members can help in any ences on their own money. The regional con- etarium conferences invaluable as a means of way, please let us know what you need! ferences were good because the travel was not continuing education and inspiration. Two of Susan Button, IPS President as expensive, encouraging smaller facilities to my favorites–IPS 1982 in Vancouver and IPS 8793 Horseshoe Lane participate. 1986 in Tucson–actually took place when I Chittenango, New York 13037 USA But regional participation waned, so the

38 Planetarian March 2008 members decided to pool their skills to en- just those at meetings) as to when it is best to wouldn’t have liked to meet up with people in courage paper presentations, hold more work- schedule the meetings. Fairbanks or Wheeling (or or Edmon- shops, and make it easier for vendors to at- Dr. Dale Etheridge, Director ton or Marseilles), but I believed my time was tend. Now the larger conference attendance is College of Southern Nevada Planetarium better spent elsewhere. By which I do not in- dropping. As much as I believe I get out of the 3200 East Cheyenne Avenue tend to cast aspersions on the conferences or conferences, the expense of travel is climbing, North Las Vegas, Nevada 89030 USA their organizers! On the contrary, I am simply and administrators do not seem to see the val- drawn toward other opportunities. ue of conferences. We may need to do a bet- HHH In all honesty, at this stage of the game, I ter just justifying a conference to the people find myself most invigorated by conferenc- who pay for them. Perhaps it is time to consid- As an East Coast resident, I have only at- es outside of the planetarium field. This year er using teleconferences with systems like the tended a western planetarium conference alone, DomeFest, SIGGRAPH, the Astronomi- museum network uses, or as simple as instant once (in El Paso) and I thought it was fun. So cal Society of the Pacific, NextFest, and Com- messenger and YouTube distribution. Pod- I’ll give you my personal and general opinion municating Astronomy with the Public all of- on planetarium conferences. fered opportunities to interact with a wide I think more and more, we range of professionals. I witnessed new tech- One problem comes from our College’s are faced with difficult econom- nologies, met people who had given little or policy of limiting attendance to one con- ic challenges. Each facility has a no thought to what happens under a dome, finite budget. For smaller plane- and learned about a range of surprising and ference a year unless there are strong tariums, it might be a $300 main- unusual topics that make me think about arguments for a second. tenance fund. For a larger plan- my quotidian responsibilities quite differ- etarium, it might be thousands ently. However much I enjoy seeing all my of dollars but earmarked for spe- friends from the planetarium world, I find casts are allowing anyone to be a broadcast- cific expenses like production or purchase of myself learning more from people outside our er, and email and email lists such as Dome-L shows or upgrading equipment. And if it isn’t field. and Fulldome have made sharing visual infor- money, it’s time constraints. Who will present What can we do? In my opinion, confer- mation virtually effortless. Perhaps if the per- shows while you’re away? ences would benefit from increased participa- ceived value of a conference were increased Conferences are a chance to meet people in tion by professionals outside the immediate that might make a difference, but I don’t person, share ideas, see demonstrations, and circle of planetarians and astronomers. Maybe know how to add value to a conference with- hear about successes of various projects. I love bring in artists who have done work in domes, out adding to the expense. planetarium conferences but I have not been evaluators who have surveyed audiences John Young able to attend as many as I would like because about their experiences, or teachers who have Audio Visual Production Specialist of budget and time constraints. devised clever ways to extend field trips into Reuben H. Fleet Science Center Years ago, the annual confer- PO Box 33303 ence was the only way to gath- San Diego, California 92163 USA er people together from a vari- In my opinion, conferences would ben- ety of locations and bring about efit from increased participation by pro- HHH discussions. Now we have on- fessionals outside the immediate circle line forums (like Dome-L) where I have to admit that I am one of those at- we can share ideas instantly. It’s of planetarians and astronomers. tending fewer conferences. This is not because a new way of communicating, I find the conferences non-productive. On but I hope that it will not replace the contrary, I typically find them enjoyable those golden one-on-one opportunities and their classrooms. We should consider ways and productive. One problem comes from our come with conferences. to infuse planetarium conferences with new College’s policy of limiting attendance to one Planetarians: please contact your region- ideas, new interactions, and new faces. conference a year unless there are strong argu- al planetarium officers (see planetarium soci- Okay, and one thing I never want to see ments for a second. The second and primary ety info near the front of this Planetarian is- again at a planetarium conference: Power- problem comes from the fact that I teach dur- sue) and let them know what is holding you Point in a dome with attendees held captive. ing the fall and spring semesters. It seems that back from attending conferences. Your feed- Ryan Wyatt, Morrison Planetarium many recent conferences are being sched- back is important! California Academy of Sciences ule for early September. This is too early in Noreen Grice 875 Howard Street the fall semester for me to justify leaving my Charles Hayden Planetarium San Francisco, California 94103 USA classes for up to a week. A time in early Octo- Science Park ber would be easier, because the timing per- Boston, Massachusetts 02114 USA HHH mits scheduling exams that can be proctored for me. HHH Planetarium conferences have become For similar reasons, virtually anytime be- great showcases for new technology. As the in- tween mid-May and mid-August works fine I hope all the Forum readers can forgive my dustry continues to produce wonderful new since I do not teach in the summer. I have ac- candor in the next few paragraphs. I want my equipment, of course vendors want to show tually attended more IPS meetings than WAC. words to be taken constructively (except for it off. Since vendors are also the big spon- This year, we will send one of our staff to WAC my last comment, which is simply a plea for sors bearing much of the cost of putting on a and I will be at DUG unless they end up sched- mercy). conference, they have also unsurprisingly re- uling that in early September too (to be decid- In spite of an astounding amount of travel ceived the bulk of the time available in the ed shortly after I write this). over the past six months, I have not attended dome. This is all completely understandable. We need to survey members in general (not a single planetarium conference. It isn’t that I Yet this seems to have come at the expense of

March 2008 Planetarian 39 content and professional development. first conference was IPS , 2004. Since We need to ask the user community, what Getting to see the latest wiz-bang toy is that time we continue to attend both IPS and would make these conferences relevant to great (and fun!). At the end of the day, though, the larger regional conferences. For us, we are them…and how we can (as vendors) help. when you return home and have to report always meeting new people, and what we do Alan Caskey what you learned at the conference to the in- find is attendees want to be educated (them- General Manager-the Americas stitution that (hopefully) supported your trip, selves). They want to know more about digital Global Immersion Ltd. if all you can say is you saw nice toys that fulldome technology, how to get content on 295 Autumn Place you’ll never be able to get, then maybe they to the dome, how technologies support their Waterloo, N2K 3C8 Canada don’t support you going to that conference mission, and what other users are doing with- next time. in their immersive space. HHH That would be a shame, as all of us who do For an industry that lived on starball and attend conferences can attest, they are incred- slide projector technology for decades, the I appreciate everyone who replied so ibly energizing. Even though we may love our digital revolution can feel like the speed of thoughtfully to Steve’s question. The respons- jobs, getting offsite to a meeting of colleagues light. The newer planetarians embrace this es ran the gamut from the President of IPS to from lots of different places can be just the digital world. There are a lot of choices in digi- a representative of a major vendor with a vari- change of scenery you need to get your cre- tal technology at widely varying price points, ety of respondents. Thank you all! ativity flowing again after being caught “And now for up in day-to-day operations. If all you something…com- see others doing is stuff you can’t do (or pletely different.” I adapt) at your place, then it’s not so ex- We can reverse the trend in declining attendance, by began this column citing. with a vision of The challenge is to find the right bal- not “selling” at conferences, but in collaboration with planetariums as vi- ance. The nature of conferences—particu- the user community. tal to education and larly big conferences—typically involves culture. Not every- more than any one person’s schedule can one shares that vi- take in, with concurrent sessions that al- sion. Please consider ways mean you might miss something. It’s and this becomes complicated as no two facil- replying to the following: difficult to make a decision that professional ities have exactly the same requirements. As development should run in conflict to tech- vendors we need to be helpful not only to the Some years ago, George Reed asked nology, since these topics are not mutually ex- individual user who is asking the “how do I ...?” impertinently, “Who in hell needs clusive. Technology provides a means for us to questions, but also to the community at large. a planetarium?”* In a time of dwin- convey our knowledge and to engage our au- As vendors we have a vested interest in a dling budgets and layoffs, who in- diences. But we must master the content and healthy market…and the conferences must be deed? With Sky Scout by our tele- the ability to communicate: the latest gadgets relevant. scopes and Starry Night on our won’t do it for us. We can reverse the trend in declining atten- computer screens, who needs a plane- We need both content and gear. Confer- dance, by not “selling” at conferences, but in tarium, and for what purpose? ence organizers face a significant challenge in collaboration with the user community. This providing attendees with both, and we need can be done through group dialog, listening “That’s all, folks!” (For now!) I to solve the problem. very carefully, and responding to their busi- Stephanie L. Parello ness challenges. We do need to stimulate the *Actually, he asked this question in the Plane- Senior Astronomy Educator fulldome market, show our wares, educate the tarian, vol. 23, no. 1. -ed Sydney Observatory community, and demonstrate how technolo- PO Box K346 gy can assist with their mission. We need to Haymarket, New South 1238, Australia be candid, talk about trends in technology, de- (Digital, continued from page 32) mystify the technology, and of growing im- newly forming International Academy of Im- HHH portance, how a digital fulldome can be lev- mersive Arts and Science (IMERSA).8 eraged by their organization to the benefit of The Spitz Digital Institute will be held July For Global Immersion, formerly SEOS, our science education. 21-25 in Chadds Ford this summer. Last year the institute drew about 30 fulldome profes- sionals and included digital production work- shops, group production activities, and show presentations. E&S/Spitz will also present their fifth annual ASTC Fulldome Showcase on Oc- tober 20 at the ’s Fels Plane- tarium in .9 As always, regional planetarium conferenc- es are a great way to see the latest fulldome technologies and shows in action and to con- nect with others in the field. Consult your lo- cal IPS affiliate chapter for more information.

8 See elcetl.org/conference 9 See ASTC 2008 conference web site www.astc. org/conference/index.htm

40 Planetarian March 2008 back to these facts later in the column. Copyright protects “original works of au- General Counsel thorship” that are fixed in a tangible medium of expression. The “tangible medium of ex- various peer-to-peer file sharing services. The pression” requirement serves as a prerequisite harm, says the RIAA, lies in the unlawful dis- to protection, but is distinct from the work it- tribution of copyrighted works. self. A single “musical work,” for example, can The RIAA later publicly clarified its posi- take numerous tangible forms, such as print- tion in an interview with National Public Ra- ed sheet music, or a CD recording. But regard- dio, noting that it is generally not concerned less of the various forms that a particular work with people making noncommercial, personal may take, there still exists only one copyright- use copies of CDs, and that it has not brought ed work. One who purchases a copy of the a single infringement suit based solely on such sheet music or CD recording has the right to copying. But the RIAA stopped short of agree- make reasonable use of the material, but has ing that copying of music from lawfully-pur- chased CDs onto person- al computers and personal media devices constitutes fair use, or is otherwise ex- empt from infringement liability. Despite copyright scholars’ repeated asser- tions that such use should Christopher S. Reed be permitted, the U.S. re- cording industry is appar- CSR Media, LLC ently not quite ready to 1600 South Eads Street accept that there are limits #830N to the exclusive rights that copyright owners enjoy. Arlington, Virginia 22202 At the heart of the RI- USA AA’s argument is the prin- istockphoto.com ciple that the owner of no rights to the intellectual property embod- (1) 720-236-3007 a lawfully-purchased CD, while having the ied on the printed page or recorded CD. Sim- right to play the CD, does not have the right [email protected] ply put, ownership of the item confers no in- to manipulate the intellectual property con- terest in the content embodied therein. tained on it. Critics of the recording industry’s The distinction is important because of a “Ripping” Music position argue that copying a CD to a person’s limitation that exists in U.S. copyright law. As I sit down to write this quarter’s column, own hard drive for personal use is a fair use of The so-called “first sale doctrine” provides one of the hot topics on blogs and Internet fo- the intellectual property, and thus, does not that a copyright owner’s exclusive rights ex- rums is a recent Washington Post article that constitute copyright infringement. Although tend only to the copyrighted work, and not to chronicles the Recording Industry of Amer- the issue is likely to remain unresolved for the the physical media in which that work is em- ica’s (RIAA) recent copyright infringement foreseeable future, the RIAA’s position offers bodied, or, put differently, the copyright own- litigation endeavors. In the article, journalist a useful basis for a discussion about an often er has no right to control the physical media Marc Fisher discussed an ongoing case against misunderstood principle of copyright law: the after the media is first sold. Without this pro- an Arizona man for “ripping” legally-pur- distinction between a copyrighted work and vision, those who sell used books or CDs, for chased music CDs to his computer. Of course, the physical object upon which that work is example, might be considered copyright in- ripping CDs to a computer for personal, non- fixed. fringers. The first sale doctrine is designed to commercial use has become a common prac- ensure that copyright protection extends only tice in this age of digital media, and the RIAA’s What About Old Shows? to the product of a creative endeavor, and no claim, as described in Fisher’s article, under- Before I delve into the legal analysis, consid- further, for allowing the copyright owner standably drew the ire of many technophiles. er this set of facts: a planetarium is upgrading to control the physical media on which his A review of the court documents in that to digital projection technology and hopes to or her work is fixed does little to serve copy- case reveals that while the RIAA did allege that sell its old shows to a planetarium where they right’s underlying policy purpose: to incentiv- the defendant ripped music to his hard drive, will get some use. Most of the shows were ize the development of new creative works. at the core of its copyright claim is the alle- produced by third-party production compa- One way in which copyright owners have gation that the defendant moved the ripped nies or other planetariums, though some of attempted to get around the limitations of music to a “shared folder” on his computer. In the materials were created in-house. Can the the first sale doctrine is by characterizing the essence, the Arizona case is no different than planetarium legally sell its old shows? Could transfer of physical media as a licensing ar- the numerous file sharing cases that the RIAA a buying planetarium legally use them? Con- rangement rather than a purchase. By doing has brought in recent years against users of sider the question as you read; I will come so, a copyright owner can prevent the trans- fer of physical media by claiming that such a General Counsel is intended to serve as a source of general information on legal issues transaction would constitute a breach of the of interest to the planetarium community. Planetarians seeking information on how the principles discussed in a General Counsel column apply to their own circumstances license agreement. Software publishers have should seek the advice of their own attorneys. been particularly aggressive at arguing this

March 2008 Planetarian 41 position, though its veracity remains largely license, which almost certainly isn’t transfer- naming services, I recently noticed that the untested. Like the RIAA’s views on CDs, only able, the buying planetarium would be un- U.S. Copyright Office has posted a statement time will tell how the law will handle such is- able to lawfully present the shows in its the- on its web site regarding the practice and sues. ater. thought it was worth mentioning here. One Additionally, the license might even ex- of the often-used pitches for such star nam- Check the License tend beyond performance rights, purporting ing services is that the name and “owner” of So, returning to the hypothetical scenario to control distribution of the physical media, the star is placed in a book which is then regis- above: can the planetarium legally sell its old much like software publisher attempt to do in tered with the Library of Congress (the Copy- traditional shows to another planetarium? their licenses, making the transfer of the show right Office being a unit of the Library of Con- The answer, like most legal answers, is “it de- materials a breach of the license. gress). While this claim is literally true, as a pends.” To the extent that the selling plane- In short, whether the planetarium would book is considered a literary work and is, thus, tarium created the show materials in-house, be able to sell its shows requires an analysis of plainly copyrightable, copyright registra- it likely owns the copyright, and selling those the relevant facts as considered against the le- tion affords no protection to the names list- materials probably would not raise an issue. gal principles I set out earlier. This is, of course, ed in the book. It appears that the Copyright As for shows acquired from producers or other just a hypothetical, and you should always Office agrees, noting on its site that “[n]ames planetariums, under the first sale doctrine, it remain mindful that every situation varies are not protected by copyright. Publishers of would appear as if the planetarium may freely based on the specific facts. As always, if you publications such as a star registry may regis- sell the show materials: the slides, soundtrack have questions relating to your own legal sit- ter a claim to copyright in the text of the vol- tapes, related printed materials, and so forth. uation, you should seek the advice of a quali- ume [or book] containing the names the reg- But the buying planetarium probably fied, competent attorney licensed to practice istry has assigned to stars, and perhaps the could not do much with the shows, for the in your jurisdiction. compilation of data; but such a registration right of public performance vests in the copy- would not extend protection to any of the in- right owner, and the initial performance li- A Note About Star Naming dividual star names appearing therein” (alter- cense was likely granted to the planetarium Although I have studiously avoided drag- ation in original). To see it for yourself, visit that first purchased the show. Without that ging this column into the debate over star www.copyright.gov. I

42 Planetarian March 2008 events. The first event was the Fusion Road Show, made by the FOM-Instituut voor Plas- International News mafysica Rijnhuizen (Fundamenteel Onder- zoek der Materie) in the Netherlands. This zil (a very large country, we should keep in show explains nuclear fusion (not to be con- mind) get together to exchange experiences, fused with nuclear fission) and the great pos- anecdotes, and useful tips. This year, it took sibilities in the near future to use this as a place November 15-18 in São Paulo, Brazil’s safe, clean, and limitless source of energy. It is largest city. called fusion because it is based on fusing light At exactly the same date, in an unfortunate nuclei such as hydrogen isotopes to release en- calendar coincidence, the Rio de Janeiro Plan- ergy. The process is similar to that which pow- etarium hosted the 10th ENAst. The ENAst is a ers the sun and other stars. lot like a star party, since it is aimed at the am- The second event consisted of two differ- ateur astronomer. Unlike a star party, it lasts ent fulldome show: Planètes en vue from the some three or four days (it is usually on a na- Astronef Planetarium and RSA Cosmos and tional holiday) and it has several lectures, pan- the wonderful Dawn of the Space Age from Mi- els, and discussions, with contributions from rage3D. A rented Eluminati fisheye projection amateur and professional astronomers alike. system showed the public a preview of the Oddly enough, the Brazilian IPS represen- possibilities with the newest projectors and tative, Alexandre Cherman, an astronomer at shows. the Rio de Janeiro Planetarium and the scien- More info is available from André Milis, tific director of ABP, could not attend either [email protected], who also has provid- meeting. His first child, a baby girl named Isis, ed these links: www.nachtvandeonderzoek- was born on 12 November, a little ahead of ers.be, ec.europa.eu/research/researchersi- schedule. Congratulations, Alex! neurope/events/ern07_en.htm, and www. Lars Broman fusie-energie.nl. Teknoland Association of Dutch-Speaking Planetariums Association of Mexican Stångtjärnsv 132 The planetarium of Beisbroek in at Planetariums SE 791 74 Falun, Sweden the moment (January 2008) is investigating AMPAC held its annual meeting 22-24 No- the possibilities of installing fulldome video. vember at the Luis Felipe Rivera Planetarium, +46 2310 177 Hopefully, by next time, Eddy Pirotte, info@ , Michoacán. A plaque with the name [email protected] beisbroek.be, will be able to report more on of Gabriel Muñoz Bedolla was presented at the the decision and installation schedule. auditorium as a posthumous homage to him www.teknoland.se The 2007 edition of the European Research- for his many dedicated years to teaching as- ers Night that took place on 28 September in- tronomy to children while being planetarium volved more than 150 cities and towns in 28 The International News column is depen- director. AMPAC elected 2007-2009 officers, European countries (member and associated dent on contributions from IPS Affiliate As- and the following accepted their posts: Juan states). More than 220,800 persons attended sociations all over the world. Many thanks to José Duran from the Arcadio Poveda Planetar- the events in all the different countries. These Bart Benjamin, Tony Butterfield, Ignacio Cas- ium in Merida, Yucatan as president; Juan José special events give the general public, young tro, Gail Chaid, Alexandre Cherman, Kevin Fernández from the San Luis Potosi Planetar- or old, interested in science or just wanting Conod, Alex Delivorias, Jack Dunn, John Hare, ium in San Luis Potosi as secretary; and Fran- to find out more, the opportunity to find out André Milis, Loris Ramponi, and Scott Young cisco Alcaraz from the Luis Felipe Rivera Plan- about the fun of science. for your contributions. The upcoming dead- etarium as treasurer. The Brussels Planetarium of the Royal Ob- line is 1 April for Planetarian June 2008, and New membership dues were issued and servatory of Belgium offered the public the I welcome both you and all you other con- AMPAC’s 2008 annual meeting is to be held in possibility of participating in two marvelous tacts to send me your contributions. I ask you Torreón, Coahuila, where a new planetarium especially to contribute this time, since the column in the June Planetarian will be my 50th Regional Roundup/International News. It would be nice to commemorate the anni- versary with inputs from all Affiliate Associ- ations!

Association of Brazilian Planetariums November is a great month if you like as- tronomy and live in Brazil. It is in November that we usually hold two very special meet- ings: the Annual Meeting of ABP and ENAst, an acronym that stands for (in Portuguese) for “National Astronomical Gathering.”

The Annual Meeting of ABP is self-explan- The ENAst official picture, at the entrance of the Museum of the Universe (Rio de Janeiro Planetarium). atory. Members of planetariums all over Bra- Photo by Filipe Pereira

March 2008 Planetarian 43 is being planned. A series of lectures were pre- (which celebrated its 40th anniversary in through the universe at the end of 2010. The sented by astronomers from the UNAM’s ra- 2007, opening in 1967 as the Calgary Centen- staff is thrilled with the news and can’t wait dio astronomy and astrophysics center locat- nial Planetarium) is strained to capacity as it to begin work on this once-in-a-lifetime proj- ed in Morelia, Michoacán. enjoys record attendance, topping just over ect. More to come in these pages! Contact in- The Cajeme Planetarium in Sonora now 300,000 visitors in 2007, up from 265,000 in formation: Pierre Chastenay at chastenay@as- bears the name of Antonio Sanchez Ibarra, 2006, itself a record-breaking year. Contact tro.umontreal.ca. former AMPAC president, as a recognition to and information Alan Dyer at alan.dyer@cal- At H R MacMillan Space Centre in Vancou- his dedication in promoting astronomy in garyscience.ca. ver, British Columbia, planetarium show pro- the State of Sonora, specially fostering the cre- At the planetarium at the Muse- duction will be temporarily halted in 2008 ation of the planetarium and the Guaymas um in , the summer/fall showing of while the production department assists with and mobile planetariums. The The People vs. Pluto has become the most pop- the development of a new gallery display, UNAM’s Universum Science Museum in Mex- ular show in years. Examining the Pluto de- “Looking at Earth from Space,” in the Cosmic ico City has acquired a refurbished Spitz star bate in a court-room style, the program in- Courtyard. Preliminary work is well under- projector for the 8-meter dome and has been corporates an audience vote at the end as to way with our design group Andre and Associ- named after Ing. José de la Herran as a recogni- whether Pluto is guilty of “impersonating” a ates from Victoria, British Columbia. tion to his diffusion of astronomy; he was also planet or not. Results from the general public, The exhibit will focus on the challenges AMPAC president. not surprisingly, have been about two-to-one that are facing us and the planet today. It will in favor of keeping Pluto a full planet. explore the question of sustainability using Canadian Association of Science The show and digital voting system is be- three resources: food, air, and water. Are the Centres ing made into a show kit for other non-digi- in danger? How can we adapt? How can we At the TELUS World of Science in Calgary, tal planetarium theatres. In addition, plane- monitor them? What is the view from space , work is proceeding apace on the con- tarium staff have been active in outreach and telling us? Scheduled to open in fall 2008, the cepts for what may now be two digital dome education, running astronomy courses, and objective is to inspire action towards living in theatres in a new planned science centre, “a presenting “ and alchemy” (actual- a more sustainable way. European/Mediterranean Planetarium Association On 4 December, the Eugenides Planetari- um premiered its new planetarium produc- tion Christmas Star, a show contemplating what that strange and wonderful light that guided the three wise men on their epic jour- ney might have been. It is worth mentioning that this 40-minute Christmas show is the first one produced in its entirety by the Eugenides Planetarium, including music, animations, compositing, all postproduction and slicing. It has already been proven a big success, espe- cially to the younger audiences. A shorter ver- sion lasting 20-24 minutes will be available this summer for leasing by other planetari- ums.

Great Lakes Planetarium Association Group photo from the Triple Conjunction conference in Wheeling, West Virginia. Photo byMark Camp- Illinois. The William Staerkel Planetari- bell of Prestige Photography, Wheeling, WV. um at Parkland College in Champaign con- tinues to raise funds for a fulldome system. In large big-ticket theatre” capable of showing ly astronomy and chemistry) classes at a Har- January, Staerkel—which is now 20 years old— programs from various sources, including dig- ry Potter book launch that drew upwards of began running an original show called Univer- itized large format films as well as planetari- 10,000 visitors. sary, which describes the last 20 years of astro- um shows and live events, complemented by There was a gathering of very important nomical discoveries. a smaller domed “visualization lab” dedicated people at the top of the tower of the On 28 November, the Lakeview Muse- to interactive media, guest-created program- Olympic Stadium on 10 December 2007 to an- um Planetarium was closed (until 26 Janu- ming, experimental arts and science visualiza- nounce the construction of a brand new Plan- ary) for the installation of a new Zeiss Power- tions, as well as planetarium sky shows. etarium in Montreal. Representatives from dome Planetarium System. Upon re-opening, Those two planetarium-capable theaters, the federal government, government, the schedule included a series of continuous combined with an interactive “Earth and Ville de Montreal, as well as Rio Tinto Alcan short demonstrations of the various features Space” exhibit gallery (one of several galler- all pledged important sums of money toward of the Zeiss ZKP4, Spacegate Quinto, and Uni- ies), and a telescope observing deck and its the installation of a new facility near the al- view software, interspersed with fulldome fea- associated classroom will all ensure that as- ready successful Montreal Biodome, Botanical ture shows. tronomy and space science continue to be Garden, and Insectarium. In January, the Cernan Earth and Space Cen- well-represented in Calgary’s new science cen- The new Montreal Planetarium, which will ter of Triton College premiered the Paulucci tre, planned for a 2011 opening. be fully immersive and digital, is expected to Space Theater’s production of Destination Plu- Meanwhile, the existing science centre open its doors and take visitors on a journey to, along with their own Legends of Rock laser

44 Planetarian March 2008 concert, Strasenburgh’s Magic Sky, and Minne- apolis’ Time Bandits. On 20 February, the Cer- nan Center hosted a public observing session for that evening’s total lunar eclipse. Indiana. Dayle Brown (Pegasus Produc- tions) has sold her portable planetarium, al- though she is still doing programs and train- ing from time to time. Her third book, Skylore from Planet Earth: Stories from Around the World—Milky Way, will soon be published. The SpaceQuest Planetarium at the India- napolis Children’s Museum has a new show titled Far, Far Away: The Worlds of Star Wars which has Star Wars as its focus. First created at the Charles Hayden planetarium in Boston in collaboration with Lucasfilm Ltd., it com- pares the fantasy worlds of the Star Wars mov- ies to Earth and other real planets in our solar system. The program is narrated by Anthony Daniels, who plays C3PO in the films. Michigan. The University of Michigan Exhibit Museum Planetarium hosted a Donor Preview Party for its new Uniview all-dome The Mueller Planetarium mirror system. Photo by Mike Dunn projection system. The planetarium’s initial offering included live, enhanced star talks and the all-dome production Black Holes: The Oth- on Harvest Moon. The program includes every- of Light during December and the home-pro- er Side of Infinity from the Denver Museum of thing about the moon that can be squeezed duced show Wisconsin, a State for All Seasons Nature and Science. into an hour show, including the collision during the Waukesha JanBoree city festival. At the Kingman Museum in Battle Creek, theory of its origin, the “large moon near the Ken Murphy at the Southwest Minneso- the Digistar 1 had to be shut down for the horizon” phenomenon, the “blue” moon, and ta State University Planetarium in Marshall month of October to accommodate the dec- people being crazier around the full moon. reports on renovations that have been done orating of their planetarium for their Spooky Roy Kaelin reports that the Shafran Plan- over the last six months, including asbestos Science Saturday event. A group of volunteers etarium of the Museum of Natu- abatement, dome cleaning and painting, a turned the planetarium into Frankenstein’s ral History has hosted the first of a three-part new East Coast Control Systems console, LED castle, complete with a laboratory and life size workshop known as PROM/SE (Promoting cove lighting, and the addition of a mirror- models of Frankenstein and his monster. The Rigorous Outcomes in Mathematics and Sci- based fulldome projection system. event drew in a record crowd of over 1,000 ence Education). Remaining workshops con- The Minnesota Planetarium Society (MNPS) people in just a four hour period! tinued through February. Funded by the Na- reports that Twin City area visitors are once In January, the Vollbrecht Planetarium tional Science Foundation, these workshops again viewing planetarium skies. Over 13,000 presented a winter series of eight, 90-minute address the origins of the universe, Earth, and visitors have experienced the ExploraDome shows on a variety of astronomy topics. Voll- of life itself, and seek to improve K-12 math Immersive Learning Experience. brecht public shows run for at least 90 min- and science teaching. Shafran also hosted The Forestview Middle School Planetarium utes and consist of a half hour lecture, a half a second Astronomy Day on 15 September. in Brainerd uses an E&S Digistar3 SP2 to pres- hour digital image and/or video presentation, The planetarium is currently offering its own ent shows to 27,450 visitors a year. Brian Wal- and a half-hour night sky show. shows Cold Skies, Hot Stars and the companion lace has the unique opportunity to meet the Abrams Planetarium in Lansing ran Season children’s version, Kind of Blue. same sixth grade class in the planetarium ev- of Light and George and Oatmeal Save Santa for The Philips Space Theater at Dayton’s Boon- ery other day. the holiday season. Returning in January was shoft Museum of Discovery presented their How to Build a Planet created by the Taylor new planetarium show 200 Planets and Count- Great Plains Planetarium Planetarium in Bozeman, Montana and the ing through January. In that show, a grandfa- Association Calgary Science Center’s Super Sky Show. ther explains to his granddaughter how scien- Jack Northrup of King Middle School Plane- The Cranbrook Institute of Science Plane- tists are able to discover planets orbiting other tarium in Omaha reports on an informal meet- tarium in Bloomfield Hills ran Mystery of the stars. ing of GPPA members held at Mueller Plan- Christmas Star from E&S and their own in- Wisconsin/Minnesota. The Milwau- etarium. Several Nebraskans and one Iowan house entertainment show Christmas Lights kee Public Museum’s Daniel M. Soref Plane- made the trek to Lincoln for a state meeting during the holidays. The staff at Cranbrook tarium presented Mystery of the Christmas Star hosted by Jack Dunn on 3 November 2007. also offered another telescope users workshop from E&S in December, followed by Secrets Carl and Elaine Rump reported on WAC in January and continued their participation of the Zodiac in January and the Minneapolis 2007 in Alaska, including some beautiful pic- in the master of science in education astron- Planetarium production Romancing the Stars tures of field trip sites. Jack Northrup, Jack omy course at Lawrence Technological Uni- in February. During February’s lunar eclipse, Dunn, and Liz Klimek reported on the Triple versity. four planetariums co-hosted an Conjunction Conference, presenting pictures Ohio. At the Sidney Frohman Planetari- “Eclipse Blitz.” of the Mars rovers former Mueller assistant um in Sandusky, Lois Wolf created a mostly Dave DeRemer at the Charles Horwitz Plan- Mary Hiller (now at the Dreyfus Planetarium live planetarium public program called Shine etarium in Waukesha presented The Season in Newark, New Jersey) had made out of re-

March 2008 Planetarian 45 46 Planetarian March 2008 mote control cars. Al Dorn from the Univer- conference with GLPA and SEPA. More than over as president as Patty Seaton of the H. B. sity of Nebraska at Omaha informed us his 300 planetarians attended and enjoyed the ca- Owens Science Center (Prince George’s Coun- planetarium is hosting a healthy number of maraderie, lectures and demonstrations. ty Public Schools, ) moved to the po- astronomy classes. MAPS members are already planning its sition of past president. President elect is Steve Don Knudsen of Gehringer Planetarium re- next annual conference, to be held 14-17 May Mitch of the Benedum Planetarium at Ogle- ported they are using Starry Night with their 2008. The conference will be hosted by the bay. Sam Storch of the Edwin P. Hubble Plan- new textbooks. Jack Northrup of King Plane- Suits-Bueche Planetarium at the Schenectady etarium (, New York) continues in tarium mentioned that they are adding a new Museum in Schenectady, New York. The plan- his role as secretary and Anthony Villano of astronomy course called Astronomy 8 at their etarium has finished the second phase of its the Fair Lawn High School Planetarium (Fair school in addition to expanding their robotics renovation with the installation of a GOTO Lawn, New Jersey) has retired, turning his po- cadre to 5th and 6th graders. Jack Dunn dem- Chronos Space Simulator star machine in a sition over to new Treasurer Keith Johnson of onstrated his Warped Media system with sev- 30-foot dome that seats 60-65 people. the Edelman Planetarium (Rowan University, eral shows including Dawn of the Space Age by The Schenectady Museum is a museum Glassboro, New Jersey). Mirage3D. He also had invited a reporter from about science and technology and has exhib- As the new officers take their positions, an- the UNL student newspaper, Alina Selyukh, its relating to power generation, the history other election is already underway. The terms who is from Russia, to give us some insight of television and radio, and the magnetic res- for three members of the MAPS Board are ex- on the statements by the Russian cosmonauts onance imaging machine, and its collections piring and the Nomination Committee has such as Yuri Gagarin in the program. contain the fourth largest photo collection in received a large slate of nominees for this im- GPPA has not decided on what to do for fu- the world. It also features the history of Gen- portant role within MAPS. The winners of this ture main conferences as we are aware of two eral Electric and the development of electrical election will begin their duties at the conclu- western regions voting not to have a confer- power across North America. sion of the next business meeting in Schenect- ence in 2008. Undoubtedly, the attendance in More information on the conference is ady in May. Chicago for IPS will be very large, but when forthcoming. See the MAPS website for the MAPS has initiated a Mentoring Network IPS meets outside of the U.S., we are not so sure latest information: www.maps-planetarium. for those starting out in the planetarium field that IPS can substitute for a regional confer- org. Contact information for the conference or have recently moved to a new facility with ence. We will continue to explore having in- host is Steven LJ Russo, planetarium manager, unfamiliar equipment or curriculum and have formal meetings such as this one to exchange Suits-Bueche Planetarium, Schenectady Muse- questions for a fellow educator, technician, or ideas in an inexpensive but fruitful forum. um, Nott Terrace Heights, Schenectady, New coordinator. The planetarium field tends to York 12308. +1 518-382-7890, ext. 253, russo@ be a specialty in which one often finds one- Middle Atlantic Planetarium schenectadymuseum.org, www.schenectady- self operating single handedly without the Society museum.org. benefit of immediate consultation with a col- The Triple Conjunction Conference on 9- New officers took their positions at the league facing the same challenges. To find a 13 October 2007 at the Oglebay Resort and close of the Triple Conjunction. Gloria Vil- mentor in your area, visit the MAPS website: Conference Center in Wheeling, West Virgin- lalobos of the Novins Planetarium (Ocean www.maps-planetarium.org. ia was a rousing success! The event was a joint County College, Toms River, New Jersey) took The Ocean County College Foundation’s “Reach for the Stars” campaign has received more than $1.3 million to date in pledges, do- nations and grants in support of the reno- vation and renewal of the Robert J. Novins Planetarium in Toms River, New Jersey. The Novins served as host of the 2006 MAPS Con- ference and is directed by current MAPS Pres- ident Gloria Villalobos. The planetarium had been threatened with closure after cuts made to the state government’s budget. The Ocean County College Foundation recently held an Evening Under the Stars, which raised more than $200,000, which was donated to the Reach for the Stars campaign. Also, the foundation recently pledged an ad- ditional $200,000. Renovations on the theater should begin soon.

Nordic Planetarium Association Cosmonova, Sweden’s only IMAX theatre and the country’s largest planetarium, is in- stalling two new digital platforms for the showing of both 3D films and planetarium presentations, the latter using fulldome video. Following a public procurement, Global Im- mersion, based in the UK, will be the provid- The MAPS Board met at the Suits-Bueche Planetarium at the Schenectady Museum in Schenectady, Ney er of these new technologies with installation York to discuss the upcoming MAPS Conference, which will be held May 14-17, 2008. From left: Steve beginning in spring 2008. Global Immersion Mitch, president elect; Steve Russo, conference host; Patty Seaton, past president; and Sam Storch. will bring a range of advanced technologies to Photo by Kevin Conod

March 2008 Planetarian 47 ed by Kate Mulgrew. Noted composer John Serrie crafted an original score for the 36-min- ute production. The show contains the latest available so- lar system information as of spring 2007 and, where possible, was written to gain maximum longevity regarding the mentioning of cer- tain facts. The DVD includes a trailer that can be run by local broadcast media to promote the show. To obtain copies of the show or for mem- bership information for SEPA, contact Mick- ey Jo Sorrel, SEPA secretary/treasurer. Contact and other information about SEPA can be ob- tained at sepadomes.org.

Southwestern Association of Planetariums The world’s most famous hominid came to the Museum of Natural Science and the Burke Baker Planetarium staff produced the ultimate show about evolution called Lucy’s Cradle-The Birth of Wonder. Known as Lucy, the 3.2 million year-old hominid is an Australopithecus afarensis from Ethiopia. Italian Planetaria’s Friends Association The project of Planetarium of Brembate di sopra (Bergamo) Image courtesy of La torre del Sole (the The Houston team also participated at the tower of Sun) Triple Conjunction Conference, where they debuted their Newtonian warped fisheye the theatre, creating a world-class venue and California Professor of the Year by the Carne- spherical projector for portable planetariums. providing audiences with truly immersive ex- gie Foundation for Advancement of Teaching With a display booth and an inflatable plan- periences. and Council for Advancement and Support of etarium, the Burke Baker staff gave demos of Cosmonova’s original Digistar I, 40 carou- Education, and also received the prestigious their 14 shows available for purchase. sel slide projectors, and Pro Dome all-skies will American Institute of Physics Andrew Ge- Staff members also worked hand-in-hand be replaced by Global Immersion’s integrated mant Award. (See more in Gibbous Gazette, with NASA and the STS 120 crew to teach the fulldome video system, which utilizes SCISS’ page 66.) astronauts how photograph the shuttle and Uniview software as the real time image gen- DeAnza College in Cupertino, California ISS with a fisheye lens during their 15-day mis- erator, projected by 6 Projection Design F30 is in the same district as Foothill College and sion. These images will be processed and made video projectors. The digital 3D system will with the new grand opening of its planetari- available in fisheye and warped fisheye for- use two Christie CP2000-ZX cinema projec- um, service to the public continues. mat. tors to create a 150°-wide image area that vis- Nearby, in San Jose, Independence Planetar- While the astronauts were in space photo- itors will view with active 3D glasses. ium in the East Side Union High School Dis- graphing with the museum’s camera, produc- “The digital 3D solution will be similar to trict continues to re-format slide programs tion continued on an updated version of Night those that Tycho Brahe Planetarium (Copen- into digital successfully. Programs follow the of the Titanic, which opened in Albuquerque’s hagen) and La Géode () have now. After state standards for science at every age lev- Lode Star Planetarium in December and then the 2008 installations are complete, Cosmon- el. The new format combined with live pro- in Houston in January. ova will offer a wider variety of exciting plan- grams and a night sky program continues to With donated equipment from the Burke etarium presentations, partial dome digital inspire audiences daily. Baker Planetarium, , NASA’s 3D films and IMAX films. We are obviously Immersive Earth grant and E-Planetarium, very excited,” says Jessica Christensen, theatre Southeastern Planetarium Ethiopia received its first planetarium. The manager for Cosmonova. For further informa- Association gift included 10 shows produced by Burke tion, please contact Cosmorama Marketing The 2008 SEPA conference is scheduled for Baker Planetarium and an inflatable Discov- Manager and Press Officer Lisa Stahre at lisa. Lafayette, Louisiana, 22-26 July. Conference ery Dome Planetarium. This generous gift to [email protected]. host is Dave Hostetter. Visit the SEPA web site the National Museum of Ethiopia was coordi- Broman Planetarium delivered in Decem- for further details. nated by Dr. Carolyn Sumners with the help ber a Starlab Planetarium to . This SEPA began distribution of the planetarium of Dr. Pat Reiff. is the first mobile planetarium that the com- show The Planets at the Triple Conjunction The Houston team is now assisting E&S pany has sold to a country in Eastern Europe. conference in Wheeling in October. DVD cop- with producing a new show that will debut at For more information, contact Per Broman at ies of the show were furnished free to all cur- IPS 2008 in Chicago. This new show will fea- [email protected]. rent SEPA members with the stipulation that ture some of newest breathtaking images from only one free show per facility was permitted. Greenland to Antarctica never before seen in Pacific Planetarium Association As of 1 January 2008, copies of the show are a planetarium. After producing icebergs and Long-time PPA member and supporter, Dr. available to any planetarian at a cost of $50. glaciers for E&S, the Burke Baker staff will fin- Andrew Fraknoi, has been named the 2007 The show was written by Jon Bell and narrat- ish production on a new show. I

48 Planetarian March 2008 March 2008 Planetarian 49 Triple Conjunction ital Images, Animation, and Sound in Your Mobile News A totally different but equally amazing Traveling Planetarium Programs” by Paul J. conference was held in Wheeling, West Vir- Krupinski, Mobile Dome Planetarium. During ginia this year, a triple conjunction that drew this workshop, Owner/Director Paul J. Kru- 250 members from three regional planetari- pinski (“Mr. K”) of the Mobile Dome Planetar- um associations to share their ideas and exper- ium, Buffalo, New York, demonstrated part of tise with each other. The workshops that were an actual day-night program for Grades 1 and held in four portable domes were remarkable, 2 called Sky Wonder. Using a low-tech plan- especially since I was able to arrange for two etarium doesn’t mean you cannot use some of them to be done with digital projectors! To high-tech techniques in your science lessons. my knowledge, this is the first time that ac- Paul used a laptop and LCD projector to dem- tual workshops and not vendor demos have onstrate how you can enhance your students’ been presented with digital projectors under planetarium experience with images, anima- portable domes at a regional or international tion, and sound under your portable dome. conference! Karrie Berglund of Digitalis Edu- “The Reason for the Seasons” by Gene Za- cation Solutions and Reed Varian of Learning jac, Shaker Heights City School District, Shak- Technologies are pioneers! I hope that this is a er Heights, Ohio. This is a lesson that Gene professional development trend that will con- presents in the planetarium and one he does tinue at future conferences. at schools without the planetarium. When The conference workshop papers and other in the planetarium, he does the first part out- materials are recorded in the conference pro- side of the dome. His main audience is second ceedings that were meticulously compiled by grade, but he has used it with fourth graders Dr. Dale Smith. (9-10 year olds) and his high school classes. Susan Reynolds Button Workshops that were presented include: Adults like it as well. Quarks to Clusters “Experience a ‘Down Under’ View of the “Two Lessons for a Portable: The Moon & Bird Migration” by John Meader, Northern 8793 Horseshoe Lane Sky!” by Jeanne Bishop of Westlake Schools, Westlake, Ohio, Dayle Brown from Pegasus Stars Planetarium, Fairfield, Maine. In the past Chittenango, New York Productions, Mishawaka, Indiana, and my- three years John developed two new projec- 13037 USA self, a workshop that gave participants a fresh tion cylinders and the accompanying curricu- perspective as we examined the apparent mo- lum materials for STARLAB Planetariums. He (1) 315-687-5371 tion of the Sun, Moon, and stars as seen from demonstrated how these two diverse topics (1) 315-432-4523 (fax) the Southern Hemisphere. Some participants’ can be effectively explored in a portable plan- brains became a bit confused, but we assisted etarium and how they both relate to a basic [email protected] them in finding their way by identification of starfield. prominent asterisms and constellations. Then “Story Telling” by John Meader. Sharing a bit of star-lore in the form of a good story can What an awesome experience it was to at- they were treated to some fascinating stories bring the same old constellations alive for au- tend the Western Alliance Conference in Alas- and interpretations of the sky from ancient diences from ages 5 to 75. After presenting a ka. Many of us spent some time before the con- cultures of the Southern Hemisphere. couple of stories, participants discussed tech- ference exploring the magnificent scenery of “Putting Pixels in Your Portable: Using Dig- Denali Park and at the end of the conference we were treated to Northern Lights out at a very cold, dark site but found later that they were so bright we could even see them over the city lights of Fairbanks from our warm ho- tel rooms. The conference itself was packed with pa- per sessions, workshops, and invited speak- ers’ talks that were valuable to all conference delegates. Small and mobile dome folks had a plethora of workshop choices; we wished we could attend them all. The list is long: Toshi Komatsu, “Our Very Own Star-PASS Series” Michele Wistisen, “A Difference Approach to Teaching Phases of the Moon” Alan Gould, “Planetarium Programs; Hands on Universe; GEMS programs” Lynn Moroney, “Storytelling” John Gallagher, “Storytelling in the STAR- LAB” and “Using STARLAB to Meet the Na- tional Science Education Standards” I presented “Celestial Motions,” “Lunar An- tics,” “Ancient Eyes on the Sky,” and “Interac- John Gallagher shared a STARLAB lesson with home-schooled children during the Western Alliance Con- tive Techniques Under the Dome.” ference. Photo by Susan Button

50 Planetarian March 2008 niques to make traditional • to become competent in myths and legends fun and dy- the subject matter. Stu- namic within the dome. They dents have to know some- discussed both story telling thing; the objective is not techniques, as well as the use of just “to be inspired.” simple peripherals such as mu- • to learn scientific terms sic and low-tech special effects and vocabulary; it puts a to emphasis the tale. “hook” on the content. “Are You Ready for Hallow- • to view science as a hu- een?” by Karrie Berglund, Dig- man activity. Science is italis Education Solutions. Us- not black and white; it is ing the Digitarium Alpha Z humans trying to make digital planetarium system, sense out of what they ex- participants investigated the perience. astronomical basis behind the • to recognize the relevance holiday of Halloween. of science in society and “Year(s) of Dark Skies” by intellect of each individ- Chuck Bueter, nightwise.org, ual. Granger, Indiana. Chuck gave • to think about problems in us ideas for celebrating the a scientific manner. This is 2009 International Year of As- John Meader’s portable planetarium equipment includes auxiliary projectors, a very difficult because crit- tronomy with planetarium sound system and a control panel for it all. Photo by Susan Button ical thinking takes a life- modules, demos, resources, ac- time of learning. tivities, and ideas that advo- • to improve speaking, read- cate the “Dark Skies” theme. ing and writing skills in See www.nightwise.org/wheel- science. ing.htm for details. • to become a self motivat- “Capture Attention-Teach ed learner. It’s just nice to Content” by Reed Varian, know things. Learning Technologies. Dig- • to be open-minded and ital projection technology to be able to say, “I never brings the curriculum content thought about it that way to students in a new way. Dur- before.” ing this workshop Reed cov- • to ask, to listen, to ask. ered how to present concepts taught in earth and space sci- Looking for Colleagues ence using the imagery of the Dayle Brown, one of my digital projector. committee members, and I re- cently received the following Science Teachers and email from Sally Brummel: “I Students am the Education Outreach Marvin Druger is a Meredith The audience has fun with Karrie Berglund, before going in the dome, as they coordinator of the Minnesota Professor for Teaching Excel- learned about Halloween at the Triple Conjunction Conference. Photo by Susan Planetarium Society. I manage Button lence and chairman of the De- our primary source of educa- partment of Science Teaching tional programming, the por- in the School of Education at table ExploraDome. We have Syracuse University in Syra- been visiting schools for near- cuse, New York. (biology.syr. ly a year now, but still consider edu/druger/index.html) ourselves ‘in development.’ Recently I attended a work- “I was wondering if either of shop/lecture that was conduct- you could provide me a list of ed by this inspiring man, who portable planetariums in the has been teaching for 53 years. state of Minnesota. As we de- He led us through a discus- velop our statewide plan, we sion of “objectives for science would like to be aware of where teaching” and I would like to other portable domes are in use, share some of our conclusions so we can be sure to work with with you because I think they their directors and not in com- are quite relevant to the educa- petition with them.” tors among us. I sent her a list of manufac- Objectives for students (and turers in the USA who could the teacher): give here the latest informa- • to develop a positive atti- tion about portables in Minne- The Planetario della Riviera del Brenta was inaugurated on 23 February 2007. Pho- tude toward science. to provided by Luca Talamoni sota. I was also able, thanks to

March 2008 Planetarian 51 Dale Smith’s good work on the IPS Directory, Luca, we wish you continued success and ucation have announced “The Cosmic Lesson to send her the IPS list of planetariums in her happiness as you “play” with your new plan- Competition.” state so that she could see which planetariums etarium. The competition is open to high school and were the portables. Contact information: Luca Talamoni at middle school teachers, who, using a team ap- Sally Brummel, Education Outreach coor- [email protected]; Gambato Costru- proach, are to create a dynamic lesson with dinator, Minnesota Planetarium Society, 1667 zioni per Astronomia, www.gambato.it or an earth and space science focus with Star- Snelling Avenue North, St. Paul, Minnesota [email protected]. ry Night software to be presented in a digital 55108; phone +1 651-999-7300; sally@mplane- STARLAB. The aim is to incorporate outside tarium.org. 2008 Deadlines to Keep in Mind images, video, and data, and create the most Sometimes it is good to repeat oneself! Right effective and impressive lesson possible. Good News from Italy now is the time to plan for taking advantage Interested teachers have until September 1, I received good news from my good friend of teaching opportunities in Italy. I remind 2008 to become proficient with the software. Luca Talamoni that his long-awaited new you that not one person applied for the Amer- The specific topic that the lesson must address planetarium was finally completed in 2007. ican in Italy trip in 2007! I encourage you to will be announced on that date, and teams Congratulations Luca! Luca reports that the apply and send your application before the will have until December 31, 2008, to create Planetario della Riviera del Brenta has been deadline. For more information go to: www. and submit their lessons. quite successful in its initial stages. The plane- astrofilibresciani.it/Planetari/Week_in_Italy/ The first place team will receive, for their tarium is located in a school in Mira (Venezia) Week_Italy.htm. You can also write to me for school, a complete Digital STARLAB projec- and can seat 35 people under its 6-m dome. an application. tion system with 5-m portable dome powered This planetarium was conceived and built Note the deadlines for applications of “A by Starry Night software valued at $58,000. by Giampaolo Gambato. The Gambato Com- Week in Italy” below: Additional prizes include two telescope pack- pany, created in 1974, has produced and in- -15 April, American Planetarium Operator. ages. For more information or to register, go to stalled planetarium projectors, geodes, and -31 August, French Planetarium Operator. www.cosmiclesson.com. domes for observatories and planetariums -30 September, Spanish Planetarium Oper- Since I cannot attend every conference, all over Italy. I have seen the fine work that ator. you need to let me know what is happen- Gambato does and I imagine that the 2000 ing in your part of the world. Please drop stars that are produced by this new planetar- The Cosmic Lesson Competition me an email and some photos (300dpi jpg ium’s projector must be beautiful. Learning Technologies and Starry Night Ed- or tiff). Thank you! I

52 Planetarian March 2008 March 2008 Planetarian 53 over the territory of other countries with- out raising territorial issues.” (www.astronau- NASA Space Science News tix.com/articles/spulus50.htm, downloaded Held the same weekend in September, 1/18/2008). NASA’s Discovery Program celebrated 15 years and a remarkable record of robotic missions of A Golden Anniversary exploration. Podcasts of the speakers, includ- NASA is celebrating its 50th anniversary ing mission designer Robert Farquhar and the throughout 2008 with a number of events. current head of NASA’s Science Mission Direc- Details can be found at www.nasa.gov/50th/ home/index.html. Events range from the torate, Alan Stern, are available for download Caltech/JPL float in the Rose Parade to exhib- at discovery.nasa.gov/Discovery15/. The meet- its on the National Mall, Washingtion, D.C., as ing provided a unique forum for the exchange part of the ’s annual of experiences, discoveries, and new ideas for Folklife Festival (www.folklife.si.edu/center/ future missions among program participants festival_2008.html). During the weeks of June and the next generation of mission managers 25-29 and July 2-6, NASA will join the state of and scientists. Texas and the country of Bhutan in showcas- ing its achievements and plans—as well as the Anita M. Sohus Making Satellites Acceptable? people who make them possible. Word is that 1957-58 had been designated as an Inter- NASA/Jet Propulsion NASA’s “village” space will cover the space of national Geophysical Year (IGY) and scien- two football fields and require about 120 peo- Laboratory tists hoped that an instrumented Earth-orbit- ple per day to staff. The Smithsonian is look- ing satellite would be launched to advance California Institute of ing for the craftsman of NASA, the people our knowledge of Earth. Indeed, the first U.S. who do the real work. So while you’re making Technology satellite, Explorer 1, discovered the radiation your summer travel plans, you might consid- 4800 Oak Grove Drive belts encircling our planet. Recent histories er going to D.C. after the IPS meeting in Chi- suggest that U.S. President Eisenhower might cago. Pasadena, California 91109 have purposefully delayed the launch of the NASA will also be presenting Future Fo- USA first U.S. satellite, reasoning that if the Sovi- rums throughout the year, a series of one-day ets launched first, they would have thus “…es- events focused on the past, present, and future (1) 818-354-6613 tablished the acceptability of satellites passing of NASA and its contributions to the nation [email protected]

Fifty years ago, we slipped the surly bonds of Earth in a big way, and the world has nev- er been the same. During a remarkable sympo- sium, “Fifty Years in Space,” held at the Cali- fornia Institute of Technology in September 2007, leaders from around the world reflected and prognosticated on space. Ron Sugar, chair- man and CEO of Northrup Grumman Corpo- ration, opened the symposium by pointing out “three innovative offshoots of space prog- ress: defense, discovery, and commercializa- tion.” David Thompson, chairman and CEO of Orbital Sciences Corporation, presented some statistics that illustrate how space has changed our world: in 2007, there was about $150 bil- lion in economic activity in space-related ac- tivities worldwide. Fifty-four percent (about $82B) was in space commerce, 28% ($42B) in space defense and intelligence, and 18% ($27B) in space science, exploration, and applica- tions. (NASA’s budget in 2007 was about $16B.) NASA’s MESSENGER spacecraft captured this false-color mosaic of the innermost planet on January 14, 2008, covering part of the planet not seen by Mariner 10. Color differences on Mercury are subtle, but Space commerce includes satellite communi- they reveal important information about the nature of the planet’s surface material. For example, bright cations (fixed-data and TV distribution sys- spots with a bluish tinge are relatively recent impact craters. Bright streaks (“rays”) emanating from the tems; direct broadcast radio, TV and internet bright craters are caused by the presence of freshly crushed rock material that was excavated and de- services; mobile voice and data systems; satel- posited during the highly energetic collision of a meteoroid with Mercury to form an impact crater. The lites, launch vehicles, and ground equipment), large circular light-colored area in the upper right of the image is the interior of the Caloris basin. Mari- ner 10 viewed only the eastern (right) portion of this enormous impact basin, under lighting conditions satellite navigation and positioning, and satel- that emphasized shadows and elevation differences rather than brightness and color differences. MES- lite imaging and remote sensing. SENGER has revealed that Caloris is filled with smooth plains that are brighter than the surrounding ter- Video highlights and a few transcripts of the rain, hinting at a compositional contrast between these geologic units. The interior of Caloris also har- program are available at www.galcit.caltech. bors several unusual dark-rimmed craters, which are visible in this image. Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington edu/space50/program/ (as of January 2008).

54 Planetarian March 2008 for the advancement of science, technology, der podcasts) by mid-March and also available more before settling into orbit in 2011. The engineering, education, and the economy. To on the AAS webpage. next space spectacular might have occurred see if one will be held near you, go to www. Science mission highlights this year (see cal- before you read this—Cassini’s daring 23-kilo- nasa.gov/50th/home/index.html. endar) include landing in the northern po- meter flirtation with Saturn’s icy moon Encel- lar region of Mars and repairing the Hubble, adus on March 12. Scientists hope to find clues AAS: Now on iTunes as well as international launches to study the to what’s causing those icy geysers in a place Kevin Marvel, executive officer of the Amer- Sun, Earth, Moon, space weather, and astro- where are about 200 degrees be- ican Astronomical Society (AAS), announced physical phenomena . And don’t forget the low zero (Celsius). in January that the society is now making the 100th anniversary of the Tunguska event on NASA’s Phoenix spacecraft is speeding to- invited and prize lectures at each AAS meet- June 30—I’m sure there’ll be some special men- ward its landing on Mars on May 25, the Sun- ing available online for those who could not tion of it at the IPS meeting. day of Memorial Day weekend. May 25 also attend the meeting, but would still like to happens to be the 47th anniversary of John benefit from the invited and prize talks. This Back to Mercury F. Kennedy’s 1961 historic speech in which he seems like a tremendous resource for those The year began with our first closeup look put forth the goal “before this decade is out, of you who are deeply involved in astrono- at Mercury in over 30 years, when NASA’s of landing a man on the moon and returning my education but unable to attend the pro- MESSENGER spacecraft sped past the inner- him safely to Earth.” (www.nasa.gov/vision/ fessional meetings due to your teaching du- most planet on January 14. No spacecraft had space/features/jfk_speech.html). Kennedy’s ties (and budgets). Audio and video versions of visited Mercury since Mariner 10’s third fly- challenge ignited the public’s imagination the talks are available at aas211.showmaestro. by in March 1975. MESSENGER will use the and fueled technological innovations that com. The talks will be indexed on iTunes (un- planet’s gravity to alter its flight path twice changed our lives. While imag- es of Mars—maybe Date Mission Target Event even a panorama and stereo images— March 12 Cassini Enceladus Flyby 23 km are expected with- in hours of a safe April 9 Chandrayaan-1/Moon Moon Launch touchdown, there Mineralogy Mapper (M3) will be several weeks of checkout May 16 Gammy-ray Large Area Space Gamma rays Launch and planning be- Telescope (GLAST) fore Phoenix scoops up some Martian May 25; 4:53 Phoenix Mars Landing soil and dumps it p.m. PDT into its high-tem- perature furnace June 12 GOES-O Earth Launch and mass spectrom- June 15 IBEX Earth Launch eter instrument and its wet chemis- June 15 Ocean Surface Topography Earth Launch try laboratory, op- Mission tical, and atomic force microscopes. June 30 30th anniversary of Tunguska Cassini is now impact in its extended mission, and the July 31 Herschel Space Observatory/ Astrophysics Launch mission has just Planck released a new in- teractive 3-D view- Aug 7 STS-125 / Atlantis Hubble Repair Mission Launch er allows users to travel to Saturn Sep 5 Rosetta Asteroid Steins Flyby and see it the way the Cassini space- Oct 6 MESSENGER Mercury Flyby 2 craft does. The pro- gram uses the actu- Oct 28 GOES-P Earth Launch al instructions sent to the spacecraft, Oct 31 Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Earth’s Moon Launch so mission control- and Lunar Crater Observation lers get to see what and Sensing Satellite the spacecraft is do- ing like they them- Dec Solar Dynamics Observatory Sun Launch selves never have Dec 15 Orbiting Carbon Observatory Earth Launch before. Check it out at saturn.jpl.nasa. (OCO) gov/multimedia/ All dates/times correct as of 21 Jan 2008. CASSIE. I

March 2008 Planetarian 55 56 Planetarian March 2008 support out there for their efforts. omers are a valuable resource for fostering as- Reviews Despite its small size, don’t expect to zip tronomy knowledge, thanks to the passion through this book over lunch (even an ex- we also feel about the universe. If your local ecutive lunch). There’s much to be learned, group doesn’t have a copy, consider adding thought about, and digested. It is written by it to your club’s library and urge that others some of the first names to emerge as research- read it to let them know that yes, they are ap- ers in the field of education and public out- preciated. reach done by informal educators and am- My only possible negative comment is the ateurs. In addition to these fresh faces, other chapter by Tim Slater. As I noted, it’s much author names are (or should be) familiar to too short. As a non-certified, non-education- us all: James Kaler and David Levy, who co- degree teacher planetarian, I’m always some- wrote the first chapter; Tim Slater, who wrote what mystified about how and why decisions the much too short chapter on working in the on curriculum, standards, and other issues are schools; and Judy Koke, who focused on wom- made by the schools. Tim’s chapter answers en in amateur astronomy, are just a few names some of my questions, but I have many more— I’ll drop. perhaps he would consider a much longer ar- So why should planetarians read this book? ticle without the jargon of the schools, like he The obvious reason, of course, is that many has done with this short chapter, or perhaps of us are amateur astronomers ourselves, are we can convince the public school planetari- members of astronomy clubs, and/or work ans within our ranks to contribute to our edu- closely with amateur astronomers to do our cation column. (Sorry; it’s hard to keep the ed- own outreach. The second reason is that you itor hat off my head.) can read this entire work and replace “- teur astronomer” with “planetarian” and it re- George’s Secret Key April S. Whitt mains completely valid and just as valuable, to the Universe especially those planetarians in small-staff fa- Lucy and Stephen Hawking with Chris- Fernbank Science Center cilities who wear most—if not all—of the hats tophe Galfard, 2007, Simon & Schuster, New 156 Heaton Park Drive NE themselves. York, ISBN-10 1-4169-5462-7, US $17.99. Order Perhaps the most important reason is to online at http://www.simonsays.com carefully read the chapters by Martin Storks- , Georgia 30307 USA Reviewed by Sharon Shanks. [email protected] dieck, Marni Berendsen, Michael Gibbs, and Daniel Zevin as examples of the kinds of re- Don’t be ashamed to sit down and read this search that we need to do in our planetari- book, even if you’re not in the recommended Everyone likes to see his or her name in ums to measure and quantify effectiveness. age group of 9-12. It’s a lot of fun. It will brush print, right? Here’s YOUR chance! I have a doz- You know—the research that is written, refer- up your basic knowledge of astronomy and en volumes waiting for reviewers. Just drop eed, and published to become part of the body black holes. It will give you a better under- me a line at the email address above, and I’ll of literature that is cited by future researchers. standing of the level of presentation for most send you a list of what is available. You choose It’s the research that gets us professional no- middle school students. Just tell people who your favourite, and the postal service delivers tice and stature, and it’s what we need to get look at you a bit funny that you’re doing ba- it to you. Write a review! Win a prize! grants. sic research, and go back to reading, annoyed Many thanks to our loyal reviewers for this At the least, the book puts into print some- thing we already know: that amateur astron- at the interruption. issue, Sharon Shanks and Steve Tidey.

Science Educators Under the Stars: Amateur Astronomers Engaged in Education and Public Outreach Michael G. Gibbs, Marni Berendsen, and Martin Storksdieck, editors, 2007, Astronomi- cal Society of the Pacific, San Francisco, Cali- fornia, ISBN 978-1-58381-315-7, US $10 at www. astrosociety.org Reviewed by Sharon Shanks, Ward Beecher Planetarium, Youngstown, Ohio, USA.

This is a slim book – only 120 pages, includ- ing an appendix and biographies. But that’s understandable, because the professional sci- ence community has only recently sat up and noticed the enormous amount of work done in the field by amateur astronomers. And, conversely, amateur astronomers are only starting to become aware that their efforts do, indeed, make a difference and that there is

March 2008 Planetarian 57 For readers in the recommended age group —which I would expand to include a year or two younger and much older readers—it will be a fun page-turner, especially to those who have devoured the Harry Potter books and cut their teeth on the My Teacher is an Alien series by Bruce Coville. All the elements are there: a bad guy and a good guy, a brave kid in difficult circumstanc- es who emerges as the hero, and a real window to the universe that allows the brave kid to travel via comet to visit the solar system. Oh, and a pig. Freddy’s main job is to put the brave kid and the good guy (a scientist, of course) into contact. He does an excellent job at that, and then sort of disappears. I don’t want to tell much more of the story; you’ll want to find that out on your own. I will, however, assure you that the science is sound, despite at couple of “ack” moments (meteors “catching fire” when they pass through the at- mosphere, passing through a “meteor storm” in the asteroid belt—although that one might be possible, so don’t flame me). The science is ter, but this book sure beats the pants off of Low Energy Transfers. Sounds like a real page- so sound that sometimes it reads more like a Captain Underpants. turner, eh? But you know what? It is. Belbruno textbook instead of a novel, but that didn’t has skillfully removed 98% of the equations stop me from reading, and it probably won’t and filled in the gaps with accessible, every- stop your typical sixth grader, either. Fly Me To The Moon: An day language written in an engaging, earth- The information on Pluto is up to date, Insider’s Guide to the New bound style. and there is a terrific selection of very recent Science of Space Travel We sympathize with him as he relates how space photos to support the main astronomy Edward Belbruno, 2007, Princeton Univer- he moved from the strictly academic and themes in the text. sity Press, ISBN 10: 0-691-12822-7, $19.95/£11.95; theoretical environment of his mathemati- The jewel of the book has to be the little order online at press.princeton.edu/titles/8375. cian’s background at a Boston university, to “book within a book” called My Difficult Book html the strictly practical, never-mind-the-theo- Made Simple for Annie and George that explains Reviewed by Space Educator Steve Tidey, ry-does-it-fly? ethos of JPL. This is where the Hawking Radiation. Yes, you read that right Southend, Essex, England germ of the “chaos routes,” as it were, began —Hawking Radiation in a book for middle to grow and he was able to work on the the- school students. You can take the science in What do I think of this book? Chaotic! And ory in between his paid work as a trajectory this “made simple” explanation to the bank, that’s a good thing, because it deals with the analyst on the Galileo mission. But he grew because it’s written by Stephen Hawking him- application of chaos theory to orbital me- unpopular with his bosses, who didn’t under- self. Spoiler ahead: That’s how the brave kid chanics. Or, to quote from the book, it de- stand this new science, and therefore left after saves the good guy from the bad guy’s trick, scribes how space probes can “gently ride the four years to pursue his theory elsewhere. He by the way. How many kids books can make chaotic stability boundaries of gravitational reflects that some of his peers referred to it as that claim? fields of planets to achieve useful and fuel-ef- “black magic:” it was a new way of thinking, Finally, I’d like to make a grumpy old per- ficient paths for spacecraft …” and they were welded to traditional methods son comment. Why do publishers of chil- The reader learns how the author, while for journeying around the solar system. There dren’s books (and now even college text- working at JPL in the mid-eighties, discovered was also a political side to things, because the books) think that putting a box of facts in the there are pathways between the planets simi- engineers didn’t like the idea of designing middle of the text improves comprehension? lar to, but not the same as, the gravitational- probes that wouldn’t need loads of fuel. That When I read I like to read, not stop and change ly neutral Lagrange points along which space- wasn’t Big Science enough for them. And the gears to read a box of facts, then go back, pick craft can travel at much reduced speeds than managers didn’t want to have missions that up the thread of the story, and start reading normal, thereby saving money. The speed loss would look cheap, because the whole thing at again. Fortunately, I’ve learned how to skip is the downside, as the journey length is great- JPL in those days was to be involved in huge- past those annoying boxes and occasional- er, but the upside is that those routes save huge ly expensive missions. It all flew against how ly even go back and read them. And blocks amounts of fuel when leaving Earth orbit and things were done in the age before Dan Gold- of facts throughout the book are there—tons arriving at their destination, and therefore al- in’s “smaller, faster, cheaper” mantra came of facts, about particles, mass, exoplanets, and low more cargo or scientific instruments to along. much more. Go back and read through them; be carried. In particular, Belbruno is interest- But soon after leaving NASA, the author you’ll get a basic astronomy course and cool ed in what are known as “ballistic capture lu- grasped a golden opportunity to prove his “cheat sheets” out of them. nar transfer trajectories.” theory when he was approached by the Japa- All-in-all, George’s Secret Key is a great first The book is a lay version of a monograph nese space agency, which desperately needed children’s book by Lucy Hawking and her the author previously wrote, titled Capture to rescue its Hiten satellite. Belbruno worked dad, and I hope they do more. It might not Dynamics and Chaotic Motions in Celestial Me- out a complicated set of short rocket burns generate the widespread mania of Harry Pot- chanics, With Application to the Construction of that got the stranded probe from Earth orbit

58 Planetarian March 2008 to the Moon in 150 days using just six pounds no’s new science. The first shows how a grav- knows far too much for his own good about of fuel. itational tug-of-war with the planets allowed stuff like hiphet thrusters, free space loss, feed- This brought the theory to a wider audi- Comet Lexell in the 18th century to pass just horns, radiometric resolution, kinetheodo- ence when the mission’s success hit the main- five Moon widths from Earth; why it is possi- lites, klystrons, isoflux contours, polybuta- stream news. The SMART-1 lunar probe used ble for a comet to drift out of our solar system diene, percussion primers, multipaction, and the theory to get to the Moon a few years ago, and wander all the way over to Alpha Centau- urine collection devices. (He really needs to and the Japanese Lunar-A probe will use this ri (!); and how the imapctor that probably col- get out more.) theory of space travel, too. lided with Earth to form the moon may have There are 2,300 entries that cover the tech- Belbruno had an equally startling success accreted in the fourth Lagrange point. nicalities of communications, propulsion, with the AsiaSat3 communications satellite in All good stuff. If the space science commu- launch vehicles, materials, propellants, orbits, 1997. Once in Earth orbit its rocket burned for nity can accept this new science and run with plus a smattering of physics and astronomy. just one second, instead of 110 seconds, strand- There are lots of cross-references in each en- it as fast as the space tourism business is go- ing the satellite in a useless orbit. He worked try, with dozens of photographs and diagrams ing to grow over the next 50 years, people will out a route that allowed the ground control- throughout. look back and see this as the start of the new lers to send the satellite all the way out to the On pretty much every page you can dip era of cheap, affordable space travel. Moon on a paltry amount of fuel, and then into an entry and learn something that prob- return it to Earth in the correct orbit. This ably relates to an unanswered question or two groundbreaking maneuver may herald the The Cambridge Dictionary of you’ve had over the years. This advantage way for satellite companies to save hundreds Space Technology alone makes it worth buying. of millions of dollars by changing the orbits of Mark Williamson, 2001, Cambridge Univer- Overall, this book will make you more con- satellites rather than launching new ones. sity Press, ISBN 0 521 66077 7, US $64; order on- fident about speaking to people about the This radical way of thinking about space line at www.cambridge.org/us/catalogue/cat- technicalities of what goes on inside space- travel could be a cornerstone in NASA’s efforts alogue.asp?isbn=9780521660778 craft, beyond the usual stuff that we’ve all to get people back to the Moon; the spacecraft Reviewed by Steve Tidey. learned over the years. So good luck with ex- that will transport fuel to the Moon for the plaining heterogeneous propellants, longe- astronauts could get to our nearest neighbor There are few titles on the market that cov- rons, shunt dump regulators, safing and quar- by taking the slow, scenic route, thus saving er space technology in an encyclopedic form, ternary phase shift keying. I’d tell you myself money. but you shouldn’t need to look any further what they all mean, but I’m too busy reading The closing chapters deal with some in- for a fine source of reference material than about magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters. triguing calculations that come out of Belbru- this book. The author is clearly well read and I’m such an anorak… I

March 2008 Planetarian 59 60 Planetarian March 2008 a wonderful view of the heavens. I have been using the FiberArc projector with our recent- What’s New ly-repaired STARLAB dome, and it brings the ohhs and ahhhs from each and every audi- ence! While checking out the FiberArc projec- tor, I also discovered another upgrade for all STARLAB users. LTI has a new moon slide set The old (left) and the new: LTI’s new moon slide set. Photo courtesy LTI for the standard and FiberArc projectors. The standard magnetic slides that attach to the cylinder and project the shape of each moon the concept of scale—useful for studying Earth phase have been replaced with a nine-slide set science, math, and more. According to Reed of moon phases with film images, allowing Varian of LTI, additional lessons and full cur- the STARLAB user to point out the maria and riculum modules based on Learning Technol- other features on our nearest neighbor! This ogies’ existing teacher-created lesson will be set includes a total solar eclipse slide. available on an ongoing basis. For more information on all STARLAB sys- Radio Sky Cylinder tems, cylinders, and accessories, contact Reed The observable universe in radio light is Varian at [email protected] or LTI, 40 Cam- now available for STARLAB with the PARI Ra- eron Avenue, Sommerville, Massachusetts dio Sky Cylinder, which immerses the audi- 02144, phone +1 800-537-8703 (U.S. only) or +1 ence in the radio universe, yielding a close-up 617-628-1459. experience with a part of the electromagnetic John Schroer spectrum. The program consists of two radio A Disappearing Planet views of the sky (the Milky Way and famil- The Bays Mountain Planetarium in King- Dassault Systèmes iar objects such as Jupiter and the Orion Nebu- sport, Tennessee is leasing an exciting new la) that can be removed and replaced with the Planetarium show called The Case of the Disappearing Plan- visible sky view of the Milky Way. The Radio et. It looks into the changing status of objects The New Science Sky cylinder has the top image permanently we call planets. It not only covers Pluto, but installed on one half, while you can exchange Center the history of the temporary planetary status the second and third half cylinders. This cyl- of as well. The tally of planets in our 5020 John R Street inder, compatible with standard and FiberArc solar system has been going up and down for projectors, was developed by Christi Whit- Detroit, Michigan 48202 hundreds of years! worth at the Pisgah Astronomical Research In- This program features a sly, street-smart USA stitute. Christi may be reached at 1 PARI Drive, gumshoe called Skye Watcher. After a frenzied Rosman, North Carolina 28772-9614; phone [email protected] phone call from a third grade teacher, she col- +1 828-862-5554; email: [email protected]. [email protected] lects clues to find out what happened to Plu- to. The show is slide-based, but also includes (1) 313-577-8400, Ext. 435 Moon Cylinder alpha-channeled video and stills in Targa for- STARLAB also now has an interactive Moon mat so you can create your own fulldome ver- Cylinder, with the top able to rotate to show sion as well. Other cool extras include subti- STARLAB Update the corresponding positions of the sun, Earth, tling for the hearing impaired, an additional There are several new items available for and moon for the changing phases of the version of the video that can be played that STARLAB portable planetariums. (For those Moon. On the side, both the near and far sides includes all of the slide and video assets com- not familiar with STARLAB, you can learn of the moon can be seen, with positions and bined (for portable domes with one visu- more by visiting the Learning Technologies the names of maria, craters, mountain ranges, al source), a customizable trailer video, and a web site at www.starlab.com.) and landing sites of manned and unmanned lobby-sized poster file for the show that will The standard STARLAB has been bringing missions displayed. print a 35x52-inch poster at 300 dpi. the night sky to folks for over 20 years. Re- LTI also has a “portable planetarium of the This program was produced by the same cently, LTI has introduced an upgraded pro- future,” the Digital STARLAB. It is a compact folks who created the animations and pro- jector known as FiberArc. It comes with four fulldome system based on a laptop running a duced the DVD for SEPA’s new collaboration adjustable goose neck halogen side lamps for customized version of Starry Night software program, The Planets. The Case of the Disap- lights inside the dome, plus projectors for car- from Imaginova called Starry Night Small pearing Planet is priced at $499 for fixed domes dinal points and a meridian. Unlike the stan- Dome. Users can choose from a set of 12 pre- and $199 for portable domes. dard STARLAB projector, which uses an in- scripted, national standards-based lessons or For more information: visit www.bay- candescent bulb for illuminating the star two full curriculum modules that are includ- smountain.com or contact Adam Thanz at cylinder, FiberArc used a miniature arc lamp ed with the system. The first curriculum mod- [email protected], Bays Mountain Park and fiber optic cable to light up a new sky cyl- ule is based on “Astronomy of the Americas “ & Planetarium, 853 Bays Mountain Park Road, inder known as the MultiLens Starfield Cylin- from Volume 11 of the Planetarium Activities Kingsport, Tennessee 37660; phone +1 423- der. This cylinder includes a wonderful depic- for Student Success that explores five Native 229-9447. tion of our Milky Way, based on the all-sky American cultures and their knowledge and panoramic image created by Astrophotogra- beliefs about solar and lunar astronomy. The Digitalis Enters Stationary Arena pher Dr. Alex Mellinger. The MultiLens cylin- second module, Orders of Magnitude, is based Digitalis, known for its portable fulldome der also has 70 individually-collimated, 2-ele- on the powers of 10—a valuable tool for teach- planetariums, is introducing a new fulldome ment lenses for the 70 brightest stars, creating ing and understanding the universe through

March 2008 Planetarian 61 Details on Fidelity Bright will appear in a fu- popular rock bands since the mid-1980s. U2 ture column. will be the world debut of the first ever digi- In addition, Global Immersion has been tal dome light show production based on the contracted to develop that world’s largest band’s music. This music show uses the lat- digital dome display at the INTECH Science est in original fulldome art and interpretation Center in , Hampshire, located in complemented by lighting effects and laser the south of England. The UK’s newest and beam work. Live performance special effects largest planetarium will be launching on 19 make each show unique. The fulldome video March 2008. Internationally-renowned fan- elements from this show will be available to tasy author and keen amateur astronomer other planetariums this summer. Terry Pratchett will be key speaker for the Clark Productions also will be expanding event. VIP guests include astronomer Sir Pat- in terms of staff, rendering abilities, collabo- rick Moore and world-famous rock star Brian rations, and contracting. Two new full-time May (lead guitarist of Queen and newly-mint- producers (computer modeler/animators) and ed PhD astronomer) in addition to many oth- one new part time assistant producer will be er political and educational figures. added this year, as well as a new rendering video projector system for stationary plan- Also, Global Immersion is rebuilding the farm with six times the output power of their etariums this spring named the Digitarium historic Morrison Planetarium at the Califor- old 72-cpu unit. For more information, con- Gamma. For more information, contact Dig- nia Academy of Sciences. Scheduled to open tact Mike Murray, programs manager, email italis Education Solutions at PO Box 2976, in 2008, the Academy purchased a Sky-Skan [email protected] or Dani Weigand, market- Bremerton, Washington, 98310; phone +1 360- DigitalSky2 system that will be integrated ing manager, phone +1 801-456-4966. The web- 616-8915; [email protected]. into the Fidelity Bright solution to work as an site is www.clarkplanetarium.org. additional source to the system. SCISS will be Meanwhile, over at the Hansen (former- Preview: Cosmic Collisions adding Uniview software to the mix. For more ly the Clark) Planetarium, the Hansen Digi- Animations information, contact: Beth Nicholas, sales and tal Dome Theatre received a complete tech- I have had a chance to look over GeoGraph- marketing coordinator at Global Immer- nological facelift in November. The upgrade ics’ Interstellar Animations-Disk 2, titled “Im- sion, a phone: +44-0-845-0-global (456225), or of new computers and projectors are now pacts, Collisions and Explosions.” Created by check out their website at www.globalimmer- making shows appear brighter, sharper, and Joe Tucciarone (so we can be sure the artwork sion.com . more colorful. The new projectors utilize DLP is stunning), this DVD includes many dramat- (digital light processing) technology, which ic collision and explosion animations, includ- Clark Productions in High Gear pumps out five times the light of the previous ing the K-T impact, earthbound asteroid, plan- Clark Planetarium Productions is pleased cathode ray tube projectors and thus provides etary nebula formation, a distant view of a to feature a music show from one of the most more vibrant colors. I supernova, and more. Many of the ani- mations on the DVD also are available for purchase on an individual basis, and were on display at the Triple Conjunc- tion conference. The quality is amazing, and this will make a great source of vid- eo for traditional planetariums with vid- eo capability. For more information, contact George Fleenor at GeoGraphics Imaging & Con- sulting, 7803 25th Avenue, West Braden- ton, Florida 34209; phone +1 941-920- 0246; email [email protected]; website www.geographicsimaging.com.

Global Immersion Expands Newly formed from its divestiture of SEOS’ Visualization Systems, Global Im- mersion has added two partners, Swed- ish interactive content provider SCISS AB, and Australian immersive environ- ment integrator VR Solutions. SCISS is best known for Uniview, a software package for full dome planetarium the- aters, while VR Solutions provides cus- tomized systems for different sized the- aters and budgets. Global Immersion has been selected Work in progress at the INTECH Science Centre in Winchester, Hampshire, UK. The former domed auditorium is being transformed into a planetarium theatre; here the seat risers have been remade to accomodate 176 new to provide the Gates Planetarium at the seats from Figeras International (Spain) and scaffolding has gone up to start installation of the screen by As- Denver Museum of Nature and Science tro-Tec (United States). Global Immersion is prime contractor on the project. Photo courtesy of INTECH Sci- with a Fidelity Bright fulldome system. ence Centre

62 Planetarian March 2008 March 2008 Planetarian 63 64 Planetarian March 2008 Gibbous Gazette

Hayden Planetarium in , New York, who passed away on December 13, 2007, after a battle with cancer. He was 87 years old. A fitting tribute to Dr. Hess by Joe Rao has been posted on the Middle Atlan- tic Planetarium Society’s website at www.maps-planetarium.org/MapsMain/Fea- tures/Memorial.htm. Dr. Hess was also a pro- fessor of physical science at SUNY Mari- time College and he received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1975. …to the friends and family of Joseph A. Carr, the former director of the Universi- ty of South Florida Planetarium from 1964-1990, who died on January 4, 2008, after a long illness. He also was 87 years old. It was Capt. David M. Brown estimated that he gave 450 planetarium pro- grams for about 25,000 visitors each year at the planetarium that opened on the day he awarded the Congressional Space Medal was hired at the University (Sept. 26, 1960). He of Honor, the NASA Space Flight Medal, became director four years later. the NASA Distinguished Service Medal James P. Hughes and the Defense Distinguished Service Did you know… Medal. School officials said an official Plane- Planetarium Producer that a new Children’s Museum is being tarium renaming ceremony and event to cel- Buhl Digital Dome planned for Bahrain? The interactive muse- ebrate Brown’s life and achievements will be um is expected to cost about US $20 million Carnegie Science Center held later in the year. (BD 7.56m) and it will include a planetarium! …that Robin Sip is now the new Sales Rep- One Allegheny Avenue The facility will be constructed adjacent to resentative for Evans & Sutherland for , Pennsylvania the existing Bahrain National Museum their European Market? Robin has a long in Manama. association with E&S and a planetarium ca- 15212 USA …that the world’s first 3D Stereo Planetari- reer that spans over 20 years. “In 1993, Robin (1) 412-237-3348 um has opened in Hilo, Hawaii at the ‘Imiloa wrote his thesis about Digistar at E&S head- Astronomy Center of Hawai‘i? Using quarters in Salt Lake City, Utah. He worked (1) 412-237-3359 fax four SONY SXRD projectors and 3D glass- with Europe’s first Digistar I projector at Om- hughesj@ es technology from Infitec, the Sky-Skan niversum, , The Netherlands, and definiti 3D system can now display DigitalSky worked with Europe’s first Digistar II projec- carnegiesciencecenter.org 2 software’s real-time 3d graphics with their tor at the London Planetarium,” accord- full depth information on the screen! ing to Micheal Daut, E&S Director of Show Last week I had the honor of being recog- …that the Arlington School Board has Production/Marketing. Robin is the founder nized for 25 years of service to our organiza- unanimously approved a recommendation and director of Mirage3D and he has been tion with a luncheon and a framed certificate. to name the APS Planetarium in Arling- creating and distributing fulldome video con- Having a chance to reminisce about how our ton, Virginia in honor of Captain David tent to digital theaters worldwide. He joins field has changed over time was one of those M. Brown? Captain Brown, a Yorktown Sales Agent Jean-Francois Delorme, who bittersweet experiences that come with stay- High School graduate, died while serving continues to represent E&S in France. Contact ing in one place for so long. It comes with the as a mission specialist on the NASA Space Robin at [email protected]. territory though—as you all know. Shuttle Columbia mission on February 1, There are many of you out there who make 2003. The name change will mark the fifth People On The Move my quarter century seem short. And your ac- anniversary of the tragedy. After receiving the Jennie Zeiher has left Sky-Skan to complishments are great and many. Look- idea from an area resident and longtime friend purse a new career in Australia as a Visual Ef- ing over the news in this issue, you will be of Brown, the school board appointed a nam- fects Coordinator for a major feature film vi- reminded of why we are so dedicated to our ing committee consisting of members of the sual effects company. In the future, you can domes and why so many more theaters are community, APS educators, Yorktown alum- contact Jennie by email jenniezeiher@gmail. coming on line or are being refurbished. You ni, and current Yorktown students. Before com. may see or read about a colleague that you joining NASA, Captain Brown had a distin- Davin Flateau recently announced on haven’t thought about for a long time. The guished career in the Navy as a flight surgeon Dome-L that he will leave the Cyberdome loss of one of our best occurred recently, so it and naval aviator. He was named Navy Op- Theater at Exploration Place in Wichi- is with great respect that we send our condo- erational Flight Surgeon of the Year ta, Kansas to return to full time study of As- lences… in 1986 and received the Meritorious Ser- trophysics at a central Ohio university. Davin …to the friends and family of Dr. Fred C. vice Medal and the Navy Achievement is also an alumnus of Buhl Planetarium Hess, astronomer and popular lecturer at the Medal. Captain Brown was posthumously in Pittsburgh, the Astronaut Memorial

March 2008 Planetarian 65 Planetarium in Cocoa Beach, Florida and of the Pacific, where he was also editor of its It might have been a marriage proposal un- the Charles Hayden Planetarium in popular-level magazine, Mercury, and found- der the stars or a favorite lecturer or student Boston. He was a staff member during two IPS ed its newsletter for teachers, The Universe in that you will remember most from your long conferences, first in 1994 and again in 2002. the Classroom. Asteroid 4859 has been named career in the planetarium. Whatever it is, send You can stay in touch with Davin as he con- Asteroid Fraknoi by the International As- along an item for a future edition of this col- tinues his educational and professional pur- tronomical Union to honor his work in umn and we’ll share your ideas, memories or suits in astronomy and science education via sharing the excitement of modern astronomy amusing anecdotes with the rest of the plane- email at [email protected]. with students, teachers and the public. tarium universe. I

Congratulations to… …Andrew Fraknoi, who has received the Planetarians’ Calendar of Events prestigious Ameri- can Institute of Phys- 2008 details, or see www.spitzinc.com/institute ics Andrew Gemant 16 March. International Day of Planetaria; 22-26 July, Southeastern Planetarium As- Award at the 211th www.dayofplanetaria.org sociation (SEPA) annual conference, The annual meeting of 4-8 April. Meeting of ADP, Arbeitsgemein- Lafayette Natural History Museum & the American Astro- schaft Deutschsprachiger Planetarien Planetarium, Lafayette, Louisianna, USA. nomical Society in (Association of German Speaking Plane- Contact: [email protected]. Austin, Texas on Jan- tariums). Location: University of Applied 1 August, total solar eclipse uary 9, 2008. The Ge- Sciences, Kiel, Germany. Contact: Eduard 18-21 October. Association of Science-Tech- mant Award, named Thomas ([email protected].) The nology Centers (ASTC) Annual Confer- for a physicist who Meeting include pre- and post-conference ence, The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, wrote both non- visits in Hamburg. Pennsylvania, USA. www.astc.org Dr. Andrew Fraknoi fiction and fiction, 6 April. XXIII National Meeting of Italian 29 October–1 November. Great Lakes Plan- is often given for interdisciplinary work in Planetaria, , Italy; www.planetari- etarium Association (GLPA) Conference, the physical sciences.In addition to the invi- taliani.it. Contact: osservatorio@serafino- Milwaukee Public Museum Planetarium, tation to deliver his guest lecture, “From the zani.it the Gary Sampson Planetarium, and the West Wing to Pink Floyd to Einstein Adver- 7 April. Council of German Planetaria (Rat Charles Horwitz Planetarium. Contact: tising: Astronomy in Popular Culture, “to the Deutscher Planetarien, RDP), “Medien- Gary Sampson, 11400 West Center Street, society’s membership and the public, Fraknoi dom der Fachhochschule Kiel,” www. Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, 53222-4213 at received a citation, a $5,000 monetary award adp2008.de +1 (262) 844-6940 or David DeRemer, +1 and he was also given the opportunity to des- 8-11 May. Association of French Speaking (262) 896-8423, [email protected]. ignate one or more academic institutions that Planetariums, Yearly Meeting, Planetari- wi.us will share a $3,000 grant to further the public um of Epinal, France. Contact: planetari- communication of physics. [email protected] 2009 He has selected Foothill College and the As- 8-11 May. Annual Conference of the Brit- International Year of tronomical Society of the Pacific as the grant ish Association of Planetaria (BAP), Cen- Astronomy tre for Life, , Great recipients. Britain. Contact: Tom Mason tom@arma- Fraknoi, who is a faculty member at Foot- 22 July, total solar eclipse ghplanet.com hill College, also was recently named 2007 9 May. Deadline for IPS officer nominations. California Professor of the Year, se- 14-17 May. Middle Atlantic Planetarium So- 2010 lected from more than 300 top professors in ciety (MAPS), Annual Conference, Suits- June 26-30: 20th International Planetarium the United States. The recognition is given by Bueche Planetarium, Schenectady Muse- Society Conference, Alexandria, Egypt the Carnegie Foundation for the Ad- um, Schenectady, New York, USA. www. 11 July, total solar eclipse vancement of Teaching and the Coun- maps-planetarium.org. Contact: Steven cil for Advancement & Support of Ed- LJ Russo, [email protected] Deadlines for “A Week in Italy” ucation (CASE). The 40 national and state 29-31 May. ECSITE Annual Conference, Bu- 15 April 2008, planetarians from America winners of the U.S. Professors of the Year dapest, . Contact: Aliki Gianna- 31 August 2008, planetarians from France Award were honored at a luncheon and eve- kopoulou at agiannakopoulou@ecsite. 30 September, planetarians from Spain ning reception in Washington, D.C. on Nov. net For more information on the “Week in It- 15, 2007. 12-14 June, Canadian Association of Sci- aly,” go to: www.astrofilibresciani.it/Plane- The U.S. Professors of the Year Award Pro- ence Centres Annual Conference, Lon- tari/Week_in_Italy/-Week_Italy.htm gram salutes the most outstanding undergrad- don Regional Children’s Museum, Ontar- uate instructors in the country-those who io, Canada, www.canadiansciencecentres. For corrections and new information for the excel as teachers and influence the lives and ca/main.htm Calendar of Events, please send a message to careers of their students. It is recognized as one 15-19 June. 5th Science Centre World Con- Loris Ramponi at [email protected]. of the most prestigious awards honoring un- gress, , Ontario, Canada. More details about several of these upcom- dergraduate teaching. For more on the pro- 27 June - 2 July. 19th International Planetar- ing events is included in the International gram or to get nomination information, vis- ium Society Conference, Adler Planetari- News column. it www.usprofessorsoftheyear.org. um, Chicago (USA). www.ips2008.org The most up-to-date information also is Fraknoi is based in San Francisco, Califor- 20-25 July, Spitz Digital Institute, Chadds available online at the International Plane- nia and is a prolific writer and radio and tele- Ford, Pennsylvania, USA, Starry Night/ tarian’s Calendar of Events at www.astrofili- vision guest. He served for 14 years as the ex- digital planetarium learning event with bresciani.it/Planetari/Internationa_Calen- ecutive director of the Astronomical Society two sessions. Call +1 610-459-5200 x126 for dar.htm I

66 Planetarian March 2008 from the 79 respondents with domes from 10 ed on plans for the Planetarian, Technical Re- to 15.2 meters. ports, and a new IPS directory. 25 Years Ago Dorothy Beetle analyzed the question “Are Several columns included Dan Spence in More Babies Born Under a Full Moon,” utiliz- “Computer Corner,” on that hot new item, ing three years of birth statistics for the en- video discs. Eric Melenbrink’s “Creative Cor- Thomas Wm. Hamilton tire state of Georgia. She concludes that “high- ner” gave yet another take on making a better HOSS Planetarium est or lowest birth numbers in any month did lunar eclipse projector. Mark Sonntag devoted 153 Arlo Road not regularly coincide with any phase or or- “Focus on Education” to a couple internships bital position...there is not a lunar, but a sea- then available. , New York sonal variation in births that correlates with James Brown reported in “What’s New” 10301 indoor human activity during the cold win- that the Digistar was finally available, the Law- ter months.” Not with any imaginable out- rence Hall of Science was marketing a mini- [email protected] door activity during warm months? And planetarium kit with a 1.85-m (6-ft) dome, and how about breaking out birth data against lu- Talent was still in business making special ef- nar phase for werewolf babies (cubs)? fects. Jack Dunn’s “Sky Notes” listed music Welcome to your all new, revived, and Lee Shapiro (Morehead Planetarium) de- (musical notes) for the planetarium, this time hopefully at least as good column of what was scribes an “Ancient Monument” which will using country rock. news in the Planetarian 25 years ago. There endure long after the pyramids and Stone- Headlined as a “special feature” was Bob is no truth to the rumor that I was picked to henge are reduced to sand and rubble. “Pio- Tate’s “How to Run a Planetarium in a Bureau- write this column because I was eavesdrop- neer 10 is not within Earth’s eroding environ- cracy,” which sounds like humor, but is much ping when Max Wolf suggested building a ment...likely to wander among the stars for an closer to tragedy. planetarium to Walther Bauersfeld. How- incredible length of time...perhaps even until The regional round-up, then done by John ever, it is true that I entered our field just 40 the next collapse of the universe (if we live in Wharton, just included the seven USA affili- years ago this month, writing canned shows an oscillating universe).” The final parentheti- ates, Britain, Mexico, and Euro/Mediterranean for Viewlex’s Apollo programmable planetari- cal remark helps to date this piece. groups. IPS has certainly expanded since then. ums. And it was about 35 years ago that I pub- New IPS President Jeanne Bishop gives var- Besides what appeared in the Planetarian, lished the last of ninety editions of Bauers- ious news items about IPS plans and how the during March of 1983 the (re- feld’s Folly, a rather light-hearted newsletter. up-coming IPS conference in Monterey de member them?) had nine successful space The March 1983 Planetarian led off print- Mexico was shaping up. I still have the small launches, putting eight members of its Kos- ing the annual Armand Spitz Memorial Lec- bottle of tequila we got as a souvenir at this mos class satellites into orbit, along with two ture for GLPA, delivered by Don Hall (Stras- conference. Molniyas, and a few others. The United States enburgh Planetarium). The title was “Sexism Publications Chair John Wharton report- launched a weather satellite for NOAA. I in the Planetarium,” beginning “When [my daughter] was about five she had the clear no- tion that girls were nurses and boys were doc- tors... Judy and I talked about this and she said it was not just us ... it was all Western Civili- zation. That’s quite a lot to take on, even if I am a planetarium director... None of us knows where sexism comes from, but let’s assume part of it comes from our use of language...” The article goes on to suggest ways of phras- ing planetarium scripts that avoids a sexist orientation. Bob Victor reported on plans for Astrono- my Day, April 23, 1983, with a plug for the fa- mous Abrams Planetarium Sky Calendar. William Hoffman (Q Audio) and Earl Ever- ett (Fleischman Planetarium) wrote on “Plan- etarium Acoustics,” a topic that probably will be with us forever. As they said, perhaps a bit too dismissively, “For those planetariums which offer live lectures exclusively, utilizing the lung/larynx sound system of the lectur- er, the acoustical environment of the theater has a minimal impact on their overall presen- tation. For those planetariums which present programs containing significant portions of taped audio, however, the acoustics of their theater play a major role in the impact of the programs.” Charles Hagar gave more information from the “Survey of the World’s Planetariums,” this time separating out and analyzing returns

March 2008 Planetarian 67 puter usually worked correctly, but glitches I learned as) the Pleiades. A small confused Last Light happen. voice from the dark asked, “When did we start In the Numbers category, the computer speaking Romulan?” matched the answer “65 million” with “The Several of the planetarium programs that number of Jupiter’s moon so far,” and matched we saw were about the solar system, and for the answer “63” with “dinosaurs.” the question “is Pluto a planet?” Robin Sip In the Planetarium Terms category, the noted that, “Planet X is now the ex-planet.” question asked for the term for those annoy- The conference included a trip to the Carn- ing bubbles that form on slides when the hu- egie Center in Pittsburgh for a tour of the ex- midity is too high. One correct answer was hibits, a planetarium presentation, and an “Newton’s rings,” while “a pain in the a**” was excellent talk by William Hartmann. Each deemed amusing but incorrect. delegate received an autographed copy of Dr. Partway through each competition, contes- Hartmann’s book A Traveler’s Guide to Mars, tants were invited to tell a little about them- and he regaled us with stories from the rover selves, with prompts from the host. Silver- program. haired Ed Jameson was asked, “What was the The entire group was divided into two sec- most embarrassing question you’ve ever been tions, and I was part of the second one. We asked?” Before he could reply, an audience got to hear Dr. Hartmann’s talk first. Delegates member yelled, “Did you cry when the dino- were talking and laughing among ourselves saurs died?” before the presentation, when Dr. Hartmann Contestant Sam Storch related a story said, “Feisty group, aren’t you?” Through the April S. Whitt about the late George Lovi. During a visit to ensuing round of cheers, someone noted, Fernbank Science Center the Hayden Planetarium in New York, the me- “They don’t call us Group B for nothin’!” teor projector malfunctioned during a show. In describing the invitation to speak at the 156 Heaton Park Drive NE Instead of the expected streak of bright light, conference, Dr. Hartmann talked about “Lit- Atlanta, Georgia 30307 USA the tiny dot moved slowly across the sky. Lovi tle Billy’s Scale.” As a child, he delighted in remarked, “It must be in a strong headwind.” visiting Carnegie and stepping onto the vari- [email protected] During the final round, the three region- ous scales that gave his weight on the Moon al winners, SEPA’s Woodrow Grizzle, MAPS’ or Mars. And the scales are still there. (I won- From Steve Tidey: I heard a good relativity Sam Storch and GLPA’s Gary Tomlinson, were der how many people we inspire every day joke yesterday. nearing the end of the available questions. Jon with our exhibits and presentations? A daunt- A person is talking to God, and he says, Bell announced, “Sam, you have the board.” ing thought.) “God, is it true that to you a million years is Sam asked, “What’s left?” to which Gary He told about Steve Squyres, project scien- but a few seconds in time?” called out, “That’s not the right answer!” tist for the and Opportunity rovers. “He’s “Yes,” God replies. Jon also hosted the constellation shoot-out decided to take up golf, on the premise that he “So what’s a million dollars to you?” the in Oglebay’s planetarium dome. Each contes- sent Opportunity 50 million miles away and person enquires. tant was to name the object he or she was go- got a hole in one on the first shot. See (point- “A million dollars?” says God. “That’s pen- ing to point out, then do so. Shawn Laatsch ing to the landing site image)? Here’s a bounce nies.” announced “Matariki” and pointed out (what spot, here’s another, then into the crater.” I “OK,” says the person, “Can you give me a million dollars?” And God replies, “Just a second.” HHH Last October, the Triple Conjunction Con- ference hosted by Steve Mitch at Oglebay in West Virginia was a huge success. Several hun- dred delegates heard the latest in astronomy information, shared their expertise with each other, listened to generous vendors with won- derful wares, and enjoyed planetarium pro- grams by a variety of authors. Steve did com- ment that, “This conference was so long in the making, I’ll have to be retrained to do my reg- ular job!” Jon Bell brought his Astropardy game, a ver- sion of Jeopardy with all-astronomy themes. Categories included Numbers, Sweet Treats (astronomy-named confections), Asterisms, and a “planetarium terms” category, among others. Four contestants from each regional competed against each other, with the win- ners from each region in a final competition for “braggin’ rights.” Jon apologized at the be- The Astropardy game show finalists with scorekeeper April Whitt include (from left) Sam Storch (MAPS ginning of the contest, stating that his com- finalist and overall winner of braggin’ rights), Woodrow Grizzle (SEPA finalist) and Gary Tomlinson (GLPA finalist). Photo by Dan Goins

68 Planetarian March 2008

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The_Power_of_Experience_AD_ONEPA1 1 4/20/2007 5:13:36 PM