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Mr. Walter Tenschert Thomas Jefferson High School 6560 Braddock Road Alexandria, VA 22312 * * * * * * * * * * * CONTENTS Checklist of Planetary Configurations THE PLANETARIAN is published each March, for 1975 June, September, and December by the Robert C. Victor 4 International Society of Planetarium Planetarium for the Deaf Educators, Inc., under the auspices of Lionel Daniel . . • • 7 the Publications Committee. The Third Stage of Planetarium Evolution Max L. Ary . • . • • • 11 To make a change of address, please an The Stars of Primeval China old mailing label, along with the new Julius D.W. Staal 20 address, to: Ronald N. Hartman Planetariums on Parade . 33 Mt. San Antonio College Celestial Navigation Planetarium Harry E. Crull •...•• · • 35 Walnut The History of the Planetarium California 91789 Charles F. Hagar ..••.•••• 42 Please allow 30 days for an address Construction of the Budapest Planetarium change to take effect. Gyula Schalk . • .... • • . 48 Some Thoughts on Planetarium Show Music Tim Clark . • 51 Music in OMSI's Harry C. Kendall EDITOR: Frank Jettner Planetarium Circulation Director: Ron Hartman Dwight Gruber • • 52 Feature Editors: Von Del Chamberlain, Popular Music and Slides in the M. Chartrand, L. DeVries, T. Gates, Planetarium J. Geoghegan, O.R. Norton, G. Reed, R. John Steiffer • • • • . . • . • 53 G.L. Verschuur Popular Music Selections for Planetarium ISPE Publications Chairman: John Cotton Programming G. Henry Sultner •• 54 Music of the Asteroids * * * * * * * * * * * June LoGuirato 56 Features thoughts from fcj 2 Letters · • 14 CONTACT 15 Radio Astronomy Notes · • 17 Jane's Corner ••.• • • 33 The Technical Side • . 41 Astronomy Education Resources. 58

THE PLANETARIAN, Vol. 3, Nos. 1 and 2 copyright 1974, International Society of Planetarium Educators. All rights reserved.

THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 1 The American Astronomical we compared the results of the TABLE 2: Society has underway a program survey with data taken from to broaden the public under~ CATNAP 11*. As can be seen in standing of astronomy. One Table 1 there is fairly good facet of this program was the correlation between the per­ creation of traveling exhibits centages taken from CATNAP II for planetariums, museums,and and the survey. School 2073 2301 schools. Being project coor­ The vast majority of insti­ dinator for this part of the tutions offered planetarium College 5970 6318 5735 program, I needed input on shows for the public; from two­ such things as: topics, physi­ thirds of all the schools to Museum 34012 38414 38032 cal size, suitable media, over nine-tenths of all of the costs, and problems that have museums (a not unexpected Other 51984 59722 57370 occurred with previous exhibits. result). The number of shows Thus in February of 1974, a offered varied from about 1 "Survey for Planning of per week (for schools) to about Weighted 11683 13074 12606 Traveling Exhibit Program 9 per week (for museums). Average Among North American Planetar­ There was a rather wide range iums" was sent out to 620 in these values ~~ from 2 per planetariums in schools, col­ year for schools with small urns in CATNAP II, we arrive at leges, museums, and other domes to 61 per week for museums a total attendance of over 11 institutions. This editorial with large domes. million. is in response to my promise We noted,too, that on the The amount of display space to all those who kindly replied. average, all the different available for exhibits varied The survey was broken down institutional types had an a great deal -- from 0 to into two parts. The first increase in public attendance 100,000 sq. ft. Most felt part, Background Data, dealt for 1972 compared with 1971, though, that they would be able with type, size, and attendance but a small decrease in public to come up with space for a figures for the various insti­ attendance for 1973 compared traveling exhibit. This ranged tutions. The second part, The with 1972 (see Table 2). from about two-thirds (of the Traveling Exhibit Program, Looking at the last line of schools) to better than four­ dealt with the aforementioned Table 2, we see that there is fifths (of the museums). subjects (topics, physical a large potential for a trave1~ Now dmro to the nitty-gritty-­ size, etc.). The data from ing exhibit program. Extrapo­ Would your institution request the individual questionnaires lating the weighted 1973 the use of an exhibit? This was was punched onto computer average for the 894 p1anetari- divided into four categories, as cards and our Univac 1108 did seen in Table 3. the dirty work of sorting and A general trend can be seen statistical analysis. in all four institutional To see whether the number *CATNAP II is an acronym for types -- as the financial of different institutional "A Catalog of North American obligations increase, the num­ types were represented accur­ Planetaria", Norman Sperling, ber that would use the exhibit ately in the survey returns, ISPE Special Report No.3 (1973). decreases, and the number that

----TABLE 1 Comparison of Number and Type of Responses of AAS Survey with CATNAP II School College Museum Other Total

CATNAP II 467 (52.2%) 268 (30.0%) 127 (14.2%) 32 (3.6%) 894 (100.0%)

SURVEY 105 (40.1%) 98 (37.4%) 45 (17.2%) 14 (5.3%) 262 (100.0%)

2 THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 wouldn't use it or didn't know principle concern in the and colleges made use of a if they would increases. In planning. traveling exhibit, whereas 4 other words, for the traveling The average amount of time out of 5 of the museums and exhibit program to reach as that the different institutions other institutions made use of many people as possible, it would wish to keep an exhibit one. Most of the exhibits should cost as little as varied from three to eleven (about two-thirds) came from possible. weeks, with four weeks being NASA, the rest coming from When designing the exhibit, the time most often picked. various organizations and com­ consideration should be given The results of the question, panies. There were relatively to wall and floor space. A Have You Ever Used a Traveling few constructive criticisms of little over half of the insti­ Exhibit Before? was interesting. these exhibits that could be tutions felt wall space was a Only a quarter of the schools applied to the proposed AAS program. TABLE 3: Would Your Institution Reguest the Use of a Traveling Exhibit The last question dealt ---- with topic selection that A) If All EXEenses Were Paid? would be useful. Topics most requested were: the moon, school college museum other planets, comets, cosmology, galaxies, and radio astronomy. Yes 77 (78.6%) 79 (86.8%) 40 (95.2%) 12 (85.7%) There were also requests for extraterrestrial life, tools No 5 (5.1%) 2 (2.2%) 1 (2.4%) 1 (7 .1%) of the astronomer, space probes history of astronomy, Skylab Do Not Know 16 (16.3%) 10 (11. 0%) 1 (2.4%) 1 (7.1%) experiments, and stellar characteristics. To incorporate as many of B) If Cartage and Insurance Were the Only ..ExEenses? the dozens of suggested topics as possible -- as well as being school college museum other as versatile as possible -- we proposed to form three of four Yes 43 (45.3%) 57 (64.0%) 37 (88.1%) 9 (69.2%) "families", each composed of some number of modular exhibits No 9 (9.5%) 6 (6.7%) 2 (4.8%) 2 (15.4%) which together describe one aspect of astronomy. An insti­ Do Not Know 43 (45.3%) 26 (29.2%) 3 (7.1%) 2 (15.4%) tution could then use as many modules of a family as it requires. In conclusion, during the C) If A Nominal Rental Fee 2 Cartage 2 and Insurance Were Charged? December 1974 meeting of the school college museum other Council of the American Astro­ nomical Society it was decided Yes 14 (15.6%) 28 (31.5%) 18 (47.4%) 4 (30.8%) not to pursue the Travelling Exhibit Program for an indefin­ No 17 (18.9%) 19 (21. 4%) 5 (13.2%) 3 (23.1%) ite period, the cost factor and the resulting competition for Do Not Know 59 (65.6%) 42 (47.2%) 15 (39.5%) 6 (46.2%) available funds for other Society projects being the primary reasons. Naturally we D) If A Rental Fee at the Self-suEEorting Level Here Charged? were disappointed, and as this issue is put to bed we are school college museum other looking for other potential sponsors. Perhaps this is some­ Yes 4 (4.6%) 8 (9.6%) 6 (16.2%) 2 (16.7%) thing ISPE could try to tackle itself. No 27 (31. 0%) 31 (3704%) 10 (27.0%) 3 (25.0%) Frank C. Jettner and Do Not Know 56 (64.4%) 44 (53.0%) 21 (56.8%) 7 (58.3%) Martin B. Richardson

THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 3 Checklist of Planetary Configur ,

WITH REMARKS ON VISIBILITY AND SUGGESTIONS FOR

by Robert C. Victor, Abrams Planetarium, Michigan State University

The following table of ecliptic. exposures to be safe. The events can be used to check Of special interest will be visibility of Mercury at its the performance of annual the close approach of Mercury various elongation is well motion systems of planetariums to Venus during January; for illustrated by the .:::--=..;;:;,;;....=.:.. and, by using solar conjunction six consecutive evenings Time Table. By dates, f~r setting these (January 15-20) they appear Mercury's rising and setting systems. For each event, the less than 1° apart. This event curves with the's mag­ table lists the civil date in does not appear on the list of nitudes from page 4 of the Eastern Standard Time, the configurations in the American Ephemeris, you will be better elongation expressed as angular Ephemeris and Nautical Almanac, able to estimate the first and distance east or west of the because there is.no conjunction last dates of visibility of in right ascension; Mercury Mercury at each apparition. sun, the magnitudes of the m objects when visible, and gets within 1 in R.A. of It might be very instruc­ remarks on visibility for an Venus but then slows down and tional to obtain a long series observer at latitude 40 0 N. backs off. of slides showing Mars Planets move relatively From February through early ning with its emergence slowly against background July Venus sets after the end morning twilight (December stars, so mutual conjunctions of astronomical twilight (sun 1974), continuing through of planets or of planets with 18° below horizon) and is opposition (December 1975), stars will be of interest for visible against a dark sky. It and ending with Mars' disap­ several days before and after will be possible to obtain an pearance into evening twilight the actual event. The remarks interesting series of photo­ (July 1976). Unfortunately on visibility should help the graphs of Venus against back­ until after mid-May 1975 Mars teacher select the best events ground stars as it passes, in will be no more than 5° above for student observation. Much succession, Jupiter, the the horizon as morning of the content of those remarks Pleiades, Aldebaran, Saturn, begins. It will be difficult was derived from the 1975 Pollux, and Regulus. to get background stars until Graphic Time Table of the From mid-September 1975 then. The current 2 Heavens , a valuable aid for until mid-February 1976 Venus cycle of Mars will be a very the planet watcher. can be photographed against a interesting subject to The checklist includes: dark background in the predawn from September 1975 conjunctions, oppositions and sky. Watch it pass Regulus, through March 1976, when the quadratures for superior Spica and Antares. planet goes through a direct­ planets; inferior and superior For constellation photogra­ retrograde-direct in conjunctions and greatest phy, or a series demonstrating Taurus and Gemini elongations for inferior the change of position of a With careful planets; greatest brilliancies planet, try 15- to 30- second planning, all your photographs of Venus; the two lunar exposures using High Speed taken during that 7-month eclipses visible in North Ektachrome and a fast lens interval can show the same America; and mutual conjunc­ (5Ornm f/1.2 to 2.8) wide open star background in the same tions of planets and of planets when the sky is dark. Photo­ position in the camera's field with stars in celestial longi­ graph Venus at intervals of of view, with the position of tude (not right ascension). about a week, Mars twice Mars as the only difference. Conjunctions in longitude monthly, and Jupiter and Saturn I suggest orienting your camera generally coincide with the once monthly. so that the ecliptic runs appearance of closest approach Mercury against a twilit midway between and since planets usually move sky is a tricky subject to the top and bottom nearly parallel to the photograph, bracket your your frame, with

4 THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 CHECKLIST OF PLANETARY CONFIGURATIONS, 1975

DATE EVENT ELONG MAGNITUDES REMARKS 1975 Jan 6 Saturn at opposition 180° -0.2 In Gemini. Visible all night. 20 Mercury 0°.7 N of Venus E 18° -0.6, -3.4 ~ithin 0°.5 of each other on evenings of Jan. 17 & 18. 22 Mercury 1°.1 N of Venus E ISO -0.4, -3.4 air sets 1 h23m after sun Jan. 17. 23 Mercury greatest elongation E 19° -0.3 Favorable. Sets as twilight ends. Feb 8 Mercury 3°.6 N of Sun 0° Inferior conjunction. 17 Venus 0°.2 S of Jupiter E 24° -3.4, -1. 6 Spectacular! Pair sets 2h after sun. Mar 6 Mercury g~eatest elongation W 27° +0.4 Fair. Rises 1hOSm before sun. Look 160 lower left of Mars. 21 Jupiter 1 .1 S of Sun 0° Conjunction. Apr 2 Saturn at quadrature E 90° +0.3 In Gemini. Sets 7h after sun. 7 Mercury 0°.9 S of Jupiter W 12° Not visible. 13 Venus 2°. S S of Pleiades E 37° -3.5 Venus sets 3h after sun. 18 Mercury 0°.6 S of Sun ·0° Superior conjunction. 21 Venus 7°.2 N of Aldebaran E 3So -3.5, +0.9 0 Venus sets 3!h after sun. May 4 Mercury 2 • 1 S of Pleiades E 16° -0.7 Mercury sets shortly before twilight ends. 10 Mercury 7°.9 N of Aldebaran E 20° -0.1, +0.9 Mercury sets after twilight ends. 16 Mercury greatest elongation E 22° +0.6 Year's best evening a\Tari!ion. Sets after twilight ends. 24 Venus 2°. 7 N of Saturn E 44° -3.7, +0.4 Pair sets more than 3 after sun. 24-25 Moon total eclipse lS00 Mid-eclipse 1:38 a. m. EDT May 25. 30 Venus 4°.1 S of Pollux E 44° -3.8, +1.1 Pair sets more than 3h after sun. Jun 10 Mercury 3°.1 S of Sun 0° Inferior conjunction. 16 Mars 0°,5 S of Jupiter W 65° +0.8, -1. 9 In Pisces. Pair rises 3!h before sun. 18 Venus greatest elongation E 45° -3.9 In Cancer. Sets near\;' 3h after sun. Jul 4 Mercury greatest elongation W 22° +0.6 Unfavorable. Rises 117m before sunrise, in bright twilight. 8 Venus 0°.3 S of Regulus E 43° -4.1, +1. 3 Pair sets just after twilight ends. 15 Saturn 0°.0 S of Sun 0 ° Conjunction. 16 Jupiter at quadrature W 90° -2.0 In Pisces. Rises 5h before sun. IS Saturn 6°.7 S of Pollux W 2° Not visible. 21 Venus greatest brilliancy E 39° -4.2 Sets shortly before twilight ends. 24 Mercury 5°.7 S of Pollux W 9° -1.4, +1. 1 Difficult. Mercury rises 48m before sun. 25 Mercury 1°.1 N of Saturn W 8° Not visible. Saturn rises 40m before sun. Aug 1 Mercury 1°. 7 N of Sun 0° Superior conjunction. 11 Mercury 1°.1 N of Regulus E 11° Not visible. 0 14 Mars 5 • 4 S of Pleiades W S1° +0.4 Mars rises 4!h after sunset. 17 Mercury SO.2 N of Venus E 15 ° Not visible; Venus sets before sun. 27 Venus SO.4 S of Sun 0° Inferior conjunction. ° . 30 Mars 4 • 4 N of Aldebaran W S7° +0.2, +0.9 Pair rises within 4!h after sunset. ° m m Sep 3 Venus 8°. 9 S of Regulus W 110 -3.5, +1. 3 Difficult. Venus rises 38 before sun, Regulus 50 . 5 Mars at quadrature W 90 +0.2 In Taurus. Rises 4h after sunset. 13 Mercury greatest elongation E 27° +0.4 Unfavorable. Sets 4Sm after sun. 22 Mercury 1°. 5 S of Spica E 24° +0.7, +1.0 Difficult. Mercury sets 38m after sun. 30 Mercury 1°.6 S of Spica E 16° Not visible. Oct 3 Venus greatest brilliancy W 40° -4.3 Spectacular! Rises 3!h before sun. 3 Venus 4°.4 S of Regulus W 40° -4.3, +1. 3 Pair rises 3!h before sun. 9 Mercury 1°.9 S of Sun 0° Inferior conjunction. 13 Jupiter at opposition 180° -2.5 In Pisces. Visible all night. 24 Mercury greatest elongation W 180° -0.3 Year'-s best morning apparition. Rises before twilight begins. 26 Saturn at quadrature W 90 +0.4 In Cancer. Rises 6n after sunset. Nov 2 Mercury 4°.0 N of Spica W 16~ -0.8, +l.0 Mercury rises shortly after twilight begins. 7 Venus greatest elongation W 470 -4.0 In Virgo. Rises nearly 4h before sun. 18 Moon total eclipse 180 Mid-eclipse 5:23 p. m. EST. 28 Mercury 00.7SofSun 0° Superior conjunction. 30 Mercury 3°.6 N of Antares E 1° Not visible. Dec 1 Venus 4°.2 N of Spica W45 ° -3.9. +1. 0 Venus rises nearly 4h before sun. 15 Mars at opposition 180° -1.6 In Taurus. Visible aU night. 1976 Jan 7 Mercury greatest elongation E 190° -0.3 Favorable. Sets just before twilight ends. h 9 Venus 6°,5 N of Antares W 39 -3.6, +0.9 Venus rises nearly 3 before sun.

THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 5 Zeta Tauri midway from left to each photo 1°.4 south of Mu right but 2°.2 below the center Cancri (about midway between of view. In this way the Delta Geminorum and Delta retrograde loop of Mars, 18° Cancri) to center Saturn's in length, will be neatly retrograde arc, 7° in extent centered with plenty of room Finally, in taking a series to spare; my 50mm lens can of photographs illustrating photograph a field 35° in planetary motion, avoid times width. when the moon at or near full Observe Jupiter through its would brighten the sky, and synodic period beg!nning with avoid dates when the moon heliacal risings (emergence would be in the star field. into morning twilight) in The moon's image would be early April 1975.Unfortunately, greatly overexposed in time during retrograde, Jupiter exposures long enough to record will appear against the faint faint background stars. Also, background of Pisces. Take a choose times when the planet series of photographs showing is at least two hours from Jupiter's direct-retrograde­ rising or setting. The _--"__ direct sequence from mid-June Time Table would be very 1975 to mid-February 1976; in planning your photographic center each photograph on 5th­ program. magnitude Zeta Piscium, with the ecliptic running horizon­ tally as in the Mars series. details of this proce­ Jupiter retrogrades only 10°, dure for setting planets, see from August 15 to December 10, THE PLANETARIAN, Volume 1, No 1975. 3 (December 1972), page 84. Saturn's next complete cycle begins with heliacal 2published by the Maryland rising in early August 1975 Academy of Sciences, 119 S. and ends with heliacal setting Howard Street, Baltimore, Md in early July 1976. Take a 21201. Also appears annually sRries from late August 1975 in the January issue of through late June 1976. Center and Telescope •

PATH OF MARS, 1975-76 • 1 Aur

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6 THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 III I et r I f r t by Lionel Daniel, Vanderbilt Planetarium, Centerport, New York

A planetarium is primarily contains a single word or, at whether Cassiopeia is a visually orientated. It may most, a small phrase. This of stars, a section of the be fortunate enough to have an technique enables one to pro­ dome, or the name of a elaborate supporting sound ject slides with relatively arrmtJ. system, as is the case at the large lettering that can be When there are two Vanderbilt Planetarium, but quickly interpreted. Word describe the same phenomena, the distinctive characteristics slides enable the audience to or when one word slide is that make it a planetarium are under stand the visual presenta­ be clarified by another the visual effects. This tions more fully without giving useful technique is to flash 1eing the case, a planetarium them a lecture by projection. back and forth from one would seem to be the ideal To have them spend more than a to another place to produce shows for the modicum of time reading would alternately deaf. How would such shows detract from the continuity PATH differ from the standard pro­ and effectiveness of the STAR gram? What special problems presentation. vocabulary may would be encountered and what The word slides help further without impeding the presenta­ modifications would be by preparing the audience for tion. necessary in equipment or what is about to happen. For The program ~~~~~ procedure? Those of you who example, if a trip to the moon System was a have read the September issue is in the offing, one cannot presentation successfully (Vol. 1, No. '2) of The Plane­ prepare this audience by narra­ performed for a deaf audience. tar ian have been introduced to tion or by quickening the pace The title was our first word some of the problems and some of the music. To simply set slide. A panorama of the of the solutions based on the the sky in rapid motion without was brought up, identified experience of the Strasenburgh explanation might be unsettling word slide and a brief Planetarium. The present Instead, a slide is projected description was given. article may prove of value by with the single word TO on it. the lecturer give much presenting the somewhat After several seconds~he slide usual talk during the presen­ parallel experience of another changes to THE MOON. The tation does not harm the major planetarium. audience is now anticipating program and assists in pre­ Experience at the Vander­ something, and when the sky serving continuity and timing. bilt Planetarium indicates begins to move and the moon The sun panorama was faded that programs for the deaf may appears growing larger and out and a mobile representation vary little in content and larger, they can appreciate of the solar system was pro­ format from the regular pro­ the meaning of the effects. jected. THE SOLAR SYSTEM word gr ams. Even the musical back­ This technique of building a slide was projected and since ground is retained. This sentence by small increments the effect and the word slide latter aids the lecturer and adds to the suspense and gives were not adjoining in this technicians as well as those versatility. case, the green arrow was members of the audience who Care is needed in using word moved slowly back and forth retain some hearing ability. slides as labels. The rule twice between the word slide An interesting point in this here is to start at such a and the effect. regard is that even those basic level that there is no The solar system projection considered totally deaf can room for ambiguity. Start with faded leaving a normal sense the lower frequencies. something the audience is The green arrow appeared If the music is to be changed likely to be familiar with and moved slowly across the for the deaf program, or if a already. One might start with dome to the western sky and special program is being the BIG DIPPER, moving the the sun, then faded from view disigned for them, this is a gree;-;rrow back and forth as a sunset progressed. No point worth considering. from the word slide to the word slide was used and the The chief point of diver­ star group. After this proceed sole point of the green arrow gence between regular shows to the less familiar. Don't was to inform the audience the and programs for the deaf start with CASSIOPEIA and have only changes occurring were involves use of word slides the less knowledgeable members the western part of the for the latter. Each slide of the audience wondering 7 THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 dure with THE BIG DIPPER, of travel through space, and a of atmosphere, and planetary POINTER STARS and POLARIS/THE panorama of the surface of diameter. No more than three NORTH STAR, some of the more Mercury came up simultaneously items will be used on anyone difficult constellations were with the cessation of motion slide. introduced. and the appearance of the word A RETURN TO EARTH slide was Following the constellation MERCURY. This type of sequence shown after the last planet identification sequence, a was repeated for each of the was visited, and this completed space probe appeared among the naked eye planets in turn. The the word slides. The moving stars. The word TO appeared panoramas were as detailed as stars, the casual appearance for about 15 seconds followed possible to lessen the need of an artificial satellite by the words THE PLANETS for for word slides. In the future followed by a view of the earth another 15 ~e~onds. The probe brief data slides may be from space, and sunrise were then appeared to be receding, included, perhaps indicating all self-explanatory. the sky revolved in simulation temperature, presence or lack To recap the salient points

The author giving a visual clue to the children by looking expectantly at the far side of the dome.

8 THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 there was no point in scanning AURORA. The green arrow then arrow moved slowly from the the rest of the dome. The moved slowly from the slides slide to the star group and sunset, fading twilight and to the effect, then the arrow traced out the picture. Note the appearance of the stars and slides faded leaving the that although the word asterism needed no interpretation. effect to be enjoyed for a few would have been more precise A display of the Northern more moments. than star picture, it was Lights appeared, at first Next, two word slides were decided at this point that without expalnation. After a alternated: CONSTELLATIONS and simplicity was what was few moments, a slide appeared STAR PICTURES. A third slide needed. A distinction could reading NORTHERN LIGHTS and replaced the first two: THE be made at a later point. alternated with one reading BIG DIPPER, and the green After establishing the proce-

A deaf audience demands that you make full use of visual techniques with a m1n1mum of explanation. Here the Orion Nebula is seen expanding out of the constellation, giving its location without words.

THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 9 of a planetarium for the deaf: green arrows when necessary to Since it depended heavily on Deviate only as much as is ab­ direct attention, i.e. when the sound track it was decided solutely necessary from your the audience is not facing the to delete it. It was run ordinary program. After all, coming action. It is no more :ollowing the program to see your viewers are still ordinary necessary for the audience to what kind of reception it people but with an impediment. follow every detail than it is would get. Judging from the Make the word slides brief and necessary during a standard comments and mail received, the 1.vith large lettering. A presentation. visual storm effects combined lecture by projection would be One interesting footnote: with the low frequency sound at least as boring as any a storm sequence was originally of thunder were the hit of the other kind of lecture. Use planned for the deaf program. show.

Word slides should be as brief and simple as possible. They must describe the action without impeding it.

10 THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 The Third Stage of Planetarium Evolutio

by Max L. Ary, Charlie M. Noble Planetarium, Fort Worth, Texas

Forty-four years ago, the great curiosity for they were country this really did not idea of planetarium education new and no one really knew matter, because the institution was initiated within this their potential. This was was doing what it originally country. On May 5, 1930, the their calling card and their set up to do -- that of honor­ Adler Planetarium in Chicago pulling power. All to often ing and showing how great and opened its doors. Since then, the public was drawn to these how community-minded a certain planetariums in general and institutions mainly because of dead philanthropist had been. the whole concept of education their aesthetic and curiosity­ This was basically the that was to take place within forming ingredients more than scene set for most planetariums their doors have radically the educational value they in this country up until the changed and evolved. possessed. early 1950's. Slowly, mainly We now find ourselves After all, who was really through the efforts of a few within the third stage of interested in a relatively new dedicated individuals within planetarium evolution -- a science called "Astronomy"? these large institutions, the stage in which all planetarians What good was a science based tremendous educational poten­ will find our own institutions purely on theories and un­ tial of a planetarium began to within varying degrees. A proven ideas? These mausoleums be recognized. But a great stage which all of us need to became much like a world's problem arose. There were evaluate and just generally fair exhibit -- once they had five planetariums in this sit back and think about. been seen and experienced, the country to serve approximately The first stage of this curiosity vanished, and with it 40 million students and 180 evolutionary process led to went any remaining educational million people. such institutions as the Adler, value that these people thought For those living in the the Fels, the Griffith, the the planetarium contained. smaller cities and rural com­ Hayden, and the Buhl Planetar­ This can best be proven through munities, the planetarium ex­ iums. This was a stage that a survey taken by the Hayden perience would never be a I would like to call the Planetarium in New York City reality. The obvious solution Mausoleum Era. These planetar­ during the first ten years of to this growing problem was to iums were set up, usually by its operation. It was found install more projectors to large foundations, with the that only five percent of the meet the demand. This solu­ main concern being to honor people visiting the planetarium tion, however, presented even the families that originated during that first decade of more problems. A major Zeiss the foundation. Families like operation had visited the planetarium installation was the Adlers, the Haydens, and planetarium before. This truly a million dollar opera­ the Buhls were immortalized in means that only five percent tion. Few communities pos­ gigantic buildings of marble, of the combined audience felt sessed either the financial concrete, and precious metals. that there was something to means or the enthusiasm for They were castles complete come back and see again. This astronomy to provide necessary with statuary, large gardens may have been the result of the funds for such an undertaking. with reflection pools and fact that the people of this Seemingly, the only answer for fountains, and an architecture era (the thirties, forties, and this problem was to develop a of great massiveness and open­ fifties) were scientifically new concepL in planetariums -­ ness. Within them stood huge ignorant and could not fully the small, relatively inexpen­ domes containing some of the appreciate what a science, or sive planetarium. This goal most massive and sophisticated more specifically, an astronomy was accomplished in 1947 when optical instruments in the education center, could give Armand Spitz introduced the world such as the Zeiss star them. Or it may have been the Model A star projector. projector. But, at this point fault of the planetarium itself Shortly therafter, the Models in history, very few people in not providing a continuous, Al and A2 were introduced, and could fully appreciate the provocative type of programming the planetarium world found educational future of such a for its audience. But in the itself entering into a whole center. These were objects of planetarium's infance in this new stage of evolution.

THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 11 This second stage is one It was apparent to the na­ were probably 700 plus ways with which we today can iden­ tion's legislators and educa­ that school administrators tify. This was the stage that tors that from that time for­ appointed direc- allowed the small planetarium ward, the United States, by tors, and foundation boards to set its roots within the accepting the space challenge, thought that their facility American educational system. must also accept the responsi­ should be utilized within Small cities, towns, and even bility of educating its people own community. In many ways relatively small schools found to the space environment. this was , for it lead that a planetarium was now Astronomy and space science a new creative within their financial grasp. impregnated almost every field within the com- Between 1950 and 1957, over of learning, and an under­ munity a process that 100 small planetariums set standing of them became essen­ this point was needed their foundations in the Amer­ tial to the country's well to modernize the educational ican soil. But still, these being. It penetrated the na­ techniques in small, early institutions pos­ tion's history, economics, Also, the small sessed the problem that the foreign policy,and all branches had begun to fight for their large planetariums had encoun­ of its science and industry. lives to survive. One reason tered -- all they really had In the schools, the teachers for the tremendous increase to offer the public was cur­ became victims of the times -­ the number of institutions iosity. But in the case of totally unprepared to answer the idea of planetariums being these smaller planetariums, the probing questions of the an"interesting noveltyllbegan curiosity could not support students. Parents were sud­ to quickly wear off. No them, since most were located denly confronted with the ex­ longer could a in relatively small population citement their children found rely upon the fact that the centers. They had to develop in the drama of the space age, public was enjoying a sophis­ more; they had to create more but like their children's ticated freak show. Because to assure themselves that their teachers, could not nurture of the public's interest, attendance and financial the enthusiasm of their in­ had to become a warehouse of stability could be maintained. quiring minds. It was this knowledge and open up to In 1957, a great world hap­ dilemma, forced upon the Amer­ a pening allowed planetariums, ican people, that brought the third more specifically the small modern American planetarium -­ stage in planetarium evolution planetariums, to go beyond the and more specifically again that most readers can curiosity stage. It was that the small planetarium -- into with -- a stage that in year that a tremendous wave of its own. In fact, the plane­ ways may be the most forced enthusiasm quite sud­ tarium represented such a stage yet encountered, and denly engulfed the American highly potential space educa­ that needs to be handled with people. This was instigated tion tool, that it was selected utmost care to preserve the by a feeling of great urgency-­ by President Eisenhower's Ad­ future of planetarium education an urgency propagated by an visory Council as one of six This stage encompasses what I imminent challenge. Man's outstanding innovative educa~ would like to call the 2001 machines had invaded the soli­ tional projects of his term of Complex or possibly better tude of the space environment, office. It was through this the MGM Syndrome. and man was soon to follow. On concern of the President and Not all planetariums exper­ October 4th of that year, the Congress t·hat the NDEA 1118. tching ience this stage. Those that Soviet Union successfully funds and Title III grants led are set up as planetar- launched the first artificial to the construction of lit­ iums many times do not go satellite and surprised the erally hundreds of new, small this syndrome free world with its advanced planetariums throughout the reserved for those of us that technology, America was country. are labeled shocked out of its complacency, Everyone was getting into and a few months later placed the scene with seemingly every This syndrome has been its own satellite into orbit. community thinking that they caused basically by the And so, the technological con­ needed a planetarium. Also, crease in sophistication of test had begun. America found of the 700 plus planetariums audiences. At least with itself and its educational that had been built by 1970, case in Fort Worth, we find program wholly inadequate to it would be a fairly safe that most people meet this challenge. assumption to say that there see more than ust a general

12 THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 night sky presentation. What stops. To continue this spi­ simply, prima donnas. I can they seem to want every time raling pyramid, we are going say this because I, myself, is a run-off of 2001 - Space to have to look forward to found that I "laS slipping into Odyssey. This can create a seeing a tremendous increase this Jehovah complex state. I few problems -- especially if in annual budgets. To accom­ realizep that I was more con­ you are only allocated thirty, modate these increases, we will cerned with the production of a forty,or fifty dollars a month have to guarantee not only a show than with the content. for materials. This brings up stabilized attendance, but an Luckily, I was made aware of a very large question -- should ever increasing one. In other this situation before it got we attempt to compete with words, what I am trying to say too far out of hand. Now, I other media such as the movie is that for us to accept the find myself having my shows, industry? Because of the movie challenge that various visual and any other output from my industry producing such shows media seemingly present to us, institution, critiqued by as Marooned, Silent Running, we will have to, likewise, fellow staff members, col­ The Andromeda Strain, and the accept the responsibility of leagues, and the general classic 2001 -- all produced possibly sticking our necks out public. It has helped tremen­ for the big screen -- and too far. This is a great dously in showing us the path those shows produced for tele­ responsibility, not only for that we in Fort Worth must vision such as Star Trek, Earth ourselves, but for the future follow, and has also given us II, and Genesis II, audien~ of the small planetarium. guidelines and a point of are craving a blend of science Already I am seeing programs reference on which to base and reality that makes them in which the star projector future shows. feel that they are really acts primarily as a background In closing, I would like to (quote) "a part of the space for the rest of the visuals. I invite all of you, spe­ age." am seeing planetariums turning cifically in this case, those I feel most of us that are a,v-ay from that original inten­ of you who man public plane­ trying to create this type of tion that Armand Spitz had -­ tariums, to fully evaluate what illusion within our shows are that of a simple, discreet, you do with them in the future. achieving it to some degree. astronomy educational tool. I think you need to ask But, if we are going to con­ Maybe this is good, for it may yourself a few general ques­ tinue this form of production be part of continuing to explore tions: (1) Are you giving within our institutions, we a planetarium's potential. But, your public in your own com­ must very definitely consider I think we do need to stop and munity what they want? (2)What some possible problems. First think, and to plan what we are is this thing that the public of all, audiences reach a sat­ going to do with this and how wants -- is it educational or uration point very rapidly. If far we can take this type of is it just entertainment? you create a "tremendous, slam­ production. We need to think (3) Are you creating for your­ bang" show that the audience about this not only as individ­ self a never ending production gets totally turned on to one uals but as a group. I am in pyramid that 'will eventually month, you better be prepared hopes that in some future con­ produce a quality plateau? to create an even more "tre­ ferences,or possibly symposiums (4) In creating your presenta­ mendous, slam-bang" show the that any of us may set up, that tions, do you find yourself next month, or you will slowly this problem can be discussed. competing with other lose your audience. Once they Another thing that I am planetarium and continue to have experienced a certain seeing public planetarium try to outdo them to the point level of production, they ex­ directors do is to become so that it becomes the main pect to see at least that carried away with the idea of purpose of the program? level, if not more, in every creating a planetarium version Remember, in the planetarium 11 show. Will this become a of "2001 , that they become ~ield in this country today, it never ending pyramid? Who's blind to what they are actually lS. those of us within the small really to tell? For the sake trying to do. In other words, public planetariums that are of most of us, the answer is it is like the old saying,"You keeping creative openness no. For you can only make so can't see the forest for the alive. But remember also many things out of broken pop trees." They, many times, have tha: it is our responsibili~y bottles, shimmer disks, brute their heads so high up in the to lnsure that this creative force projectors, and broken clouds they are not seeing what process will be maintained in mirrors. Everyone has a point their audiences are really the future. where his or her creativity requesting. They are, very

THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 13 Letters

In August 1974 I visited The shows are given by the I saw the southern sky show both the Munich and Paris director, three part-time in Paris. It began with an planetariums. Munich has a people, and by a couple of abrupt entry into three minutes Zeiss IV, their second instru­ people from other departments of total black while the lec­ ment, installed May 7, 1960, (such as genetics). turer explained this was not a replacing one of the two Munich shows run twenty movie and how the machine original Zeiss instruments, minutes. The same show is worked. The stars were installed in Munich May 7, given for an entire c1aendar suddenly turned on, and the 1925 after having first been year, so a good part of the lecturer pointed out U Ma, exhibited in Jena for about a Munich and surrounding U Mi, Peg, and a few other year. They have a 15 meter Bavarian population must see sights. There was a discussion dome seating ~bout 250 people. each. The 1974 show ,,;ras on of annual motion similar to the The director since 1970 is the causes of the seasons. In one in Munich, with the Fraulein Lutze, who is also in Paris the topics are rotated difference that the Parisian charge of the Deutsches daily, and changed monthly Jupiter was out and their Museum's physics, astronom~, October to June, unchanged but coordinates were on the floor. . geology and geophysics exhi­ rotated during the three. summer Paris is at 48°N; we were bits" ,The halls for these mbnths. Thus this summer the taken to 48°S and shown Cen, exhibits fill about five topics rotated were "The Lup, Cru, Pav, Gru, the kilometers'of the 14 kilometers Northern Polar Night & The Mage1lanic Clouds, and the of public exhibit corridors in Midnight Sunil (Tu & F, 3). SCPo The machine returned to this immense museuM. With "The Planets, Family of the Paris for'a quick sunrise sucll extensive responsibilities Sun" (Tu, 4:30), "The Sky of after a Zeiss meteor shower. and a budget which does not France" Ov:, 3), "The Sun '& The This show used two slides, permit hiring an astronomer as Zodiac" (H, 4:30), "The both for explaining seasons. a consultant ( a volunteer Southern Sky & the Seasons" Neither planetarium had any amateur had died about a year (Th, Sa, Su, 3:00), "A Little of the many homemade auxili­ before my visit and was not Astronomy" (Th, 4:30), "The aries felt so necessary in the yet replaced), this planetarium Moon and its Eclipses" (F, United States. Daily motion is sQmewh~t handicapped. Four 4:30), "Galaxies & the and latitude change were both shows are scheduled daily at Universe" (Sa, 4:30), and "The used at much higher speeds two hour intervals, with an Summer Sky" (Su, 4:30). Each than I have ever seen at public extra show occasionally added. runs about 35 minutes. shows in the States. The All are totally packed. The The Munich show pointed out pointer was waved around very shows are given by a rotating a number of northern constel­ quickly in mentioning each of staff of four people, rarely lations (e.g. U Ma, U Mi, Cep, the constellations, with no by Frl. Lutze. Cas), and then discussed the projections of the figures, Paris has one of only five current positions of the although Munich did flash on pre-war Zeiss instruments planets, going on to explain the constellation names, a still in use, the 25th of the annual motion while putting Zeiss full sky effect. 27 prewar installations. It this motion on high speed. The people I met at both was installed in a 20 meter The ecliptic, coordinates, and planetariums were most dome seating 350 on June 19, meridian were used. The show friendly, answered all my 1937. The current director concluded with a poor aurora questions, and gave me much is Mssr. G. Oudenoy. Two and the Zeiss meteor shower. information on local activi­ shows are given every day but One slide of clouds at sunset ties. I am particularly Monday at 3:00 and 4:30. They was used to open the show and grateful to FrI. Lutze, who rarely draw as many as 200 one slide diagram explaining gave me several hours of her people. Annual attendance the seasons was used during overburdened time. runs about 320,000 people. the show. Thomas Wm. Hamilton 14 THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 Several letters concerning rather flat isosceles triangle For example can I hope to the traditional "Christmas with respect to the 7 degree able to compete Star" program done in just base line between Jupiter and for positions which might about all planetariums in the Saturn. The Sun was only 22 require a M. S. western world have come to me degrees from the center of For what asking for clarification on the triangle, so it was barely positions which technical points. For refer­ visible in the evening require a M.S. ence, the most definitive twilight, very low on the teaching degree? For what article I know of on the sub­ western horizon. types of positions (if ject appeared in a 1967 2) liOn what dates did the con­ would a Ph.D. degree be an publication by Carl Zeiss, Inc., junctions occur?" advantage?" titled 1967 1 Planetarium ANSWER - Since the magi were John E. Davis International. The article is most likely astrologers, in Dr. Roy K. Marshall and is that period of history, con­ titled "Stars of Bethlehem in junctions were likely noted in ANSWER - In regard to your the Planetarium. II A revision by celestial longitude. In letter of February 1, the Dr. Marshall is available in celestial longitude the con­ would offer an advantage the "Planetarium Director I s junctions occurred on May 27, some positions and a disadvan­ Handbook, II Number 10, March October 5 and December 1. If tage for others. For the 1972, published by Spitz you desire also the conjunc­ part, it would be an Laboratories, Inc., edited by tions in R.A., they are June 1, when hiring on l1ichael A. Bennett. (Editor: A September 27 and December 10. older, , more established forthcoming chapter in the 3) "vIhat are the proper sky planetariums which want section Principles of Plane­ settings for precession?" prestige as a part of tarium Operation in THE ANSHER - To set the instrument name. Also,a good many PLANETARIAN will be devoted to for January 1, 7 B.C., the planetariums want someone this favorite topic.) star Regu~us should be located the depth in astronomy 0 Specific questions regarding at ReA. 8 l6~7, Dec. +20 l3!8. Ph.D. would represent. the Star of Bethlehem show: Delta Orignis should be located However, a good many 1) "What then is the actual at R.A. 3 43~2, Dec. _3° 43 4. tutions are so squeezed shape of the triangle formed 4) "What happened to Kohoutek?" and also do not by Mars, Jupiter and Saturn?" ANSWER - Due to the energy significance of their plane­ ANS~vER The widely held notion crisis, Kohoutek has been tarium operation, that of these three planets tightly turned down. purposely hire the least compacted (a carry-over from sive person they can get. the suggestion of Kepler) and Ph.D. is at a as the points of an equilateral such a situation. From triangle are incorrect. The attitude that prevails here triangle on February 25th of you are probably just as 6 B.C was near isosceles with off to stay away in the Jupiter 4 degrees from Mars, "r'm very much interested in place. Unfortunately this Mars 4 degrees from Saturn and the area of planetarium educa­ attitude is far too prevalent. Saturn 7 degrees fromhJu~iter. tion. As a graduate student in As to your ability to com­ Saturn was at ReA. 23 36 astronomy at the Universiy of pete with such other M.S. or Dec. -~'k degrees; Jupiter at Wisconsin, it would be helpful teaching degree holders, I am ReA. 0 1 , Dec. -l 2 degrees; to have an idea of what convinced that individual h Mars at R.A. 23 46m , Dec. -2 opportunities exist in the capability is by far the degrees. The effect was a planetarium field for Ph.D's. desirable A Ph.

THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 15 does not mean you possess the If you do feel you have offering coursework in characteristics necessary to these people relating qualities, tarium education. Abrams run a good planetarium program. then by all means, I would Planetarium at Michigan Your ability to relate well to encourage you to pursue a good University has coursework people is the single most astronomy background. In the leading to a Ph.D. in science important quality. A great planetarium fi'eld one is in­ education with emphasis on many people in planetariums volved in a lot of general planetarium usage. have this quality and, unfor­ science and I would caution tunately, poor astronomy back­ you in pursuing a Ph.D. in grounds. On the other hand, astronomy that you not exclude a great many people in plane­ courses in other disciplines CONTACT! is ou.·c ;)uestion­ tariums have this quality and such as geology and history Answer column. There are no a good astronomy background. (particularly science history). holds barred on questions or Thus you should first access With this in mind, it is very requests for help, providing your people-relating capability. encouraging to see individuals they are related to the Do you enjoy people? Do you such as yourself desiring to legitimate purposes of this think quickly? Do people pursue a Ph.D. in astronomy journal, and the Editor will respond to you? Do they with planetarium operation as send a researched reply to follow what you are saying or the goal. I feel the field every letter sent him even do they have to ask for clari­ needs more doctorates as far though space may prohibit its fication often? Do you use too many administrators regard being used in the column. So terminology which is the a planetarium as a novelty CONTACT: Mr. Thomas Gates astronomer's language or do rather than a serious pursuit. you find it easy to explain Vol. 2, No.2, June 21. 1972 Space Science Center, El Monte Rd., Los Altos astronomy without the of the Planetarian carries a Calif. 94022. IIlanguage of astronomers"? directory of institutions

16 THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 Conducted by G. L. Verschuur

Fe,v problems in radio of the gursts had been found to explain what is happening. astronomy have been studied as to be 9 SSm29s and this was The first attempts to long and as closely as the called the system III longitude explain the bursts suggested decametric radio bursts from on Jupiter suggesting that that they originate in the Jupiter. They were discovered some property of Jupiter was immediate vicinity of 10. nearly 20 years ago by B. rotating in this time. Since However, from the raaio Burke and Ken Franklin. Hhat then it was found that this vations it was found that the have we learnt in this time period is nearly the time it density of matter around 10 about these bursts and what takes the satellite 10 to go would have to be problems still exist? around Jupiter, but not quite. large. The emission can not Jupiter's decametric radio It is the orientation between if fact, originate near 10, emission (abbreviated to DAM the Earth-Jupiter line with which orbits Jupiter at dis­ by some, suggesting an expres­ respect to the Io-Jupiter line tances way above the Jovian sion of frustration by the that goes through a periodicity van Allen belts. researcher at trying to ex­ of this length. For some A reasonable explanation plain the emission perhaps) reason we receive bursts from seems to go as follows The occurs between radio frequen­ Jupiter when 10, Jupiter and region of space through which cies of a few MHz and 40MHz, the Earth are alligned in a 10 passes does contain parti­ the lower cut-off being due to particular way. They means cles of low density, too low the Earth's ionosphere which that the bursts are beamed to generate radio waves prevents radio signals at from Jupiter in a very narrow directly. These lower frequencies from reaching cone emission. The energy in pile up just us. The upper cut-off seems the bursts makes Jupiter the it is possible for this re­ to be a real effect on Jupiter second strongest radio source gion of higher density to which allows some of the physi­ in the sky, at these frequen­ become unstable, which means cal properties in the source cies, after the sun. that various oscillations region to be determined. The ~fuat about the detailed set up within it. These radio signals are burst-like nature of the bursts? First, oscillations can generate with bursts lasting a few as we said above, they are which are capable of travelling seconds. The bursts sometimes beamed. Second, since they through the surrounding low occur in groups lasting are narrow frequency phenomena density undisturbed regions minutes and storms of bursts the region of space in which around Jupiter (the plasma­ may last for hours. The bursts they originate must have rather sphere, as it is called). drift in frequency with time uniform properties (and is waves are known as magneto­ and this property has puzzled therefore very small) so that hydro-dynamic (MHD) waves researchers for years. The enough power is produced by a because they travel through a individual bursts are narrow coherent mechanism to allow us fluid containing and band phenomena covering a few to pick up the signals at all. a magnetic field. They do not hundred kilohertz and they Thirdly, the nature of the generate radio signals. drift at 20 to 30 MI{z per bursts from one day to the Instead they travel down to second to lower frequencies next is so constant that some Jupiter and reach the Jovian during their lifetimes. Some underlying constancy is present ionosphere where they do of the bursts cover a wider in the emitting region. This trigger radio emission, as frequency range (1 to 10MHz) is thought to be the moderating follows. Hithin the ionosphere but these show bands of little influence of Jupiter's magnetic the electron density is very emission within them which field. In addition the bursts high and radio signals can be drift in frequency as well. are polarized, suggesting that generated in this region pro­ In the late 1960's it was the magnetic field is present vided the electrons can be discovered that the burst and important. Lastly, the made to oscillate strongly. occurence, and their structure correlation with the relative At various levels in the iono­ in frequency and time, corre­ position of 10 is perfect; when sphere the electrons have lated perfectly with the orbi­ one predicts that bursts are natural frequency of oscillation tal period of the Jovian expected, they do occur. It which depends on the satellite 10. The periodicity should now be a simple matter the electrons. As the wave

THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 17 10 reaches the level in the ties. After these cancel out mers since the thirties. ionosphere which has the same the generation of the original This year we have heard natural frequency as the MIID wave, the whole process about the discovery of original wave, the electrons repeats and another burst is 4 brand new molecular all start to oscillate in generated. in interstellar clouds. The unison and radio signals are Few problems in radio new candidates are Dimethyl emitted. It is these radio astronomy have been studied Ether ( , signals that we detect as for as long and few are as (CH NH ), fascinating as Jupiter's (H HtN) and the Acetylene bursts. The precise reason 2e2 for the very narrow beam of decametric bursts. fragment (CCll). These are emission is not clear. It some very fancy molecules appears that the motions of with one containing 9 atoms, the electrons in the ionosphere the largest yet discovered is not simply one in which the space. Why is the rate of electrons are forced to move, It looks as if 1974 is discoveries picking up again? and subsequently to spiral going to be a better year for One reason is that new equip­ about the magnetic fields there, molecule discoveries that were ment is becoming available nor are the oscillations com­ either 1972 or 1973. The making more sensitive pletely random, otherwise the discovery of the presence of observations at previously emission would radiate in all complex molecules in inter­ observed wavelengths as well directions. It appears that stellar space by means of new equipment being at wave­ another wave motion is radio observations of the lengths not studied before. generated in the ionosphere spectral lines they generate Radio astronomers had tended whose frequency is close to started in earnest back in use equipment the frequency at which the 1968 with the detection of the electrons would spiral about ammonia (NH ) and water (H 0) in 1 2 the magnetic fields in any case in clouds of gas and dust be­ radio spectrum by (although not radiating appre­ tween the stars. The year international agreement. ciable amounts of energy the 1969 was a slow year in which protection point is that these motions are only one new molecule, formal~ other services always occuring - only some­ dehyde (H CO) was discovered or commun~cations channels 2 times they are stimulated enor­ and the reason for that was would not transmit at the mously so' that we can detect that radio astronomers were lengths (or at their radiations). The not really ready with suitable which the radio astronomer problem of ho,,! so much energy equipment to pursue the trying to up weak can be radiated in the bursts searches for further molecules from space. There themselves has not been solved very quickly. In addition of never much point for a radio yet, a familiar story in radio course, the largest radio astronomer to try to pick astronomy. A mechanism is telescopes are scheduled many radio signals from space though up, but the energy is a months ahead of time and then frequencies being used by say problem. The MIID waves are there is a further delay be­ some television station or continuously radiating from tween the time of making the satellite communication near 10 and continuously observations and when they are Now however the radio generating radio waves in the analysed and made public. astronomers are on the ionosphere of Jupiter. We only ltJhat we saw instead was of many new molecules space see the bursts when we are that 1970 appeared as the first they have to try and find oriented correctly. The fre­ vintage year in which some 7 some of these molecular quency drifts also seem to be new molecules were discovered, in bands. Of directly associated with the followed by 1971 in which no observa- narrmV' beaming mechamism which less than 9 new molecular are situated leads us to pick up signals at species were reported. However areas so as to different frequencies at this initial spate of results the influence of distant slightly different times as slowed to a trickle with 3 mitters on earth which the beam sweeps past us. molecular types being found in produce interference. And individual bursts are produced interstellar space in 1972 and the search is starting to because the original oscilla­ only 3 molecular types being gather momentum again as tions in front of 10 can damp found in 1973. One of these 2 equipment becomes available themselves out as a result of was CH which had of course and as new telescopes yet another set of instabili- been known to optical astrono- built. We are far from

18 THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 of discoveries of new molecular similarities between life else­ not be too far from actually species that are likely to be where in the universe and life finding such molecules in the made. Studies of interstellar on our planet. It now appears interstellar clouds. Such a molecules are increasingly certain that organic chemistry discovery would have a radical going to shorter and shorter is universal and occurs in sucb. bearing on our thinking on the wavelengths, and now infra-red widely divergent environments evolution of life in the astronomy has an exciting as a cold, diffuse, inter­ universe. The problem that future ahead of it since many stellar cloud and on the sur­ prevents radio astronomers molecules radiate in the infra­ face of a planet in the high searching for an amino acid red part of the spectrum. density atmospheres at much even now is that no one knows These all still remain to be higher temperatures. to just what wavelength to discovered. A last comment on one of tune a radio receiver in order Up to May of 1974 some 30 the new molecules that has to pick up the right signals. interstellar molecules were just been discovered and that The reason for that is that known to exist. In addition is the molecule methylamine. no one has yet been able to do there are a few unidentified It can react with formic acid a laboratory experiment of the spectral lines known, whose CReOOH) to form glycine, the required nature on the amino origin is not yet understood. simplest of the amino acids. acids not has anyone been able Of the 30 well studied species Formic acid has allegedly to perform the complicated (including the unknown species, been detected in interstellar mathematical calculations that X-ogen) there are no less than clouds as well, although its would be required to make a 20 organic molecules (molecules detection is still controver­ theoretical estimate of the that are carbon based). Since sial. Nevertheless, we appear characteristic frequency of all life on this planet is to be nearing the time when the simplest amino acids. The based on the processes of astrochemists might start to time when the first laboratory organic chemistry, this bodes say some conclusive things frequency measurement is made well for those who like to about the formation of amino or the fi;st theoretical calcu-' speculate on the possible acids in space, and we might lation is done might not be too far away now.

THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 19 The Stars of Primeval China by Julius D. W. Staal, F. R. A. S., Planetarium Department Head

The astronomy of ancient equatorial level and then the shadow. The day is at its China differed in many ways watched the upper or lower greatest length and the star from western astronomy. culminations of these stars by is HO. Therefore, you should Chinese astronomy was closely means of a gnomon and clepsydra. be able to determine exactly connected with government This assumes therefore an early the middle of the summer. bureaucracy, while among the knowledge of astronomy and the He ordered separately the Greeks, astronomers were making and using of astronomi­ second brother Ho to reside in philosophers and individuals cal instruments. The question the west in what was called the quite often at loggerheads is: llHow old is Chinese dark valley and there to accom­ with government 0lficials. astronomy?" pany most respectfully the Professor Needham writes that The story always starts with setting sun and to adjust and the Chinese astronomer is the famous commission of the arrange the complete works of intimately connected with the legendary Emperor YAO (2357BC) autumn. The night is of sovereign pontificate of the to the six astronomers Hsi and average length and the star is Son of Heaven, which is an Ho. The text can be found in HIU. Therefore, you should be official government service the Shu Ching, which is dated able to determine exactly the and is ritually accommodated from the 8th century B.C. The middle of autumn. 2 \vithin the very walls of the text says: Therefore HE (i.e. Next he ordered the thira imperial palace. Emperor YAO) commanded Hsi and brother Ho to reside in the Chinese astronomy was Ho, respectfully following northern region in the so­ essentially rolar and equato­ observations of the vast called somber capital and to rial, depending on observations heavens, to calculate and adjust and arrange the changes of the circumpolar stars, delineate the movements and of winter. The day is at its while the Greeks based their aspects of the sun, moon and shortest and the star is HIAO. astronomy on the ecliptic, zodiacal spacings and to hand Therefore, you should be able depending on heliacal risings over respectfully to the people to determine exanctly the and settings of zodiacal the seasons. middle of winter. constellations. He ordered separately the The text obviously tries The latter and the insuper­ second brother Rsi to reside to convey meridian passages of able language difficulties at Yu-y in what was called the certain marker stars indicating caused a tremendous confusion most resplendent valley and to the seasons. Today these of ideas which still is not receive there most respectfully, stars no longer have this fully satisfactorily solved. like a host, the rising sun relation due to the precession The Westerners did not consider and to adjust and arrange the of the erluinoxes. It seems, feasible an astronomy based on works of spring. The day is therefore, not too difficult a anything else but their own of average length and the star task to compute the positions ecliptic-heliacal rise and set is NIAO. Therefore, you should of these stars relative to the system, whereas the modern be able to determine the middle equinoctical and solsticial scholars maintain that the of spring. points by going back in pre­ Chinese worked by keying cer­ Next he ordered the third cession. Planetarium directors tain circumpolar stars to brother Hsi to reside in NAN­ who have projectors with determinative stars of con­ KIAO and there to regulate the precession mechanisms will stellations further down at transformations of the summer make fascinating discoveries. and to observe most respect­ We shall find that approxi­ fully the extreme limits of mately at YAO's epoch (2300 BC) the stars of the Blue Dragon (Scorpio) are at the autumn * Artwork by the author and equinox and the stars of White 2 is the author's trans­ Alice Land, Staff Artist, This Tiger (Orion, Pleiades, Aries) Fernbank Science Center. lation. Also see SHU CHING, at the spring equinox. This Book of History, edited by Clae is a contradiction in terms Waltham, translated by James IT. Needham, Science and because the Blue Dragon is Legge, Gateway Edition, Henry Civilization in China, Vol. III, always referred to as the Blue Regnery Co., Chicago, pp. 3-7 Section 20, p-.-l~Cambridge Dragon of spring and in 2300 BC University Press, 1959. (liThe Canon of Yao").

20 THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 it was located at the \Vrong equinox. When the sun It is still daylight Allowing 1 hour 15 sets at the: when: min. for twilight, This led Gustave Schlegel3 we find: to the daring assumption that Chinese astronomy must be Winter sol­ MIAO (Pleiades) is MIAO lOwest of extremely old. If you care to stice 16°40' east of meridian precess your projector back meridian until the Blue Dragon does NIAO 19° west of coincide with the spring equi- Vernal equi­ NIAO (or Sing = aHya) nox, one will find that the ' nox 1°29' west of meri- meridian epoch in which this occurred was round about 15,600 B.C. Summer sol­ HO (or Sing = S Sco) FANG 40° west of Astronomers and historians stice 18°32' west of meri­ meridian could not and would not accept dian this absurd chronology. But Autumn equi­ HIU 25 ° west of Schlegel used it as the basis HIU ( S Aquarii) 6° nox 45' west of meri- meridian for his Uranographie Chinoise which is still the most impor­ tant reference work on posi­ tional astronomy of the Chinese It will be seen that none gigantic breakthrough of these stars and constellations of of the instructions of the Yao­ waters caused the mountainous those days. T'ien yield satisfactory re­ lowlands between the Himalaya Schlegel, with the aid of a sults, nor do the marker stars Massive and the Mongolian star globe equipped with pre­ represent the middle of the Massive to be inundated. He cession mechanisms, tries to respective seasons (or middle bases this on local legends. prove the commission of the of the representative sky ani­ Apparently the people remember Yao-T'ien, but runs into great mal). some sort of a flood in ancient difficulties because the text Schlegel has a fascinating times and they have remained does not mention the exact day theory that once upon a time, nomadic because they still fear and hour of the observations. way back in 15,600 BC, the the return of the waters. I have tried to carry out the marker stars fitted the seasons Schlegel also says that the instructions of the Yao-T'ien exactly. This can be easily many lakes are briny and the with the Zeiss V projector and shown with the Planetarium Gobi desert is a large salt found that for the epoch of projector. Schlegel's entire covered wasteland, which all YAO (2300 BC) the following work, called "URANOGRAPHIE points to an inundation some table could be drawn up. CIIINOISE" (two volumes) is time long ago. How, otherwise, based on this setting. He could salty lakes be on mountain­ does ask himself, however, tops? How did the Gobi desert what might have happened become a salt flat? Schlegel 3Uranographie Chinoise, Chien between those early beginnings ties this inundation in with Wen Publishing Company, Taipey and the appearance of YAO on the story of the great YD, the 1967. Gustave Schlegel, born the scene? Why had all astro­ master engineer, appointed by in Oestgeest, Holland in 1840. nomical information disappeared? Yao, who saved the country by Died in Leiden 1903. Has in He puts forward that' a shatter­ channelling the flood waters his time a leading sinologist. ing calamity wiped out this to the great rivers. It was He studied eastern languages early civilization. Schlegel this flood that wiped out and in 1862 became interpreter bases this on the ancient early astronomical eras and in Batavia to the Dutch Govern­ writings (e.g. Confucius) what scraps later came into ment. He obtained his Ph.D. in where there is mention of four YAO's possession must have led 1869 in Jena, Germany, his seas. Three of them can be to the Yao-T'ien commission thesis being "Chinese plays easily be accounted for, namely which obviously would not work and customs:. In 1875 he the Arctic Sea in the north, on account of precession. became professor in the Chinese the Chinese Sea in the east, What do I think? Secretly language in Leiden. Among his and the Indian Ocean in the I am a supporter of Schlegel, works are: south. But where was the especially since the discovery 1.A Dutch-Chinese dictionary fourth sea? Schlegel believes of Peking Man (dated 360,000 2.La loi du parallelisme en that possibly the Black Sea, BC) has thrown light on early style Chinoise. Caspian Sea and Aral Sea may habitation of China. 3. Uranographie Chinoise in 2 once upon a time have been From 360,000 BC until 15,600 volumes, 1875. this fourth sea, and that a BC is a period of 344,000 years,

21 THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 stellations Spica of Virgo, Libra, Scorpio anG Sagittarius. (Zeiss Constellation Box E, No. 31, colored blue.) To westerners dragons are monsters of evil. Nothing surprised early European travellers in China more than to find that there the same monster was revered as a benefi­ cient animal, taken as a symbol of the Emperor and Imperial power. Whether dragons are fabled animals or not, the Chinese believed in them and claim that high in the mountain caves, fossils have been found that can only be those of ~~ 5 dragons. The dragon is always seeL closely connected with the watery elements; mud and rain are apparently his favorite 4 habitat. There is a story a goodly time lapse for a sim­ ter (Zeiss constellation A 47). about a certain FANG-KOnAN, WllO ple agriculturally-based type The Chinese divided the sky happened to be in the Nan of astronomy to develop. in five sections. The area Mountains, when he suddenly Heliacal risings and settings around the pole star T'IEN­ heard a noise like copper bells with a natural horixon as HUANG-TA-Ti is the Central being beaten by iron lances. reference line seems more nor­ Palace, representing the He asked some old people what mal than the rather intricate Government and its officers. this might be and they told him system of keying determinative The Celestial Emperor sits on that it was the song of the stars to circumpolar stars. his throne in the middle king­ dragon and that the rains would But who am I to contradict the dom. soon begin to fall. KOUAN went great minds on this subject? The remainder of the out to see for himself and It is from Schlegel's two heavens are made up of four there he saw the clouds whirl­ books that I have drawn infor­ sections, The Spring Palace, ing allover the sky and a mation for the description of The Summer Palace, The Autumn heavy rain started to fall. the four sky animals of the Palace and the Winter Palace. KOUAN listened once more and first division of the Chinese' assured himself that his ears sky. This only scratches the THE BLUE DRAGON were not deceiving him. surface. The fascinating part In the Spring Palace lives The Chinese thought that the comes when one reads the the Blue Dragon. Sometimes dragons laid their eggs in the second division of the sky, we read azure or even green earth where they remained for the subdivisions of the men­ dragon. The Chinese word for a thousand years before hatch­ tioned sky animals in their it was TSHANG-LUNG. On our ing. On the day that they twenty eight hsiu, each hsiu star map it occupies the con- crawled out of their shells having numerous paranatellons floods and inundations occurred which are all linked with some everywhere. The Chinese con­ or other ritual or task. 4Zeiss constellation outlines nected these floods with the The four sky animals dis­ described in this paper are birth of the dragons. But cussed in this article are: obtainable from Carl Zeiss, actually it is the other way (1) The Blue Dragon of Spring Inc., 444 Fifth Ave., New York, around. At that time of the (Xeiss constellation E 31); N.Y. 10018. To the best of year the rains began to fall (2) The Red Bird of Summer our knowledge, this is the only (Zeiss constellation C 49); source available, the slides (3) The \Alhite Tiger of Autumn having been designed by the 5Needham, Science and (Zeiss constellation C 50); late Dr. Helmut vJerner of Carl ization in China, Vo~ (4) The Black Tortoise of Win- Zeiss,Oberkochen. Section 23,P.621.

22 THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 causing floods and the dragons humidity, of spring when chief one. This meant of (probably some type of croco­ through abundant rains the course that there were 360 diles) who had been hibernating whole of nature renewed itself degrees in the sky route of in the mud began to \.Jake up, and put on a new face. The the sun and that the dragon rising out of the mud which sun passing into the constel­ the chief one was the started to crack open like egg lation of the Blue Dragon at first degree or the starting shells. the spring equinox became the point of the sun's annual Thus came the idea of the emblem of springtime and the journey through the sky. The birth of the dragon at the Blue Dragon itself was dragon being the sovereign spring equinox and the going symbolically seen as the Sun. symbol was placed in the east. into hibernation of the dragon An ancient Chinese diction­ Its heliacal rising announced at the autumn equinox. So the ary, the CROUO-WEN says that that spring was in the land. Blue Dragon became the symbol there were 360 scale animals Springtime was the awakening of the productive force of and that the dragon was the of nature. Man also awakened

THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 23 from his semi-hibernation. He bines did not feed their chil­ of this bird, but the no longer needed to be afraid dren themselves, but special may serve as a representative of attacks from neighboring nurses were set aside to look cross section. He had barbaric tribes. He could after the young ones. The head and beak of a chicken; start thinking about ploughing aster ism is thus the guardian long neck like a serpent' and fertilizing his fields. star over th~feeding of the the feathers There were preliminary festi­ babies and later, when they the scales of a tortoise. vals~ leading to the Equinox had grown older and could eat colors ranged from dark ceremonies. The Imperial sweets and pastries, it conse­ for the head and neck; the Palace also awakened to get quently also presided over the inner part of the throat ready to receive the new spring delicacies and confectionary the beak were sun. New children were born in the palace. If the star the wings and and the Empress, concubines appeared clear and bright, the plumage steel blue; the and nurses would be busy in weather man would forecast the part was white; the tail the palaces. The army spruced red morning sky, occasional reddish brmm; while on up and generals inspected showers and mild rains of head he carried a crown of their troops. spring. When T'IEN-JOU green feathers shot with gold. Finally when the sun reached culminated it was thus time Such a bird j the Equinox in the shiu (house for the imperial nurses to get deserved the name of or mansion) of FANG, the doors busy. Birds" and so he became repre­ of heaven were unlocked to sentative of the of the welcome the new spring sun and THE RED or VERMILLION BIRD solar system .... the Sun and on earth parallel ceremonies In the summer palace lives consequently the essence of were held to bring offerings the RED BIRD. The Chinese heat. to the new spring sun and to word for it is TCROU-NIAO. On Other Chinese authors refer do homage to his powerful and our star maps it occupies the to him as the pheasant and invigorating dominance. constellations GEMINI, CANCER, the This is the The Blue Dragon of spring HYDRA, and CORVUS. (Zeiss why we study the is subdivided in seven shiu as Constellation Box C, No.9, division of the in which follows: (1) KIO shiu - the colored red.) each of these great sky house of the horn, the star The red bird represents the is subdivided into seven essence of heat. The red bird Spica; (2) KANG shiu - the 6 such names as "Head of the house of the neck, the stars was the phoenix of China. Quail" or Heart of the V, 1, K and \ Virginis; (3) The blue phoenix was called HO, Qua il" can be found, TI shiu - the house of the the red phoenix CROUN the There are two foundation, the stars a, S, y, yellow phoenix or quail YEN, types of quail and 1 Librae; (4) FANG shiu - the white phoenix SOU and the and the white one. one the house of the heart, the pink phoenix TSO. All these question here is the red stars Antares and 0 and T species were combined into one whose habit it is to appear Scorpionis; (6) WI shiu - the collective name TCHOU-NIAO, on the scene in house of the tail, the stars Bird of the Sun, or Bird of summer and equally E, VI, V2, n, 8, l' K,\and u Summer, red being the color disappear again in the autumn. Scorpionis; and (7) KI shiu - caused by the sun. Their arrival announces that the house of the manuring or There were many descriptions the summer is in the land. winnowing tray, the stars 0, This indicated that the crops n, E, and y Sagittarii. which were planted in spring The seven shiu have between the Sun moved through them 33 paranatellons. All Rlue Dragon) were beginning these aster isms represent the ripen and mature. The begin­ spring palace. Each paranatel­ 6The red phoenix of China. ning of summer was announced Ion has a special task or This can be found in Schlegel's by ancient astronomers when ritual. To give one example, Uranographie Chinoise, Volume the tail of the Blue Dragon the first paranatellon of the I, Chapter V, page 69-72, La began to fade at heliacal house TI, was called T'IEN-JOU, grande constellation estivale rising (i.e. the sun enters celestial mild, made up of one TCHOU-NIAO or L'oiseaurouge the Black Tortoise), In the single star, namely - Serpentis. or Ie FOUNG est Ie phenix de evening they then waited for The Queen or Empress and concu- la Chine ••.. etc •. the first appearance of NIAO

24 THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 or our Alphard (a Hydrae) in the field. As the hunts were whirl in space, up the southeast, when the Red held in the high standing shrivel away. Bird began to ascend into the cornfieids, they were also The coincidence of the summer night sky, culminating named MIAO. winds and the appearance the in the south, hence his title tiger in the open country "Great Southern Constellation had given rise to the idea that of Summer". THE WHITE TIGER the wind followed the , The Red Bird of Summer is In the Autumn Palace lives while in fact the tiger was the White Tiger. The Chinese subdivided in seven shiu as forced out of the woods through follows: (1) TSING shiu call him PAI-HOU. On our star the drying winds and thus House of the well, the stars maps he occupies the constel­ actually followed the winds. A, ~, E, ~, y, v, and V Gem­ lations Andromeda, Aries, The tiger's appearance on inorum; (2) KOUI shiu - House Musca Borealis, the Pleiades, the scene served as a reminder of spirits, the stars 0, 0, n, Taurus and Orion. The tail and Cancri; (3) LIEOU shiu - for the people that autumn was e end is in Aries, the head and in the land, so House of the willow, the stars forepaws in Orion. (Zeiss stars which appeared e, 00, ~, E, 0, o, n, and p Constellation Box C, No. 50, the three months of autumn in Hydrae; (4) SING shiu - House colored white.) the western sky were designarp~ of the asterism~ the stars 1, The Chinese pictured in the as the stars of the White Tl, T2, a, 26, and 20 Hydrae; autumn sky a huge white tiger Tiger. (5) TCHANG shiu - House of the constellation. They believed Another reason for net, the stars 0, V, U, K, that tigers grew very old, v, a deadly tiger in the and Hydrae; (6) YI shiu - could attain an age of one 0 that to the Chinese the autumn House of the wing, the stars thousand years, and it was only was the period of decay of a, S, y, ~, n, 0, 1., K, E, and after his SOOth year that he nature on earth and of the Sun Crateris; (7) TCHIN shiu - became white. Like the Blue e in the Sky. So they saw a House of the chariot, the stars Dragon, the White Tiger was tiger symbolically as the S, y, 0, n, and E Corvi. supposed to be a benign and killer of nature during autumn. These seven shiu hav~ be­ kind animal, who - it was said - The White Tiger of tween them 61 paranatellons. never ate living things but is subdivided in seven All these aster isms represent only fed on carrion. However, follows: (1) KOUI the Summer Palace. To give an nearly all other Chinese of the sandal, the stars n ~ example, the 18th paranatellon authors agree that the tiger l' E, 0, TI, v, and V Andromeda of the House of TSING is T'IEN­ was cruel and ferocious and and 0, T, L, U, ¢, X, and l/J LANG, the celestial jacka'l they called him "King of the Piscium; (2) LEOU shiu House consisting of one star, namely Four Footers". Since he was of the reapsters, the stars a Sirius. In the month of May the prince of the mountains, S, and y Arietis; (3) WEI shiu­ the corn was already level he was also named "King of the House of the grainstore the high with the surrounding Mountains". stars 35, 39, and 41 Arietis; dykes. The jackal loved to He was considered a sun (4) Mao shiu - House of hide in the tall corn where he animal. As the chief of all setting sun, the Pleiades; hunted for unsuspecting birds, other animals he howled like PY shiu = House of the net especially quails and pheasant. the rumbling thunder so that the Hyades; (6) TSOUI shiu At night he went out prowling all the beasts feared him and House of the mouth, the head of around farm yards and workers trembled at the sound Orion; (7) TSAN shiu, House of cottages to steal chickens. Wherever he went, the winds the supreme Army commander The kings of China organized followed him. Orion. hunting parties to get rid of The reason for having a These seven shiu have be­ these pests. To follow the tiger in the sky is easily tween them 42 paranatellons. spoor was easy because the understood. The summ~r is All these asterisms represent jackal had already flattened o~er, and the nearly intoller­ the Autumn Palace. To give the corn and this would lead able heat is followed by a one example, the third parana­ the hunters to its lair. refreshing breeze. But this tellon of the House of LEOU These summer hunts were known does not last for very long. was called T'IEN-CHOUEN the as MIAO which Schlegel says Soon they would be followed by celestial ship, composed of come from the Chinese character autumn thunderstorms which with t-"1". d f +-i- the stars of Perseus (V 48 WhlC h was rna e up a I raging fury would strip the m 89, 0, l/J, a, 128, y, and n). plants and field, in other 83 trees and plants of their It lies in the Milky Way words the plants coming out of foliage so they were made to celestial river which is

THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 25 correct place for a ship or the Black Tortoise. The Because the tortoise was boat. Chinese call him HIOUEN-WOU. cold and tardy creature, At the time of our discus­ On our star maps he occupies was adopted as the symbolical sion (15,600 BC) this ship Sagittarius (Milk dipper) animal for the cold, tardy sets in the evening at the end Capricornus, Aquarius and slow winter sun. As the of the month of August, Pegasus. The head is in Sagit­ toise buried himself beginning September, i.e. at tarius and tail end in Pegasus the winter, it served as a the time of the great inunda­ (Zeiss Constellation Box A, No. living calendar to indicate tions caused by torrential 47, colored white). the season and the apparent rains against which dikes were The tortoise has figured in death of the sun. no positive safe guards. They the most ancient antiquity of Very ancient cosmogenies would often break away, thus China and was considered a talked about an immense old flooding the fields. Communi­ divine animal through which tortoise, attaining a cations were disrupted, and one sought to discover one's of 25 feet. It should have the only means of conveyance destiny. In the winter the existed before the beginning was by boat. sun reached its lowest point of the sky and earth. These The aster ism was thus a in the ecliptic when for a week cosmogenies said that this reminder to make the boats and or so it lingers without rising tortoise was born from the canoes ready for the flood or falling much in altitude dragon at the moment of the season. Chinese astrologers above the horizon at noon. The separation of chaos. maintained that when this tortoise is a slow animal Now it so happens that the asterism was not visible in which cannot move unless with tail of the dragon ( the house the Milky Way, it was a bad excessive tardiness. This KI) touches the head of the omen that the passage of fords therefore represented the celestial tortoise which was and rivers would soon be inter­ tardiness and lingering of the probably the reason for the rupted and that great floods sun very well. belief that the tortoise was were due. Schlegel gives an A Chinese fable tells us born from the dragon. account that he was present at that to the west of the YOUEN­ During the long winter's such a flood on 28th August KIAO mountains lies the lake night the tortoise crawls 1859 when he travelled by sam­ of stars which is 1000 Li long in the sky sprawling from pan or canoe through the (one league = 13 1/2 Li). In ittarius through Capricornus streets of Emoui, when because this lake was a divine tortoise Aquarius to Pegasus. Every of a typhoon the water had with eight feet and six eyes. shiu therefore could be seen risen 22 feet above normal On its back it had the image easily to culminate as the level. of the northern bushel (Big winter Each The invention of the ship Dipper) as well as the sun, and its paranatellons had a was apparently lost in the the moon and the eight regions message or ritual to tell. oblivion of remote times in of the heavens. On its stomach The Black Tortoise was China. However, a broken canoe it had the image of five peaks divided into seven shiu as was found in a pond situated and four canals. follows (1) TEOU shiu on top of Mount WOU-FANG in The top part is round and House of the bushel, the TOUNG-HOA. Tradition said imitates the sky. Underneath ~ A ¢, 0, T, and pSagitarii; that it was the canoe in which it is square, imitating the (2) NIOU shiu - House of the emperor YU (of flood control earth. The lines form , the stars a, S, ~ 0 fame after the great inunda­ constella tions. and p Capricorni; (3) tion) was supposed to have The tortiose - say the House of the virgin, the star come. Chinese - follows the revolu­ \! p and € Aquarii (4) HIU Legend has it that the idea tion of the light of the sun. shiu - House of the funeral of making boats came to man It turnerl its head to the east hill, the stars S Aqa and a when he saw leaves fallon the in the morning and to the west Equulei; (5) WEI shiu water and float away with the in the evening. of the gpex, the stars a stream of a river without The Chinese also knew that and a and S Pegasi CHI sinking. The asterism presided tortoises could grow very old shiu House of the pyre, over crossings, canoes, boats which was the origin of the stars a and S Pegasi; (7 and oars. belief that it knew everything shiu House of the wall and therefore could foretell stars a Andromedai and y the future. The tortoise would The seven shiu have THE BLACK TORTOISE always be consulted before them 51 paranatellons. In the winter palace lives undertaking any enterprise. one example, the eighth

26 THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 CARTE DU FUSEAU TSSE-WI-HQUAN

te110n of the house of HIOU was harvest time, were now to called TCHI-HIU the weaving that reside in them. To com­ begin the woman's works. plete the picture, one has to girl, consisting of a Lyrae During the long winter nights (vega), and a and s Lyrae. imagine the central palace when there was nothing else to above these four palaces. This is the famous girl of the do outside and while the men story of the weaving princess From here the directives are were out hunting or fighting given by the Celestial Emperor. with her cowherd lover KIEN­ wars, the women locked them­ NIOU, the star Altair on the Schlegel does not mention any­ selves in and busied themselves thing about the Central Palace other side of the Milky Way. with the weaving of clothing of the early epoch we have The culmination of the star for their husband and children. been talking. History he announced the 10th Chinese This concludes a brief and says is silent about this. month (November). During this sketchy description of the But in 3000 BC the Chinese month the women, who had all four palaces and the four sky were is possession of astro­ helped with the reaping during animals of th~ four seasons nomical instruments, and the

THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 27 TIEN- SHU ~ peasants wanted to have a natural calendar. The astronomers were aware that the ancient groups no longer TIEN-CHOUEN corresponded with the periods YU-HQUNG which they used to indicate. The names were religiously reserved as venerable relics from time gone by. It was, PEl however, necessary for the TIEN-CHI people to have fixed signs to determine the principle periods of the year, especially the winter solstice (beginning of the year) and the spring equi­ nox. This need gave birth to the naming of new asterisms. PEl -TEOU I will indicated only a few interesting asterisms of the Central Palace in this article, Northern Bushel namely what we know as the Big Dipper, and the Pole star of that period. 1 and a and at the point where concubine), then the star 4 Referring to the attached it intersects the precession Ursae minoris, (CHENG-FEI, the map "Carte de fuseau TSSE-WI­ circle, very close to a Imperial concubine) and lastly HOUAN, I have indicated the Draconis. T'IEN-SHU a small 6th magni­ precession circle. Allowing 1° By about 1000 Bc the pole tude star close to the preces­ for every 72 years that have had shifted and Kochab ( S sion circle. This must have passed for recession to shift, Ursae Minoris) now functioned been the pole star of the late we can plot backwards about 70° from our present pole star as pole star although it was a Han period. good 5° from the precession THE BIG DIPPER (T'IEN - HUANG-TA-TI) Polaris The aster ism is composed of to find that the North Celestial circle. The Chinese do not Pole in 3000 BC was close to see Ursa Minor as we do. They seven stars which correspond to the stars of our dipper but a Draconis. see a string of stars starting The Chinese had a name for with y Ursae minoris (T'AI­ the names are quite different. the area around the Pole star, TZU, the crown prince), then The dipper itself is known as KOUI, the Chiefs and the handle namely TZU-WEI-YUAN. The the Imperial star himself, S purple forbidden enclosure of Ursae minoris (T'IEN-TI-HSING), as Pei or PIAO, while the whole which the eastern wall TUNG-FAN then the star 5 Ursae minoris of the dipper is called PEI­ TEOU, Northern Bushel. was made up of the stars 1, 0 , (SHU-TZU, son of the Imperial ~, and ¢ Draconis, K and y Cephei and 21 Cassiopeiae, and the western wall HSI-FAN of the stars a, K, and A Draconis, a Dubhe T'IEN-SHU, Celestial Pivot 24 Ursae Majoris and 43, L, and a Camelopardalis. S Merak T'IEN-HSUAN, Celestial template. The gap between a Draconis and 1 Draconis was called TZU­ y Phecda T'IEN-CHI, Celestial armillary. KUNG-MUN, gate of the purple palace and 1 Draconis was 0 Megrez T'IEN-CHOUEN, Celestial balance. called YEOU-SHU, right pivot. (On the map another spelling E Alioth YU-HOUNG, Jade observation tube. is used, Tso-Tchou and Yeou­ Tchou.) The North celestial ~ Mizar KIAI-YANG, Opener of the heat. pole of 3000 BC would have been exactly on the line connecting n Benetnash YAO-KOUANG, Scintillating brilliant one.

THE PLANETAR.IAN, 3&6/74 28 It was also known as TI­ points to the north it is Dragon. Extend 0, a and A,S TCHE, Emperor's chariot. The winter. Ursae Majoris, and both lines Chinese had devised a system If one goes deeper into the will point to Orion, the Head whereby they could tell the polar-equatorial system with of the White Tiger. season by looking at the the determinative stars keyed Connect A and E Ursae majoris position of the handle of the in to certain circumpolar stars and the line will point to ~ dipper at night after sunset. one will find an interesting Sagittarius, a star in the shiu For the epoch of 3000 BC the role being played again by the called TEOU of the head of the following holds good: dipper. I am not going to Black Tortoise. There does When in the evening the tail discuss the system in detail, not seem to be anything on points to the east it is spring. but this one instance is record for the Red Bird. This When in the evening the tail rather interesting introduction. is rather odd because a line points to the south it is Connect Polaris through ~ from Kochab through a Ursae summer. Ursae Majoris and also Kochab majoris points exactly to When in the evening the tail through n Ursae Majoris. Both Alphard, the heart of the Red points to the west it is autumn. lines will point to Spica which Bird. When in the evening the tail is KIa, the horn of the Blue

Hom of the Vir. Blue Dragon Spica Black Tortoise Chic Sagittarius••

• White Tiger • --. Orion

THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 29 Andrews and Moore, the Richmond get­ Jane's 'em-up-in-the-morning team at \.ffi.NL radio, came up with these goodies one day recently, under the heading of things Corner kids say about science: "The best thing about being in our solar system is night BY and day"; "It takes the earth 24 hours to rollover once"; "Astronomy is when you look up at the sky and see stars; Jane P. Geoghegan astrology is 'vhen you look up at the sky Send your "happenings" to Jane Geoghegan, -1/00 W and see lions and virgins and other Grace St., Richmond, Va. 23230 spooky creatures". Undinnnable For those of you who missed it in the February, '73 Reader's Digest: by Ken Perkins, Director Usually animals can be removed from The main hall of the Hayden Planetar­ the planetarium dome with the turn of a ium was filled with youngsters as the dimmer knob or at least the flip of a lights dimmed and the magnificent star switch. Not so with a spider that show began. The narrator introduced his appeared on the plaster dome of the talk to the hushed, awed audience by planetarium of the Vandalia-Butler C stating that on a clear night one can Schools, Vandalia, Ohio. see 5000 stars in the sky. From the On a Monday or Tuesday a spider was first row came a small voice: "One, two, spotted a meter or so southeast of the three ..... " Zenith. By Friday it had moved an The narrator, recovering gamely, said, distance north of the zenith and then "Well, most people take our word for it." lingered not too far from the zenith - Contributed by Walter C. Ebmeyer through several programs including a My uncle, a Wisconsin farmer, spent a psychadelic light show for a mod English holiday in Los Angeles, where he paid class. his first visit to a planetarium. "First Finally, the spider was removed you see that sky," he told me enthusias­ humanely with an instrument tically,"and all those little houses all of three f around, like we were sittin' in a field the lower and one in the center of the city lookin' up at top, all lashed the sky. And then it starts gettin' on tape and to twilight so real it beat all get out. the same And then, by golly, that quarter moon touch was all it took. shows. I tell you I never saw the moon For a six meter ride the was more real than that. Then it started safely hauled down from the artificial gettin' darker and got to real dark, and sky. With the loss of of the stars come out like I've seen 'em a eight it was a better thousand and one times. Well I tell you!" food supply. He shook his head, overvlhelmed, Clnd fell 12, 197 silent. "Then what happened?" I asked. To all PLANETARIAN subscribers: He came out of his bemused 'vander and I think the new format is a d replied, "Hhat happened? ~.-hy, I went trick to get me to think of stuff" right to sleep." to put on this page. How about - Contributed by Sam Locke me out and sending items for 30 THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 I can't believe that nothing is happening Jane's Corner is featur this out there in "Fake Sky-Land". Say to several of James Childress's str yourself 10 times I~y page is dying, my "Conchy", as some of you seem to page is dying ...... " There! Don't you him as much as I do. Mr. Childress feel ashamed? Invest 8 cents in its home base is the Charlotte (N. C.) News future. and Observer and his also appear in other newspapers around the in case you missed them, here goes: Conchy

066 WAS A CAVEMAN.

~E LIVED IN PREHiSToRIC "TIMES W~EN i~E. AIR WACS ~RE.SH AND THE. WATER WAS CLEAN ..

OGG t S E )(T/ NeT.

1= ISURE TI-tAT ONE OUT.

il..UN6t? LIKE GL06AL WAP. L IKE PLUMB BoBS I ~AVE ALWAyt& BEEN ONE oa If.4E p~leILlIY' OF At-.! i!-tA1 ~ANG AT T~IRTY Ta MEVE~ WOPJ~.y o"E~ ENERGY' C~16IS. VE~ T~ERE. DEGREE ANGLE'S. l).41N66 O~ W~ICj..ll 1-4AVE ALWA'1'S SEEM'? 10 a~ t30ME ~ CONTf

~oo·

A GOVERNMEt..1T AGENCY 'SHOULD NEVE~ BE GIVEN A 6lJ06ET UNLESS II ALREADY' HAS A SPECIi=IC PROJECr IN MIND.

I Hlp ~ .

"Conchy" reprinted with permission of J ....

THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 31 Conchy

THE 6UN 16 A ~LJGE. I 6CIE:NTIST~? ~16UI:(E: AT ITS THIS ENE~GLy' CRISi0 6W/~LlN6 MA66 of PRE6ENT ~A-rE., THE: 6L)N WILL -r!-lING 10 MOr:

iJJl ..{Q0E f=IVE -YEA~ WHEN l.(OU BEAM OUT al== 1'l0B \ H-4E6E A~E. THE MI6SIO}-J 16 To I30LDLY Pi=

~ ______~ $-1. L ______~

A SALMON WITH A TAAT HAG TO eE LOW 1..0. ,(:

\ 6 I

\ I b , ~

IT MIJ5T BE VERY FR'U'STR'ATIN6 To f:3E 60TH MEEK A"O FU55V.

"Conchy" reprinted with permission of James Childress

32 THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 Planetarium's on Parade

FERNBANK SCIENCE THE DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM; ATLANTA; GEORGIA

by Kay Davis, Administrative Coordinator, Fernbank Science Center, Atlanta, Georgia

Fernbank Science Center's Planetarium dome, left, and observatory are well-known Atlanta landmarks.

nT"'Der1 and opera ted by the for the public, including the Entrance to the planetarium DeKalb County School System, popular Saturday morning, is through the Center's main Fernbank Science Center Plane­ "Here, There, Everywhere," exhibit hall, where Fernbank's tarium is an integral part of based on actual astronomical museum staff has created exhi­ one of the most extensive events occurring within the bits and dioramas which cover science education resource immediate weekend. all aspects of science educa­ facilities in the country. Beneath a 70-foot diameter tion. A reference library The Center's overall emphasis dome, a Zeiss Mark V projector, meteorology, electron micro­ is innovative education in with auxiliary projectors and scope, radiation, chemistry both the life and physical Zeiss horizon system, allows and environmental preparation sciences, and nowhere is this the staff the flexibility laboratories, along with class­ more successfully apparent than needed to conduct the many rooms and staff offices are in the Fernbank Planetarium. different kinds of programs also housed in the main Center. Since 1967, the Center and carried out year round in the At the rear of the Science planetarium have provided com­ Fernbank planetarium, which Center is Fernbank Forest, a prehensive instructional pro­ seats 500. 65-acre relatively undisturbed grams for students, teachers At the opposite end of the living laboratory for students and the general public. mqin Center complex is the and the public. Beginning with the second Fernbank observatory. The 36- Fernbank Science Center's grade, the planetarium instruc­ inch reflecting telescope is other major resources include tional format extends to the the largest in the world used a museum department, horticul­ graduate level, and offer.s a by a public school system for ture department with green­ specifically designed sequence general viewing, photography, houses and gardens, and geolog­ of programs. Included are photometry, spectroscopy, and ical, chemical, physical and special education classes for satellite tracking. Although computer facilities. EMR, TMR, deaf and partially it is opened to the public on Co-hosting the October, 1974 sighted students. Public clear Friday evenings, the International Society of Plane­ presentations are offered in observatory is primarily a tarium Educators Conference, the evenings and on weekends. classroom for students of all the Fernbank planetarium staff In 1974, the planetarium will ages and degrees of accomplish­ extends a hearty welcome to present ten different programs ments. Atlanta and Fernbank Science Center. THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 33 Fernbank's 36-inch reflecting telescope, used in daily astronomy classes, is also part of the Center's "Project Moonwatch," which relays satellite tracking information to the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Dr. Ralph Buice, and student Ronnie Lee check calculations.

Staff artist Alyce Land prepares the numerous Adjacent to the Center is beautiful Fernbank skylines for the planetarium. Forest. Opened to the public year round, the 65-acre Forest is an environmental laboratory for grades K through 12.

The DeKatb County School System's planetarium is the only major planetarium in the U.S. owned and operated by a school system and dedicated to teaching and public enrichment. 34 THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 PRINCIPLES OF PLANETARHJM OPERATION 4

Co-Editors: Frank C. Jettner and Von Del Chamberlain. This series centerfold, punched, and stored in a looseleaf binder for future was originally conceived as a first-year, graduate level textbook in reference. ISPE and the Co-Editors regret they cannol furnish planetarium education, written by the leading specialists in the field. special binders for this purpose. Questions regarding the text matter Installments will appear in each issue of THE PLANETARIAN until may be directed to either Co-Editor or the chapter author. completion. It is suggested each installment be removed from the

Editor: It was our sad duty Director at Park College, Park­ Those involved in planetar­ to announce the death of our ville, Missouri (1937-47). He ium education miss the pene­ beloved colleague, Harry E. then became the founding Direc­ trating wit and skill of this Crull, Ph.D., on April 25, tor of the Hol.comb Observatory gentle man. He was noted as a 1972 at Albany Medical Center. and Planetarium, sometime pioneer and coritinuing contri­ He was survived by his widow Director of University College, butor to our rapidly developing Edna; daughters Mrs. Harold and Professor and Department discipline, dating back to his Smashey of Olney, Illinois and Chairman of Mathematics and first participation as a Mrs. Donald Boger of Nashville, Astronomy, all at Butler turer at the newly opened Ad1 Tennessee; son Harry Jr. of University of Indianapolis, Planetarium in Chicago in 1933. the U.S. Naval Observatory, Indiana (1947-65). Rising to He served as Asst. Director of [I/ashington I D. C .; and seven the rank of Captain (USNR Ret.), the Griffith Observatory and grandchildren. he served as ship's navigation Planetarium in Los Angeles in At his death, Dr. Crull. was officer and navigation instruc­ 1935-36 and loved to tell Professor of Astronomy & Space tor during fi>lorld IVar II, and stories about his association Science of the State University thereafter, he fostered an with Armand Spitz while at the of New York at Albany and active teaching interest in Fels Planetarium in Philadelphia director of the Henry Hudson Marine Navigation. This cul­ about the same period. His Planetarium Project. He was minated in his teaching manual dream to found a school of born on February 7, 1909 in still in use at SUNYA. In his planetarium education remains Chicago, Illinois and educated last years he became a pioneer with this writer. in the Maywood, Illinois in the popularization of We are pleased to here schools. He then attended the astronomy through television. sent the last writing of Harry University of Illinois and His courso, "Eye On The Uni­ Crull as the fourth chapter of earned the B.A., M.A., and verse" was shown many times by Principles of Planetarium Ph.D. (1933), majoring in the NYS Public Broadcasting Operation. The chapter gives mathematics and astronomy. System's "University of the the kernel of his favorite Prior to joining the SUNYA Air" and is still used on planetarium lesson but without faculty in 1965, Prof. Crull. several campuses in the SUNY trying to formalize it into served as Prof. of Mathematics system as a one semester specif ic forma t. and Astronomy and Observatory descriptive astronomy survey. I ti I I a by Harry E. Crull, State University of New York at Albany

Celestial navigation can Navigation is the art of heard from again, and the nowhere be taught more effi­ finding one's way about on or occasional returning early ciently or more easily than in near the earth's surface. In sailor may well have O\ved his the planetarium. The basic its rudiments it is a very success to luck rather than identification of the stars ancient art and perhaps origin­ and planets, their motions, ated, as did so many of man's In these times most of which are of course early accomplishments, in the is fun to extend this histori­ merely reflection of terres­ Near East. However progress cal definition to include trial motions, the change in in early navigation was slow, modern space navigation. But the aspect of the sky with and the methods long remained while many ideas do extend change of latitude, the astro­ primitive. We hear persistent along, Dr. Crull thought that nomical triangle, the concepts myths regarding the prowness mixing orbital mechanics of altitude and azimuth, all of ancient navigators, but turbation theory, and other of which are so easily demon­ such yarns must be taken with such notions into his naviga­ strated and explained with the more than the proverbial grain tion chapter to do a reasonable planetarium are the bread and of salt. Remember that the job was totally out of order. butter ideas of celestial incompetent or unlucky naviga­ In a future chapter we'll navigation. tor is the one that is never tackle space navigation in 35 THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 own right.) Earliest navigation consisted of hugging the shoreline, watching for shoal water or breakers ahead, and beaching the boat at dusk to spend the hours of darkness in the safety of a shore camp. For ages, venturing out of sight of land was virtually suicidal, and only for the last few millenia have navigators boldly (or timidly) sailed the deep blue waters of even such circum­ scribed inland seas as the Mediterranean. The basic modus operandi of all navigation is the same. must of necessity depend on line of position method in One determines his position by accurate information. universal usage today. measuring ohjects of known Charts are plane representa­ Suppose you wish to direct location and deducing where he, tions of the curved surface of a friend to your place of the observer, must be for these the earth. Projecting any business in a city r objects to have their positions curved surface upon a flat in Figure 1 and you told him as observed relative to him. sheet of paper results in dis­ that your office was directly Illustrations are many even in tortions, some serious and south of the post office and every day life. How frequently others not so, but all must be directly east of the city we tell a friend ffTurn left at understood. There are a number hall. Even the most obtuse the school house, go two blocks of such projections, each individual should deduce you south and five west. My house having a particular useful were located somewhere in the is the red brick. 1I In its application or applications to block marked with an "Xli. simplest application this is the art of navigation. Here Now apply the above reason­ navigation, presuming of course we find it inappropriate to ing to a simulated chart shown the friend recognizes the describe these, but simply in Figure 2. school house and knows his remark that the earth's surface The navigator of a ship directions. is successfully (and accurately) serves a light house directly Of course the vital and represented by this device. north of him (i.e. he knows fundamental point of all of Charts are available for pur­ then that he is of the this is that the "known loca­ chase from most of the world's light house). information tion" of the preceding paragraph governments through appropriate is obtained by comparing the is really that. VJhile without agencies. position of the light with doubt most losses at sea result directions as indicated by from nersonnel failure of some PILOTING ship's compass. This one ob­ sort,L a significant minority do The simplest form of naviga­ servation does not give result from faulty or inaccur­ tion is known as piloting. It uniquely the position of the ate information of one kind or is basically the same as the ship; indeed the ship might be another. A glance at even 17th practice of the ancient mari­ at any point on the half line and early 18th century charts ners who coasted along within labeled "LINE III fI • This line and comnarison with their modern sight of shore and deduced is called a Line of Position counterparts makes one wonder their positions fron observa­ (LOP) . how navigators recognized their tions of prominent terrestrial If at or near the same time destinations even after safe objects, though no longer do as the observation in the above arrival. Similarly as late as we afford the luxury of the paragraph the navigator ascer­ the "age of discovery" ignorance overnight bivouac. Piloting tains that the mountain peak of magnetic variation, correct has no direct relationship to directly west of his ship, he time and ocean currents, and navigation as it may be ex­ then knows he is somewhere on failure to identify the stars plained in the planetarium line #2. Obviously his ship correctly resulted in ship (Editor: except with slides), is at the intersection of the wrecks on inhospitable shores. but the operator must first two lines. Today the moon is more accur­ understand its principles in This procedure illustrates ately mapped than some parts of order to appreciate and explain the line of position method of the earth. Precise navigation celestial navigation by the navigation which is in wide 36 THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 be considered in the above process; namely: How is the declination of the sun obtained and how is its altitude measured? In the planetarium these are easily obtainable from the projectors for the equator-ecliptic (to measure declination) and the meridian t (to measure noon day altitude) but certainly the natural sky is not equipped with such conveniences. However other sources are available for the required information. The Alnerican Nautical Almanac gives among many other things the hourly declin­ ation of the sun with the necessary interpolative con­ stants from which the declin­ usage today. The same idea is the earth's equator and 02 is ation can be computed for any applied to the known positions the celestial equator. Q 0 = second during the year. The of the stars, sun, moon and QZ i the latitude of the ship altitude of a celestial object planets for a given instant and 1 at 0 R is the sun and QR is may be measured by means of their observed places as seen its declination. SR is the the mariner's sextant. from the ship. Just as the sun's observed altitude above observed places of the light the ship's horizon SON at local LATITUDE FROM THE POLESTAR house and mountain peak deter­ apparent noon. Obviously then mined the unique position of Another even simpler sight the ship in Figure 2, so QIOI= QZ= SZ-SQ= SZ- <;R-QR) which can be used to determine 0 observations of the celestial or, latitude = 90 -(altitude­ latitude is the altitude of objects can reveal our ships declination). If the sun were the North Celestial Pole. position (called a "fix") even south of the equator (Q) the Unfortunately there is no star when far from land or out of formula would be latitude =90°• exactly on the pole but there contact with other navigational (altitude + declination). is one, Polaris, less than a aids. Obviously the presentation degree from the pole. Small of the above should be care­ corrections, not in excess of "SHOOTING THE SUN" fully worked out in advance or one degree, are tabulated in embarassing arithmetic incon­ the Nautical Almanac. These Probably the oldest and must sistencies may result. corrections are applied by the universally utilized sight is Two questions of course must navigator to his observed alti- what is called the sun sight at local apparent noon. This is a single sight (altitude measure­ ment) made at the precise in­ stant when the sun is at its highest point for the day. As the sun comes to upper culmin­ ation for the day, its altitude is measured with the marine sextant. As can be seen from Figure 3, the observer's lati­ tude results from the simplest of arithmetic. NPZRQS is the observer's meridian. The earth is repre­ sented by the small circle; it and the meri1ian have the common center O. P is the earth's north pole and P the celrstial north pole. The line OQ is 37 THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 tude of Polaris to give him the Once a problem of paramount not sufficiently precise exact altitude of the pole. importance, radio communication give a dependable position. Referring again to Figure 3 we of time signals on a continuous Instead of observing Cepe that since POJ.QO and ZQJ,.NO basis over WWV, CHU and other titude and azimuth of a the angles PN (altitude of the governmental stations has made body, the navigator obtains accurate time instantaneously measured altitudes only of two of the ~~~:) a~n~I;Za;;a~~~~~~ available via short wave or more. From each of these In the planetarium demonstra­ radio. This plus the availa­ line of position is tion the corrections applied to bility of precomputed tables and plotted, resulting the altitude of Polaris to of solutions of all possible fix. obtain the altitude of the astronomical triangles in one Given in Figure celestial pole are so small or one-half degree increments tude h of a star that they may not be visually of hour angle, latitude and is a , i.e., the evident to the audience. The declination have made line of section of the spherical demonstration may be carried position navigation simple, face of the earth with a out without application of the straightforward and efficient. der. The axis of the corrections, but since the CELESTIAL NAVIGATION is a line from the center of Polaris image in the planetarium Theoretically at a given the earth to the star and is usually somewhat removed instant there is only one radius is determined by from the celestial pole marker, point on the surface of the altitude The point the corrections and their earth from which a specific the sub-stellar point at the purpose should be explained or celestial body has a given instant of observation. The at least mentioned. altitude and azimuth. If both star is in the zenith from of these quantities could be The radius of the cylinder, LINES OF POSITION accurately measured, the naviga­ measured on the curved tor could then determine his 0 The two special observations of the earth, is 90 -h. position. Altitude of a celes­ described so far do not at is expressed in minutes of tial object can be observed to first glance seem to be related it is equivalent to a radius the nearest tenth of a minute to the "Line of Positionil method expressed in nautical miles. with the marine sextant. This of navigation mentioned ear1ier, Supposedly, one could corresponds to 600 feet on the but they are. Line of position S-l on a geographic globe earth's surface. Azimuth, in navigation simply stated strike an arc of curved the other hand,has an error of 0 depends upon the certainty by equal to 90 -h. This would about one ha1f degree. This is the navigator that his ship is desired LOP. Practically, somewhere on a known line on the known line on the surface of the earth. Two or more such li~cs by their intersection determine the ship's position. In the sun sight at noon and also in the polaris sight the line of position is a parallel of latitude and may be so drawn on the chart or plotting sheet representing the vicinity of the ship. Neither of these sights alone (nor both together) determines the ship's position. At least one other sight is needed. Both the noon sight and the Polaris sight are made when the observed object is on (or very near) the meridian. Under these conditions only the lati­ tude of the ship is available. Accurate determination of the ship's position and hence its longitude depends upon knowledge of accurate time.

38 THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 however, a globe big enough to produce any satisfactor T degree of precision would be so large as to be impossible to trans­ port. ---...:I>.. P However, once LOP #1 is determined by whatever method we eventually devise, the ship's .... " .... position is still unknown. " One LOP does not give a unique " .... location; tuo are necessary. Hence a second star, #2 is ·····f ------7"~ V!._ observed and LOP #2 is plotted. -1---. ------_ , The resulting interaction is a . 0' fix. There are two intersec­ s tions but they are hundreds or even thousands of miles apart so no ambiguity is involved. There remains two facets of the problem of practical navi­ gation untouched. These are: first, the problem of coordinate transformation from the equa­ angle and labels the parts Z =,tNOV=azimu th torial system of the Nautical n using the conventional letters. Almanac to the horizon system The astronomical triangle The angle PXZ has no particular of the navigator, and second, is ZPX. Its solution is the designation and does not enter the substitution of a chart of basis of all celestial naviga­ the problem. a relatively small area of the tion. It can be solved by The known parts of the tri­ earth for the impossibly large elementary spherical trigonom­ angle are globe mentioned earlier as a etry but errors plague the 1. t the meridian angle plotting surface. We shall methods long in use so in the obtained from the Almanac consider these in order. 1930's precomputed solutions 2. d (or rather 90!d) from were provided in tabular form the Almanac THE ASTRONOMICAL TRIANGLE in H02l42 and subsequently in 3. L the latitude from the other tables as well. knm,;rn aporoxima te latitude of Almanacs are necessarily Figure 6 isolates the tri- the s ll-IP":~-~-- compiled for use anywhere on earth rather than for a par­ ticular spot and hence use the equatorial system of coordin­ ates rather than the horizon system. An astronomical triangle projector on the planetarium can represent the transformation from one system to the other. Referring to Figure 5, NESW is the horizon. P is the north celestial pole. 0 is the p observer on the earth. EQW is the celestial equator. X is the star. h=VX=altitude so XZ=co-alti­ tude = 90·-+ If 'H£. d=YX=declination so XP=co­ ~ 'X:P d declination .>...,."" X /S Off'o.517E /... IN NAI'1E. XPZ=hour angle (E)=t x L=PN=latitude so ZP=co-lati­ tude

THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 39 latter are computed from terrestrial coordinates of A.P. The LOP for A.P. is perpendicu­ lar to Zn since the LOP is the arc of a circle with radius along Zn' If Ho=Hc the LOP is this line; generally this is not true. If Ho>Ho the ship is on a position such as Point #1 toward S; al=Hol-Hc . The LOP is drawn on the chart by measuring al nautical miles toward S (in the direction of Zn) from A.P. and then drawing Aju.,-e 7 an LOP perpendicular to aI' The Plot is shown on Figure 8, Since two sides and the radius probably thousands of The A.P, is placed on the angle included are knmro the miles long with its center at integral degree of latitude solution is immediate and Z the substellar point of the nearest the DR and its longi­ and h are obtained. n observed object X. tude is chosen to make t an One might ask how the lati­ Suppose in Figure 7 the integral d~gree thus mi~imizing tude and longitude of the ship curve is the surface of the interpolation in H0214, The are known and if they are, why earth and S is the substellar LOP is drawn as a straight line navigation is necessary at all. point of X. The parallel lines because a short arc of a circle The answer is that an approxi­ with the arrows are directed of thousands of miles radius is mate position (called DR or to the star X and one may think closer to a straight line than dead reckoning position) is of them (oppositely directed) one could plot the curve. always plotted forward from the as light rays from the star. Had Ho Hc (situation #2 in last fix as the best estimate A.P. is the Assumed Position Figure 7) then a2=H -H and of the ship's position. Navi­ of the ship obtained from the c 02 the direction of a2 is away gation is the art of finding DR. (It may be the actual DR from S (in direction Zn+1800). the actual position as exactly or a nearby point juduciously A complete fix of course as possible. chosen to obviate tubular requires more objects than one; The results of the above interpolation, Ho the alti­ three is considered a minimum described solution are h from tude of X and Zn the direction and four is better. 90-h and the angle Z , the or azimuth of S from A.P. The direction of the sub~tellar point (S-l in Figure 4). This calculation is carried out at a particular GeT, and simultan­ eously the actual altitude of the object is measured with the marine sextant. This measure­ ~ent is appropriately corrected for instrumental and other errors and the corrected result is called the observed altitude and designated Ho' The computed altitude obtained from the astronomical triangle is now designated Ho' PLOTTING A RESULT We now come to the second part of our problem, viz, how to plot our result on a purely local chart or plotting sheet without striking an arc of

40 THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 The Technical Side

Conducted by O. Richard Norton, Flandrau Planetarium~ University of Arizona

Solving the problem of producing it is necessary to have access so that there is no readily ac­ zero backgrounds on 35 mm trans­ to an inch or so along the opti­ cessible access to the focal plane parencies was covered in the Sep­ cal axis of the projector, pro­ or optical axis, a second solution tember 1973 issue of THE PLAN­ jectors with enclosed optical is available. Essentially, the ETARIAN. If you recall~ the systems (e.g., Kodak Carousels, same effect may be obtained by technique described was Sawyer, etc.) cannot be used. masking the filament image on the fectively used to isolate Placement of the mask is front of the projection lens. objects on film with sharp found by experiment. The pro­ While projecting the object slide boundaries. To isolate objects jector is set up to project the to be masked, place your finger with ill-defined boundaries is object over the distance to be over the edges of the projection another story indeed and con­ used in the program. Then the lens, making certain to interrupt siderably more challenging. In mask is introduced between the a portion of the filament image. this issue~ I will consider projection lens and object slide A darkening of the opposite side methods of eliminating back­ and moved along the optical axis of the slide will result (the ground around such objects as until the best effect of back­ image has been optically ro­ nebulae~ galaxies~ and the like. ground elimination is noted, tated), By placing masking tape usually from 1/8" to 1/2" in over the lens while observing Since ill-defined objects do front of the object slide. Simple the image, a reasonable opaquing not have sharp boundaries, tech­ cardboard spacers between the of the image will result. This niques used to produce well­ mask and object slide and at­ simple procedure is especially defined overlay masks to elim­ tached to both will hold the effective when used to fade the inate the background cannot be mask in the proper location. linear edges to two adjacent used in the usual way, i.e., You will generally find that skyline scenes. laying the mask directly over the space between the mask and In some projection systems it the object to be opaqued. A sharp object slide vary, depending is more effective to interrupt mask can be used in another way, upon the focal length or f/ the projected light beam several however. ratio of the system. As a rule, inches beyond the front element Here we take advantage of the the longer the focal length, of the projection lens. This is projection of the projection lens' the greater the space between especially true of long focal ability to focus two objects on the two slides since longer length systems. In this case an two different planes. Obviously, focal length lenses (or smaller extension tube should be attached a projection lens only has one flratios) have substantially to the projection lens barrel and focal plane for a given subject lesser depths of field. extended beyond the lens to the to image distance. Only in that Incidentally, zoom lenses desired masking point, usually plane will the object appear create special problems with 4" to 6". Here a kodalith mask sharply defined on the projection this technique since the focal of the object slide may be used, screen. (By stopping down the length of the system is con­ but the size of the mask will not lens'to, say fl8 to f116, the stantly changing. At the greatest necessarily be the exact size of lens' depth of field can be in­ zoomjthe depth of field is least the object. This is determined creased considerably. If the since the focal length is largest. solely by the image size at the lens has an internally ad­ A synchronized iris usually used point where the mask is introduced, justable iris, it should be to control the image brightness remembering that the image is used in the wide open position.) in zoom projectors works against expanding beyond the projection The idea, then, is to place the us since it enlarges as the focal lens. object (nebula, galaxy, etc.) on length increases, thus decreasing These procedures may sound a the focal plane of the lens and the depth of field of the system bit confusing and complicated, place the kodalith mask made by with increasing focal length. especially if you have never had the technique previously described Usually however, a "happy medium" occasion to try them. To this I (THE PLANETARIAN, Sept. 1973) at may be found where the image is say, try them! If you have tried some point forward of the focal acceptable although not perfect the techniques and improved upon plane of the projection lens re­ at all zoom positions. them, your editor and the readers sulting in an out-of-focus mask, If one has the misfortune to would be most grateful to receive the shape of the object. Since have only enclosed optical systems your corrunents for publication.

THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 41 PRINCIPLES OF PLANETARIUM OPERATION Chapter 3

Co-Editors: Frank C. Jettner and Von Del Chamberlain. This series centerfold, punched, and stored in a looseleaf binder for future was originally conceived as a first-year, graduate level textbook in reference. ISPE and the Co-Editors regret they cannot furnish planetarium education, written by the leading specialists in the field. special binders for this purpose. Questions regarding the text matter Installments will appear in each issue of THE PLANETARIAN until may be directed to either Co-Editor or the chapter author. completion. It is suggested each installment be removed from the

Editor's note: Because 1973 marked the the night sky. The second section 50th anniversary of the projection appeared in the winter 1973 issue and planetarium, Prof. Hagar has given us dealt with models of the solar system. permission to print a chapter in serial This section, the last, treats the form from his forthcoming book, lip lane­ development of the Zeiss Planetarium. tarium: Window to the Universe." The For the purpose of a unified treatment first section appeared in the Fall 1973 all references previously quoted are issue and was concerned with models of given in this issue at the chapter end.

THE HISTORY OF THE PLANE RIU by Charles F. Hagar, Planetarium Institute, San Francisco State University

small number of visitors in an entirely new approach in The Genesis of the the midst of a dome of spheri­ i'1arch, 1919: Zeiss Planetarium cal curvature. For this pur­ "The great sphere shall be pose the dome should be con­ fixed, its inner white surface These early attempts by man structed of thin plates welded shall serve as the projection to reproduce celestial phenomena together to a spherical surface for many small projec­ had certain disadvantages. The form." (28) It was further tors which shall be placed in hollow globes were not large proposed that the sphere should the center of the sphere. The enough to accommodate many have a diameter of about 20 ft, reciprocal positions and motions spectators, and the orreries ~ m), and it should rotate to of the little projectors shall exhibit the diurnal motion of represented the planetary motions from "outside" the the stars. From this descrip­ tion it is evident that ~lf solar system rather than as viewed from the earth. ,', "About had in mind something similar to the Atwood Celestial Sphere the end of the year 1913 the of the Chicago Academy of astronomer Max ~lf, of the Sciences which had recently observatory at Heidelberg, had been inaugurated. It was also a discussion with Oskar von envisioned by Volf that this Miller, founder and first globe would have mechanisms to president of the Deutsches exhibit the apparent motions of ~1useum about the possibilities the sun, moon, and planets of instructive models for greatly speeded up in time to demonstrating the motions of reveal their nature relative the heavenly bodies. volf to the star background. proposed to show the stars Oskar von Miller proposed with accelerated motions to a this project to the Zeiss works at Jena in 1913. Preliminary ,', The Copernican planetarium investigations into this matter at the Deutsches Huseum, lv-ere interrupted by vorld Wlr I. through its periscope arrange­ Following the war and after ment on the earth carriage, some further investigations enabled a spectator to view the which raised considerable dif­ planets as seen from earth. ficulties in the construction The limitation with this method of the sphere, Wllther lliuers­ Walther Bauersfeld (1879-1959) was that only one person could feld of the board of management Director of the Firm of Carl use this vantage point at a of the Zeiss works and chief Zeiss Inventor of the Zeiss time. engineer of the firm proposed Planetarium.

42 THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 (9.8 m) dome. After demon­ strating its capabilities the projector was returned to Jena where val ter Villiger, head of the astronomical section of the Zeiss works, gave planetarium demonstrations to thousands of visitors, among them hundreds <:j)~ ~""""'<--.~l~~<- y~1.- ~ L.-,,- orrery downstairs did not), the planetarium 1;vas re­ installed in May 1951 in a 32 The first drawing of the projection planetarium appearing in W. ft dome at another location Bauersfeld's manuscript: Sternprojektion fur das Munchener in the building. Finally, the Museum, begun on May 5, 1920. original planetarium instrument or Modell, as it is now called be interconnected by suitable obstacles hindered me following became a permanent museum exhi­ driving gears in such manner the proposed method, and at the bit in 1960 when a new Zeiss that the little images of the end the success was much Model IV projector was installed heavenly bodies, thrown upon greater than anybody could in a new dome", the fixed hemisphere, shall have imagined." (29) A second projector, similar represent the stars visible to In early 1920 fuuersfeld to the first, was built and the naked eye, in position and began to work out the design placed in Dusseldorf in 1926 in motion, just as we are details and technical calcula­ it was moved to Liegnitz in accustomed to see them in the tions which piled up to some 1927. Finally it was perman­ natural clear sky." 600 pages (Fig. 15). 'A large ently located at The Hague, fuuersfeld also relates: staff of machinists, opticians Netherlands in a 39 ft (11.8 m) 's ome months passed and I and electricians were employed dome on February 20, 1934 where was much occupied by many other for the project which took it is presently in operation. projects and negotiations and four years from conception to This second projector had heard nothing about the progress completion. The long awaited several improvements over the of the Planetarium construction. moment arrived in August, Until one day I found on my 1923, when, for the first time, desk a letter addressed to the artificial sky lit up in Oskar von Miller from the a 52.5 ft (L6 m) dome which astronomical department of the had been built on the roof of firm, which simply declared the Zeiss factory. In that that after mature consideration darkened dome the stars seemed it had been impossible to con­ to shine from the depths of struct the suggested planetar­ space. From the aggregate of ium by optical projection ... r lenses, gears, and motors cancelled the letter and decided comprising the first planetar­ to attend personally to all ium projector came a simulation details of designing the new of nature's sky that exceeded apparatus. In the beginning I the fondest expectations of The Model I Zeiss projector in was not sure whether I should its designers. the Deutsches Museum, 1925. be able to master all the In October, 1923, the Note Ursa Major (Big Dipper problems which would arise instrument was moved to the Plough) in the middle of the during the designing ... , fut I Deutsches Museum in Munich and picture; on the left is Arcturus was fortunate in that no real mounted temporarily in a 32 ft in Bootes.

THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 43 an angle of 23°.5 to this polar axix could 'be run through axis is an axis which is per­ to provide rotation of pendicular to the plane of the instrument for sky proj earth's orbit. This is desig­ from different latitudes. nated ~n-Es). The projectors so in 1924 the design of for the planets, sun, and moon Zeiss planetarium became are located in the cage frame­ familiar "dumbbell appearance work. By rotating the projec­ of subsequent models. tors in the cage assembly, the A section of Ihuersfeld apparent motions of the sun, planetarium manuscript moon and planets are shown by shown in Figure 20 where The first planetarium in projection upon the dome of dumbbell shape of the Model the world, erected on the fac­ the theater. II projector appears for the tory roof of the Zeiss works " In 1924 mIter Villiger first time. Ihuersfeld calcu­ in Jena, 1923-24. suggested that the design be lated the engineering require­ first including projectors for modified to make the planetar­ ments for the structural the meridian, celestial equator ium capable of showing the sky ports of the new Model II pro­ and ecliptic. Furthermore ,the from any latitude. Villiger j ector. facility for some latitude suggested that the star sphere Twenty-five instruments of adjustment was provided, en­ be divided into two parts, and this new version Model In abling the sky to be shown be­ the two resulting hemispheres - were manufactured by the Zeiss tween the latitudes of 49° and one for the northern sky, and ~rks, and the first projector 68° north. The original Munich the other for the southern of the new series was placed instrument operated for a fixed sky - be placed at the ends of in Ihrmen, Germany in l'1ay, latitude of 48°. the planet-cage assembly. The 1926. Unfortunately it was Figures 16-17 illustrate the cage assembly, in turn, was destroyed during the Second Modell projector. The star separated so that a horizontal ~rld var. From 1926 to the images are projected from the beginning of the War the 25 cone-shaped lens supports. A Model II projectors were dis­ hollow metal sphere 19.7 in. 60 tributed as follows: Germany cm) in diameter carries these (11); U.S .A. (5) ; Italy (2) conical lens supports and has Japan (2); U.S .S . R. (1); a 200 W lamp in its center to Sweden (J); fulgium (1); furnish the necessary illumin­ (L) and Austria (1). Of these ation. This first model pro­ 11 were destroyed or partially jected about 4500 stars from damaged during the war. lantern slides which were made The Model II instrument by photographing exact drawings longer in had two of the sky. In later instru­ star spheres, each 29.5 in. ments the slides were replaced cm) in diameter. A total of by thin copper-foil plates 8900 stars projected to magni­ which had small holes punched First model of the Zeiss Plane­ tude 6.5 through 32 ZEISS TESS AR in them to represent the stars. tarium. f/4.5 lenses. Light was fur­ The apparent daily movement of nished by a 1000 W lamp of the stars across the sky is special filament design. The reproduced by rotating the in­ star plates were of thin copper strument about the axis (pn-Ps) foil, and the star holes were which is parallel to the earth's punched by hand - a process axis of rotation. Mounted at which has presently been super­ seded by a photo-chemical en­ * It is interesting to note graving process of superior that this first projector has quality. The Model II also had not been retired to dusty ob­ two motors for diurnal scurity. The star globe is motion. These, as well as the presently on loan to The Insti­ three annual-motion motors tute for the Study of Psycho­ could be operated separately logical Reactions of Animals or in various combinations to at S eewiesen, fuvaria, where The first Zeiss planetarium yield a variety of speeds both it projects stars on a plane­ projector as provisionally set forward in time and reverse. tarium dome for the study of up in the Deutsches Museum in The various possibilities for bird navigation. Munich, 1923. diurnal motions permitted a

44 THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 dition of individual projectors for the 42 brightest stars. ~ .J.. ::: "!'J ; "I a I...... t ( (,. t-c:- ) .fi" These separate projectors are located in the collars of (,. t..,.J ~ !r+-c ... zt.... ft41.. J, G; J surrounding the base of each Ja.. r z. t t... star globe. Also attached to :ill.. .. -12.. .J, the ruffs are projectors for the Milky Way and three variable stars with automatic light modu­ T...:-. 10 0-0;, ~ lation for an accurate represen~ ~' I!.- Zo-v ,-...... tation of their light variations­

:) ~J a distinct advantage over the ~ ;-;;, 10 i~0l ~ hand-controlled methods of 'J~I ...... earlier instruments . ? t. J -.5 Walther Bauersfeld was fully 10 ~ involved in the designing of 10"'_ 20 the new Model IV series. This 2.. "10" was to be his last contribution A ~ to the planetarium enterprise J.. c., 4~ however, for on October 28, ~ (,.. ~J., J, 1959, death stilled his creative pencil and slide rule. In eulogy before the group gathered The dumbbell shape of the Model II projector appears for the at his grave in Heidenheim, first time on page 207 of W. Bauersfeld' s manuscript. Calcula­ Heinz Kuppenbender, of the tions are for the structural engineering of the support system. Board of Directors of Zeiss "day" in 4 minutes, 2 minutes, a Model II projector. Parts said, in part 1.3 minutes and 1 minute. The which were missing were dupli- "Always ready to build annual-motion combinations cated and the entire projector bridges to success for others, permitted the following possi- rebuilt and modernized. The open to all dynamic forces of bilities for a "year": 4 min- completed instrument was sent life, passionately inclined to utes, 2 minutes, 1.3 minutes, to Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 1953 the fine arts, never arrogant 7 seconds, and 6 seconds. to become the first planetarium in success, never Current production models (IV in the Southern Hemisphere. holding on only to the past, a and V) offer ranges in diurnal Model II projectors which motion from 3 to 24 minutes have been subsequently modern- and in annual motion from 10 ized and refurbished by Zeiss, seconds to 12 minutes. Produc- Oberkochen have been re-classi- tion models IVs, Vs, and Vi fied as Model III projectors to have motors which provide con- distinguish them from models tinuously variable speeds made in Jena prior to the war. ranging from a "day" anywhere Following the Sao Paulo instal- from 30 seconds to 36 minutes, lation, six other Model II and a "year" from 30 seconds projectors have been modernized to almost 36 minutes. Variable by Zeiss. speed motors are also provided In 1956 Zeiss introduced a in Models IVs, Vs and VI for new series of projector, the continuous variation of the Model IV. The first of these speed of latitude motion (polar was delivered to Tokyo in early altitude) and precession, per- 1957. Subsequent instruments mitting even more versatility were delivered to Hamburg that of operation. same year and to London in Following the war, the Carl early 1958. The new series Zeiss factory was relocated in included various supplementary Oberkochen, West Germany by the projectors and technical im- American Forces. Soon quality provements. Star plates were optical goods and precision made by a new photo-chemical equipment in the Zeiss tradi- process developed by Zeiss. tion were once again produced. The new plates are scratch- The planetarium section was proof and resistant to corrosion. able to obtain the remains of Another improvement was the ad- Zeiss Model II projector

THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 45 domes - were impressed by what ium proj ectors. Carl Zeiss they saw. First of all, the Oberkochen, West Germany stars were even more realistic Jena Optical Works in East than previous models. A newly Germany (G.D,R.) They share designed high pressure dis­ a common history up through charge lamp and optical system World War II. Following the produced stars which were point­ division of Germany into like, truer in color, and they and West sectors, some even "twinkled!" But there of the Zeiss Company were was more to come. As the cated in West Germany by planetarium sun rose, it ap­ of the 3rd U& Army in 1945. peared reddened - as in nature's Some personnel remained in sky. As the sun climbed Jena (now in East higher, the views were treated and others were relocated to a most realistic total the U.S,S.R. The Zeiss Model IV (1957)and IVs solar eclipse. This was fol­ (1968). lowed by demon strations of lished the Carl Zeiss Works human being of overtowering the zoom capabilities of the Oberkochen. The group intellectual greatness with a newly designed projectors for remained in Jena continue large heart, so Walther Bauers­ Jupiter and Saturn. The new manufacture optical goods feld continues to live in our moon projector showed a realis­ the name of Jena Optics. memory. "(30) tic lunar eclipse in addition lowing 1945 both companies In 1959 Zeiss introduced a to changing lunar phases. sumed production of new and pleasing proportioned The planetarium directors were The models manufactured by support structure for the Model impressed with the silent oper­ Zeiss Oberkochen have been IV (Figure 23). The first in­ ation of the Model VI instrument cribed in this article. The strument so equipped was and the flexability of control Jena Optical Works manufactures delivered to the American Museum­ permitted by the variable planetariums based upon the Hayden Planetarium, New York speed motors for all the plan­ same historical designs of City to replace the old Model etarium motions. Bauersfe1d and Villiger, II projector which had served The prototype of the Model also with modern improvements. the metropolitan New York area VI instrument was delivered to Their type of instrument for almost a quarter of a Rochester, New York in 1968. known as the Yluniversal" century. The new projector was The first regular production jector is installed unveiled in January 1960. All series of the Model VI was de­ ver B.C. Calgary subsequent Zeiss planetarium livered to Chapel Hill, North projectors have this new support Carolina in early 1969, and * See my structure which was designed the second to New York City in the Eyes and engineered by Gerhard the fall of the same year. Schwesinger, Chief Engineer of Additional Model VIs were in­ Eastman, "A New Zeiss and successor to W. stalled in Chicago and Boston Zeiss," Reader I s Digest Bauersfeld in planetarium in 1970. October 1951. design. Zeiss, Oberkochen also pro­ Aware of the constant need duces Model V and Vs projectorB. for improvement and incorpora­ Model V is basically the Model tion of the latest technologi­ IV, but with the north cage cal advancements, Zeiss engi­ piece of the Model VI (i.e., neers began in the early 1960's eclipse sun and moon projectors the development of a new model and Saturn zoom). Model Vs, series. in addition to the features of In June 1966 the new Model the V, also has the ~~~~~~ VI (Figure 25) projector was of the Model VI (i.e., unveiled at the Zeiss plant in speed motors and special Oberkochen before the Second gearing). Model V and Vs pro­ International Conference of jectors have been installed in: Planetarium Directors. The Montreal, Berlin, Atlanta, Win­ delegates - representing the nipeg, and Lucern. major planetariums of the It should be pointed out world and each with much exper­ that there are two firms in ience beneath planetarium Germany which produce planetar- Zeiss Model VI projector (1968).

46 THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 and Toronto, Ontario. In addi­ 2. Helmut Werner, From the see: D.J. de Solla Price, tion Jena Optics have a projec­ Aratus Globe to the Zeiss Plan­ "The Tower of the Winds,fl tor known as the "Spacemaster." etarium (Stuttgart, 1957),p.16. National Geographic Magazine, Jena-made planetariums are lo­ Vol.131,No.4 (April,1967) , cated in various countries. 3. C.Ptolemy, Almagest, Book 586-596. Other manufacturers of plan­ VIII,Ch.3(paraphrased). 18. D.J.de Solla Price, "On etarium projectors include the 4. Stevenson, op.cit. ,p.28. the Origin of Clockwork, Perpe­ Japan-based optical companies tual Motion Devices and the of Goto and Minolta. There are 5. "Celestial Globe - 1362/3," Compass," Bulletin 218: Con­ two major Goto installations Slide-letter no. 1 (1965), tributions from the Museum of in the U.S.A.: a "Saturn" pro­ Museum of the History of Science, History and Technology, Paper jector in St.Louis, Missouri Oxford. 6, (Washington, 1959),87-88. and a "Custom" at Centerport, 6. Tyconis Brahe astronomiae Long Island. There is a major instauratae Mechanica. Quoted 19. C.A.Crommelin, "Planetaria," Bulletin of the National Asso­ Minolta instrument (the "MS-15) by Stevenson, op.cit.,pp.185-186. located at Cupertina, Califor­ ciation of Watch and Clock nia. Viewlex, Inc. and Spitz 7. Ibid., p.187. Collectors, Inc., VII, No.3 Space Systems, Inc. are well 8. Ibid., Vol.II,pp.73-74. (April, 1956), 133 see also: known U.S.A.based planetarium Further references on the Got­ de Solla Price, op.cit.,83-86. manufactures with installations torp Globe are found in: Werner, 20. Werner, op.cit.,pp.24-26. too numerous to list in this op.cit.,pp.20-21. Arthur Beer article. (ed.), vistas in Astronomy, 21. H.C.King, 10, p.ll. Vol. 9 (Oxford, 1967), pp.67-70 22. King, op.cit.,p.ll. Oeuvers and pp.76-77. Completes de Christiaan Huygens, Editor's note: In an effort XXI,pp.579 ff. C.A.Crommelin, 9. Stevenson, op.cit.,Vol.II$ to determine the present status "Planetaria.. A Historical p. 78. of major planetariums around Survey," Antiquarian Horology, the world, the Planetarium In­ 10. H.C.King, "Development of (March, 1955) . stitute is currently mailing the Planetarium," The Journal survey questionnaires to all of the British Astronomical 23. G.H.Gabb and F.S.Taylor, "An Early Orrery by Thomas planetariums with domes 40 ft Association, Vol.70,no.l (Jan­ Tompion and George Graham," (12 m) or larger. We hope to uary 1959),36. print a summary of this world­ The Connoisseur, 122 (September 11. "The Atwood Celestial Sphere',' wide survey in a future issue 1948),24-26, 55. Bulletin of the Chicago Academy of THE PLANETARIAN. of Sciences, Vol.IV,No.2, (May 24. H.R.Calvert, Astronomy: 1913), p. 12. Globes, Orreries and other Models, A Science Museum illus­ PICTURE CREDITS 12 W.J.Heecher, "Academy Com­ trated booklet (London,1967) Figs. 1,2,4,5,12-25, Carl Zeiss, pletes Star Dome Exhibit," 12. R.T.Gould, "The Original Oberkochen. Museum Activities, No.lO (April Orrery Restored," III ustra ted Figs. 3,9, Courtesy Museum of 5, 1960),pp.1-2. London News, CXCI (December 18, the History of Science,Oxford. 13. Cicero, De Repub1ica,Book I, 1937), 1102. Fig. 6, Courtesy Chicago Aca­ Ch. XIV. Translation by C.W.Keyes. 25. King, op.cit., 13. demy of Sciences. Fig. 7, Courtesy National 14. Cicero, Tuscu1an Disputa­ 26. Howard C.Rice,Jr., The Rit­ Archaeological Museum,Athens. tions, Book I, Ch. XXV, 63. tenhouse orrery, (Princeton,1954). Translation by J.E.King. Fig. 8, Courtesy History of 27. King, op.cit., 14-15. Science Museum, Leyden. 15. Werner, op.cit.,p.19. Fig. 10, Courtesy The Science 28. Walther Bauersfeld, "Pro­ Museum, London. 16. Derek J. de Solla Price, jection Planetarium and Shell Fig. 11, Courtesy Princeton "An Ancient Greek Computer," Construction James Clayton University Observatory. Scientific American, 200 (June, Lecture delivered at the General 1959), 64-65. Meeting of the Institution of 17. J.V.Noble and D.J. de Solla Mechanical Engineers, May 10, 1957, London. FOOTNOTES Price, "The Water Clock in the Tower of the Winds," American 29. Ibid. 1. Edward L.Stevenson, Terres­ Journal of Archaeology, Vol. trial and Celestial Globes (new 72, No.4 (October, 1968), 351. 30. H.Kueppenbender, Zeiss Haven, 1921, I,p.15. For a more popular account Werkzeitschrift, No.35,p.4.

THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 47 Co nstruction of the Budapest Planetarium is Under Way

by Gyula Schalk, Urania Observatory, Budapest, Hungary Edited by Norman Sperling, Princeton Day School

(Editor: Mr. Sperling writes: The Plans: The design was by the center of Hungarian astron­ At long last I can send you the Prof~ Laszlo Lux, Director, omy education, operates the edited version of Gyula Schalk's Structural Engineering Insti­ planetarium (the Department of article on the new Planetarium tute, Hungarian University of Astronomy of the State Univer­ in Budapest. Some delay has Technical Sciences, and his sity very rarely participates been actively used by Mr. Tibor assistant, Professor Tamas in popular lectures). About Fabian, president of Mathematica Tanory,with collaboration from 2550 to 3000 public lectures Corporation here in Princeton, five other university insti­ are given annually by the for correspondence in Magyar tutes. Their work is a remark­ Urania staff and the lecturers with Mr. Schalk regarding the able job unprecedented in of the Scientific Educational many unclear portions of the Hungary. The 26 m outer dome Society of the country. manuscript. Fabian has sent encloses the 23 m projection As planned, three planetarium me a good-English version of dome and is in turn girded staff members visited several Schalk's article, and what I am eccentrically by an exhibition major European planetariums. sending you is my edited version hall accomodating 900. The They are: Mr. Aurel Ponori of Fabian's reworking of Schalk. Planetarium theater itself Director; Mr. Peter Sajo, Chief Got that? will hold 500. An administra­ Engineer; and Gyula Schalk, tion building is connected to Program Director. Visiting The 44th VEB Carl Zeiss studios, conference/club room Jena Universal Large-Type from Urania Observatory on the and so on. The connecting unit Buda side of the Danube. Planetarium will be installed holds electrical control Located near the geographical in Budapest, the capital of facilities, laboratories, center of the city, the Plane­ Hungary. Construction of the photo and sound studios, and tariumwill be the first building is under way, and we a cafeteria. it with offices, libraries hope to open by Christmas 1974. Staff: Urania Observatory, management, TV and radio Designing, building and operating a planetarium is new to us, and I would like readers to please examine my ideas and advise me of their experiences. Location: The Budapest Plane­ tarium will be in the Nepliget, or Peoples' Park, a section of Budapest like New York's Cen­ tral Park or San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. Except for the concrete outer dome the building will be aluminum and glass to promote rapid con­ struction. Plans to make Nepliget the "Cultural Center" of Budapest in the next few years, in addition to finances, forced the planetarium away important building the tourist sees after arriving at the Airport. It is also on a major subway line. The observatory is 5 km to the west on Mt. The dome of the Urania Observatory. In the background of the Gellert. dome we can see the panorama of Budapest. (Photo: MTI).

48 THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 Moscow, Leningrad, Katowice (Chorzow, Poland) and Paris, MAGYAR PlANETARiuM HUNGARiAN PLANETARiuM they have observed the atmos­ 13u.dapm 13uciapesl: phere as well as the programs of those planetariums. \,fuen the inner proj ection dome is finished, we will begin designing 50 programs for the planetarium. The "fundamental Ll astronomy" programs will be introductory school lectures. They must be recorded, whether we like it or not, due to our limited staff. Special programs Side(nortl\-wes:)front will deal with exobiology, astronomy and astrology, Stonehenge, eclipses, and 01d­ Hungarian star and constella­ tion names and mythology (see Griffith Observer, June 1973 37, #6). Our 12 different performances each year will take in current astronomical and space-science ventures. Advertising on radio, TV, in the press, and in planetarium publications, as well as offer­ ing special courses for elemen­ tary and middle school students and different ones for high school and university students, M:1:200 VertIc at se.ctlon will all promote planetarium Hosszme.tszet consciousness. The Urania Observatory in the prenier plan. In the dome is Professor Gyorgy Ku1in, the great refractor of the Observatory with 20 cm lens and 3 Director of Urania Observatory, meter focus. Hayde refractor. It was built in 1967. (Photo: has made a major effort during MTI) • the last decade to create our planetarium. It is due to him ience for visitors. will determine our operations. that the Budapest Planetarium In the future we may attempt To enable each student in the is being built. complex major programs, like 5000 schools of Hungary to Other Programs: Guest lec­ "Astronomy in Nature, in the visit the planetarium once turers from the University and Arts and in Literature". during his school career, we other scientific institutes Invited guests could use the will have to give four school will present subjects on the portable stage to demonstrate lectures each day. These will frontiers of astronomy and musical, literary and poetic be at 9, 11, 12 and 2 during other physical sciences. The connections with astronomy. the day. Main programs will staff will adapt their talks We are also considering the be at 6 and 8 PM. The 10 AM. to the planetarium. "Astronomy adaptation of science fiction or noon performance will be Week" is a Hungarian tradition. to the planetarium. reserved for tourists in the Special lectures will be given Operations: A fundamental summer. in the planetarium that week. objective for us is that the Because of our geographical Of course the Hungarian planetarium should operate location, some lectures will Amateur Astronomers Association without interruption every be given in Russian, English, will be invited to meet in the day. We plan for only one or German, Czech, Polish, Rumanian, planetarium. In addition, I two weeks of down-time, proba­ Italian, and French. We also am considering concerts by the bly at the end of each summer. intend to record a few programs State Concert Orchestra under It is very disappointing to in Esperanto because Hungary's the planetarium dome. I am see a sign on a planetarium strong tradition maintains that convinced that such an evening stating "Closed for the summer." language in living usage and in would be an exceptional exper- The school year and tourists writing.

THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/44 49 line up on our side educators The lecturer reminds us of the with no planetarium background. stage manager or orchestra Presently a book, From the conductor. He is also the Celestial Globes to P~t~ lighting man, property man,and iums, by this writer, is being while at the console, the published and should be avail­ author. The planetarium able about Christmas 1974. is more far-reaching than the Another book, The Horld of the theater because the subject is Telescope',' edited by Dr.- -­ the stars and heavens. Our Dyorgy Kulin, is also at the mission must be to imprint the printer; I have contributed mind of the audience with the an article on planetariums to truth about the stars and the it. Finally, we shall open a place of man. planetarium column in our This outlin~ of our plans popular magazine IlFold Es Eg" for Budapest Planetarium has (Earth and Sky). been very personal since fewer than 10 Hungarians are involved I believe that the plane­ with planetarium work. As my tarium performance compares friends say, liMy religion is The front-side of the Hun­ with the theater performance. the Planetarium". garian Small Planetarium in the years of 1960 when it operated in Budapest. (Photo: Schalk).

Attendance: Since about 60,000 attended our small planetarium annually when it operated from 1961-68, we estimate 20~000 to 300,000 annual visitors to our Budapest Planetarium. Most new large planetaria draw over 100,000 yearly, and Toronto drew 200,000 in 14 months. Creating ~ Following: A large planetarium can exist only in an atmosphere that is conducive to public education, and within that in the spirit of public support that manifests itself as a "Planetarium Following". The public must be familiar with the planetarium. The audience should enter it with the exciting expectation that precedes an excellent perfor­ ance of the legitimate theater. Since we have never had a major planetarium we have no follow­ ing as yet. To have an audience with high expectations we must use the media to inform them prior to our opening. Public relations have already started; articles in the newspapers and magazines have described our building, equipment and the whole institution. He are also The medium-type Zeiss projection instryment in the Hungarian emphasizing our expected role Small Planetarium under the projection dome. Foreground the in public education and school fixed star projector and the solar system projector. (Photo: curricula. He are trying to Schalk).

50 THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 Mar on the Us of Musi • e e EDITOR: In issue at the concZusi-on David M.

.. Some Thought On Planetarium Show 51 by Tim Clark~ Strasenburgh Planetarium~ Rochester NY

PREFATORY LETTER TO THE EDITOR: however, selection of suitable you a wispy, mysterious sound show music is left to the last dramatically unlike either of I have asked Tim Clark to set minute, It is all too easy to the pieces taken indivinually. down some of his ideas and com­ slap a few pieces by Dvorak or You will probably discover ments on planetarium show music Holst beneath a narration at that more contemporary pieces in response to the two part ar­ the last minute. Unless these especially those written by the ticle by David Solzman. The re­ pieces are shaped to fit the same composer, lend themselves sult is enclosed with the hope dramatic movement of the show, better to mixing than do more that you will be able to find they will have little more ef­ traditional works. Many plane­ space for it in a coming issue fect than music in an elevator. tariums have made wide use of of THE magazine. At one time or another you will Ligeti's , yet have To help the readers, it would probably find use for virtually not searched out other pieces be useful to establish Tim's every type of music in your by the same composer. Volumina, credentials. Tim is graduate shows, but it is extremely im­ a piece for organ by Ligeti of Rochester's famed ~astman portant to know when to use any similar to and School of Music with a major in particular type. itself nicely to mixing with composition. He is to the best I have found that under most other pieces. Penderecki is of our knowledge, the only conditions a well-known piece, another in residence" working such as Beethoven's Symphony #5, mostly in any planetariLlD! in the world. tends to make the audience more of sounds. His Plourescences works have be.en heard by aware of the music than it ought and parts of his Passion over a quarter of a million to be. Classic "hits" seem to to St. Luke are at the Strasenburgh conjure up the image'of a large ful. Other contemporary Planetarium since Tim oined th~ symphony orchestra performing posers whose music you might staff here in January 1972, In in a concert hall rather than use are Luciano Berio Michael addition his Strasenburgh­ heightening the unique drama of Colgrass Lucas Foss Charles produced sound have been a star show. Ives, Walter Carlos Toru used by many other planetariums Given the minimum equipment Takemitsu, Ralph Vaughan across the U.S. and Canada. of two turntables and two tape liams and Iannis Xenakis. Tim's original score for The recorders you can change the any case don't be afraid to Last Quest-ion is available on high and low points of the music experiment. record here and at several fit the dramatic points of I have found that it is leading planetariums elsewhere. the show. Be wary of using a to think of a particular show single piece for too long during Cordially, terms of dramatic movement anyone section of the show. rather than in terms of small Donald S. Hall, Director Don't be afraid to mix two segments with no unifying Strasenburgh Planetarium pieces together or blend the end ments. Make a horizontal of a section of one peice into of the various parts of the show. the beginning of another. For Where are the dramatic high­ example, it is fairly hackneyed points? What is the best way, Personal taste in music will these days, unfortunately, to musically, to move into these vary from one person to the next, use Gustav Holst's The Planets points? Try to decide ahead of and so a specific planetarium's for anything. However, a blending time what kinds of music you "sound" will be shaped by the of the end of the Venus movement want to use throughout the show. taste of the person selecting with Terry Riley's Poppy Nogood When possible, it is even the music. In too many cases, and the Phantom Band will give helpful to choose specific THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 51 pieces in advance. Doing this needed. This is important no and try putting on a short show facilitates transitions from one matter what kind of music you for yourself with music totally section of the show to the next. are using. different than the music you are The final product should be a Above all, listen to every­ accustomed to using. You will be smooth flow, with abrupt tran­ thing you can get your hands on surprised at the possibilities, sitions only when they are really and try everything that you think (End) m~y be valid. Go into the theatre Music InII Omsi's Harry C. Kendal Plan etariu by Dwight Gruber, Oregon Musewn of Science and Industry

As taped planetarium shows ledge and interest, whatever interspersed with the narration become mor,e and more prevalent, that median is decided to be, itself and become a primary part planetariums have increased reliance solely on classical of the narration. capability to do spectacular music destroys that balance. Finding music with appropriate things with sound effects and Classical music has been lyrics is easier than might be music. Music programmed thus used as background so long that expected. The Moody Blues, for far by the majority of plane­ often it is used because it is instance, on whose music we rely tariums has been predominantly unobtrusive to the planetarium. heavily, has lyrics appropriate classical. This might be for lecture. We have made the break to almost any planetarium topic several reasons: the music ob­ from the lecture-style planetar­ we can think of. Strictly instru­ viously fits so well in so many ium show to the multi-media mental music is much easier to places; the musical programmer planetarium production. We use, and we find Pink Floyd's might be unfamiliar with non­ therefore place more emphasis music consistently useable. Much classical material; there is a on music as a useful dramatic good music can also be found as prevalent attitude that popular tool and make much greater de­ intros and instrumental breaks music is trash and has no place mands on it. Our prime require­ in vocal music. in the planetarium; the idea ment for a piece of music is We spend a good 'deal of time that, in addition to teaching that it fit. This extends to just iistening to music. Much astronomy, we have a duty to the entrance and exit music as which is useable can be found expose our audiences (mostly well as that in the body of the in unlikely places, and often young people) to good music. show. Since the planetarium is music appears which suggests We have no argument with the a controlled environment, the its own use. We try to use first two reasons; the last two entrance music should complement works which are less familiar we reject. If our primary edu­ the environment of the produc­ to general audiences, and we cational job is to provide an tion. This same consideration try not to use the same piece environment where young people applies to exit music. of music too often. Occasionally can learn about astronomy, then Rock music, movie scores, and we will-review the music for deciding that in addition they jazz are all non-classical styles several past shows and place a should be forced as a captive that we have found useful in moritorium on selections we have audience to listen to and appre­ our shows. Movie music seems to used frequently. ciate classical music is antag­ be of obvious usefulness, since Our staff and music library onistic to our purpose. Many it is primarily written to aug­ is small, and we have no music'al young people do not identify ment visual action or set a mood. director as such; musical sug­ with this music, and their con­ Rock music can be more diffi­ gestions are open to the whole sequent rejection of it cannot cult, as much of it is vocal. staff. Fortunately, we have aid in a positive reaction to This sometimes limits its use­ many diverse musical interests the planetarium experience. We fulness to filling longer pauses represented, and we are able' to do not abandon classical music, in the narration where the lyrics utilize our staffers' own per­ but we do make use of the fact are appropriate to the topic. sonal, extensive music libraries. that using non-classical music, We have used vocal music quite We have no recording facilities to which the audience might successfully as the opening and and often plan complicated pro­ react positively, can enhance closing themes of shows (this ductions. We utilize the ser­ the entire learning experience. is actual thematic material vices of a professional recording Public shows too can use pop­ rather than entrance and exit studio and engineer. This allows ular music beneficially. In a music, though it should not be extreme flexibility when we plan balanced presentation, one which precluded for those uses) and our shows. Although we often try is aimed at some semi-mythic as music for slide montages. On to run our music segments and median of intelligence, know- occasion, vocal music can be narration to time, we find that

52 THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 if we really have picked the strumental intros here. If you Roger Sessions, Suite from The right piece of music, our results are still using Also Sprach Black Maskers. The last movement are serendipitous, and the music Zarathrustra, or if you are is great for the mystery of Mars. just falls into place. looking for a different way to The following list is only use that music, check out the Gustave Mahler, Symphony #4.The partial - - some of the music intra to River Deep, Mountain climax of the third movement we have used particularly suc­ High. makes a fine solar eclipse. cessfully and is annotated, Soundtract to Silent Running some of the music we look Roy Harris, Symphony #3. The .. see the movie, it's worth­ forward. to using in the future. section just before the climax while. The Space Fleet is good The best way to find music that is good, ominous, doom-foreboding for most any spacecraft. We used will work for you is to listen music. We used it preparatory to both the vocal and instrumental to everything you can get your destroying the earth in our sun Rejoice the Sun as opening and hands on, with an open ear , .. show. closing theme for our sun show. and an open mind. Sound tracks e. Summer of Soundtrack to A Clockwork * Romeo and ,Juliet~ Lccwrence Orange. This is the Walter Arabia~ Ben Hur~ Our Man Carlos/electronic music/original Moody Blues .. all LP's. We've and the James Bond movies. soundtrack version. The use of used Higher and Higher for a the classical material is ob­ rocket launch, Eternity Road Arthur Brown, Galactic Zoo vious. We've used Timesteps for for a UFO montage, Dr. Living­ Dossier .. Space Plucks~ a lunar landing sequence, a stone~ I Presume for an ex­ Galactic Zoo~ Sunrise, Creation. sequence inside Jupiter's atmo­ ploring montage; Processional sphere, and an observatory. makes a dandy evolution of the Harry Partch, Castor and solar system/evolution of the Pollux. Frank Zappa/Mothers of Invention. species. Thinking is the Best Frank Zappa has some good useable Way to Travel makes a good Three Dog Night, Live at the jazz out, particularly useful closing theme -- it's also a Forum~ intro to Chest Fever. if you use a laser, or for exit good anti-drug song if you're music. We used the overture to into that sort of propaganda. Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, all 200 Motels as an intra to a show­ Check out all the lyrics on all LP's. within-a-show. Zappa/Mothers the records -- most of them have a lot of Varese-inspired are provided with the album. Steve Miller band, Brave New music. Most of the vocal music World~ title song. Pink Floyd .. Ummcegumma~ Atom is not suited for planetarium Heart Mother~ A Saucerful of use. Remember your open mind? Iron Butterfly~ Iron Butterfly Secrets~ Dark Side of the Moon. Use it here. theme, "In-a-gadda-da-vida". Pink Floyd are experimentalists.

Much of their music is ethereal The Beatles .0 Sergeant Pepper David Axelrod, Songs and makes good back-up for sky and Abby Road. We used Lucy in ence. shows. There is good music for the Sky with Diamonds in a fan­ a countdown sequence in the tasy sequence, but it is also Modern Jazz Quartet, all LP's. intra to Time. useful as music for an imaginary planet of unusual conditions. Deep Purple .. Book Taliesyn (End) Shades. There are some good in-

III .. II o ular u I a d Slides In t e I t rlu by R. John Steiffer,Thomas Johnson Jr. High School, Lanham, Maryland

(EDITOR: The author writes that This article and the program year to whom this program is the following paper was pre­ it describes would never have dedicated; the participants of sented at the MAPS Convention been possible without help from the 1973 Spitz Space Systems in Pittsburgh in October, 1973.) the following people: the super Summer Institute for serving students at Thomas Johnson Junior as Guinea Pigs; Paul Boston High School last year and this the Prince Georges County Public

THE PLANETARI4N, 3&6/74 53 Schools Planetarium for techni­ to a woman, people, and the makes a spectacular picture cal and production advice and plants and animals we share for this line. help; and Marilyn Cahn, of Dela­ this planet with, I tried Sunshine almost makes ware Valley Middle School, Mil­ to use slides of plants and me high. Here I used a slide ford, PA for the inspiration. animals and nature that fit of sunlight filtering through A good way to turn kids on to the lines of the song. The the trees above, (high) which what you're doing, secondarv last two slides set the mood formed a star image. kids particularly, is to us~ for a woman, people, and if popular music. As you know, thev you will, "students". There After doing this for the en­ enjoy good slides too. Therefor~ are a lot of subtle things tire song, I put the slides into if you combine both, it can be being "said" without being the slide projector, play the really super. Today's music has spoken; caged animals vs. song, and see how it looks. some really heavy lyrics. free; the beauty of all Sometimes I'll make a change The back to school program things in nature; how super usually not. To really make it at the Thomas Johnson Planetar­ sunrise is after watching ium used the following this year: the beauty of the night sky. impressive you should have tvlO slide projectors and a dissolve 1. John Denver, just playing My procedure is as follows: unit - - it isn't necessary the guitar, from the "Rocky First I write down the words though. You can put the sound Mountai.n High" album. It of the song and decide how many track on one channel and "im­ makes nice quiet music to slides I want to use - - usually pulses" on the other to chanp:e introduce the program. one per line or thought. Then the slides; however, I I set up 40 or so slides on a to control the pace of the 2. Carol King, You Light Up lvly slide sorter and see which one slides each time. Since I have Life Like Sunrise in the best fits a particular line. a small planetarium it is easy Morning., from her "Fantasy" Here is an example using the to watch audience reaction and album. The slides I use first verse of John Denver's subtle changes are possible. here try to include pictures Sunshine, from the album "Poems, Many of the planetarium of students that fit the Prayers, and Promises". I kno~v enjoy photography. If i.dea of how kids really do you don't, perhaps you know light up a teacher's life. Sunshine on "~ shoulders makes someone who is into it. A few Or, better yet, how people me happy. I wanted to convey minutes of slides and mean something to other the idea of sunshine on my music at the beginning and people. shoulders and beauty. A slide end of your planetarium program of sunshine on the hills or will help tremendously to turn 3. Bread, He's a Good Lad., trees, with a shadow line the kids onto the rest of the from the album, "Manna". visible was used here. stuff you're into - - you knmv, Obviously the title dictates_ Sunshine in my eyes can make Astronomy! And as a fringe bene­ the use of slides here that me cry. A shot of the sun fit, you may get a few other show kids in typical school shining towards you. Sunrise, teachers aware of the fact that activities -- sports, class­ through the trees, etc. the planetarium is not just an room, and groups. I hope to "Astronomyll room. It can .be a get across, by showing pic­ Sunshine on the water looks very special "Audio-Visual tures of kids that have "The so lovely. Obviously the re­ Scene" for Interdisciplinary flection of the sun on water Devil in Their Eyes" that uses. (End) there is good in everyone. At this point in the plan­ etarium I stop the tape and do 15 to 20 minutes of "back­ yard astronomy" on the cur­ Popular Musi Selections rent night sky. Outside the planetarium for a faculty for Planetarium Prog(ammin or P.T.S.A. group I go on to the last part of the by G. Henry Sultner, Dallastown PA Area School District program. For those of us who are blessed that this is invaluable in pre­ 4. Cat Stevens, Morning Has with a fine sound system in our sentations in terms of audience Broken, from the album planetarium, perhaps with several stimulation, student motivation "Teaser and the Firecat". modes of presentation (record, and general atmosphere. For this selection, which reel tape, 8-track, cassette), In organizing and directing I refer to as a love poem I think we would have to agree planetarium programs the 54 THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 question arises frequently A Space Odyssey",16 !lOut of cation which appeal much more with "where will I find music and Limits",17 "No Matter What Shape", some audio enhancement. If on the sound effects appropriate to the 18 "David's Mood",19 "Soulful other hand the planetarium direct­ program I'm working on?" Un­ Strut",20 and "Happy Organ".21 or is willing to survey young doubtedly the first thought is Some equally appealing closing (student) audiences, he will to turn to one of the many sound selections might include !lEarly probably find some duplication effects records available com­ in the Morning", 22 II·Morning of of selection from the above list, mercially, planetarium-lecture our Lives",23 "Here Comes The some new and worthwhile suggestions sound tracks also available, or Sun",24 "A Beautiful Morning",2S and moreover, probably an over­ to search one's own record li­ "Crystal Blue Persuasion",2 and whelming desire to help locate, brary according to his taste or "A Place in the Sun".27 organize, and record the many exploit a colleague's. Sandwiched between the opening chosen selections. What could be With an ever-increasing number and closing, a meditative mood more welcome, particularly to the of school systems and colleges of a total lunar or solar eclipse planetarium director with limited having or having plans for in­ or impressive aurora display personnel on his staff? The re­ stalling a planetarium, larger could well use "Imagine",28 or sponse to the foregoing type of and larger numbers of student "My Sweet Lord".29 Seasonally music and sound effects selection groups are passing through our and topically related selections and utilization has proven to be chambers (and hopefully retaining used at the discretion of the overwhelmingly positive in better something of what they learn individual director might include than 2000 periods of student pro­ while there). Just over two years "Blue Moon",30 "Bad Moon Rising", gramming and for slightly better ago, a survey of student audi­ 31 "Ebb Tide" 32 "In the Still than 11,000 adults at evening ences began yielding a barrage of the Night <33 "In the Year programs in this installation. of musical selections of the 2525",34 "Theme from a Summer Plans for the immediate future popular music variety from the Place",3S "Our Winter Love",36 include much of the same type past and which continues to be "Autumn of my Life",37 and "Have of musical selection and augmented by new selections from You Ever Seen the Rain". 38 utilization. the present -- selections which Background, mood music, and to student audiences are apropos filler needs could be extracted * * because of title, theme, sound from this list: "Because/Theme effects, or musical rendition. Without a Name!l,39 "So Far Away", REFERENCES: In the following I have at­ 40 "Rinky Dink",41 "I Want You tempted to group the selections to Know",42 "Rain, the Park, and 1. Fifth Dimension, Soul City, which have rendered the most the Other Thin~s",43 "Joy",44 flSCR-772 positive reactions from student "Hasterpiece", S "Papa Was A 2. Dennis Coffey, Sussex, flsux- and adult audiences. Each is Rolling Stone",46 "Bridge Over 226 footnoted so that selections Troubled Water",47 or "Outa Space". 3. Dennis Coffey, Sussex, flsux- might be located by artist, 48 233 label, and record number (where If the ecology movement is the 4. Supremes, Motown, flMOT-1148 available) . "p itchl1 at the moment, "What's 5. Supremes, Motown, flMOT-llll Maybe your "thing" is the Going On,,49 and !lMercy, Mercy Me, 6. Tornadoes, London, flLON-956l Age of Aquarius or the Zodiac. the Ecology"SO will work in fine. 7. The Doors, Elektra, flEKS- Musically, "Aquarius", 1 "Scor­ And if you've never involved your 45738 pio",2 "Taurus",3 and "No Matter audience (particularly student 8. Dee Clark, Vee-Jay, number What Sign You Are"4 should en­ groups) in "astronaut" exercises, not available hance the theme. Sound effects solicit the help of the instructor 9. Cascades, Valiant, fl6026 of various types and for a wide on the "Moonflight"Sl and "Simon 10. Dramatics, Volt, flVOA-4075 range of applications are avail­ Says"S2 records before your next 11. Tornadoes, London, flLON- able on the selections "Reflec­ space flight. This is sure to get 9561 tions", S "Jungle Fever", 6 "Riders the students in "shape" for the 12. Chubby Checker, Parkway, on the Storm",7 "Raindrops",8 journey (get some of that excess tfp·-83 0 "Rhythm of the Rain",9 "In the physical energy out of their 13. Hot Butter, Musicor, tfMUS- Rain",lO "Telestar",11 "The systems before the program begins). 1458 Fly",12 "Popcorn",13 and "Frank­ The foregoing may at first glanCE 14. Edgar Winter Group, Epic, enstein".14 appear to be little more than an #5-10967 Some introduction pieces with assemblage of trite record titles 15. Original sound track album appeal include the "Overture from which happen to match some topics 16. Original sound track album; Jesus Christ Superstar",lS "2001: in astronomy and planetarium edu- Deodato, CTI records,

THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 55 ItOJ-12 (45 rpm) 31. Creedence Clearwater Revival, 40. Hank Jacobs, Sue, #795 17. Marketts, Warner Bros. 1t539l Fantasy, #622 4l. Dave Cortez, Chess, ltu-452 18. T-Bones, Liberty, 1t55836 32. Righteous Brothers, Phillies, 42. New Colony Six, Mercury, 19. Kingsmen, Wand, ItW-157 #130 If? 2961 20. Young-Holt Unlimited, 33. Santo & Johnny, Canadian­ 43. The Cowsills, MGM, #K138l0 Brunswick, II 55391 American, #CA-164 44. Apollo 100, Mega, #615-0050 2l. Dave Cortez, Emit, IIE-302 34. Zager & Evans, RCA, #74-0174 45. Temptations, Gordy, #G-7l26F 22. Vanity Fare, Page One, 1121027 35. Percy Faith, Columbia, 46. Temptations, Gordy, #G-7l2lF 23. Arkade, Dunhill, 1t45-D-4268 #4-41490; Ventures, Liberty, 47. Simon & Garfunkel, Columbia, 24. Richie Havens, Stormy Forest, #56115 #4-45079 · IIST-656 36. Bill Pursell, Columbia, 48. Billy Preston, A & M, #AM-1320 25. The Rascals, Atlantic, 1145-2493 number not available 49. Marvin Gaye, Tamla, #T-5420l 26. Tommy James, Roulette, ItR-7050 37. Bobby Goldsboro, United 50. Marvin Gaye, Tamla, IIT-54207 27. Stevie Wonder, Tamla, #T-54l39 Artists, number not available 5l. Vic Venus, Buddah, #BDA-118 28. John Lennon, Apple, #1840 38. Creedence Clearwater Revival, 52. 1910 Fruitgum Company, Buddah, Fantasy 11655 #BDA-24 29. George Harrison, Apple, 112995 (End) 30. Marcels, Colpix, #CP-186 39. Dave Cl~rk Five, Epic, #5-9704' Music of the .Asteroids by June LoGuirato, National Capital Astronomers

Most medieval scholars knew Classical musicians also ap­ Participants in the Trojan War about the music of the spheres, pear among the solar system's are recalled in both the opera but few modern astronomers have minor planets. The compositions houses and the tiny planetoids heard about the music of the of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Astronomically, the Trojan asteroids. The history of the (1034 Mozartia) and Johann asteroids move in the same asteroids - those miniature Sebastian Bach (1482 Sebastiana) orbit as Jupiter. 13 worlds which move primarily can be enjoyed while asteroids, Several ancient deities between the orbits of Mars and ranging in size from large honored among the small worlds Jupiter - is not discussed in mountains to dust grains, move - many only a mile or t'V70 in elementary astronomy texts; slowly across a star field. diameter - also appear in musi­ consequently, planetarium edu­ Works by the Czech composer cal compositions like Hagner's cators don't realize that over Karel Bendl (734 Benda) and the The Ring of the NibeZungs. forty asteroids bear musical Russian composer Modest Mussorg­ Operatic characters found among names. 1,2 , 3 sky (1059 Mussorgskia) can en­ the miniature planets include: A program devoted to music liven the bleak features of an Papagena (471 Papagena) and commemorated in the asteroids asteroid landscape. 9 10 11 Pamina (539 Pamina) from Mozart's can begin with an invocation Some asteroid discoverers, The Magic FZute; Dalila (560 to the ancient Muses. These particularly Max Wolf and his Delila) from Saint-Saens' Samson nine goddesses of music and staff at the University of and DeliZah; Violetta (557 Vio­ poetry are honored collectively Heidelberg, were music buffs. letta) from Verdi's La Traviata; (Asteroid number 600 is named A ballet (815 Coppelia) and an and Isolde (211 Isolda) from Musa.) and separately (18 Mel­ overture (540 Rosamunde) are Wagner's Tristan and IsoZde. 14 15 pomene, 22 Kalliope, 23 Thalia, found in the asteroid belt, When considering a program 27 Euterpe, 30 Urania, 33 Poly­ but opera were preferred. \.Jhile on music of the asteroids, re­ hymnia, 62 Erato, 81 Ter~si­ following "the flight path of member that many planetariums chore, plus 84 Klio). 4, .6,7 Pioneer 11 through this belt have included the minor planets The siren's songs (1009 of irregular rock-like debris,12 in their programs on the vaga­ Sirene) may be temporarily a planetarium audience can enjoy bonds in space. 16 Commercial fascinating but they pale in selections from Verdi's A~da slides on the planetoids are comparison to the golden lyre (861 AIda), Bizet's Carmen available;17 however, a plane­ of Apollo, ancient god of (558 Carmen) or Beethoven's tarium educator can produce his poetry and music. Astronomically Fidelio (524 Fidelio). own. 18 Classical music,19 20 Apollo (1932 HA Apollo) is an It is difficult to determine films,21 and artwork22 can be unusual "earth-grazing" plane­ how many asteroids were named selected with the aid of stan­ toid. 8 after operatic characters. dard guides.

THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 56 REFERENCES: including photos. 21 plus "Miniature Worlds 1. Willy Ley, Watchers of the 9. Eric Blom, ed., Grove's Part II", The Sky 1 (October Skies (New York: The Viking Dictionary of Music and 1937) 5-7,19. Contains num­ Press, 1963). Chapter 13 Musicians (New York: St. e:.:"ous photos and contains important historical Martin's Press, Inc., 1955, including landscape of Eros. material. 5th edition). This nine See also references 2, 8, volume set includes extensive and 13. 2. Gunter Roth, The System of bibliographic information 19. Herbert Russcol, Guide to Minor Planets (London: Faber plus comprehensive lists of and Faber Ltd., 1962). Con­ Lmv-Priced Classical Records the works of individual com­ tains a wealth of historical, (New York: Hart Publ. Co. posers. observational, and physical Inc .. 1969). Reviews over data plus asteroid photos. 10. The World of Music - an 1000 compositions by over Illustrated Encyclopedia 300 classical composers. 3. To receive a free copy of (New York: Abradale Press, high quality tracking charts 20. Records in Review (New York 1963). Four volume set in­ for currently observable Charles Scribner's Sons, 1973). asteroids, send a stamped, cluding numerous photos. Eighteenth annual collection of record reviews from lliqh self-addressed envelope to: 11. Oscar Thompson, ed., The FideZity_ ., Dr. J.U. Gunter, "Tonight's International Cycloped~of Asteroids", 1411 North Music and Musicians (New 21. Berendzen and DeVorkin, Mangum St., Durham NC 27701, York: Dodd, Mead & Co., Ope cit., p. 788, items 47 U.S.A. 1964, 9th edition). and 58. 4. Frederick Pilcher and Jean 12. Tom Gehrels, "The Flyby 22. Encyclopedia of World Art Meeus, Tables of Minor Planets of Jupiter", Sky and Tele­ (New York: McGraw-IIill Rook (Jacksonville, IL: Frederick scope 47 (February 1974), 76. Co., 1968). Fifteen volumes Pilcher, Illinois College). 13. Patrick Moore, The New including photos of paint­ These tables contain orbital Guide to the Planets (New ings and sculpture concern­ and physical data on all York: W.W. Norton & Co., Inc., ing ancient deities. asteroids mentioned here. 1974), 125-6. Chapter 10 (END) 5. Characters in ancient myth­ includes numerous asteroid ology or in classic opera drawings. and their namesakes among 14. Earl of Harewood, ed., the minor planets may have Kobbe's Complete Opera Book slightly different spellings. (New York: G.P. Putnam's The final authority for the Sons, 1969). Includes lists spelling of asteroid names of characters in well-known is: Paul Herget, The Names operas. of the Minor Planets (Cin­ cinnati, Ohio: Minor Planet 15. David Ewen, The New Ency­ Center, University of Cin­ clopedia of the Opera (New cinnati Observatory, 1955 York: Hill and \.J'ang, 1971). and 1968). 16. Both Morehead Planetarium, 6. Bulfinch's Mythology (New Chapel Hill, North Carolina, York: Random House, Inc.). and McLaughlin Planetarium, Standard reference on Toronto, Ontario, Canada, mythology. have presented "Vagabonds in Space". 7. Edith Hamilton, Mythology (New York: The New American 17. Richard Berendzen and David Library, 1964). Another DeVorkin, "Resource Letter standard reference on EMAA-l: Educational Materials mythology. in Astronomy and Astrophysics", American Journal of Physics 8. Brian Marsden, "The Re­ 41 (June, 1973), 786-7. Lists covery of Apollo", Sky and observatories and firms Telescope 46 (September 1973), selling astronomical slides. 155-8. Up-to-date information on "earth-graZing" asteroids 18. Hugh Rice, "Miniature '.Jorld s" , The Sky 1 (August, 1937) 3-5,

57 THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 Astronomy Education Reso rs s

conducted by George Reed, west Chester State College (PA)

THE CENTER FOR UFO STUDIES often assumed to be the "probable" concern to the planetarium explanation, and that solutions community. were considered more valuable The school and museum plane­ Lord Kelvin once said that than mysteries. He is equally tarium often present programs until you can measure what you critical of the Condon Report prototype of each category were are speaking about, your know­ from the University of Colorado made by two or more reliable ledge is meager, unsatisfactory and his fellow scientists. Many observers. The categories include and certainly not advanced to scientists express contempt and nocturnal lights, daylight disks, the stage of science. Of course ridicule toward UFO investigations radar-visual observations, and that doesn't apply to the UFO. without ever investigating the three different types of close There is no reason why anyone content of such reports. The encounters. would want to apply the methods situation reminds one of the Hynek has now organized an of science to the phenomena of attitude of the Aristotelians interested interdisciplinary the UFO. The UFO is a subject toward Galileo's telescopic force under the framework of for the weirdos, or at least so discoveries. Other scientists the Center for UFO Studies. I felt. are convinced that the entire It was established in order During 1973, I had the oppor­ UFO scene is the result of a that affirmative scientific tunity to listen to Dr. J. Allen psychological phenomenon. Some action can be directed toward Hynek, a reputable astronomer scientists however are believers. the discovery of the essential and Chairman of the Astronomy The unexplained UFO reports nature of the UFO phenomenon. Department at Northwestern Uni­ from around the world are broken The objectives of the Center versity, talk about the UFO a down by Hynek into six categories. include the pursuit of a rigor­ subject he has been intimat~ly These categories, which are rated ous study and analysis of the involved with for over 20 years. according to the "strangeness" phenomenon, the operation of His lectures were given aboard of the observation, have resulted a clearing house to receive UFO the Canberra during the June 1973 from definite patterns that have reports, and as a source of African eclipse cruise. My in­ appeared after a study of hun­ reliable information about the terest and curiosity were aroused dreds of UFO reports. The ex­ UFO phenomenon. These last two to the point that upon returning, amples given to illustrate the activities will be of particular I read Hynek's book The UFO Experience - ~ Scientifi~nguiry. This book consists of a straightforward, unsensational treatment of the phenomena of the UFO~ It is rather lengthily defined as "the reported percep­ tion of an object or light seen in the sky or upon the land, the appearance, trajectory and gen­ eral dynamic and luminescent behavior of which do not suggest a logical, conventional explan­ ation, and which is not only mystifying to the original per­ cipient but remains unidentified after close $crutiny of all available evidence by persons who are technically capable of making a common sense identi­ fication, if one is possible". The book reviews the histories of the United States Air Force projects "Sign", "Grudge", and "Blue Book". These projects are criticized in terms of their handling of data and their in­ sufficient investigations of reports. Hynek feels that any

58 THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 dealing with the UFO phenomenon. the metric system and the con­ surrounding the developmental The Center for UFO Studies will versions to the English system. discoveries made through its use. be able to supply accurate in­ The metric system is then used The author, an active radio astron­ formation for those programs. exclusively in Investigation omer si~ce the 1940's, writes The planetarium in return can 112, "Drawing the Solar System with authority about his con­ encourage people who have ob­ to Scale" and throughout the temporaries and their work. served something mysterious to rest of the series. The in­ The first three chapters in report it to the Center. vestigations dealing with the book are a chronological Persons or organizations in­ comets, meteor phenomena, and history of the early development terested in supporting the lunar geology are heavily of radio astronomy, beginning serious scientific work of the dependent upon the student's with the first unsuccessful Center for UFO Studies can vol­ interpretation of photographs. attempts to detect extra-terres- unteer their technical facilities The booklet concerned with trial radio radiation by Edison, or make tax-deductible contribu­ asteroids centers around the Lodge, and others, and ending tions to the Center for UFO student's interpretation of the with the discovery in the early Studies, P.O. Box 11, Northfield, light curve produced by a ro­ 1950's of the 21 cm hydrogen Illinois 60093, U.S.A. tating rectangular-shaped line and the first identifications asteroid. Three of the investi­ of radio sources. (Executive Editor: We are aware gations form a good physics Chapter Four deals with the that some of the views expressed sequence dealing with refraction, establishment of the modern radio by Editor Reed on Hynek reflection, and telescopes. and the Center for UFO Studies observatories and relates among Several of the booklets are other stories of the fascinating will be considered controversial of special interest. Some as­ by numerous members of the sci­ tale of the construction of the pects of observational astronomy Jodrell Bank 250 foot telescope entific community. All interested are dealt with in the "Phases persons are invited to respond and the problems, financial and of the Moon", "Horizon System", otherwise (including a possible to Letters to the Editor. Letters "Equatorial System", "Sidereal of substance will be published jail term) faced by its director, Time", and "The Planetary Con­ Sir Bernard Lovell. as a special section in a future figurations" booklets. The issue of THE PLANETARIAN.) In the last four chapters, Hey latter booklets are especially departs from a strictly chrono­ adaptable to planetarium activ­ logical development and instead ities. The constellation booklet follows the development of radio ASTRONOMY THROUGH PRACTICAL provides a good academic treat­ astronomy as a tool in under­ ment of constellations and can standing the Solar System, our INVESTIGATIONS be used as a supplement to or galaxy, and extragalactic objects. in conjunction with a planetar­ In general the book is very Astronomy Through }Lactical ium program. readable and contains much Investigations consists of 15 The authors, G. Lomaga, W. historical information not readily individually bound "investiga­ Smiley, and R. Warasila are available before. It also contains tions". The investigation book­ teachers at Suffolk County one of the few up-to-date (1971) lets were developed for the Community College in Selden, summaries of our present s.tate community college, non-science New York. The entire set of of knowledge of radio astronomy. major astronomy or physical 15 investigations cost $4.50 On the other hand, the book is science student. They are well­ (U.S.A.) They are available for not without some minor flaws. written and can be used with 30¢ each in sets of more than The author, in covering a great beginning students at the 9 and 35¢ each in sets of 9 deal of information in 214 pages, secondary school level as well or less. The booklets can be is understandably rather brief as the college level. The in­ purchased from L.S.W. Associ­ in some of his descriptions vestigations are adaptable to ates, P.O. Box 82, Mattituck, occasionally. In particular, formal laboratory situations New York 11952. some technical descriptions are as well as for use as individual quite abbreviated, and he uses self-study supplemental material. THE EVOLUTION OF RADIO radio astronomical jargon freely. Each booklet is question­ ASTRoNOM~ Perhaps in recognition of this, oriented. The questions are the book does contain a glossary Reviewed by Joseph W. Erkes~ Ph.D. of radio astronomical terms. clear, probing,. and logical in Director of Fullam Radio their order. The basic concepts For those interested in the Observatory~ State Univ. history of radio astronomy, or of each investigation are of New York at Albany and developed in a logical fashion Dudley Observatory in learning more about radio with a minimum use of words. astronomy in general, or for The "cook book" style has been written by J.S. Hey, is an account those who want to learn the "why" avoided. Answering the questions of the people, ideas, and events of the phenomenal growth of this

THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 59 branch of astronomy, this book Atlantic Planetarium Society to astronomy. Of particular makes for very enjoyable, profit­ (MAPS) and the University of sistance to the classroom able reading. Maryland, Under Roof, Dome, and teacher in preparing his class ~ is the work of over 45 -­ for the planetarium experience (EDITOR: The Evolution q.i Radio classroom and planetarium would have been the ESS unit

Astrono~ is available for $10.00 3 educators. "Daytime Astronomy" with the pre-paid only~ from Watson Academic The book contains 45 student­ activities on page 100 (Sunrise

Publications3 Inc.~ l56 Fifth centered activities for the Sunset and the Seasons) and Avenue3 New York3 NY 10010. planetarium and appropriate pre­ page 130 (What's Your Local and post-visit classroom activi­ Time). The ESS Pendulums unit ties. The main thrust is toward would have gone well with page the Secondary Grades, though 13 145 (Earth's Rotation); "Where Reviewed by Gerry Muhl Elementary and Intermediate is the Moon" with page 213 (The Two teachers were overheard activities are also spaced Moon at Sunrise and Sunset); discussing the national ac­ throughout the volume. Most and the unit "Peas and Particles" creditation of their school activities seem to be graded would have helped the classroom during a break at a recent properly, though in the author's teacher with page 243 (Learning planetarium conference. Both words, some "grey zones" exist Estimation Technique). felt the accrediting agent's where certain activities might Unfortunately, one of the comments were useful in that be used in the upper intermediate weakest areas of the book was they pointed up the strengths grades as well as in the that dealing with student class­ and also the weaknesses of the Secondary grades. room preparation for the activi­ institution. While listening Each activity is prefaced by ties dealing with lunar observa­ to the introduction for the two or more behavioral object­ tions. Perhaps this would remedy next speaker, I began musing ives making the ~valuation of itself if the planetarium in­ over the question of who each particular experience an structor could have the luxury evaluates or accredits the integral part of the lesson. of also being able to work with planetarium? A few weeks later The authors seem to assume the students first in the class­ my question began to be answered students will be able to make room. Time limitations being as when the book Under Roof, Dome, mUltiple visits to the plane­ they are, it would seem wise to and Sky appeared on my des~ tarium in completing projects, assist the teacher by a more Various regional associations though for some activities one comprehensive development of of planetarium educators have visit might be enough. In three pre-visit activities. For ex­ seen the need and taken it upon of four instances however, the ample, students are asked to themselves to decide the merit planetarium instructor's lesson record their observations of of what they are doing "under plan calls for the switching on the Moon and Sun at sunset but the dome". In the introduction of some sort of geocentric earth are offered no way qualitatively John Richardson, then President projector. Remembering back to to judge by how much the Moon of the Middle Atlantic Planetar­ a small college planetarium I has changed its daily position ium Society, sums up the problem once worked with, I was always in relation to the Sun (nt. by noting, in doubt if my college classes Neely, The Stars Ez Clock and could upon one visit to the Fist). Students are given no "In the past decade there star theatre make the mental method for finding accurate has been a tremendous influx gymnastics necessary to fully direction and thus work with of planetariums into our edu­ understand the subtleties of the assumption that the sun cational society. With the such a projection. Perhaps, always sets in the "western" aid of NDEA funds, many of at least in these instances, sky. Students are given models these instruments found their two visits should be spelled of the earth-moon system and way into local school systems out. asked to memorize phase names across the country. Unfor­ One minor shortcoming of rather than having them attempt tunately, ~ lack of trained Under Roof, Dome, and Sky is to create their own models on personnel and a dearth of the omission of certain books the basis of their own obser­ established lesson plans and teacher manuals from the vation. Student-centered activ­ existed, and many of the bibliography. The introduction ities, as the name implies, new instruments were not states that the editorial com­ should have the student at the used to their fullest • mittee had a familiarity with center of the discovery. potential." a number of modern curriculum The last two chapters (Mathe­ This new book, long overdue, projects - one among them the matics and Measurement and attempts to help fill the void Elementary Science Study (ESS) Motions of the Planets) appear mentioned by Richardson. Funded materials. Nowhere in the book most clearly labored over and by a grant from the National however, is mention made of any well thought out. These activi­ Science Foundation to the Middle of the various ESS units related ties are well-written, though

60 THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74 I would question one statement on the collection of micromet­ eorites from the runoff water from house tops after a rain shower. Although this may theoretically be done, I feel that greater description of the technique involved would be useful. Under Roof, Dome, and Sky should prove to be a useful book in any planetarium library. Crammed with ideas, it most certainly will be the catalyst to spark many planetarium lessons to come.

(EDITOR: Under Roof., Dome 3 and gky is still available for 7.003 pre-paid onlY3 from John Richardson3 MAPS Past-President3 c/o Red Lion Road3 Huntingdon ValleY3 PA 19006.) OTHER BOOKS Reviewed by George Reed ------From the Black Hole to the Infinite Universe, by Donald Goldsmith and Donald Levy, published by Holden-Day Inc, San Francisco. Who likes to read academic astronomy books that have elements of science fiction, sex, humor, drugs, and the women's liberation movement? Almost everyone. Unfortunately this book has only a brief and trite science fiction story. The nuclear and astro­ physics sections are well­ written. The illustrations are interesting. The idea is good, but the auhtors "didn't get it all together".

Modern Astronomy, by Ludwig Oster, published by Holden­ Day, Inc., San Francisco. This text was designed for a one or two semester college general astronomy course. The content, while consistent with other similar texts, is more condensed and broken down into more chapters. The text has diagrams that are superior to those found in other texts. 61 THE PLANETARIAN, 3&6/74