THE PLANETARIAN Journal of the International Planetarium Society Vol .. 24, No .. 1, March 1995
Articles 5 An Interview with Carl Sagan ...... Anne Kalosh 7 David Hoffman, 1926-1994 ...... Gary Tomlinson 8 Integrating the Planetarium into the Museum .... Christine M. Brunello 10 A New Star in Instructional Visualization ...... Mickey D. Schmidt 14 Armand Spitz-Seller of Stars ...... Brent Abbatantuono
Features 25 Opening the Dome ...... Jon U. Bell 29 Planetechnica: Dimmers Gone Haywire ...... Richard McColman 33 Mobile News Network ...... Sue Reynolds 36 Computer Corner: "The Sky" ...... Ken Wilson 40 Presidenes Message ...... Jim Manning 43 Book Reviews ...... April S. Whitt 46 Sound Advice: Editing Digital Audio ...... Jeffrey H. Bowen 50 What's New ...... Jim Manning 55 Regional Roundup ...... Steven Mitch 58 Focus on Education: Map the Sky ...... Stu Chapman/Dave Duchon 62 Jane's Corner ...... Jane Hastings Arli; " $ 1l"",/rrmS if 0", tJl!n .. r~.m"m. Ai-VIII
The Universarium M-VIII & MVIII TD tEPsEILER 11lc largl!51 of all Ze,SS pLul(>lanums. INS TRLJIVlENT the Umverso>num projects o\'er 9000 s tOll'S WIth the rolor and bnlh,v,cl' found In a natural sky. A IWW fiber oplle system and un'q"e 2 In I SIMb-11i dl-S.gn 170 E. KIrkham Av e., comb,ne e~(ly .... uh m"I\L-ml!d'd "ff~l5 . A\'a,l~ble in models for tilled and horil.onl
Back Issues of The Planetarian ~:~~!~ J eff rey H . B owen Steven M't1 Ch ~:.:i Available from: ~i~ Sound Advice Regional Roundup 1 Charlene Oukes IPS Back Publications Repository II. Strasenburgh Planetarium ~ FOC~Uo?:~~a~ion Gi~~n::: ~=~te P.O. Box 1480 Rochester, New York 14603 USA ~ ~e~= i~~~ MOb~~~=~~~ork ~ , ~~~C~~ I~I. A cumulative index of major articles that have ~l~ Steve Tidey : . appeared in The Planetarian from the first issue III Alan Davenport Forum III m Scrlptorl um l~ through the current issue is available on paper ~:~ Ken Wilson ~:f ($12 ppd) or disk ($5 ppd) from the Exec. Editor. ~!~ Jane G. Hastings ,Computer Reviews ~l~ m Jane's Comer ~l~ Final Deadlines ru ~~~m ~ March: January 21; June: April 21 III Richard McColman Book Reviews lit September: July 21; December: October 21 ~!~ Planetechnica ~l~ ~ J~ ~~'tl:~~lW:~.t;.'*-.~.t;.~~~t..~'l:~~'tl:*t,""~w.'"~"~";:tt~~~.:t~1;.Th'tl:~'"~~~'"""'x::..""tt:.'ttl:t:::.,~ Vol. 24, No.1, March 1995 The Planetarian 3 Ie P ..
President Execu.tive Secretary 1998 Conference Chair Elections Committee Jim Manning Lee Ann Hennig, Planetarium Undine Concannon Chairman Taylor Planetarium Thomas Jefferson High School Planetarium Administrator Thomas Stec Museum of the Rockies 6560 Braddock Road London Planetarium Central Bucks East H.S. Bozeman Montana 59717 USA Alexandria, Virginia 22312 USA Marylebone Road Holicong and Anderson 406-994-6874 703-750-8380 London NWl 5LR England Buckingham, PA 18912 406-994-2682 fax 703-750-5010 fax (44) 071-486-1121 215-794-7481 ammjm.gemini.oscs.montana.edu [email protected]. us (44) 071-465-0862 fax Awards Committee President Elect Treasurer and Membership Historian/Photo-Archivist Phyllis Thomas W. Kraupe Chairman John Hare The Adler 1J1" .... "'f-"' ..-i",,..,.., Zeiss-Planetarium Muenchen Keith Johnson Bishop Planetarium 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive Forum Der Technik Fleischmann Planetarium 201 lOth Street West Chicago, Illinois 60605 PO Box 260 261 University of Nevada Bradenton, Florida 34205 USA 312-322-0319 Museumsinsel 1 Reno, Nevada 89557 USA 813-746-4132 D-80059 Muenchen 702-784-4812 Germany 702-784-4822 fax Publications Chair 49-89-21125-250 [email protected] Undine Concannon International Planetarium 49-89-21125-255 fax Planetarium Administrator Society 1996 Conference Chairman London Planetarium Past President July 11-15, 1996 Marylebone Road c/o Hansen Planetarium William Gutsch Dr. Tadao Nakano, Director London NWl 5LR, England 15 South State Street Hayden Planetarium The Science Museum of Osaka (44) 071-486-1121 Salt Lake City, Utah 84111 American Museum Nakanoshima, Kita-Ku (44) 071-465-0862 fax Central Park West at 81st St. Osaka 530, Japan New York, NY 10024 USA Please notify the Editor 212-769-5900 changes of IPS 212-769-5007 fax affiliate relJreSel'1t(JltilJIfPS.
1. S. Affiliate Represen
Association of French-Speaking Great Lakes Planetarium Assoc. Nordic Planetarium Association Russian Planetariums Assoc:iation Planetariums Dayle Brown. Pegasus Productions Lars Broman Zinaida P. Sitkova Agnes Acker 713 Cushing Broman Planetarium Nizhny Novgorod Planetarium Planetarium Strasbourg South Bend. Indiana 46616 USA Fjaderharvsg 87 Pokhyalinsky S"Yezd 5-A Universite Louis Pasteur 219-282-1885 S-424 66 Goteborg-Angered Nizhny Novgorod. 603 001 Rue de L'Observatoire Sweden Russia 6700 Strasbourg, France Great Plains Planetarium Assoc. +46-2310 177 34-21-66 88-36-12-51 April Whitten. Business Mgr. +46-2310 137 (fax) Mallory Kountze Planetarium Southeastern Planetarium. Assoc. of Mexican Planetariums 60th & Dodge Street.s Pacific Planetarium. Association John Hare Ignacio Castro Pinal Omaha. Nebraska 68182 USA Lonny Baker Bishop Planetarium Museo Technologico C.F.E. 402-554-2510 Astronomical Society of the Pacific 201-lOth Street West Apartado Postal 18-816 402-554-3100 390 Ashton Avenue Bradenton. Florida 34205 USA CP 11870 Mexico City. D.F. Mexico [email protected] San Francisco, CA 94112 USA 813-746-4132 277-5779 415-337-1100 Italian Planetaria's Friends Assoc. 415-337-5205 fax Southwestern Association British Assoc. of Planetariums Loris Ram poni Planetariums Undine Concannon c/o Civici Musei de Scienze Planetarium Assoc. of canada Donna Pierce London Planetarium Via Ozanam 4 Ian D. Cameron Highland Park Ind. School District Marlybone Road 25128 Brescia. Italy Lockhart Planetarium 4220 Emerson London NWI 5LR, England 500 Dysart Road Dallas. Texas 75205 USA (44) 071-486-1121 Japan Planetarium Society Winnipeg. Manitoba R3T 2N2 214-523-1836 planetarium office (44) 071-465-0862 fax Dr. Tadao Nakano. Director Canada 214-520-6917 fax The Science Museum of Osaka 204-474-9785 Council of German Planetariums Nakanoshima. Kita-Ku 204-261-0021 fax Ukranian Planetarium.8 Dr. Hans Meinl Osaka 530. Japan [email protected] Dr. Alexander P. Lenin Zeiss Planetarium Republical Planetarium der Ernst-Abbe-Stiftung Middle Atlantic Planetarium Rocky Mountain Planetarium 57/3 Krasnoarmeiskaia Street Am Planetarium 5 Society Association Kiev 252 005 D-07743 Jena Joyce Towne Bess Amaral Ukraine Germany Fds Planetarium Robert H. Goddard Planetarium 044-227-51-66 49-3641-27315 20th and The Parkway Roswell Museum & Arts Center 044-227-51-66 fax 49-3641-24632 fax Philadelphia. PA 19103 USA 11th and N. Main 215-448-1166 Roswell. New Mexico 88201 USA European/Mediterranean 215-448-1332 fax 505-624-6744 Planetarium Association 505-625-6765 fax Dennis Simopoulos [email protected] Eugenides Planetarium Syngrou Avenue-Amfithea Athens. Greece 94-111-81
Produced at the Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles, California
4 The Planetarian Vol. No.1, March 1995 when's the last time you ble scientific remark United States, when was the last tf"If"Vl:l:I,On fiction series in which the hero r who was devoted to
not causes. The causes, I
'''''4Tn-",., Science is hard, ;:;\"JL\:;AJI\..' conform to our Wishes,
Asa up in New late this year [1994], to be fonowed in wonder at the of and the nature of sci- to the for a book on ence. are up on a stars sealed his fate: He would devote his life novel, a love story, before the to astronomy. recalls his years to Shadows. in the 19505 as a time of tremendous At 59, is concerned about the mism about science and the future. After future of a world where the Scientific
\",UJu ...... t=, a Ph.D. in astronomy and astro- Index reveals that 94 percent of U.S. from the of at citizens are illiterate. age 25, he taught at a constellation of institutions before Cornell as David Duncan Professor of Astrcm()rnlV Science. He also directs the "..,.;"',"'....,;·h),', to '"",".JLA,,'A' le~LGlng role in the problems. and Galileo space eXp~JHlorlS and is noted for research in such areas as the of Hfe, the green- it is. And to some extent scientists have house effect on Venus, and the very courageous in attention consequences of nuclear war on Earth. This these .... "',<7o.·i-ih,"'_ year he received the Public Welfare less, if we didn't have science, we the award of the National AcaolernlY have these But we also of Sciences. He is co-founder and pn~suleIlt have life spans of 25 years, infant The the world's one understands science and te<:nIlo.lOg would be enormous, and many space interest group, and a H."...... ,.... That's a clear for disaster. make life DIE;~as takes controversial stands. He was an advo- cate of multinational in space tives vote How can aliens. To me, it all seems very similar. I::AII-"'-'"U"'V.U, a leader in the scientific com don't know what the issues are and Q; But the is now we have ,","",nHu"c protest of the administra can't understand them? KnOu,'leCl5!e and much better C01'nrJI1Unl- tion's Defense Initiative (Star Wars), Q; with science? cation systems. and was twice arrested at demonstrations A:. There are a lot of reasons. In the short do we? Look what's on i-oi,,,n''';,,.,.n continued U.s. nuclear when term we can talk about is the basketball the Soviet Union was aDlOlng coach tealChing chlemistl~V do school moratorium. bond issues retJealte(iI In his crusade to popularize has edited or authored 25 Comet and Shadows Who We Ar~ with his writer wife sealrcl:1inlg questions, when is the last time we His Pale Blue Dot: A Vision heard some discussion of science on the Human Future in will hit bookstores ...... r' ...... " .. white male Vol. No.1, March 1995 The Planetarian ened when their children ask them a ques Gore in decades, centuries. would be great ... even if tion to which do not know the answer. Q How would ~_ ...... _._ the administration on grumpy/and It's aU right to confess that you don't know environmental matters? are the h~!I"hin(J""1N the answer to a even if it's a A: I think very cautious, afraid to old who's The worst is to offend business. But business is part ridicule the child. That convinces the chUd of the because if it affects short there's a set of questions that adults get mad term at and, after a few the child environmental consequences, by and doesn't ask the anymore; we've lost There are some But more another person who be comfortable is the response of the DuPont company with science. It's self-propagating. Those who when scientists discovered that CFCs [chlori are ig.norant and fearful of science create a nated fluorocarbons] are dangerous: It took new generation of and fear out ads saying, 'No, no, this is a theory. ful of science. So if you don't know the answer, you can say, "Let's look it up. Let's go Also. women who are to the II If you don't have .an encyclopedia, go to the If you don't sperm. n we take a look at want to do that, you can at least say, 'Maybe sonograms'? How about the cases nobody knows the answer to that question. Maybe when you grow up, be the first Don't worry about it.' So the idea of Cleanllng person to know the answer.' That's an up the environment without encouragement. sure on industry is naive, I think. Inrl""t-,." Q What's wrong with both creation- can be prodded with carrots and with sticks. ism and evolution in the classroom? Q Rather than on business, isn't throw it away. A:. Creationism is not science-it's m~J'stllcl~;m. it important for individuals to make a c:nrrjnro"/ abductees are, it's religion. I would have no problem with Wouldn't a gas tax that discOLlra'Zes that can thei.r case. teaching creationism in mythology courses, from driving be more effective in in courses on social trends, even in courses tion? on religion, which I think be a very A:. The way work is, all used cars look at the ammi4::>CE~ntesi~~? good thing to have. But not courses in sci lute a lot. The ones that might be efficient in ence, because it's not science. reducing pollution, that might get more Q: You've been a professor for more than 30 miles to the gaHon, are new cars. Poor years. How have students changed in that time? cannot afford new cars. So as soon as you say A:. The best students haven't changed much that there's a penalty for cars that at aU. They are still terrific. Beyond that, any pollute, the penalty works n .. ,pt"'."""'nti~ thing I would say would be anecdotal. I against poor thought I saw in the Reagan years kids much Q: If you were the how would you less disposed to ask questions, espe allocate the cially of those in power. Today I seem to see A:. hard question. Just think how many a greater willingness to ask searching ques lines there are in the federal One tions, all to the good In the years, I thought I saw a lot more kids who chose Having extraterrestrials visit this planet would great ... even if they were short, sullen, grumpy. and sexually obsessed. thing is, the evidence is poor. their careers in order to make money and costs, is over $300 billion a year when there comparatively few who were are so many other pressing national needs motivated. Today, I see some signs of that a serious mistake. The Soviet Union has col turning around. But again, I could be wrong. lapsed. The Cold War is over. I:'H~SUm,aDjIY It's not a statistically significant survey. we're not to invade lots of other Q It sounds like you think the Clinton admini nations. We can protect ourselves for a frac stration is providing a better climate for science. tion of that $300 and the money A: Yes, maybe a Httle. But not saved could do an enormous amount to enough on the environment; it's nothing solve many of our other But this like what one might have expected from Al administration is not inclined to go in that Gore's book. The administration says, 'Look, direction. erance for UUA""AfiUJLL we've only been in office a year, give us Q Many people fervently believe they have seen we make up our minds some time.' I'm willing to do that. Certainly UFOs, and some claim they have been kid- all not to in terms of knowledge of scientific and envi and assaulted by aliens. Do way or the other before ronmental issues there hasn't been a you think alien spacecraft have visited Earth? Q What is dent or vice president as knowledgeable as Al A:. Having extraterrestrials visit this 6 The Planetarian Vol. telesc:ople above PU'PI'''t,IW'lhplrp it at systems, we're bound to understand more about how te1E~SC()pe is turned toward the Orion Nebula, our own was formed which we know is a for what's the next step in stars, Hubble finds that half the stars exam- ined have flat discs and dust surround- A:. Hubble is an Ah~pr'U~'~Aru in Earth orbit them. This is what the iO()IGng out, and that's one aspect of to understand the of our solar space But in that category, the system the so-called solar nebula. next obvious mission is called AXAF-the It was first Immanuel Kant and Advanced Astronomical by Pierre Simon, back in the 18th and 19th That's a that does what from And now we see Hubble does but within the part of the It now looks as if spectrum. There are all H"'-Al1lfTh the universe that are invisible in star formation. There are 400 billion stars in such as black holes, that we the Way and if many or most can best understand with like of them have systems, the chances AXAF. But that's one part of the space of extraterrestrial Hfe are enhanced. program. at Earth to monitor its That proves that extraterrestrial life environmental health, asteroids, more support for the pAuu.nu • ..- comets, moons, the Sun 1 1 "lam entire on the floor lalLgtlinlg. On 12, 1994, that little black cloud Dave was a short, bald headed character couldn't understand what was that always foHowed David Hoffman around from New York who had a smile, a When he the box, he qUllPP'OO, finally up with him. On that and a short story to share. "'H.UU' .... ~u very, very Dave succumbed to of pneu- the time he said, "to make a long story short," Hoffman. monia it was already too late. And he sure could tell also told the story about Dave for many years directed the Reiser some good stories-stories about tendent, who was also bald, that Planetarium at the Godwin Heights des about the early days of the put their heads would School system in a suburb of Grand and lots of stories about Viewlex. At the 1978 out of themselves. Michigan, He basically carne with the instru Great Lakes Planetarium Association (GLP A) ment from Viewlex and stayed until budget convention in Bloomfield cutbacks in 1981 forced him to seek "'....,' ..... 1'... "_ Dave got up in front of the whole deleg2ltioln ment elsewhere. For a while he directed the and told the following story. ian, from Carr-Fles Planetarium at Commu "At the Reiser Planetarium, the students He also served GLP A nity College (also in Michigan). At this same were doing a show about dreams. We wanted Yes, Dave will be time, changes were place in his per- to show the effect of going to bed and then launch a lot of careers. sonal life. He left because, as he the passage of time, so we made up this dou a little black cloud comes told it, "I have been drafted." He spent the ble bed military style (very and think of Dave Hoffman. next few years with the Salvation smooth). We a camera in the in Wisconsin. from "The middle of the bed and took a every Army," Dave returned to Grand for 30 Then to show the passage of time (Published sirrml1:anemlS.ly his last few years. we up the bed and took Planetarium Vol. No.1, March 1995 The Planetarian • I I nnnn"'r~ was amount of • space helmets I foil. We eXlJeriment{~d of 'lAYrw'-lrina A common concern in some pJane1tariiufllS is that, while housed in a science museum, des,ignlate~d "Moon and they seem to operate independently and Stars" with one of the four activities may have an antagonistic relationship with conducted in the plametariurltl. the rest of the museum. Or, as was .. "",,,·,,,,.,th, commented by one observer, "The planetari ... there are some um appears to be the neglected step-child" Harrington Discovery While this may never change completely, events the there are some ways in which the planetari 'urn at the Don Harrington Discovery Center tant part of in Amarillo has become involved in the role in events that the museum hosts. The Discovery Center has several events stu(ients, plre-S4:nOoJelrs, and cal to throughout the year to bring in families and Girl Scouts have been similar to other pro with some ideas other special groups. Some are seasonal, such grams we've done in the We've lar-and exr)Os{~d as Mad Scientist Daze (Halloween), Science taken trips space to visit the tarium who have """""""" ',,,p,,,.,,.. With Santa (formerly called December Dis and learned about the constellations. "Ve've For covery), and Spring Eggstravaganza. Others also with toys and seen parts of are related to specific groups: we have work shops for regional Gifted &: Talented stu dents, Girl Scouts (Overnight Discovery), and pre-school groups (Week of the Child and Week 0.( Discovery). Of course, we also h91d spe9iaI members' events and some f6.nd-rai~rs. In the past two years, the planetarium has become a part of most of these events. It has been the location for one of the three work shops for Overnight Discovery and the Gifted and Talented program, with great suc cess. In the past year, it has been the site for programs as a part of each of the seasonal Christine Brunello has been the Planetarium Coordinator at the Discovery Center in Amarillo, Texas, for over two years. Previ ously, she was an intern at More head Planetarium. Christine holds a BA in Astronomy from UT and an MA from UNC-Chapel Hill. Qclwlins1: in'to the rabbit hole ... 8 The Planetarian dome by way of a red flashlight, and then entered the planetarium. We located Witch's Planet in the constellation of Draco find ing the Big and Little Dippers, and then blast ed off on our trip (most of the audience for got to bring their broomsticks, so we had to use a conventional rocket ship). we flew over the moon, discussed it and the other planets in our Solar System, and landed on Witch's Planet. It was a very enllovanle experience, with the exception of one show that included four young hecklers in the audience. The comments and evaluations of the planetarium's part in all of these seasonal events have been very positive-some noted that (in one case) the planetarium provided the educational aspect to the event. (The other activities were usually games or crafts, with no real science or education involved) Possibly as a result of this, the seasonal ... and entering the planetarium hallway. events are becoming more educational, with other science-related workshops. springtime, Easter, eggs, rabbits, etc. A volun of the sky throughout the winter-which led Of course, this all means extra responSibili teer dressed up as Peter Rabbit to help me into a mini-constellation show. Then we ty for the planetarium. But the increased conduct 15 minute live shows, in which we turned back up the lights and sang some sec exposure and the growing belief that the viewed a few constellations (Ursa Major, ular holiday songs. planetarium is an important part of the Orion, and ... of course ... Lepus the Hare). We In 1993, we simply used the planetarium as museum have been worth it. I've enjoyed found the Rabbit in the Moon, and then an auditorium for some chemistry demon giving the different programs, and finding took a trip to the moon to see all of the "rab strations during Mad Scientist Daze. In 1994, ways to fit the planetarium into the events bit holes" or craters. A wooden frame for the the planetarium transported audiences to and feel that the planetarium is playing an planetarium entrance was constructed "Witch's Planet." I hid behind the dome active role in meeting the museum's mission which allowed the children to crawl dressed as a witch, appearing through the of science education. '* through a "rabbit hole" to get into the plane tarium; the adults and frightened children went through another entrance. The only drawback to the whole program was reunit ing parents and children inside the planetari um-it was very crowded, and occasionally children would tum around and go back out the rabbit hole while the parents waited inside the planetarium for them. Last year for December Discovery, we turned the planetarium into the "North Pole." Volunteers were dressed as Rudolph and Frosty-both of whom reside at the North Pole. The entrance to the planetarium was decorated with snowflakes, and the floor was covered with paper and white confetti, which glowed nicely under the blacklights. (Unfortunately, the paper used to make the snowflakes did not glow, and the papersta pled to the carpeting was repeatedly pulled up and mangled by mothers with strollers.) We discussed the North Pole's location on The rabbit discusses finding his way to the globe, the temperatures, and the darkness your house at night - using the stars! Vol. 24, No.1, March 1995 The Planetarian 9 • mation control at the Acad'emlV i I I I • • time I I i I The United States Air Force Academy included: Navigation, Astronomy, Physics, Planetarium, completed in January of 1959, Arts and Humanities, Engineering Materials, has a proud tradition of writing, producing, Astronautics, and Airmanship.[5] and presenting academic and sup Although the primary mission of the port presentations for the entire aCiaQC~In etarium is to support cadet instruction, an community. Early in its the very active and free public schedule of program nature of the facility hampered its effective has continued from March of 1959 ness in the endeavor. Not because it lacked capability, staff, or skill to pro Today the facility is no longer vide the highest quality educational presen Academy Center for Educational tations to cadets, but rather because of the perceived nature of the facility. It housed a title and how it is fulfilling star projector! Most instructors and depart ment heads knew this fact and discounted its until the present.[6] To date, more than 3 mil audio visual capabilities. Today the facility is lion visitors have seen in this no longer The Planetarium but the USAF facility.[7] Public attendance has varied from Academy Center for Educational Multi a high of 120,000 persons per year to the cur media Why it claims this title and how it is rent 30,000 visitors a year who a free fulfilling this lofty goal is outlined below. presentation on some topic of astronomy, When the USAF Academy was space exploration, military art and science, designed, some inSightful individual suggest or cadet instruction.[S] ed that the Air Force Academy, founded as the space age was beginning, should have an appropriate facility which would rep1res,ent the space age. Thus the Academy came to etarium Dn~ent(lti 10 The Planetarian Vol. his generous financial help we were able to boxes could simultaneously react and either purchase Commodore 64 computers. Staff tum on, fade up, advance or fade down a Sergeant Richard Cheek, then Captain Larry device. Up to 128 devices could be controlled O. Anderson, and I wrote code to enable the simultaneously. A new command could be Commodore to emulate the touch tone sent as often as 1/16 of a second. Through the codes used by the old automation system. use of funds that became available at the end We couId now operate the equipment at of the 1985 fiscal year we were able to pur and there was notnllng mind boggling speed-one 3 digit code every chase such a controller. It is currently still in itllO] Immense amounts of time 0.2 seconds, an increase of 1000% over the use at the planetarium. manual method! For a couple of years, we Today, newer systems allow programming were able to exceed the requirements of the in real time, as opposed to writing code, course directors and script writers of the compiling, recording, then playing back the cadet instruction modules and public pre data With these faster computers the num sentations. Inevitably, however, the tasking ber of devices that one can control has increased. Our next excursion into home increased significantly. built automation was using the Z-100. A For each of the 15,000 presentations given Pascal program written for us by an officer in in the planetarium prior to January 1992, the the Computer Sciences Department (OFCS) big device in the center of the room was promised a faster system. It was never fully always the main eqUipment item. That utilized although tests indicated an improve device was the planetarium. It could repro we our panorama ment of about 50% would have been duce the night sky, but only as seen from the degrees to the side of the instrument achieved. We had reached an automation center of the Earth. We often fibbed and told cOI:n~K)und curved screen barrier! The problem: data had to come out people they were seeing the sky from of the computer serially, controlling one Colorado Springs, Stonehenge, or the Holy device at a time. Land depending upon the program. Not that By 1985 most of the large planetariums it made much difference in the appearance urn housed an opl:iCGI1-fllechaJrliCai pJlan€~taI'i- around the world were buying automation of the sky, but we didn't teach Celestial systems. It was an easy thing for them to do Navigation using the moon because of the because they charged an admission fee to parallax problems of not being on the sur their public customers, but the Air Force face of the earth at a given location. Academy Planetarium could not. These The planetarium could project the current automation systems sent data to "smart sky or the sky for some date in the past Oike boxes" attached to individual projectors, the beginning of the Christian era) or any then with an appropriate signal all the smart date in the future. By showing the motion of The academy planetarium is separate from the other instructional buildings at the academy and is accessible public whereas most of the training and teachlng fadlities for cadet instruction are not All Vol. 24, No.1, March 1995 The Planetarian seen from the center of the earth. It can pro capabilities of the theater. the Hons which illuminate ject any object which can be drawn using potential, the expert SERE staff have since never before. lines, arcs, points, and alpha-numerics. written two training units specifi When I first saw this device in 1983 I had cally taking advantage of the theater's prop already come to the conclusion that major erties. These SERE programs have changes had to occur at the USAFA Plane with each iteration. This is possible because tarium. In the years since 1979, there had the experts in the subject matter know the been a slow evolution away from teaching material, and can, therefore, plan the train celestial theory and the SO navigation stars ing for the entire program. As a result, the to teaching how to fill out a precomp form, a experts of SERE and the staff of the planetari work sheet that produces azimuth and eleva um produced a presentation reviewing the tion of a selected navigation star. It was obvi use of the compass; map reading; evasion ous that naVigational techniques using techniques; and direction finding using the Vortacs, Tacans, Loran, Radar and the Inertial stars. Navigation Systems were making celestial The History department, (DFH) under navigation less dependent upon the stars and less important as a course of instruction here The Center Educational Mu at the Academy Il2] The work being done on leader in interactive multimedia the Global Positioning System (GPS) was viewed as the hand-writing on the wall and the planetarium staff began an active cam Colonel Carl W. Riden, was the first around the L Major Daniel Yinger. The USAFA planetari ing to use Digistar's 3-D graphics ..... '-u.... ~.~, ... to some conclusion. We want um staff and the Deputy Commandant for for instructional purposes. Shortly after the to a system here at the Aca<1lemv Military Instruction reqUired them, as a con installation of Digistar the was which will enable cadets to have a dition of their training at a major university transferred to Military Art and Science prE:~sell1ta.tioln as it unfolds. This will allow for planetarium, to develop, prepare and pro (CWIS)-an event, in my opinion, of momen the 1) A redirection of "+'1£'1,,,.,. + duce a specific presentation to support some tous import. Lieutenant Colonel Michael M. attention as their 2) Allow aspect of airman ship training (we were still Whyte not only shares the same vision as for cadet/instructor interaction when part of the 50th Airmanship Training Squad the staff of the CEMM, but has the educa ron, SOA TS). tion, the leadership, the staff of education In the meantime, our staff, coordinating technologists and instructors eager to make with Staff Sergeant Hubbard, developed a use of their new educational asset. lieuten crude but effective presentation for Survival ant Colonel Whyte'S vision is to increase Evasion Rescue and Escape (SERE). This was a learning opportunities for cadets by use of conscious attempt to bring into the planetar multimedia experiences, instructional ium a group which had not used the facility techniques, careful script writing, and excit before and design a program using the com- ing application of these factors in presenta- 12 The Planet arion Vol. mand module would pralctic:e from Colorado to another the guidance platform a base would be measurable but the me~chan 1. Prior to the planning and construction selected group of "Guidance and Navigation ics of the plcmetar'iUlm of the Academy Planetarium, very few new stars" projected onto the planetarium dome. duce this slight shift. planetaria were being built in the US. With USAF Colonel Warren Brotnov, Retired, The difficulty with tm:~ce~)si(m the announcement of a planetarium at the interviewed Sept. 1994. Also Colorado Springs much the fact that the celestial co()rdinaltes Academy having a dome size of 15 meters, Sun 9/8/72 page 7. appear to because the pl,metar'imm the facility and its directors were welcomed 5. A sample of more than 200 scripts on could aC(:ufClte]lv portray that motion. into a group known as the Planetari file which have been used in cadet and nr()blem is that over such a um Executives Conference. The other insti lic performances includes: liThe Universe in tutions included were the Adler, the Fels, the Motion," "The History of Aviation," "First Hayden, the Morrison and the Morehead Light: The Hubble Space Telescope," diAn Planetariums. Inclusion in this group con Overview of World History," "Special Rela firmed the USAFA Planetarium as a major tivity," tiThe Dramatic Universe," and liThe current system, can be n".r''''',I'''~'"''_ planetarium. Today planetaria are being con Life of Mozart." moo to do aU of these. structed with domes exceeding 21 meters in 6. Planetarium Attendance Records date 11. The vaal~.I..ucu planetariUlm diameter. 1959 to present. Model B. 2. Sky & Telescope Vol. 18, No 5. March 1959 7. Ibid As of this writing 3,049,000 Force Acad~~mv p250. 8. Ibid. 3. The planetarium has always been under 9. Admiral Kirkpatrick also endowed the prc>jector was the Commandant of Cadets (CW) and was Kirkpatrick Planetarium to the City of suspeIla(;~a from the dome. That originally part of the Cadet Wing Instruc Oklahoma and has set up generous endow unique feature allowed cadets to use sextants tion Navigation branch (CWIN), (1959 - 1983) ments at each of the Service Academies. in the center of the theater as part of their then the branch was renamed the 50th 10. The disadvantage of the navigation The model B was sold to Airmanship Training Squadron (1983 - 1992). cal/mechanical planetarium projectors is Flint, for parts. It was .. "" ... 'I",,~orl We were then transferred to the Cadet Wing that they project light through fixed etched 1976 with a Minolta Model IV. The Minolta Instruction in (Military Arts Be) Science metal starplates. These cannot be dejtorlme,d. was in 1991 and (CWIS) (1992 - 1994). Now with reorganiza which means that all the stars must remain in Midland, Texas at the Museum the tion of the Military Instructional side of the in their fixed positions. BeSides, the amount Southwest's Marian Blakemore Planetarium. Academy we are part of the 34th Education of stellar motion caused by moving around 12. The last course of Celestial Na'viQ':~tkln Squadron. (1994 - ). on the surface of the earth could not be mea was offered the 50 4. Navigation training also extended to sured even by the most accurate instru Squadron in the Spring of 1994. The the Apollo/Skylab astronauts. Prior to each ments. However, the moon is near enough to lent course now relies upon the use, mission the crews would assemble in the the earth to be affected by our motion. The of operation, and of the USAFA planetarium theater. Using a com- change in position of the moon as we move Positioning Satellite system. The planetarium theater now has forward facing seats in a modified chevron pattern. This fac:lliDltes brt€~fil'lj~ by instructors or guest lecturers. The walled pit in the center houses Digistar and many other effects. Vol. No.1, March 1995 The Planetarian • m I II r f t Brent P. Abbatantuono 3141 Joyce Drive Orlando, Florida 32827 [ never expected to make any substan paper of my own." By 1928, Armand dosed long fascination with sinlpli.tied a!str()n()mt tial contribution to astronomy or sci in on that goal by joining the Haverford cal instruments that culminated ence, but what greater satisfaction can [ Township News, based in Brookline, Pennsyl Model A Unsuccessful have than to have one very famous vania as editor. Within three months, Spitz in starting a career while in Paris, astronomer tell me that he gained his had saved enough money to purchase the returned to to resume first interest in astronomy through News, found the Spitz Publishing Company, a journalist. viewing a Spitz planetarium when he and achieve his goal. In the Township News, Upon his return, his was a small boy. [ can only hope that in Spitz concentrated on com- whatever celestial book-keeping there is munity activities, with [ will be given indirect credit for helping occasional features on spe along the knowledge ofthe heavens. cial events in Philadelphia, induding notes on the Armand Neustadter Spitz was born in Franklin Institute. Beyond Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 7, 1904. work on his own paper, Ar His father Louis was a physician and his mand continued serving as mother Rose (nee Neustadter) a homemaker. a correspondent for the Among the various biographical sources on Philadelphia Bulletin into Armand, only one refers to a brother named the mid 1930s. Louis who became a physician in West Bolstered by his work as Philadelphia like his father. Armand Spitz editor, publisher, and own had green-gray eyes and dark hair which er of the Township News, thinned and grayed prematurely. Spitz participated actively Armand attended public schools, graduat in his community into the ing from West Philadelphia High School in Great Depression. He served 1922. He entered the University of Penn as president of the Haver sylvania immediately after graduation and ford Township Free Library spent two years there. Transferring to the and founded the Haverford University of Cincinnati, Armand attended Township Chamber of classes from September of 1924 through Commerce. These activities April of 1926, when he left without receiving made Armand well known a degree. He then returned to Pennsylvania in the township, but not to work as a journalist. necessarily popular. In the In Philadelphia, Armand first worked as a elections of 1932, Armand district reporter for the Camden Courier. He endorsed several candidates enjoyed gathering news and later recounted, from the "wrong" (losing) "I acquired a sneaking desire to have a news- party. Some residents dis agreed with him so strong- 1y they burned him in effi This article is Chapter 4 of the mas gy. Armand Spitz, 1904 -1971 ter's thesis "Armand Neustadter During the DepreSSion, (All photographs in Spitz and his Planetaria: with Spitz and the Township Spitz, Inc., Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.) Historical Notes of the Model A at News suffered. Supporting the University of Florida," written banks and advertisers by Brent P. Abbatantuono in found themselves unable to pay for their acquaintance with and began August of 1994 and used here by space. Although he accepted scrip as pay Golden, whom he knew from the News. She was one of six children of Mrs. permission. A <;opy of the entire ment and bartered goods for various compa Gertrude Golden, a District ".",..,"" ..,i .... t·""n,rl"'... t work with extensive references nies' advertising space in the paper, Armand could not provide enough financial support of the Philadelphia Board of Education and may be purchased for $15.00 from to sustain the newspaper so both he and the eventual chair of its relations him at the address above. For fur Township News were forced into bankruptcy ment. to a 1954 interview, one ther information, contact the in 1932. night during their Vera asked author at this address or via email Without money or a job, Armand voy Armand to name a particularly star. at [email protected]. aged to France intending to work as a corre- Not knowing the answer, he over 14 The Planetarian Vol. No.1, March Armand Spitz, 1V pioneer and Philadelphia's first 1V weatherman. astronomy books and memorized star remarked on the limits of his formal astro spotlights, this large hemisphere showed names to impress her on future dates. After a nomical education: detailed craters, rilles, and maria. Since it brief courtship, they married only cost $15 to build, this model was widely Besides her work with the newspaper, I am not a mathematical astronomer. I copied but, as Vera recalled, gluing it togeth Vera served on the Haverford Township don't get along with mathematical er (which Armand did in the kitchen), "made Planning Commission and with the local equations. I am not very much of a sd the house smell like a fishery for weeks." historical society. Together, the Spitzes had entist. You can call me an interpreter of Despite such meager origins, the Moon even two children-a daughter, Verne Carlin born science ifyou want to. tually became a permanent display at the in 1935 and a son, Armand Lawrence (Larry) Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences. born in 1939. Unfortunately, the marriage Nevertheless, Spitz used the college's ten The Spitz home, a two-century-old house between Armand and Vera was not happy inch refractor to study double stars and gave in Landsdowne, Pennsylvania, staged several and they divorced late in 1957, following a frequent public lectures. James Greene, emer other of Armand's astronomical projects. In publicized suit. Vera died without having itus professor of astronomy at Haverford, the yard, Armand built an equatorial-pier remarried at her sister's home in Havertown, through telephone interview recalls Armand reflecting telescope. When repainting the Pennsylvania on 21 April 1962. Spitz as an active educator who was con living room, Spitz covered the ceiling with stantly trying to spread his passion for "an elaborate representation of the planets Astronomy Beckons Armand astronomy to the public within this highly revolving among the signs of the zodiac." On Armand Spitz began his path to the stars appropriate setting. some walls he painted detailed astronomical with an eight year association with Haver During 1935, Spitz constructed a four-foot instruments including a replica of Tycho ford College located in Haverford, Pennsyl tall papier-mache Moon which he then Brahe's mural quadrant. After Spitz moved vania, from 1935. There, he worked as an brought to classrooms, auditoriums, and away, these designs were mistakenly classi assistant astronomer and astronomy lectur museums to show audiences how our satel fied as early examples of Oriental art in er, but he never achieved faculty status since lite appeared through an average telescope. America Perhaps the most significant pieces he lacked a college degree. Spitz later These lectures spread Spitz's fame nationally of astronomical machinery to come from and drew large audiences. Illuminated by this home, however, was the Soft Soap origi- Vol. 24, No.1, March 1995 The Planetarian 15 nal and several subsequent prototypes of the became part of the public school curriculum dren the possibility of cornbllnirl~ e 16 The Plane tar ian Vol. No.1, March 1995 death in 1971. Spitz did not abandon popular literature during his involvement with the Newtown Friends Meeting, however. While developing and installing a series exhibits on meteorology for school children at the Franklin Institute, Spitz decided the public wanted better explanations of how and why weather worked as it did. Mixing this realization with his drive to spread a love of science, he wrote a book to explain the weather. Enlisting the aid of Mrs. Harry Thomas Jordan, Spitz published his second book in 1943. A Start in Meteorology-An Introduction to the Science of the Weatherwas intended for laymen without extensive knowledge of mathematics or physics. According to a contemporary review of the book, "it provides a dear account of why the weather is what it is, and will enable the careful and observant reader to make predic tions of his own." In accord with his person al interest in meteorology, Spitz drew an of the illustrations and wrote the post-chapter questions throughout this volume. True to his drive to popularize science, Spitz included a gimmick with this book. Built into the cover was a piece of chemical ly treated paper which changed color according to humidity. Because of this, the book itself was a weather instrument-a per fect example of Spitz's belief that science could be entertaining, easy, and accurate. A Start in Meteorology also coordinated nicely with Spitz's work during World War II as a lecturer on meteorology and celestial navi gation at the Air-Mar Navigation school in Philadelphia. The popularity of the book and Spitz's exhibits at the Franklin Institute soon led him to set up a Department of Meteorology there, of which he became the director. Following World War II, Spitz took on several different independent projects. He went to Puerto Rico as an educational con Armand Spitz, traveling salesman sultant for the United States Department of Education, advising on revisions to science instrument ever invented,' and he felt it a young daughter Verne. At the Fels Plane education. Spitz co-founded Science Asso shame a planetarium could be enjoyed only tarium, Armand had seen the awe children, ciates in Princeton, New Jersey to produce where some philanthropLl)t donated a huge and adults, had for the planetarium sky and amateur astronomical and meteorological sum to purchase and house a Zeiss instru its stories. Unfortunately, only those fortu eqUipment and, also in the year 1946, started ment." These twin motives inspired Spitz to nate enough to live near major U.s. cities Uke the Amateur Weathermen of America. In begin working on his planetarium as a com Philadelphia, New York, and Chicago could 1947, he became president of the Ritten mercial venture toward the end of 1945. enjoy these sky shows. To make this won house Astronomical Society in Philadelphia With a target price of $500, Spitz began drous experience more widely available, and the next year, began a four-year term as developing his miniature star sphere. After Spitz resolved to try and develop a smaller, President of the Philadelphia Science perfecting this portable planetarium, cheaper planetarium. Council. Around this time Spitz also joined Armand Spitz spent the next decade con The Franklin Institute only offered a mod the American Astronomical Society. sumed with producing and pitching it to erate salary, but Spitz eventually convinced amateurs around the country who were several friends to help him finance his Origins of the Model A interested in the stars. dream. When Spitz began demonstrations According to his long-time associate Nigel The history of the Model A planetarium with a hand-made prototype planetarium in O'e. Wolff, Armand Spitz held two key opin stretches back to the late 1930s, when 1946, he soon realized that if he hoped to ions throughout his life: I'He believed the Armand decided he should be able to give mass produce the instrument he needed an planetarium was 'the greatest teaching star shows in his home to en tertain his easier shape into which to driB star holes. Vol. 24, No.1, March 1995 The Planetarian 17 Custom tooling to cut pinpoint holes in a design. Through his work at the Franklin planetarium. the sphere was just too expensive and hand Institute and recent affiliation with Science ahedral prototypes (which piercing each unit required too much time Associates in Princeton, Spitz had become by hand at his home and a friend's and effort. acquainted with Albert Einstein. One day, workshop) needed constant twleaJ.cin~. Working through each of the regular Spitz mentioned his efforts on the planetari Spitz used a stack of small needles solids, Spitz initially chose a regular icosahe um and difficulties with the icosahedron. bits to enlarge or make new star holes dron to form his planetarium's star "ban". Einstein suggested the process would be plastic panels. A simple black china This twenty-sided figure gave many flat sur much simpler if Spitz used a dodecahedron served to reduce and correct any impelrtetct faces into which star drilling would be easy. to approximate a sphere of stars. This idea or misplaced holes. Such last-minute A spate of intensive work followed as Spitz proved quite workable and, after another ments preceded most of the plotted stars off of his celestial atlases onto four months of work laying out the new star demonstrations of the the planetarium's plates. Unfortunately, maps onto plastic dodecahedral plates, Spitz prototype planetarhlm. when he assembled this model, the acute tri had solved his problem of mass-producing One adjustment session imm€~dicltejy angles required to form this shape were nei the star panels. ceded the first official pn~Sellltaltioln ther easy to cut nor did they produce a Although the flat pentagons of a dodeca Model A made in 1947 at the Harvard Obser three-dimensional shape nearly as spherical hedron made stacking and drilling them eas vatory. This combined meeting of the Amer as Spitz had intended. He needed a better ier, it distorted the plotting of stars on the ican Association of Variable Star Observers (AA VSO) and the Bond Astronomical gave Spitz his first chance to have the Model A critiqued each star had to be the moved into the Harvard dome, Spitz and Wolff gave a lecture which showed off the possibilities of the Spitz planet:arium I T IUM to the assembled astronomers and guests. The demonstration was a great success, as for were several others made on this When he returned to his home-office in Pennsylvania, Spitz had received orders from Schools, Libraries, across the country. Museums, Clubs or This success by no means marked the end for the Home to Armand's roving demonstrations, howev er. Spitz also demonstrated his first commer dan y built Model A planetarium to Watch the stars rolling across the officials at the Pentagon. On the sky in classroom, church, living odd-shaped device was mistaken room or bedroom. Set the planets passerby as an atomic bomb. This for any date ... See the motions each of the military training academies to of the heavens as viewed from order Spitz planetaria to be used in their home, North Pole, Equator or astronomical orientation and Southern Hemisphere. classes. The first commercial Model A which Spitz had used in his Washington demon stration was placed into service imlmleajlat~~y Planetarium will afterwards at Eastern Mennonite be shipped within Harrison burg, Virginia two weeks of re F.O.B. Wenonah, N. J. ceipt of order. With a commercial version The Spitz Planetarium and other began showing off his unit to as many peo astronomical teaching aids ple as pOSSible, often hand his demonstrator model by air, rail, and road to are sold by Each Spitz Planetarium installation is fully the lectures. Often, as with an American Air guaranteed, and includes selected astro lines flight in 1948, he would give iml)fOInp nomical teaching aids and suggestions for ASSOCIATES tu demonstrations to interested passengers if use. Electric drive in daily motion and an a suitably dark area could be found. 401 North Broad Street optical pointer are included. Publicity in Sky and Telescope the Philadelphia 8, Pa. Harvard debut demonstration drew Telephone - Market 7-1372 national interest for the Model A pJalnetari urn. When the first full-page advertisement SKY AND TELESCOPE (No. 72) appeared in the October, 1947 issue, the Model A was offered at $500 from Science Associates of ...., .. .,"" ...... ad for the Spitz Model A; a universe of stars for $500. Orders came in for the Model A from schools 18 The Planetarian Vol. No.1, March 1995 Spitz promotes his planetarium on local television and universities throughout the United 1949 Spitz Laboratories moved into an aban units and all the Model A-2 planetaria. A States as well as internationally. Of the over doned vacuum and carpet cleaner store, final relocation came with a 1969 move to a seas customers, some were educational cen then to an old movie theater on Woodland custom factory in Chadds Ford, Pennsylva ters but they also included foreign digni Avenue in southwestern Philadelphia. This nia instigated by the new owner McGraw taries like King Farouk of Egypt. building became the factory and production Hill. During the first years of the Model A's pro center for the next five years. Here, the Armand Spitz was caned by one associate duction, many sales and most product devel Model A, its derivative the A-I, and the "a man with an endless stream of ideas." opment occurred in the Spitz home. The Model B, were designed and tested under spe Almost anyone who knew him would con massive nature of this project forced cial domes. The first major design change in firm the majority of those ideas focused on Thanksgiving dinners to be buffets since Spitz planetaria also occurred here, as the popularizing astronomy. Although he had lithe dining-room table and almost every dodecahedron star panels went from plastic done this with his model Moon in the 1930s other surface in the house was piled high to metal. and h.is two books in the early 194Os, with models, tools, books, correspondence, Spitz Laboratories moved to Elkton, undeniable influence in popular astronomy and parts of several planetariums." Such spar Maryland in 1953, when General Develop came through his selling of the Model A. tan manufacturing arrangements came out ment was called in for financial aid. Early Armand Spitz took promotion of his of necessity. Spitz operated his company in Model A-I planetaria built at this plant etarium to extremes and heavily pubHciJ':ed these early years from the money he and included the first bright star/deep sky lens un usual installations of his As five friends had pooled Until museums and elements inserted into the dodecahedron. previously noted, one Spitz Model A-the schools had been convinced his inexpensive When demand for Spitz planetaria required "Little Planetarium" of Boston-was the instrument could produce adequate star an even larger facility, Spitz Laboratories world's first travening Its direc images, no major partners would back him. relocated again to Yorklyn, Delaware in 1955. tor Charles Federer became a life-long friend Despite this shoestring environment, in This plant produced the bulk of Model A-I to Armand and used his position at and Vol. 24, No.1, March 1995 The Planetarian 19 Armand Spitz and his travelling planetarium in Yearon, Pennsylvania. Telescope to promote Spitz planetaria with tive coverage of extraordinary Spitz installa By organizing efforts to sen "Astronomical articles such as "Trail Blazing with Spitz tions in widely read astronomical and gener Quitelaim Deeds," Spitz doled out of Planetariums" which essentially constituted al publications augmented interest in the universe ... that shall remain tax-free feature-length advertisements. planetaria until such time as there is habitation of The notion of a travelling Spitz planetari In a slightly different vein, Herbert N. Space beyond the Planet Earth by um was later picked up by St John Terrell Williams, convinced of the Model A's effec beings" in proportion to the amount with his II Astrotarium." Using an inflatable tiveness during a 1948 demonstration at the contributed by an individual or or$~arliz':l planetarium dome and a Spitz Model A-I Franklin Institute, was hired by Armand in tion. Donations of $1 bought common stars, projector, he departed Wichita, Kansas in 1952 as a travelling planetarium salesman. fees from $100 to $250 bought the planets, 1958, then drove across the Midwest where With a Spitz Model A and a special collapsi and $500 each purchased rights to the Sun he set up the planetarium for shows in shop ble fourteen-foot canvas and aluminum and Moon. This scheme financed many ping center parking lots. Coverage of these dome in his station wagon, Williams trav installations of Spitz planetaria across the rolling Spitz star shows included a short elled some 40,000 miles over the next two country, including those at the Boston photo essay in the New York Times Magazine years generating sales for Spitz planetaria. Museum of Science (the "U tHe Plane Sunday supplement. When the Spitz product line expanded tarium") and at Roger Williams Park in Other unusual Spitz locations abounded. beyond the size of his station wagon, Providence, Rhode Island One was the "unusual planetarium installa Williams altered his methods but not his The furious years of development and tion," cited in Popular Astronomy, erected enthusiasm for Spitz planetaria. relentless salesmanship which Armand put within the Ozark Mountains as a tourist Armand Spitz himself devised several into his Model A made Spitz Laboratories attraction. According to the wishes of Frank inventive methods for spreading his Model and its planetaria highly profitable the C. Thomas, a large cave on the outskirts of A planetaria Perhaps the most enduring was end of its first decade of existence. Much of Fayetteville, Arkansas housed this Spitz the idea of selling stars to finance the pur the early success stemmed from Model A-I star theater. Certainly, such posi- chase and installation of a Spitz planetarium. Spitz. Armand's enthusiasm for popularizing 20 The Planetarian Vol. No.1, March 1995 astronomy was not, however, limited to his divorce from Vera in 1957, the country. From 1%1 to 1963, overseeing full-time production of his Armand was seen at of to various teacher's groups on tarium instruments. On the contrary, the Astronomical League and the National tion in New York In 1962, he Armand participated in many other notable Astronomers with Grace C. Scholz. up a science center in Hawaii, projects related to astronomy and science Grace was born in New York City in 1912, there as interim ""l"",,,,,+.,. ..·h,,,,, d.irectc~r. education throughout the Space-Race orient- graduated from Hunter with her A.B. in 1962, ed decade which in the late 19SOs. in 1933, and completed £r':Hil1at:e Columbia and the American from 1936 to 1940. Although Grace worked with various U.S. government rl""n!> ..t ..... "'nt" When Sputnik orbited in October of 1957, the Harvard-Smithsonian Astrophysical as a medical statistician for many years, she Laboratory and Observatory asked Armand harbored an enthusiasm for astronomy that Spitz to help coordinate its three-year old rivaled Armand's. satellite prediction and tracking program. Grace's astronomical interests had pro Spitz took charge of the operation and soon pelled her into five years of service as execu York World's Fair. a seat had 5,000 volunteer observers spread across tive secretary and two as president of the Board of Science Education of W(ishin~~tOll1. the United States and into other countries. Astronomical League by 1957 plus a year as D.C. in 1964; the same year he At various times this group operated as president and four as trustee of the National board of directors of Edmund Sctenltifi·c, "Spitz's Sputnik Spotters," "Project Moon Capital Astronomers. During her Df4;$i Vol. No.1, March 1995 The Planetarian 21 Selected References Katz, Adolph. IIChief U.S. Spotter Taught "Space Show." New York Times M(;j!gaZlrl!e. Himself Astronomy." Philadelphia Evening October 26, 1958. P 30. "Armand N. Spitz Dies; Designed Planetar Bulletin. November 3, 1957. Spencer, Steven M. liThe Stars are His Play- iums." Philadelphia Evening Bulletin. April Ludhe, Ernesti Watson, Paul S.; Washburn, things." Saturday Evening Post. 24, 17,1971. "Armand Spitz at CAPE." Planetarian. June, Bradford; Huey, Edward; and Gillotti, 19S4.p 97. Frances J. IITrail Blazing with Spitz Plane Spitz Laboratories Incorporated. "An Un 1972.p 7. tariums." Sky and Telescope. January, 1949. usual Planetarium Installation." Popular Associated Press. "Observers Plan Satellite p 66-69. Astronomy. April, 1950. P 195. Posts." New York Times. June 10,1956. p 38. "Man-Made Moon." Science Illustrated. Spitz, Armand N. "Report on the Educational Chamberlain. liThe Development of the August, 1947. p 9. Activities of the Franklin Institute." Jour Planetarium in the United States." Annual Nitzsche, George E. "Review of A Start in nal of the Franklin Institute. November, ~eport ofthe Smithsonian p 274. Meteorology." General Magazine and Histori "Dr. Armand Spitz Dies; Writer on Astron 1944. p368. cal Chronicle of the University of Pennsyl "Spitz, Armand Neustadter." National omy." Washington Evening Star. April 16, vania. Spring, 1944. Cyclopedia ofAmerican Biography. Vol 56. 1971. 1I0bituary of Mrs. Armand N. Spitz (Vera James T. White, 1975. p 421. Federer, Charles A. "Armand N. Spitz-Plane Golden)." Philadelphia Inquirer. April 25, Spitz, Grace S. The First Armand Spitz Lecture. tarium Inventor." Sky and Telescope. June, 1962. Spitz Incorporated, nd. p 8. 1971. p 354. Schran, John. liThe Age of the Spitz Dodeca "Spitz, Grace Scholz." Who's Who ofAmerican Hoffman, Ellen. /I Armand N. Spitz, Astrono hedron." Phenomena. Fall 1993/Winter Women 1972-1973. Who's Who incorpor mer, Dies." Washington Post April 16, 1971. ColO. 1994. p 3. ated, 1973. p 683. Science Associates. II Announcing the Spitz K., W. "Cave Planetarium." New York Times. Planetarium." Sky and Telescope. October, All photographs are courtesy Spitz, Inc., Chadds February 26, 1950. P 9. 1947. p.27. Ford. Pennsylvania. "* A SpittJr. planetarium gets a test drive. 22 The Plane tar ian Vol. 24, No.1, March 1995 two of you wanted a Minolta for your ideal Alan Bowden, Director of the Opening the star projection system Planetarium in the United reports In the area of Disappointing Experiences on a personal disaster when he was 16, that in Sky Interpretation, there were a few votes literally opened his eyes to the skies. He was Dome for the frustration of having to work with mixing chemicals, when, "there was sud the non-spectacular Halley's Comet, den explOSion and the mixture my although some of us also thought the comet face. At the time I didn't know whether was provided us with some of our best interpreta blinded and I spent several in a conducted by tion success stories. hospital bed with my face cOlup'let,ely Jon U. Bell Our wish for an ideal telescope ranged ed with bandages. After a few curi- Planetarium Director from an 8 - 20" refractor, to 16 - 24" reflector, ous as to whether I would be able all the way up to a 24 -36" Cassegrain. again, and early one I ("'", .. pr", •• " Indian River Community Our favorite planet to interpret: five votes ed the bandages whilst the College for Jupiter; six votes for Saturn; five votes for required elsewhere. My bed was Venus; five votes for Mars; and four votes for opposite a large window and Fort Pierce, Florida 34981 earth. brightly in the early dawn Our favorite deep-sky object: one vote for Jupiter-a magnificent above the MI, the Crab Nebula; two votes for M13, and trees. You can imagine my relief at "Opening the Dome" addresses strategies and two votes for globular star dusters in gener that I was not blinded, and how welcome a logistics for conducting active, aggressive real a]; seven votes for M31, the Andromeda sight Jupiter was. Ever since then has sky observation programs as adjuncts to plane Galaxy; nine votes for M42, the Great Orion had a in my astronomy memo tariu m shows. Nebula; three votes for M45, the Pleiades; ries." three votes for M57, the Ring Nebula; one Like many of The Planetarian's columnists, vote for M81 (on account of last year's super Carrie Director of the Andrus I saw last year's Cocoa conference as an nova in that galaxy); and one vote for the Planetarium in Yonkers, New York, reports opportunity to talk to a large number of IPS double star duster in Perseus (NGC 869 & on her worst star party "I recent- members about what was going on at their NGC884). ly tried to give a star talk on a beach facilities. Clever person that I am, I came pre with a microphone and parents with three pared with a questionnaire that I thought Meanwhile, here are some anecdotal sam year-oIds. It was after nine, and were might get a few of you to open up about plings from the survey respondents. spread out over the beach. I asked them to some of your early experiences in this busi look in the direction in which the sun set ness. Unfortunately, I didn't reach everyone, Steve Mitch, Benedum Natural Science and people were looking an over so with that in mind, a copy of that survey Theater, recalls his first experience with the They trickled out toward the end" immediately follows this article. Please send sky came when his father took him (;.'1d his it in to me, and I'll try to use your comments brother out to see a northern lights display. Paul Tremtlley of the Plane- in upcoming col umns. "That night was also the first time that I had tarlum in Orlando, Florida, reports his best In looking over the questionnaires, I seen the Milky Way. The aurora was weak, story about operating a when a found some common experiences among us: but I can still remember the faint greenish lady "wanted to know if my BIG tel(~SC()De Four of us related that at least one visitor color." could look the douds." He also adds asked us where we stuck the slide into the Steve's first planetarium visit was to the that Saturn is a favorite of his for lni'pn'r,p,t~_ telescope to create the image of whatever it Buh! in Pittsburgh, not far from where he Hon, especially the rings, "like grooves on a was they were looking at; now works in Wheeling. It was in the 6th phonograph record, for those who still know Probably most of us have had people want grade: "My st~ongest memories of that visit what a phonograph record is." Paul, I to look through telescopes while it was rain was how impressed I was with the stars and remember playing records that were shaped ing; how bored I was with the presenter. At the like cylinders. 'Course, I also remember a At least two of us have been presented time, I had no idea what all the lines were time when you could swim across the with the lucky coincidence of conducting a that were projected onto the dome. I recall Atlantic River ... ) star party and talking about meteors just as a absolutely no other visuals." brilliant fireball lit up the sky, to the delight Steve adds, "That visit did not influence Alan Holt Planetarium at the and impressed amazement of enthralled visi my career." Lawrence Han of Science in Cali- tors. According to Steve Mitch, tithe (elemen fornia, first visited a plamE~talrium, tary) teachers were excited and wanted me Cyndi Zeger of Woodson Planetarium in Gates, while on a field to do it again!" Salisbury, North Carolina, reports that her "Then my parents bought me a used 4.25 In the questionnaire, I did not ask specifi first planetarium experience came only a inch reflector with a German '-'4 ...... "'-' ...u cally for your preference in planetarium pro few years ago, in 1986. Her favorite visitor mount." He reports the LHCU":;UH jectors; nevertheless, several of you respond was a young girl, about 9 or 10 years old, who wasn't a deciding factor in his career, but ed with the following, unsolicited choices: had come for a planetarium camp-in. '''It that "the strongest memory was the Five of you are hoping for a Zeiss projector looks so close ... like I could touch it. I'm beauty of the simulated sky with nice in your future; going to tell my dad I'm spending the night music." Alan also reports on a terrific tech Three of you would like a Digistar; and here every weekend!'" nique once demonstrated to him at star Vol. 24, No.1, March 1995 The Plane tarian 25 party: "a visiting amateur shot off his camera could provide. We were told by a large num When Dennis lAT.",'hC1+"" .. flash into the eyepiece end of the telescope ber of our patrons that seeing it on television tarium in Pennsylvania, was very to show a bright beam to indicate where in was just not the same as seeing the event for rising full moon, very red in color, aJa.rmied the sky the telescope was pointed." themselves I think this brings up one of the him: "I was sure it was Mars about strongest arguments for using the observa into the Earth!" Jeanne Bishop of Westlake Schools Plane tory or a telescope in conjunction with a tarium in Ohio, reports her earliest recollec planetarium. You see, no matter how realis Noreen tion of the sky when "my father taught me tic or impressive a planetarium presents an tarium in Boston, recalls ... ;"l+i"., .... the 'bear shape' when I was about five. I had astronomical event, it still does not capture where she now trouble seeing the figure but I kept trying; the imagination of most people the way the and after a few months it "popped" out for actual event does." me. This experience has helped me appreci Some of Michael's more interesting ques ate others' difficulty." Like Steve Mitch and tions from the public: "When will Jupiter Dennis Webster, Jeanne's first large planetari blow up?"; "Can we see the Earth through th()U~~ht I'd be one!" um visit was also to the Buhl, although the telescope? I replied no because it's not Noreen also on a time before that, she had the benefit of the small the right time of the year (unfortunately, grad student, she drove a hundred miles planetarium her father, Richard Emmons, that person didn't see the humor here and bring a for a star party to built and operated for Canton-Kent State just said, 'OK')"; I/and my favorite is when Scout camp. "The were UH_"~UH'H University. someone asked me if they should bring in thrilled at both at the Jeanne's most unusual visitor was a man pets and tender vegetation because of the and learning about it from a woman who, after looking through her telescope, Perseid meteor shower." tist. A few said wanted to be an astrono- described, in great detail, his view of Saturn. mer!" II After he moved away, I discovered the lens Lorna Waddell-Kremer, University of New cap was [still] on [the telescope]." (Maybe Mexico in Albuquerque, recalls seeing the Elvert of the Lane ESD Planetarium someone took the slide out after he left ... ) stars in the sky over New York City, of an out in Eugene, Oregon, like many of us, places. "Somehow, they faded from the over enjoyed stories about the apIJariltion Peter Smolders of Artis Planetarium in head sky. But I continued to enjoy them at of Halley's Comet in 1910 while CO]10l1ctmg Amsterdam, was profoundly influenced as a the Hayden. Lorna reports her greatest sky star parties for IIsecond timers" in 1986. Jon teenager, while visiting the Zeiss Plane interpretation challenge was I/living in also reports his earliest recollection of the tarium (lithe second Zeiss!") in the Hague. lilt Rochester, New York, where the most pre sky was around the age of seven, when some- was just the Zeiss projector, but the director, dictable sky groups are Cumulus Major and one pointed out to him a solar Dr.JJ. Raimond,Jr., told the story so well! The Serious Overcast./I next year I started writing [about astronomy] Dint Hatchett of the Science and in the youth page of a local newspaper." Mike Ryan of Lake County Schools 26 The Planetarian Vol. No.1, March Opening the Dome Skywatching Questionnaire (photocopy this form and send to: Jon Bell, Indian River Community College, 3209 Virginia Ave., Fort Pierce, FL 34981 USA; use additional sheets if necessary) Name ______Phone# ______ Planetarium ______ Address ______ What's your earliest recollection of the sky or sky phenomena? When was your first planetarium and/or observatory visit, how old were you, was this visit a deciding factor in your career, and what was your strongest memory of the visit? What's your best story about operating a telescope for school or public viewing? What would be your ideal planetarium/observatory setup; what kind of equipment, layout, sta:~, programming, etc.? What's your favorite planet for interpretation, and why? What's your favorite Messier or deep sky object, or your favorite sequence of objects to display and interpret? What was your greatest sky interpretation success? What was your worst sky interpretation disaster? Vol. 24, No.1, March 1995 The Plane tar ian 27 a Shonandai Culture Center GSS-HeHos The GSS-Helios (GSX) features 25,000 stars reproducing a sky seen only from space. Digital shutters mean n<:>,nn",'<:>rn without stray stars twinkling through the image. Computer-assisted functions give manual mode the ease without replacing the lecturer. The list of special GO TO features goes on and on. Contact your nearest relJreSel1tatn'e find out what your could be like. The GI014si offers Space Simulator functions GOTO's exclusive automatic mechanism. No more shows lost to With the spare lamp into action with a touch of a button at the console. fast and efficient. That's a GOTO Planetari urn. 4-16 Yazaki-cho Fuchu-shi, JAPAN TEL: Inti No. +81-423-62-5312 FAX: Inti No. +81-423-61-9571 Email: KG101116@"'TT."",,,,.r,,c G1014si amental personality" (a characteristic more or-less shared by all modem electronic dim mers) in concert with characteristics sometimes found in a planetarium's electri cal wiring. Richard McColman Morehead Planetarium It's important to keep in mind that mod #3480 Morehead Bldg. ern solid-state dimmers don't really "dim" at University of North Carolina all, but rather they are high-speed "uyitrlhi11ICY devices that rapidly turn AC voltage on and Chapel Hill, NC off at precisely determined points along each half-cycle of the AC waveform. Have you Dimmers Gone ever listened to your planetarium's house Haywire ... let's take a closer look at .. . some ways to deal with it .... Many us In our last installment, we briefly touched crosstalk ... even if we haven't realized it at on situations that can make dimmers inter actively "misbehave." Since this can be a real problem for planetarians-and a poorly lights "sing" as they fade up or down? No, shown in I, the AC sine waves understood one at that-let's take a closer you won't hear them performing ses separate lines don't sinlultarleously but instead, are stal~gered look at this phenomena which is called Like a Virgin, but at certain points a from each other in time, as in "dimmer crosstalk", and explore some ways fade, you can actually hear the lamp fUa lack of syllcrlfonu~aIllon to deal with it. ment(s) emitting an acoustical "b\lZzim~" Many of us have seen dimmer crosstalk This sound is generated by the vibration of a either in our own facilities, or when we visit lamp filament as a dimmer switches current electricians refer to our planetarium colleagues-even if we on and off 120 times every second (100 times rate electrical service circuits haven't realized it at the time. Crosstalk is per second in many non-U.S. areas). are also referred to typicaHy evidenced by dimmer-connected in the dimmer determines exactly where "hots" or "mains". Aocmnpan'viI1lg rate hot projectors whose lamp-levels "burst" in or along each AC wave that current should be out when they're not supposed to, when switched in order to make the lamp glow at another projector is intentionally faded up a desired level. more than one in<:oI1niI1ig or down. Sometimes when this occurs, plane The semiconductor device in an ele,:tron phases enter the plcmetarimn, tarians tend point the finger of blame at the ic dimmer that does this switching is the to separate electrical connectors the "service box" or "breaker box". dimmers themselves, or at some other com triac. And it is also this triac that endows a ponents within the control system. How dimmer with its temperamental character. in the box these ever, this is usually not the case at all! True While triacs do a great job of rapidly switch dimmer crosstalk is actually due to the com ing AC current, they are vulnerable to bination of an electronic dimmer's 14temper- "false-triggered" by electrical forces external to the dimmer or con trol system. This false neutral ties in to the "neutral buss triggering, in turn, leads to the unwanted wen as a bar", which is ...... ,..... u."".. fade-up or fade-down anomalies with which tied to a local rod). we're concerned. To understand this phe- INCOMING HOT PHASES'" nomena, we need to I~------I start out with some I I basic electrical theo- ry (technical gurus please bear with me Figure 1. Service on the more basic Box stuff). Phases BRANCH NEUTRAlS The first factor that enters into the dimmer-crosstalk "equation" is the AC BRANCH GROUNDS supply's electrical 1I ______phase-or more to + TO EARTH GROUNDING ROD the pOint-differing Figure 2. AC phases. /I AC", of Vol. 24, No.1, March 1995 The Planetarian tions, either hard is equal to, or less than, the resistance wired into a cen neutral buss bar (because of the ~------trallocation (such length), dimmers Band Care ~~~~~~~~~ as Spitz's special able to being false-triggered effects controls), or phase noise pulses of dimmer A .".-.."-..,~",,=,,,c:..:=~=~~'4\y-'l ~ remotely located This problem usually doesn't (often plugged though, unless there is a signiticantly into electrical out or smaller load on one circuit than another. lets). Under the That's why a dimmer with a single 300-watt right conditions projector won't tend to false-trigger ~n,r.t"t',p .. typically whenev dimmer-connected 3OO-watt a er certain dimmer different hot phase and shared neutral wire. ~ loads are heavier However, that same 300-watter could very than others-this well make a SO-watt lamp SptlrlCtUS.l.y 6=~~~~~~~~~~~~==~QU can be a classic sce and out when the first is faded up. LU'.'I;;VV~, 1I ______I nario for promot- dimmer circuit with three or four 300-watt ing dimmer projectors can false-trigger another different Figure 4 crosstalk. Simply phase/common-neutral dimmer with put, this is because gle 300-watt unit connected. equipment used in the planetarium, like a each dimmer is in the direct I/line of fire" projector, a stereo amplifier, etcetera, must via the shared neutral-of electrical noise Crossing eventually connect to both a hot phase and induced from either of the other two. And Most dimmer-crosstalk problems can be this neutral in a "branch circuit". Otherwise, since this noise is generated from a different prevented avoiding this different as they say in the electrical trade you get II no circuit phase, the affected dimmers receive phase/common-neutral wiring scheme. juice". (A few classes of higher-voltage eqUip out-of-phase pulses into their neutral con Figure 6 shows the improved wiring ment may reqUire connection to two hots nections. Although the neutral buss bar, and Note here that each branch circuit has its and the neutral in a branch, but those won't the massive neutral supply wire(s) from the own dedicated neutral wire, which isn't concern us here). outside electrical line, have the potential to shared by any other branches. (To avoid con dampen electrical noise by acting as an elec fUSion, though, keep in mind that, while Wiring Concerns trical shunt, they are too far back in the elec only a single duplex outlet per branch is trical wiring to be of help here. In the typical branch circuit found in resi depicted here for the purposes of sinlpllicit:y For example, let's assume for a moment dential dwellings, each branch has its own U.S. electrical codes allow as many as ten du dedicated hot and neutral (as well as a that we have a high-wattage projector con plex outlets on a single 20-amp branch.) This nected to the dimmer output on branch A, ground for safety purposes, which branches is similar in layout to US. residential off the breaker box's grounding bar). How and low-wattage projectors connected to With this setup, dimmer-induced noise ever, in large commercial and public build dimmers on both B and C. When the high which is sent down the neutral wire for that watt projector on A is faded up, that dim ings (in the U.S., anyway), electrical code branch is dumped back into the incom mer's triac induces an electrical noise down allows a single neutral wire to be shared by ing service neutral wire(s), via the neutral more than one branch hot, as long as each the neutral wire. Since the electrical resis buss bar, weB before it can flow back out to one of those hots is of a different phase (illus tance in the neutral wire between A, B, and C another dimmer by way of its dedicated trated by Figure 4, which branch-circuit neutral. this shows only one representa- way, the noise can be shunted tive branch circuit per Central Remote into oblivion before afteclting phase). This is because of the Dimmers Dimmers dimmers on other phases. OR - Plugged In fact that the hots are out of Service Ha~red Even this wiring layout isn't phase, which keeps the Here an absolute guarantee "shared neutral" branch ~------~~~------~ all forms of dimmer crosstalk, wires from being overload tr-- 1 however. Remember that the ed. This "shared neutral" (01 I incoming service wire(s) must convention is perfectly safe ~======~======;~ © 1 act to dampen out the noise from an electrical stand from one phase, in order to ~ - _I pOint, and saves on the keep the dimmers on other amount of wire used to cre phases from being affected. ate the branch circuits in However, this can only the facility. Unfortunately, if the neutral service connec this is precisely where dim tions are massive to act mer crosstalk starts to as a sufficient shunt. Sometimes become a problem. this will mean running in con Figure 5 depicts a group of siderably larger neutral hots-each of a different or more neutral wires, into the phase (A, B, and C)-sharing service box than is mandated a single neutral. Also depict- by the local electrical code. ed are possible dimmer posi- Additionally, in the worst case Figure 5 30 The Plane tar ian Vol. No.1, March 1995 scenarios, the same number of neutrals as tor modules separate from the "firing hot phases must be run in, and connected to comparator" circuitry. In order for these sys Why does this sort correspondingly separate and isolated neu tems to work as intended, each projector pen, anyway? It's v .... u.a~ .... J tral buss bars. In other words, if three phases module MUST be connected to the same tors: ignorance, and lack of communication. enter the planetarium service box, then (1) electrical phase as its corresponding inter Electricians are well versed in three neutral wires of equal size must also be face. Failure to do so will create a situation cal code-in fact, it is the "bible" run in, (2) the neutral buss bar cut into three that may appear to mimic wiring-induced cians' circles. If "the code" says it's separate and electrically-isolated parts, and dimmer-crosstalk symptoms. If you have different-phase hot branches to (3) the incoming neutral supplies tied indi one of these systems, and are experiencing trals, the electrician will tend to vidually to those bars. Care must then be abnormal lamp-level "bursts", always check as the ultimate sz:uidE~linle (E~soecilaH taken to exclusively assign the neutrals for the electrical phase connections before tear- easier and will save the electrical co:ntI'actor the different phase branches to Sometimes, their corresponding neutral architect or other subcontrac bars to prevent any phase-cir Why does this sort of wiring problem happen. anyway? tor includes a electrical cui t crossover. Again, this last It's primarily due to two factors: ignorance. and lack of cation which goes scheme is only necessary for communication. standard electrical worst-case dimmer-crosstalk electrician may problems. (she) doesn't understand the So what do you do if you're seeing dim ing into the planetarium electrical wiring.) reason. Because dimmer crosstalk is an mer misbehavior? After all, the electrical Once you've found a problem with the "electronics" rather than an "electrical" issue, wiring isn't hanging out there in the open wiring, what kind of corrective action can it's unlikely for an electrician to for ready examination (at least, it shouldn't you take? Unless you have a qualifying elec acquainted with the phen()men~Dn. be). Is it necessary to trace out all the various tricians' license, you should stay away from This situation places an extra burden on wiring routes winding their way through attempting any Significant rewiring in your the planetarium control system subcon your planetarium, hidden inside metal con planetarium-especially if you don't feel tractor to effectively communicate the oper duit? comfortable working with high-voltage elec ational reqUirements of the control system Actually, you can start identifying wiring tricity. (Remember, too, that a mistake on components in order to insure that no elec induced crosstalk problems by merely your part can carry with it severe conse trical corners are cut. checking the wiring at its entry-point into quences. If you rewired your house and it urn-specific eqUipment suppliers must moni the branch-circuit conduits. In planetariums burned down as a result, that's your business. tor the work of the electrical contractor in a with remotely located dimmers, this means However, if mistakes in the planetarium new-construction project in order to mini looking for the couplings between the were to result in injuries to the general pub mize the potential for branch conduits and the inside of the plane lic, all sorts of legal travail may ensue!) problems. tarium service box. In the case of centrally Basically, you have two possible solutions. Of course, this describes nrc~bllenlS located special effects and lighting dim Either you can Hve with the problem-possi new planetarium construction mers-such as with some of the newer Spitz bly trying to avoid using those combina times, planetarium control systems control systems-look for where the con tions of outlets and projector wattages that chased outside the framework of contracted duits for the station outlet wiring connect to will exacerbate the crosstalk problem-or electrical the large cabinet containing those dimmers you can call an electrician and seek to get existing and the subroutine hot-patch panel. What the planetarium rewired. Neither is a par older control technology. This creates real you'll want to look for is the relative balance ticularly attractive alternative, but there is dilemma for as there of hot and neutral branch wires entering the little else that will provide you with effec may be no good mechanism in conduits. If the number of neutral wires tive relief from dimmer crosstalk. or readHy deal with (white in the U.S.) and hot wires (black in the induced equipment once U.S.) is equal, then you can be pret- they're encountered and identified. ty confident that your branch cir- "'_..J.....I Remote Nonetheless, since the dimmer/Wir cuits don't share neutrals between volluaa Dimmers Dimmers - OR - Plunned In ing incompatibilities will never different phases-meaning you're Hard-wl1lKi ~tII Here Here magically go away, it's pru probably in good shape with the Service dent to investigate the ~V:);)!LnJl!ILA""" branch wiring layout. On the other -~~~ ------, t Y for future correction. Contact an hand, if you see perhaps only one r-- electrician to get a quote on a half to one-third as many neutrals ~~H""""'!---;, , , -~[~r rewiring job that will sepa as hots, then you've almost certain ~kJ , ~©: I~ , - -- rate neutrals for all branch circuits ly found a major crosstalk culprit. , - -- r-- ~ CIJ , , , in your facility. Any other solution (Be aware, though, that certain C> CIJ [ID ©: z :> , , , win be, at best, a "band-aid planetarium control systems Ci , (0: '-- approach", and will be a continued z I - - - namely those produced by East :> , I --- ~ source of frustration in the future. Coast Control Systems and Joe , , ~ [ID I A better of how Hopkins Engineering, as well as the C> © Ii , , , dimmers work-and how and z old Brevard Community College 1 © ~O , - -- '--- '-- , they can misbehave-will lead to DORK automation system-have I ______~------more effective solutions in an architecture which places the with this essential class triac and optotriac driver in projec- urn eqUipment. Figure 6 Vol. 24, No.1, March 1995 The Planetarian Thank you very John and BB. If IPS anyone else has another suggestion or con- tact, let me know so I can pass this vital information. IPS officers are in the process of a Brought to you by and of interest to: decision about how these materials will be Powerful Interactive Planetarium Systems. distributed in the future. The file is expen sive to and mail and the response to its availability (number of requests for Dave DeRemer (Charles Horwitz ... ,,,,,,,p·e,,,, .. _ Continued rowth copies) is extensive. If you call or write for materials there will be a until ium,222 USA) sent a and Effectiveness er procedure is but don't let that stop you-I win help in any way I can. 1"0 ...... / .. ,... "'. Grade planet:ari1um pf()gnlffi very difficult to written nl!'f', Vol. 24, No.1, March 1995 The Planetarian Materials Requests domes in five major cities for the first year Scott Lantzman aCC of Greater cations: and if this proves to be a sound beginning 901 Rt 10 East, NJ 07981 then the program will be extended with Laura Metlak (Whitworth FeI'2:W;On Tom Affatigato (15 Deepwater Ave., Mass five more domes. Mark, your ideas for etarium, 1300 Elmwood apequa, NY 11758 USA) interactive lessons sound wonderful and I U8B, Buffalo, NY 14222 USA) Alan Alterman (Curriculum Center, am sure all the hard work in preparation Steve Pielock (132 Sand Math/Science Enrichment Teacher, Scars for this venture will enable you to have a Deerfield, MA 01373 USA) dale Public Schools, Brewster Road, Scars soUd beginning to an extremely beneficial Doug Schmid (Western Suffolk dale, NY 10583 USA) program for Spanish students. Environmental Ed, PO Box 186, Bess Amaral (Director, Robert H. Goddard Alan Gould (ASSistant Director, Astron NY 11754 USA) Planetarium, Roswell Museum and Art omy and Physics Education, Lawrence Hall Thomas Smith (StlDe]rvl!Sor··~cllenCeflLJl.Ileu Center, 11th and North Main, Roswell, NM of Science, University of California, and Talented, East Brunswick 88201 USA) Berkeley, CA 94720 USA) Schools, 760 Route 18, East Gary Beckstrom (Longway Planetarium, Jann HaH (Administrative Assistant, 08816 USA) 1310 E. Kearsley Street, Flint, MY 48503 USA) University of Louisville Rauch Memorial Kris Tatem (311 Main Street, Utica, NY Bryan V. Craven/Karen Sheppard Planetarium, LOUisville, KY 40292 USA) 13501 USA) (Astronaut Memorial Planetarium & George Hastings (7331 Rockfalls Drive, Tinka Ross (89 Dominican Drive, Observatory, 1519 Clearlake Road, Cocoa, Richmond, VA 23225 USA) Rafael, CA 94901-1337 USA) owns her FL 32922 USA) Francine Jackson (PO Box 353, Provi Starlab and is a business caned Scott Beyer (3013 Saturn Drive, Rome, NY dence, RI 02901 USA) Star"nata. She would like to hear from 13440 USA) Wayne James (RR #1 Box 129, Mansfield, IL other users who have established busi Dawn Chenier (Instructional Coordinator, 61854 USA) ness using a portable planetarium. Broome Tioga Boces, 435 Glenwood Road, Fred Jaquin (MOST, 500 S. Franklin St., Binghamton, NY 13905 USA) Syracuse, NY 13202 USA) Rebecca Elfant (140 Riverside Drive, New Signing Ole J. Knudsen (Planetarium Manager, York City, NY 10024 USA) As you can see, this many requests me Steno Museum, University Campus, Build Mark Elfant (Zorrilla #25, Madrid, Spain busy-just the way I like it! Stay in touch. ing 100, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark 28014). Mark is creating an educational program starting with 5 Starlabs. He and his colleagues plan to locate these mobile VIDEO SPECIAL EFFECTS Planisphere Customized Computer Animations Now you can add video sequences into your planetarium productions that fit exactly to the show script. Objects range from the planets to comet SL-9, to the space shuttle, which means we can create any scene you would need for your planetarium. Add to your shows: Galileo Encounter with Jupiter earth/asteroid collision galaxies jovian moon system star clusters dwarf/giant stars planet chords solar system formations explosions planets zooms asteroids earth/moon system and more .. Because each planetarium has a different video system, each animation is digitally mastered to the tape format used in your planetarium. five library scenes $200* one library scene $60* customized work start@$lIframe* *additional studio charges apply depending on tape format (408) 649-4361 [email protected] 34 The Planetarian Vol. No.1, March 1995 of designers, engineers and field representatives from start to finish, and beyond. Spitz. Setting the standard for innovation, and excellence since 1945. S PIT Z, INC., P.O. Box 198, Route 1, Chadds Ford, PA 19317 USA Tel: 215.459.5200 FAX: 215.459.3830 objects, Ie objects, Pk planetaries, the faster the program will run. As its llUU.AHA'UA Principal Galaxy Catalog, and GIF images (75 states "The Sky" is intensive', to 700 depending on the level). In addition, 'display intensive', and 'disk intensive', all levels include orbital elements for 5,000 Software Bisque recommends a 486 Corner asteroids, 2,000 comets, the Sun, the Earth's processor with a math co-processor, Moon, the nine planets of the solar system, bus/accelerated video card, a processor and Jupiter's Galilean satellites. It took me of at least 33 MHz, and, if you use Ken Wilson just under 20 minutes for me to load the ROM version, a double-speed CD ROM drive, operating software for Level IV (CD ROM) If disk space is a concern, consider Level Universe Theater into my 486-DX33 using the 'Medium' instal m. Installation was simple and str.aiglhtfor Science Museum of Virginia lation option. liThe Sky", Level IV, allows ward 'Small', 'Medium', and 'Large' installation 'IThe Sky" follows the usual Windows 2500 W. Broad St. depending on how much hard disk real ventions with pull down menus and Richmond, Virginia 23220 estate you have available and wish to devote boxes, Anyone who's learned other to the program. Frugal users will choose the Windows programs will find 'Small' option which takes up only 3.5 liThe Sky" a breeze, One is the loca- "The Sky" megabytes. 'Medium' grabs 8 megabytes and tion of the view function which 'Large' hogs 26 megabytes. Why devote so allows you to display the much space? The more hard disk space, the fields of view of various tell~sc()pe ev€:nleces. (version 2.0) level IV (GSC) TheSIty Aslnmomy Sotlwere 0 198"19'4 Platform: IBM PC Price: $249 (U.S.) from: Software Bisque Nortn 912 Twelfth Street, Suite A / Golden, Colorado 80401 // • (303)-278-4478 /~E (303)-278-0045 fax • / / Among the very first software offered for personal computers were sky mapping pro grams-anyone remember Telstar? The earli ,- ...... est offerings were fairly crude graphically, I especially by today's standards. Fortunately, • • • .. ... the amazing improvements in personal com • puter capabilities over the last ten years have spurred wonderful advances in the power e' . 0 and quality of these software planetariums. One of the leaders in this field today is Software Bisque's liThe Sky". "The Sky" is available in three different levels distinguished by the total number of • objects in the database. Level I presumably isn't offered any longer so the sequence begins with the Level II floppy version which contains 55,000 objects including 45,000 stars. The CD ROM version of Level II has 259,000 stars and 21,000 other objects as does the floppy version of Level IlL The CD ROM Level III boasts a million and a half South stars and 51,000 non-stellar objects. Level IV • is only available as a CD ROM. A good thing Sta,lAagn ...d.. ! I ' V.riableSle, a Open eluate, J;,. IA ... too, because it contains 19 million objects •• II • _ Double St., '" Globul.,Cluoter I 83 ClusflefjloNebula ~.' from the Hubble Guide Star catalog and I (j) Mo•• I O.Ptob.Sla, I 100,000 other objects. The 'other' objects I: : : : :. :, I~ =.~. o Other MGC Obfect1l include variable stars, double stars, NGC Center RA: 3h 9m Ore: 39d "15m N Date. 1(7/95 nme. 8.00 PM wtdth. Z3Sd 36 The Planetarian Vol. No.1, March CCD cameras, and Telrad finders. This option create star maps similar to those found in Sky Sky" also is found under the "Lines" pull down menu, and Telescope and Astronomy magazines. Hon, inc:.luldirag ITlagnaua1e, rather than the "Telescope" menu. These can be very useful for star parties and tions, and The manual is clear and weB written, yet, classes where you want a simple, all-sky accuracy, I checked liThe at only 146 pages, it's not so thick as to intim chart designed for your latitude at a specific times for the Sun on a idate the user. Unlike some other planetari time that you can print and photocopy on dates and the results were identical um programs, it doesn't waste space giving short notice. Most routine display options give by the USNO's MICA software you a basic astronomy course. It assumes, I are available as push button icons on a float my touchstone for accuracy in guess, that if you invest the money and hard ing pallet alongside the displayed star field tions. disk space that liThe Sky" requires, you These icons are designed wen enough to be Other features of liThe already know the difference between a star self explanatory in most cases. Among the and a planet, or you'll invest in a good text many display options are 'mirror image' for to learn the basics. telescopes with odd numbers of reflections phases similar to the The display of "The Sky" is very flexible. and 'night vision' which changes the display that we've all seen. Solar and Not only can you select the display of limit color to red to preserve your night vision can be prc~(Uctc;!a ing star magnitude and whether or not deep when using "The Sky" at the telescope. Even planetary Planet mcm_cms sky or solar system objects are displayed but the contrast and brightness characteristics of be animated with or without trails. DI':lln&>,t::u'u also coordinate grids, constellation borders, the displayed star dots can be varied to suit positions can also be viewed from star names, constellation names and trails of your star chart aesthetics. view just outside the solar system solar system objects. Field of view angles As with many such programs, pointing Sun. If you have an nh(:pr'.7~t£... rn range from narrow telescopic fields to a wide the cursor at a displayed object and clicking capable of computer ","VJUUVA. angle all-sky setting. The latter allows you to on the mouse will identify the object. 'IThe "The with op-tiolnaJ TheSIcy A," •• omy a_.ft 10 1984-1994 til • • 19 • • .. • . CD ... -" II l1li II ...... - 411 • ~ II • I» 61 - •III • 3h 42m III • ..~ • III e -GIl 41 - . '. s • • • • I· • • .. .. ," til .. '. ... .. 1& «I , II . • 1». · • e • L------~------___'3h.l48-m------ ..--Double SlOr C) Golaxy Nebula 1.. PhlnetlBry Neb, 9 Globular Clu .. 'er EE Cluatr.rtNehula 8 Prob. Star o 0.10., NGC Obi"'" L ______. ____• ___ ------(enter 11A: lh 41., Oec: 24d /", NO.,.: 1/1/11b lime: l1:bO AM ?d 40 .. by ld 5401 Vol. 24, No.1, March 1995 The Planetarian aim the telescope and even operate a cm camera. Faults in liThe Sky" are few and minor. Although Jupiter's January 1995 four Galilean moons are included, no other planetary satel Sun Mon Tues Wed Thur Fri Sat lites, except Earth's are included With the faint limiting mag 11 :2 3 :4 Is ;6 17 I I i I nitude of the software making it ideal for searching out faint I I I i 1 1 i 1 1 I I 1 1 I I ~ 1 objects with larger telescopes, it's a shame that the moons of I I 1 1 (~ I I . II I I·/~\ ; I () (J IJ./ I \..L/ 1 \.Lj I Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Mars of similar magnitude I I CD i I 1 OJ 1 1 I I I I aren't included. When you zoom in on a planet like]upiter or I 1 I ! I i : I Saturn, the telescopic image you eventually get is a very 18 9 10 111 12 '13 1 1 :14 grainy representation made of brightly colored pixels. It I would have been nice if these images were a little more realis I Ie (f) ({) 1 ([) I tic looking. When you click on an object to identify it you are 1 0 0 0 1 I given the option of calling up a GIF image of the object, but I I ! i I I I some of the GIF selections are not what I'd have chosen. 116 18 !19 120 21 117 I I 1 Saturn, for example, brings up a Voyager contrast-enhanced I I view of just Saturn's rings. I think I would have at least picked I I 10 I a full planet view. The stick figure constellations seem to I 0 0 i 0 0 0 I closely resemble those of H. A. Rey. Personally I find it hard to I I teach people constellations with these outlines. They use too 128 many faint stars that can't easily be seen from the city or sub I urbs. But I know there are many people who love this constel lation style. Q In spite of these minor drawbacks, I'd say that liThe Sky" is about as close to an ideal planetarium program as I have seen. Planetarians will find it particularly useful for making custom b .. I'" :31 star charts for observing sessions, comet path charts, eclipse simulations (especially if you have a video projector capable °1°1 0 I of VGA input), and checking planet analogs. liThe Sky" is flexi 1 i [ ble, easy to use, and packed with useful features. '* From the makers of HOME-DOME & PRO-DOME Observatories Planetarium Domes With our new line of Planetarium Domes, you can now afford to upgrade or add facilities, or replace that pOrtable bubble with a beautiful permanent dome. As with our astronomy observatories, we guarantee quality design and construction, easy assembly, and customized products to meet your needs. 3 & 5 m. diameters Stand-alone or In-ceiling Level or Tilted Configuration Easy Assembly AU Fiberglass Full height/handicap access Priced from only $3950 Now Available! "At Home in a Dome". 75 pages of observatory design ideas. Only $7.95 postpaid in U.S. Quantity discounts available. TECHNICAL INNOVATIONS, INC. 22500 Old Hundred Rd * Barnesville, MD 20838 J! 301-972-8040 38 The Plane tarian Vol. 24, No.1, March 1995 FOR PLANETARIUMS loomed. And there it was, the drift front door a structure. But this was the cook's tour, and it was the back door for us, back in the base sec- tion where the supplies, and gig;antic spare parts were where the old darkrooms and sleepilng And there it was: the 200-inch telescope- all nestled in its Last October, the Pacific and oe.Hllrlg, under the cavernous tai.n Planetarium Associations held a dome ... so weB-balanced and lubricated, the conference in San. CaHfomia--not far guid{~b()ol<:s said, that its 530 tons could be from Palomar Mountain. This ",r,r;Vl.rn • ..-v moved with the pressure of a hand wonderlulA~~A,~.,nHu The its vital statistics, its obser- load of conferees make vational and fielded questiorls for'a behind-the-scenes ourgroupshotPhot4JgJ~aPhs. inch (5-meter) tej,escop'e, aJrra]1ge~a the staff put the leviathan thr,oug;h hosts from Reuben H. Fleet from an Theater. ascension and declination and rot:ating For me, the up the hog- dome at the same time as we stood on the back (once caned "Place of the Dove" by dome's catwalk. So smooth was the ride that native tribes) to where the observatories it was as easy to that the tel<~sc()pe waited was a I grew up in was rotating on a big turntable as it was to .nh"P"'U~1~.n .. V and no believe that the dome itself was tarium. In my slaked my astronomi I what it must have been like for cal thirst with an old of binoculars, a astronomers in the "old" delJartm,en1t-st,ore teH~C()pe, the occa puter control and CCD's ... sional newspaper or television pro observer's station at the ties of the universe, and CT""rn __"rI/1 books. And in those books, I saw below the mirror, or perched soft spot for it. ptctufles of a white dome on a focus cage at three in the mc)mmg And that's ridge, and inside it, the Hale bent over the Hale the enormous, rnetal-framed ly while PhC)t0I1S weren't any more pl,m(~talriums descendant of and GaHleD's and than the dinosaurs, older than than there were pnJreSS14DllirU nh",,,.. ,,,,,,,t.r, .. "'" Harriot's SmrgHLSSE~. on the tripped the ph,ot()m(~tel~s, Not so Planetariums have In those days, it was stiU the greatest Ught into rainbow smears in the "..... '>r"T1I"1"\_ more numerous, more aClces;sit)le, ga1:he~riI1lg eye the world had ever trained on and whispered their secrets of time able to serve the function that paIOnl1al'-()f the and it my Im.lgU1.atllon. and space. the M""rrllrv It revealed an universe of exotic It's not done that way so much anymore and activity and mystery of which '-'<>lr .. "" .... ,,, not at the I'm sure that the starry over my farm the old-timers would say there was more some of us: to hinted. To me, back then, Palomar tedium than romance in the process, engage the imagination. rep,resen1teathe Ofgf()Ul1.U-OaSeu tecnn01()gy and methods for collect esp,eci«lUy young astronomical observation and £'\h'Ui ..... l1'~hT better and more of the universe. And I'd never had an .ro"~n"'rh1niiru have that It If you look in the front until now. was the way we made our observations the "Observers Handbook" The summit was cloaked in douds when when I was in and I loved it. And I Astronomical of Canada, we arrived, a cool, overcast wonder if today's in.rr..,.~"inIThT ...... a succinct statement about over the small visitor's center. Inside, the au1tofl1ated, charge-coupled, and sometimes of the center was dominated a fuB-sized lorlg-IQtstarlce pf()reSs14:m;a.I astronomers ever of the mirror's surrounded miss that ..... ""·.. h" ..... " walls of backlit from the tele- with the sky. career. Patrick Moore on video The rain was harder when we left tape told the of the and the .nh<:prv~·~r\r·v and boarded our bus, head- the offered mementos. Thus forti- for a box supper and an slide The Planetarian Ed Krupp, in his book Beyond the Blue excellent people for important service roles IPS Directory and on and aOCUU'Dns Horizon, puts it a little differently. He writes within IPS. gathered since, to serve as the basis that for "thousands of years, the human race In short, he's left some mighty big shoes to 1995 edition. The Finance and PubUcat:1011S has been asking itself the same questions: fill. I hope to continue the initiatives he's Committees are n ..,~~""·ntlu ""U~"aAl'>'~'1"I Who are we? Where do we come from? begun and to build on them, and to add design, printing, and distribution Where are we going? What is the right thing some along the way where I can. Thanks, ument, which, if aU goes for us to do? The sky was one place where Bill, for a first-rate job. We'll look forward to delivered in the first half of the year. they found some answers." your continued involvement in your role as When the astronomer seeks answers from past presiden t. the sky, he (or she) goes to the observatory. On behalf of the membership, I'd also like With Osaka '96 wen in plannllngj When the public seeks answers from the sky, to thank Katherine Becker, who served with and London 198 decided upon last like as not, they come to us. That engenders a distinction as IPS secretary for several terms not too early to begin about responsibility, but it also creates a wonderful before she retired from the post last year. year 2000. The Rules call opportunity-to enlighten, to encourage an And Joyce Towne, who filled in gamely and ference site invitations to be made five years interest in science and the world around us, effectively as acting IPS secretary prior to the in advance, which effectively means that perhaps simply to get someone to look up at election. It was a delight to work with them, proposals to host the conference for 2000 the stars with a new perspective ... or to and we owe an enormous debt of gratitude should be at our make a difference in somebody's life. to them both on October 13 of this year in San As I wrote more than two years ago when Council representatives will thus have some running for office, we need to remind our To the New Officers ••• time to consult with their affiliate groups selves from time to time of the role we play ••• 1 offer hearty congratulations: to prior to the vote at the Council in in society, that we do important work, and President-Elect Thomas Kraupe, director of Osaka in 19%. that it matters. We keep the cosmic link; we the Zeiss-Planetarium Muenchen, Forum Der If your facility would like to consider temper the absolute truths of the universe Technik, in Munich, Germany; to Secretary making a bid for 2000, please contact me for with the warmth of human perspective. We Lee Ann Hennig, director of the Thomas information on IPS guidelines for a offer people knowledge and understanding Jefferson High School Planetarium in bid Thanks! and a sense of place on a fragile planet in a Alexandria, Virginia USAj and to repeating universe far bigger than ourselves. That is Treasurer and Membership Chair Keith who we are. That is where we come from. Johnson, associate director of the Our hearts and go out our That is where we are going. And that is the Fleischmann Planetarium at the University right thing for us to do. Japanese colleagues in the Kobe area, for the of Nevada in Reno, Nevada USA personal losses suffered in the de'faS"tatilng I've known each of them for some years, earthquake which occurred there Well •.• and what a complementary set of experi ago as I write. I understand that there I ences and skills they'll bring to the IPS offi just hope this isn't a case of the universe eral planetariums in the Kobe areaj experimenting with the Peter Principle! cers corps. They'll make a marvelous team moment, their status is not known. Two thoughts occur to me as I undertake for IPS; I look forward to working and shar As you probably know, Kobe is near the duties of president: first, what a Singular ing the load with them over the next two Osaka, the site of our upcoming 1996 confer honor it is to hold this office in an organiza years. ence. Kosi Sasaki, the U.S. Minolta representa I Congratulations also to Jon Ben, Dale tion of colleagues for whom have tremen tive, tens me that the word from Osaka is Smith and Joyce Towne on their nomina dous respect; and second, what a great that our 1996 host, the Osaka Science responsibility it is. Both thoughts are chas tions and on a race well run. Their participa came through just and that the tening. But I pledge to do the very best I can tion made for an extraordinary slate of can fered relatively little damage cOlmpared to to represent, promote, and safeguard the didates for the membership to consider. Kobe down the coast. Concerning Kyoto and interests of our SOciety, working with the Thanks also to Elections Committee Chair Nara, the cities to be visited on the pre-con other officers, the Council, and all those who Tom Stec and his committee members for ference excursion: Kyoto to the north of another job well-done. volunteer their time and talents in service to Osaka sustained minor damage, and N ara to IPS. the east was largely unaffected. So it seems Several immediate words of thanks are The 1995 Directory "_""~'W7 that the still more than due-first to Past President Bill Gutsch. A few bits of business: at the IPS Council " a year away, will be affected Having worked closely with Bill for the last meeting in Oklahoma City in 1993, the direc recent events. two years, I probably know as well as anyone tive of the Council concerning the IPS Dr. Nakano and his staff and associates in just how hard he's worked and how much Directory was to move forward with publica Japan are working diligently on conference he's done for the SOCiety. Under his leader tion in 1994, and then to publish another planning. Watch for more information ship, our organization has grown by four edition in 1995 to incorporate new members about IPS '96 in the months. affiliates and has become more internation fonowing the 1994 Cocoa conference and to In the meantime, and on behalf of al, the Special Publications arm is reviving, include new information on facilities. In membership, I offer our colllea,gw~s and the IPS Directory has been reestablished; keeping with the Standing Rules, IPS will our good thoughts and he's begun dialogues with other science and hereafter publish the directory in odd-num covery as the and retmllorr12 education organizations, has served an bered years, and will plan to publish a sup Until next time ... ki 0 tsukete important liaison role with our Japanese col plement/errata in even-numbered years. take care. leagues in planning for our first Asian confer Keith Johnson has created a data base of ence in Osaka in 1996, and has recruited entries based on the information in the 1994 Vol. 24, No.1, March 1995 The Planetarian Last July, Florida's Brevard Community College hosted the International Planetarium Society. Pictured above are some of the nearly 500 planetarians from around the ONLY world who gathered to exchange ideas and witness America's first Minolta Infinium FROM THE Planetarium. The result was nothing less than dazzling. For more information about MIND the Infinium and other model projectors, call your nearest Minolta representative today. OF After all, at Minolta we know that once you have seen our sky, you too will believe. MINOlTA Worldwide: In North America: In Japan: Minolta Company, Ltd. Minolta Corporation Minolta Planetarium Co., Ltd. Planetarium Operations Planetarium Division World Trade Center Bldg. 2-4-1 Esaka CTS Center 101 Williams Drive Hamamatsu-Cho 2-30 Toyotsu-Cho Ramsey, N.J. 07446, USA Minato-Ku, Tokyo 105, Japan Suita-Shi, Osaka 564, Japan Tel: (201) 934-5347 Tel: 03-3435-5511 Tel: 06-386-2050 Fax (201) 818-0498 Fax 03-3435-5520 Fax 06-386-2027 MINOLTA a penny in front of one eye and look at a far improved. Still, I felt as if some pages away object such as a car across the street, he history of had been k Revie demonstrates easily how our small moon onI y partialI y. (the penny) can appear to be about the same The chapters with the spalce<:rait, size as the sun (the car) and hide it from our space stations and boosters are the April S. Whitt sight. of this book. If you have ever wanted Eclipse paths, the difference between par on the of the various Fernbank Science Center tial, total and annular eclipses, and a safe way vehicles, the evolution of the sP;:lcelcraft 156 Heaton Park Drive NE of viewing eclipses, are covered just as suc what the Russian space stations cinctly and clearly. like, this book is for you! There are excellent Atlanta, Georgia 30307 USA Donald Crews' illustrations are colorful views and deSCriptions of the interiors the and appropriate. Crews also enjoys a respect space stations. ed position as a children's author and illus Several things about the evolution of Happy Equinox, planetarium readers, and trator (he has two Caldecott Honor Books to Soviet/Russian and Commonwealth Inde best wishes for a prosperous spring or fall, his credit). He is able to capture ideas that pendent States (CIS) Cosmonautics becomes depending on your hemisphere. This issue's can be confusing to children and present very evident. Procedures for the books incl ude some for children, some for them in draWings that compliment the text. launch vehicles are very different from teachers and parents, and some for the inter My co-reviewer (Jessie, age 5) was able to use American experience. Fuel combinations in ested general public. If you'd like to review a the penny and car experiment to see for her common boosters are some very volume for this column, send your name, self how small objects can appear to cover toxic and others, like kerosene, haven't been address and area of interest to me at the larger ones by following Crews' illustration used by the US since the Saturn series of address above. and Branley's words. launch vehicles. Clustering of rockets is "dif Special thanks to our reviewers this quar Eclipse: Darkness in Daytime is certainly a ferent," something we Americans are not ter: Francine Jackson, Laura Metlak, Jean worthwhile addition to a child's home used to seeing except in the Delta boosters. Philpott, Mickey Schmidt, John Schroer, library or to gift shop shelves and should be The cult of Gagarin is an in 1:en~stjlnS!: Sharon Shanks, Steve Tidey, Richard Wil the reference of first choice for elementary nomenon. I found it very curious that the Hamon, and Wayne Wyrick. school educators to prepare their students use of national heroes still has such an influ for studying or viewing eclipses. ence in Russia. Not since the 1940's have I experienced that mindset at an official level Eclipse: Darkness in Daytime by in the US. Traditions obviously have a Franklyn M. BranIey, /I A Let's Cosmonautics A Colorful History, meaning for the Russian people. Read-and-Find-Out Book," Har Edited by Dr. Wayne R Matson, Testing and assembly of launch vehicles per Trophy, 1988 rev. ed; 32 pp. Cosmos Books, COSMOS (Suite was described in detail. I was impn~ss(;~d mus. by Donald Crews. Ages 4 to 106-381) 4200 Wisconsin Ave, the amount of automation involved 8. ISBN 0-06-445081-3; $4.50 N.W. Washington, DC, 20016, ing launch vehicles and in making safe paperback. 1994. ISBN: None in case of an aborted launch. Cosmonaut training seems more than for Reviewed by Sharon Shanks, Ward Beecher Reviewed by Mickey D. Schmid t, USAF American astronauts, if only because the Planetarium, Youngstown State University, Academy Center for Educational Multi Russian counterpart has to prepare for land Youngstown, Ohio media, USAF Academy, CO 80840 ing in blizzards and -40· C. temperatures as well as the desert and sea Franklyn M. Branley. His name on a chil Cosmonautics is a wonderful pictorial of This book fills a badly needed niche in the dren's book tens you instantly that you can the Russian (Soviet) space program. The story history of Russian voyages to the Cosmos. As trust it to be sound in its science and an begins with the pioneers in Russian rocketry. a result of this book I have a much greater instant hit with your young readers. Eclipse: As one who entered the space age as an eager respect of Russian Cosmonautics. Darkness in Daytime is no exception. The teenager I had read of Goddard and the I heartily recommend it to anyone who dean of children's science literature has cap Germans, like von Braun and Wiley Ley, has been curious and as isolated as most tured the essence of total solar eclipses in who flew rockets in the German countrYSide American readers are in respect to Russian terms that even 4-year-olds can understand prior to W.W.II. I wondered about the history. It hints at future cooperation with That's not an easy job. Russian (Soviet) pioneers and never knew the Europeans, Japanese and American space His terms are clear: "Sometimes the moon until reading this book about their progress. programs as it details the of hides the sun," the opening line, captures the The editor states that there is just too much American "cosmonauts" for the June 1995 "what" as well as the "how" of eclipses and detail to included everything for everyone docking of the Space Shuttle Atlantis with brings the child directly to the heart of the so there is a need for additional books cover the Mir Space Station. The plans for the book. But more valuable is the hands-on ing the Russian space achievements exploration of Mars are also described, with a experiment that allows children to see for While the section on the Pioneers is com large number of themselves how the mechanics of an eclipse prehensive in naming people and naming planned over the next decade, works. After setting up his subject (it gets engines and devices the chapter left me minating with an international team of Mars dark in the daytime) and reviewing some of wanting more. I wanted the warmth of a lit explorers. the interesting history of eclipses (dragons tle about personalities which seemed to be The book comes eating the sun), he explains how the moon, lacking. I must say, though, the illustrations posters; The Cosmonauts, Launch 400 times smaller than the sun, can cover showing the advances made were plentiful and Ships and Stations. the solar disk. Suggesting that children hold although picture captions could have been Vol. 24, No.1, March 1995 The Planetarian 43 Telescope Power: Fantastic At first glance, A Look into Space reminded Activities & Easy Projects for me of the kind of science book my Dad Young Astronomers, Gregory L. brought home from a business trip, but it's Madoff, John Wiley & Sons, more of an upper elementary astronomy Inc., New York, 1993, ISBN 0- text book. The authors present topiCS from 471-58039-2. our solar system to cosmology in a colorful, entertaining way. And cartoons and pictures Reviewed by Francine Jackson, University of appear on every page! Features include a Rhode Island Planetarium, PrOVidence, "Space Lab" project and biographical sketch Rhode Island, USA. es of real life astronomers and astronauts. Vocabulary words defined in the margins another way. He chose to focus the Every so often a book comes along which and phonetic pronunciation gUides help the the crew up on the tries to teach everything about a subject in as reader learn new words. result is that the chUd's Im.:lgul1atlOn short a format as possible. When that hap I found the multicultural approach of the without to the in;:lPJ:)ropri.ate pens, invariably the attempt fails. Such is the book refreshing. The names of the characters of defined violence. case with Telescope Power, a book that should and the people profiled reflect many nation This eXilmpJe have concentrated on its primary goal-an alities and races, and both genders, encourag find any imm[lropriate introduction to telescope observing for the ing the study of astronomy by all. The book book. Planetarium artists and those budding astronomer. Instead, the book is is multidisciplinary as well, including histo illustrate childrens' literature should crammed with every possible permutation ry, word puzzles, limericks, newscast spoofs, such I and combination of astronomy information. games, mythology and archaeoastronomy. mend this And, as often happens in a case such as this, Measurements are given in both English and clever way the authors have much of the information comes out wrong. metric units. ancient and on the power of the Most prominent is the following sentence While some artistic license is taken in the trations. on page 84: liThe most familiar asterism to story of an alien space traveler and its Southern Hemisphere observers is the South human companions, the text does state that in the Universe, Jean ern Cross, which contains the star nearest to they are on an imaginary journey. Heidmann (translated our Sun, Alpha Centauri." Throughout the Overall, A Look into Space is a creative, fac book, the Big Dipper is a constellation. Often, tual presentation of astronomy for upper ele a wrong statement will be changed later in mentary age students. the book, such as "the dimmest (stars) have a magnitude of 1," corrected in a box six pages later. The Ring Nebula is a supernova rem The Usborne Book of Legends, nant on page 97 and a gas blob emitted by a illustrations by Stephen USA hot blue star on page %. Cartwright, Usborne Publish All of which is a shame, because some of ing Ltd., London, 1992, ISBN 0 Life in the Universe is one of a series the activities are good, and could be fun fam 860206181. ence books for introduced ily projects. For instance, 1I0bserving the First McGraw-Hill under the umbrella Horizons Quarter Moon," IIViewing THan," and Reviewed by Richard M. Williamon, Fern of Science Series. It is a translation of the "Winter Observations of Orion" are bank Science Center, Atlanta, Georgia, USA inal French title "La Vie dans l'universe/' explained in dear, simple language. So also is published in 1989. McGraw-Hill intends the chapter on observing the Sun. Even Greek mythology is very difficult to pre "Horizons" series, at though there are lots of warnings on this sent to children. It's not that the stories are be fast-read books. They're an around 100 rather dangerous practice, I'm afraid just necessarily difficult to understand. Nor are pages, with few if any illustrations. It seems induding this section in the book could the Greek stories hard to visualize. Quite the they were intended to be read in one result in injuries from careless reading. contrary; the grand adventures and seeming by plpe-SnllOKlng, th011gh1tful, inQ1uisitive Getting children to use and have fun with ly impossible exploits of the great Greek a telescope is a great idea for a book. heroes qUickly captivate the young mind as is but the information pn~seJntf~d Unfortunately, Telescope Power is rife with thoroughly as any television show. The diffi is necessarily sketchy, as you expect errors. Had Mr. Matloff concentrated on this culty with Greek mythology and children is with 111 pages. central theme, instead of trying to put every the explicit and graphiC violence that per The book covers most of the irn,nn... t~~nt thing you've always wanted to know about meates every legend I am pleased that The aspects of SET I research, it's five years astronomy in 119 pages, this book would Usborne Book of Legends has managed to teU behind the times. MET A, for exam have been much better. the tales of Ulysses, Hercules, and Jason with a gleam in NASA's eyes, and the out compromising the stories and without anthrolJic nriinrinllA is still novel A Look into Space. A Supplement undue gore. How? With the fabulous illustra idea. But since none of the started to Childcraft-The How and tions! the past five years have found any Why Library, Childcraft Staff, As a random example, consider when green men, not much SETI information World Book, Inc., Chicago, 1994, Ulysses and his crew faced the Cyclops, the missing. ISBN 0-7166-0694-1. one eyed giant who had a nasty habit of There are some strange snacking on humans. The remaining crew Twice Heidmann (or the translator) Reviewed by Jean Philpott, former Buehler begged Ulysses to kill the Cyclops before Earth's diameter is 6200 miles. At Intern, Allison Park, Pennsylvania, USA more crew members were eaten. Thus they places us 93 million miles from the sharpened a pole and put the sharpened end discussing transitions at the be~~innirlg 44 The Planetarian No.1, March of the universe he uses the example of freez tion with a cometary head, mass loss in does more than ing water. He (or again the translator) refers an apparition, disconnected tails and so on. what the toy does on Earth. It to super-cooled water as "supermelted" The book concentrates on recent data sent works and links it to some aspect water. He describes the functioning of an ice back by the probes that encountered Comets common ch,aralcteriS1:tcs box by stating the ice absorbs heat before it Haney and Giacobini-Zinner, but it also '-u... I-...... a'" devoted to: space aClrotJats, gets to the food. Surely even in France people gives us a succinct overview of our cometary SPi.nrl1nJ! space toys, space use electric refrigerators, not ice boxes. knowledge. Some fresh areas are covered, space games. Each also u'-".... u,'-"-'" Heidmann slips into a kind of LowelHsm such as comets which may have drifted into each toy pelrtormled at one point when he describes how a hypo the solar system from other star systems, the space. thetical civilization on Proxima Centauri fate of comets once the Sun expands toward The book's second .... h·;>""'b,, .. mt:rOIQUICeS eavesdropping on our television signals the end of its life, and the estimated numbers could deduce that Earth has distinct political of comets surrounding other stars dose to boundaries and various economic systems, the Sun. who may not be familiar with (some less successful than others), and vege The authors let themselves go at last in .,.., .. i-..."', ..... I'''<' of mustrations tation that ebbs and flows as a function of two handy appendices which would benefit seasons. This is not by translating our signals undergraduates and anybody else interested but by simple deduction from the nature in the math behind comets. These give I like the book because and periodicity of signals! detailed equations covering plasma physics, what the toys did in space. Life is the Universe is not a bad book. It tries the laws governing the brightness of a describe what life is like to do too much in too little space. The few comet, the nature of light, etc. There are also but irritating factual errors detract from the a few pages of graphs shOWing complex in book. situ measurements of Comets Giacobini But you can read it with only one refill of Zinner and Halley. your pipe. Observers are informed about how to veri eX1pelrirrlerlted with toys in fy that the smudge of light they've "discov induded at the end of the book. ered" is in fact a comet and not one of half a This book oel0nJt!s in the Rendezvous In Space: The Science dozen other things, and how to report the of Comets, John C. Brandt and real discovery of a comet. There is also a open their eyes to the wonders ot Robert D. Chapman, W. H. complete computer program for ... <4...... UJIUUl ..p;, and the of space. Freeman, New York, 1992,0- cometary orbits. 7617-2175-9. Altogether, a fine book. The Probable Universe-An Reviewed by Steve Tidey, Forum Associate Owner's Guide to Editor, Southend, Essex, England. Toys in Space: Exploring Science Dr. M. Y. Han, With the Astronauts, Dr. Caro Books, 1993, ISBN ,ru.""'--" Since the mid-1980's there has been an lyn Sumners, TAB hooks O. explosion of comet books, thanks to Comet (McGraw-Hill, Inc.) 1994, ISBN Halley, and in recent years to some extent 0-8306-4534-9. Reviewed Schroer, Cincinnati people have instinctively shrunk back on tarium, Cincinnati Museum of sight of another one. But thankfully that Reviewed by Laura L. Metlak, Whitworth USA cannot be said of this worthy publication, Ferguson Planetarium, Buffalo, New York, which would benefit those who have USA already cut their cometary teeth on other more basic, popular-level books. Reach a child and teach that child on his John Brandt is an academic at the or her level with toys. Toys are the real University of Colorado and principal inves world of children. They are to P'1.7'''II'"i"hiincr we 1""rUr~linr tigator on the Hubble Space Telescope, and children, and they are easily obtained and teach in our facilities Robert Chapman was formerly with NASA. parents for children. Toys in Space is the matter. And even protons The refreshing aspect of their book for the book to link science in the "adult world" trons are made of COmr)OIlerlts-extl~enl1elv knowledgeable amateur (for it is not aimed with toys in the "child's world" small ones. The scale ranges from a nonOifiU~ at an absolute beginner) is that they have This is not a pick-up-and-read-from-cover ter-a billionth of a meter-down to a given us a detailed post-Halley view of to-cover book. It is filled with activities that one millionth of a billionth of a meter! The cometary science. A basic understanding of allow a child of any age to play with a toy, Probable Universe takes the reader on easy- phYSiCS, chemistry and mathematics will then try to figure out what that toy would to-follow tour the help in digesting the more difficult areas, do in space. There are also many activities to quantum mechanics. which include ions, polymers and exponen help the reader make his or her own toy. a audience into the tial figures, for example. Most of the directions are very easy to fol the very small is cOimp'Hcate~d There are times when one can almost low. There is one exception: in The Boomer mechanics' basic tenet, that a sense the authors straining at the leash to ang section on page SO the reader is instruct a wave. This also led explain a particular concept by delving into ed to use the pattern on page 48. But the pat that the wave character equations, but they restrain themselves well tern on page 48 is for the Maple Seed The pat and use accessible language to explain a vari tern for the Boomerang is found at the bot (Please see Books ety of things, such as the solar wind's interac- tom of page SO, below the directions. Vol. No.1, March 1995 The Planetarian (this is usually an 8-track machine in a plane systems addressed this scenario tarium production studio). very beginning. Editing can dvice Step 4: Stereo music tracks are then assem plished using either of two methods. bled using the narrative/dialog track as the first uses a computer-based timing reference. If stereo music selections workstation (DA W) and the second Jeffrey H. Bowen are to crossfade, four tracks will be used for audio to be edited in the music. ion as video is edited This is known Bowen Productions Step 5: Sound effects (SFX) are added on code editing. 3590 N. Meridian other tracks of the multitrack tape. Step 6: Audio from the above mentioned a Indianapolis Indiana 46208 tracks is sent to an outboard mixer and Most DAWs are systems "-'-".LUI!-'A ..., ...... 317-923-3838 phone mixed to some show master tape format. either a Macintosh or a PC computer This mixed format varies greatly from site to 317-923-3871 fax software designed for audio re(:orl(1irl'i!./ledit site. Some sound tracks are mixed to a stereo ing/mixing applications. [email protected] mix, some to another multitrack so as to typical screen from one of these c:nt·tu7~1I",p. maintain a six or even 8-channel multichan programs. nel format. Some presenters actually run the In the case of the Mac you mayor may master show tape during show presentations, not need to add any additional hardware. If Editing Digital although I highly recommend dubbing a you only need a stereo final mix, any AV or show presentation tape. Use this tape on a PowerMac may all of the 16-bit CD Audio daily basis and store the first generation mas quality audio you will ever Older non ter to dub additional show presentation AV Macs will require the addition of a NuBus tapes if they are damaged or if they wear out. OK. Planetarians around the world have sound card or in some cases other external caught on big time to the digital audio hardware. PC format computers "buzz" (should I really use this word in con Trouble in Edit City •.• require the use of additional hardware, even nection with first-class audio??!?!). I receive We run into a problem right at Step #2 of if just a simple sound card. A Mac or a PC faxes, phone calls, and e-mail literally daily the previous procedure when assembling with a sound card can only provide stereo asking how to edit sound tracks in the digital soundtracks using digital audio tape (DAT). outputs. A DA W providing stereo outputs domain. One show producer recently spent a DA T cannot be edited by cutting tape. In will typically run $400 and up. If you need huge amount of time on the phone telling fact, any tiny flaw or wrinkle in DAT causes multichannel mixes you will need me that they "want to upgrade to digital DAT machines to discontinue outputting to use a DAW with external hardware. Prices audio for obvious reasons ... but we want to usable audio. for a DA W with 4 to 8 separate outputs run edit shows in the same way we always have, Fortunately, the designers of digital audio $3500 and up. Le. razor blades, leader, splicing tape, foil sensors ... " Wen friends, there is always "obsoletion" of cer tain production methods when you upgrade technologically, and moving to digital audio provides no exception. As these "obsole tions" apply to audio editing I see these changes not as haVing nega tive impact ... but rather as provid ing exciting new creative oppor tunities! Once Upon a Time •.• Let us quickly review some of the basic principles in analog tape audio editing. A typical sound track is produced as follows: Step 1: Record multiple takes of the narration/dialog tracks "cold". Step 2: Razor-blade edit the good takes out of tapes from Step #1. Add blank tape (or leader) to create the timing of narra tion/dialog in the show and to insert spaces for music and visual effects openings. Step 3: Lay the edited dia log/narrative track onto one track of an analog multitrack machine Figure 1 46 The Planetarian Vol. No.1, March 1995 The DA W solution to the editing IIprob Step 1: Use a two-track DA T machine to lem" allows for creation of wonderful sound record multiple takes of the nalrratto:n/(Hallog designing opportunities. Audio is digitized tracks "cold". DO NOT RECORD DIRECTLY and stored on hard disk. DAW software INTO THE DA W! This is some of the best (Figure 1) then provides a visual graph" or advice I can provide. waveform of this audio. We can cut, copy, Step 2: Transfer the good takes out of the paste, delete, drag and otherWise edit these DAT tapes from Step #1 into a workstation. waveforms to create our soundtrack in Cut, copy, and paste the visual waveforms to exactly the same manner as we would use a create the timing of narration/dialog in the word processor to edit words and sentences show. Drag the waveforms to insert spaces to create a document. And this process is for music and visual effects openings. non-destructive, which means we can edit Step 3: Record stereo music tracks into the several versions all with different timing or DA W. Cut, copy, and paste the music wave soundbites and then select the one(s) we like forms to fit with the timing of narration/dia mentation best. log in the show. Use the DAW software to Visual user ;.,....I-"" .. i-·",-o Good DA W software also allows graphic create automated crossfades of music selec * Random access automated mixing of all tracks and should tions. * even allow you to automate the panning of Step 5: Record sound effects (SFX) on other Software n .., ... u;'r'I",,, an ins;tarltaJnecms dialog and SFX between left and right sides tracks of the DA W. Use your mouse to drag * of the mix. Figure #2 shows the automated the sound effects into the proper location * a minimum of outboard mixing curves we placed in one DA W sound relative to the narrative/dialog and music ware is necessary in maJnY track. tracks. Most DA W software allows you to And what is great is that you can change place these SFX directly at specific SMPTE Disad,ranta2:;es of any part of the mix on any track(s) without time code locations so you can match SFX * There is very little cmnp;atil)Hi'ty affecting the work you have finished on perfectly to the visual cue locations pro between DA Ws from different m"mllta,c other tracks. This allows you to listen to the grammed in your automation software. turers. mix in your dome and revise easily without Step 6: Use the software based DA W mixer You must record the final ...... '''rl",..i- a huge time investment. You can experiment to mix the above mentioned tracks to some * with all of those ideas you always wanted to "master show tape" format. If your final mix try but didn't have the time to play around is stereo you will not even need an outboard drives with. mixer to accomplish this. hard drives I recommend the fonowing procedure to * Some types of edits result in slow replace the one I outlined in the I/Once Upon Revise the Showl a Time ... 1/ segment. Changes in the timing of show segments is * Slow screen * Cornpulters * tems are expensive. multitrack DAT formats. The way edit any tar)e-Ioas;ea format (unless you trmsfer MDM audio to aDA W) is Figure 2 Vol. 24, No.1, March 1995 The Planetarian them on the master tape. Neat, track recording with four to huh? outputs is still steep ...... "'II-' .... '-J'~AA Step 4: Recall the address when you figure in the cost of where you want the sound bite drives and the hassles of to do'wnloald to be recorded on the master and upload soundfiles. tape. This is called the in-point of low cost DA W and transterrlng MOM MOM our edit recording. We could also two at a time to the MDM allows you Source Master select an out-point where record much smaller (less DA W Machine Machine ing would end. The editor will drives and to the mutichannel allow you to rehearse or preview tion in your sound This I I 1__ - ___ .J the edit before you actuall y method we use at Bowen Productions a record on the master tape. This daily basis. lets you experiment freely. Feel free to e-mail or fax your '"I ...... "'.A~ •.• ~ Step 5: By capturing and trim and we'll try to you move p ...... u ...... J Figure 3 ming offsets and record in-out into the digital age. Next issue: a liS hoot-out II points for each of your edits you comparison of several digital audio worksta facility has a backup machine you are pretty can assemble an entire sound- tions for the Mac and the PC much ready to use time code editing. The track on your master tape. two machines are controHed by an editor. In my opinion the best editors are the JL Time-code Editing Review Cooper Cuepoint, The Alesis BRC, and the Advantages of time-code editing: Fostex RMC-8. The Cuepoint will work with '* Does not require high-capacity computer almost any MDM on the market. hard drives, tape is inexpensive mathematical information on the DrC)l:>abU Here is how the time code editing process '* The least expensive way to maintain mul ity that an object would be detected or mea proceeds: tichannel inputs and outputs sured in a particular pOSition. Einstein Step 1: Use one track of an MDM to record '* Editor can store all of your edits to facili thought this was complete nonsense, and multiple takes of the narration/dialog tracks tate revision said that "God does not play dice!" To top it "cold". Locate the first good sound bite you aU, the probability of a makes a want to use. Park the tape at this point. To Disadvantages of time-code editing: measurement of that partide uncertain at make this explanation easy, let's assume this '* Must have two machines best. The Probable Universe begins with an location is 1:01:00:00. This tape is now called '* Should have an editor exploration of those three of a source tape. '* Should run all audio through an external quantum mechaniCS, and Dr. Han leads the Step 2: Insert a tape into the second MDM. mixer Intimidating learning curve reader wi th ease and a of AU audio assembly will take place on this '* No visual waveform editing humor. second tape. This is now called the master The reader is introduced to 1""'"''''+''''''' tape. Locate the time code location or add The Perfect Setup mechanics through new tec:nnmc)gy ress where you want this first sound bite to I think the best editing configuration uses possible by this field, the scanning tunnel occur. Let's assume this address is 1:00:30:00. both a simple DA Wand an MDM with the ing microscope (STM). This can Step 3: Refer to Figure #4. The difference two synchronized by time-code. The DA W actually image the double helix of a DNA between these two addresses is -0:00:30:00. provides the best editing scenario for narra molecule, or the structure of the benzene This is called the offset between the two tive/dialog and SFX tracks, and for complete molecule! Using a tungsten tip only a few machines. An editor allows you to capture short length productions where the show atoms in size permits the direct mCllni]JWa the offset as the machines are playing. And, mix is in a stereo format. For the multichan tion of individual atoms. IBM scientists cre you can experiment with timings by chang nel sound enthusiast, however, the cost of a ated the world's smallest logo (660 bil ing the offset so as to slide the sound bites DA W that will provide forty minutes of 8- lionths of an inch in length) using the STM. forward and backward before you record Tunneling technology explains how quan tum mechanics could revolutionize elec troniCS, making calculator-sized supercom puters possible. ~~ndbite Dr. Han takes the reader step step into the reasoning and experiments that have MOM revealed the wave-quality the Source quantum theory of interaction between matter and radiation, called quantum elec trodynamics (QED). Superconductivity and 1:01:00:00 how tunneling also explains is MOM also covered, along with a glossary of terms Master and a bibliography on quantum me:ch,illi(:S, its uses in technology, and quantum elec trodynamics for anyone to delve 1:00:30:00 into this fascinating but bi.zarre foundation (In Point) of aU matter in the universe. Figure 4 48 The Planetarian Vol. No.1, March 1995 Most Frequently Asked Questions: QUESTION: What is 1bf1 most frequently asked question ~IIII about 'STAR HUSTLER'? ~SWER: ~rs easy. Everybody asks about our theme song which I.QQIII IS t~ clasSic 'Ar~besq.ue #1' by Claude Debussy performed by Tomita on the still available ·Snowflakes Are Dancing- album (RCA) II QUESTION: At what times and days of the week can I see 'STAR HUSTLER'? ANSWER: Most TV stations air 'STAR HUSTLER' just before nightly sign-off. However, due to 'STAR HUSTLER's' enormous popularity a number of stations find the show's 5-minute format can fit anywhere during the broadcast day and air the show more frequently. Local TV listings seldom include 5-minute shows, so irs ~ best to call the station for the broadcast schedule. QUESTION: If I can't find 'STAR HUSTLER' on my hometown PBS ~ .lACI .QIIIIIIIII; station, how can I see It where I live? ANSWER: 'STAR HUSTLER' is provided free of charge by WPBT, ~alAI Aliall.l~ Miami to all PBS stations. If you can't find it, write or call your local PBS station and ask if they will air it and remind them that it is. available free of charge. THE INTERNATIONAL EDITION QUESTION: Is It necessary to get special permission to use 'STAR The world's first and only weekly TV series HUSTLER' for astronomy club meetings, teaching In the on naked-eye astronomy dassloan, sdence m.asun CI' pIanetarim use? ANSWER: No. In fac~ many astronomy clubs, teachers, science musellTls and planetariums have been taping 'STAR HUSTlER' off PI• •• one of the few writers who can the air and using it regularly as a way to reach their public. translate sophisticated disciplines into popular language without losing the science. " QUESTION: Is there any way I can get 'STAR HUSTlER' other Dr. Sidney Fox, Nobel laureate than my local PBS station? ANSWER: Yes. A month's 'NOrth of 'STAR HUSTLER' episodes are fed monthly to a satellite from which all PBS stations take it for Of••• knows how to come down from the ivory tower and make astronomy their local programming. ~ with a satellite dish is welcome to accessible. PI the satellite feed. Again, no permission is required. For satellite George Lovi, Astronomer feed dates and times call Monday through Friday (Eastern time) 305-854-4242. Ask for Mrs. Harper or Mr. Dishong. American Museum/Hayden Planetarium QUESTION: I am a teacher planning my a.ntcuIum and would like seva 'STAR HUSTlER' episodes In advance, but I do "... 1 never miss it. As someone totally not have access to a sa1el1ite dsh. Is there any 2br wert I involved in science fiction, I'm enthralled can obtain 'STAR HUSTLER'? with Jack Horkheimer's science fact. " John Nathan Turner, ANSWER: Any teacher anywhere around the world can obtain 'STAR Executive Producer, 'Dr. Who' HUSTLER' episodes in advance through their NASA C.O.R.E. Teachers' Resource Center. For details write:NASA C.O.R.E.; Lorain County Joint VocationaJ School; 15181 Route 58 South; A Nationally Syndicated Production Oberlin, OH. 44074. of Wpbt2 Miami QUESTlON: Why does 'STAR HUSTLER' always say "Keep Looking upr' at the end of each show? Produced in cooperation with Miami Museum of Science & ANSWER: Have you ever tried star gazing lOOking down? Space Transit Planetarium Seen on PBS 9) stations throughout North America and Internationally via satellite, the Armed Services Network & NASA C.O.R.E. Space Telescope," manufactured by Finley My only with the "."...w~+~.~+ Holiday Film Corp., Box 619, Whittier, Cali erence to the Andromeda fornia 90608, telephone (800) 345-6707, fax "nearest" galaxy to the (310) 693-4756 for STSCI. Among its 20 slides very small and the show's mtorrna- are a number revisiting the ShoemaKer-Levy tion is solid The show tape comes 9IJupiter encounter of last summer (most slides, HU~J\.~U. repeats from previous slides sets-but not all). tated script, notes, slide Other images include some great Orion ography, source list, and balclq~rolUI1ld Nebula "proplyd" (liprotoplanetary disk") mation. The show tape is available images (you11 have seen them in magazines, sette, 7.5 m(=nf>~-r)pr,-~pc:-OTl(1 "Il;:ut-tw'::!rllc but they're nice to have as slides), that "best ips II The cost of image yet" of Pluto/Charon, supernova package is $595 U.S. Narration-less 1987 A surrounded by its three rings, a couple tracks for SPICE automation :iys- images showing the swirling disk of matter and slide So-just how old is the universe anyway? around the apparent black hole in the center Initial results from the Hubble Space Tele of galaxy M87, distant galaxies, weird galax scope's identification of Cepheid variables in ies, and a quasar that is not naked Very nice the galaxy MlOO late last year (plus ground images to have; the set had barely arrived tarium at the '--'<41...... :;:.U:: based supporting data from galaxy NGC 4571 before I was raiding it for a luncheon slide Allegheny Cepheids), with a subsequent reestimating of presentation. 15212 USA, about another Hubble the Hubble constant, lead some to suggest Rob also included a number of excellent will be available to the pj The Planetarian are destined to go out-of-date almost imme on the computer screen (I presume are Lake Utah USA, t.,I,,,.nt,nr... diately given Hubble's current break-neck of screen resolution only) and the accompa 5847, fax (801) 582-5849. pace of discovery. Which is why you'll want nying text was very good The PictureBooks to keep current on Hubble images so you can ran rather slowly on our computer, especial last summer's conference addend the shows with the latest updates; I ly when it was trying to draw a but copy of Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH's suspect that the production notes in both then our color Mac is four years old (ancient ium Model VIII, for cases will encourage you to do so. by computer standards) and quite basic. 17.5 to 30 meters (57 to 98 feet) From what I've seen or heard, these are When we had one of our student assistants scheduled for installation two good shows, each with its own approach run the CD-ROM version on his more capa to similar material, from two respected ble machine, the programs responded sources, on a hot topic. My goodness-how promptly. can you go wrong? Check them both out These programs would be very useful in and enjoy. the classroom, the computer lab, the gift But that still ain't all ... shop, or for a leisurely afternoon of through the cosmos as we know it. (They Electronic PictureBooks can also be customized for kiosk touch The Space Telescope Science Institute is screen display.) And you may use, copy, or also making available a series of "Electronic distribute them for non-commercial purpos features. PictureBooks" through its Special Studies es as long as you don't change them, says the Fiber tecnnloJ.()gy wiH ployed in Zeiss' new Starmaster ...... """'.-tr ... Office which present small and neatly orga brochure. The numbers of images are rather nized sets of color images and information small in most cases, but with CD-ROM capa medium-sized domes. information on contemporary astronomy and planetary bility, perhaps that will change. According that the new will be offered science research-induding the discoveries to the information I received, the CD-ROM dard for 10 to 18 of the Hubble Space Telescope. The products versions will soon also be IBM compatible if S9 foot) domes, but will also be available are produced by a non-profit, NASA-support they aren't already. versions suitable for both smaller ed program called Exploration in Education The PictureBooks are available thlr01Jlgh dome sizes. It will feature a very cmnp,act (ExInEd), whose goal is to create ways to the Astronomical Society of the Pacific and starball, many of the control features assemble and distribute the results of scien can be found in ASP's current catalog, Universarium, and like the Universarium, tific research and to "relate space science and from $9.95 to $39.95 U.S. for the diskettes, and can be used in horizontal domes exploration to basic teaching and learning." at $99.95 for the CD-ROM. (Discounts are tilted up to 30 The StGlrrrlaster And what a great ideal Last year, I received offered for ordering in quantity from STSCI; scheduled to debut at the end of 1995. sample copies of the PictureBook titles cur I presume the same would be true for ASP.) For more tntonnaUo:n, rently available, both in diskette form and These products can also be obtained from Jena Zeiss '--'AUUI..., .... As1tronomlsctle all together on CD-ROM. The subject matter ExlnEd's bulletin board, from American Gerate, 0-07740 Jena, lierrnianv t(~lephone included Hubble images, results of the Online, or via Internet; for instructions (or +49-3641-643133, fax T"'t:::1-.lI0"i: -V"':"V~J. Hubble's Goddard High Resolution Spec more information), contact Dr. Robert your local Zeiss relJfe'SeIltath'e trometer, Viking images of Mars, Magellan Brown, Special Studies Office, that would be Pearl images of Venus, a set of images on the solar Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin system as a whole, views of earth from the Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21218 USA, fax space shuttle Endeavor, an Apono 11 retro (410)516-7450, Internet: rbrown@stscLedu. spective, volcanic features in the solar sys tem, a "World Factbook" of information on Planetarium Technology 1I\JII!'.:IllIi"r.'liar the nations of the world, and even a specula On tive program on the supposed Yucatan The technology does keep rolling along, as impact of 65 million years ago and its sug several new developments among planetari gested ramifications illustrated by space um manufacturers last year demonstrated. At that conference, artist/scientist Bill Hartmann. Evans & Sutherland announced the devel Mmolta also announced the of These PictureBooks, authored by space sci opment of Digistar II, a faster, more capable, entists, engineers, and astronauts, are pro and more user-friendly version of Digistar. duced as Hypercard stacks and are designed The new system employs a computer work meters (25 to 40 feet) in diameter, Cosmoh;~ap for use with Macintosh computers with 8-bit station (the Sun SPARC workstation) and a can between 3,900 and (256) color displays, and require System 7.0 or smaller graphics processor to create and can simulate the movement of the <:1"~ ..1".,"irl later, Hypercard or Hypercard Player version back programs through their curren t LEA as seen from different 2.1, at least 2.5 megabytes of free RAM, and projector. Among its new features will be a the solar system, and has manual sufficient hard disk space to hold the data graphical screen interface with on-screen matic control modes among its n:: Vol. 24, No.1, March 1995 The Planetarian One of GOTO Optical resentative. videos retail at $19.95 Company's most recent planetarium models urnes as a set sen for and is the GSS-HELIOS, first installed in 1992 at volumes as a set sen for $39.95-with the Kurashiki Science Museum in Japan; the Recently I viewed the two latest volumes first copy of the projector for a horizontal of Air &: Space Smithsonian's "Dreams of dome was installed last year in Toyama City. Flight" video series chronicling the history This model's features include touch panel of flight, available through Sun West Media screens, computer assisted operations, sepa Marketing Group, Inc., 1801 Oakland Boule rate sun/moon/planet projectors, and 25,000 vard, Suite 315, Walnut Creek, California Some albums have tmnDlea projected stars. I find GOTO's intelligent 94596 USA, telephone (510) 906-8118, fax into my in-box in recent months, im:lu1mnlg functions particularly interesting: "Parame (510) 939-3306. And they're very good. three from composer Mark terization" allows several functions to be The original three-volume "Dreams of Westlake, Ohio. His instrument of assigned to a single knob, as in a sunseti the Flight" series was produced in 1993, and cov the MIDI and his ins"pl[,U1C)fl "Todqy" function can calculate and update ers aviation history from a mostly American from sun, moon, and planet positions based on perspective from the earliest attempts makes for mix. time and date; and the "Time Warp" func through the Wright Brothers, bi-planes, barn liThe Monuments of Mars," which tion sets the sky for a chosen date. stormers, World War aces, the advent of out in 1988, takes its cues from For additional information on GOTO commercial airlines and jets, test pilots, the shaped butte and products, you may wish to contact Masao X-IS, and the Space Race, carrying through to the Red Planet-and the fanciful Yoshiga, Sales Manager of the International Apollo and the space shuttle program. It fea some that these features are remnants Business Department, GOTO Optical tures wonderful vintage stills and historical ancient Martian civilization. It may Manufacturing Company, 4-16, Yazaki-cho, footage as well as modern recreations of old ence fiction, but it's fun to revel in Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183,Japan, telephone 0423- model planes, and lots of short interview with this music as an aocolmJ:,anlillllenlt. 62-5312, fax 0423-61-9571. snippets with people ranging from aviation album's nine selections (almost 40 minutes With apologies to Spitz, Inc., I'm not aware historians and pilots to astronauts. of music) are of new products, but its newsletter indicates Volumes IV and V were added in 1994 in that the System 512 system with automation time for the 25th anniversary of Apollo 11, and options is a popular choice both for new and are basically an elaboration of the last facilities (such as the 10-meter (33-foot) plan half of volume III, which covers the manned etarium in Safat, Kuwait) and for replacing space effort. Volume IV is titled liTo the II Angels, Aliens, and aging Spitz facilities installed in the 1960's. Moon" and does a very nice job of docu has a more character, its nine Also, George Reed is "at it again" in a recent menting the Space Race and the Apollo 11 Hons and 4S minutes eX1JIorinig Spitz brochure announcing that he'H be con mission. It repeats practically everything in ety of themes from llSaucers over ducting two Summer Institutes in Planetar the last half of volume III, but adds a good "Spirits of the Rainforest." ium Education the weeks of July 17-21 and deal more. There's fine historical fc')tage The most recent album, liThe July 24-28. The first emphasizes naked-eye from both the early American and Soviet Factor" from 1993, returns to a astronomy, and the second covers the educa manned efforts, as wen as plentiful imagery that of the of the Walter'-102:IH~U tional use of the planetarium as a classroom. from the Apollo 11 missions. "Talking heads" continent. This album is also more Cost for each is $290 US. For more informa abound-astronauts, NASA officials, space mic, with a rock feel There are lots tion, contact Spitz, Inc., P.O. Box 198, Chadds historians, and lots of Walter Cronkite-but melodies and beats among Ford, Pennsylvania 19317 USA, telephone they all provide interesting reminiscences of pieces over another 4S minutes of music, (610) 459-5200, fax (610) 459-3830. those early heady days of the Space with an ominous as Atlantis slides I've also learned recently that Learning Even Leonard Nimoy makes a cameo-with beneath the waves. Technologies Inc., 59 Walden Street, Cam out the ears. It all works well, with good pac I have but a layman's ear, but I pnlr'1'JPl1 bridge, Massachusetts 02140, telephone (800) ing, a clean look and a nice feel these. You can find them in Loch Ness Pro 537-8703, fax (617) 547-2686, the manufactur Volume V, "Beyond the Moon," picks up duction's latest catalog, for $15 U.S. ers of the Starlab portable planetarium, has where volume IV leaves off, covering the for compact $10 for cassette, two new projection cylinders out. One remaining moon missions, the space shuttle U~~'~~''''O within the U.S., $5 out- shows Chinese constellation figures, the era, and speculations about future efforts side. Watch for Mark's next album, "Para other depicts constellations from African including the space station, a return to the Shift," coming in SelJtemt>er. mythology, induding ancient Egyptian, moon, and a mission to Mars. It's format and Another musical Mark is composer Mark Dogon, Masai, Taureg, Bushmen, and other style are very similar to the other volumes Mercury, who's been around a while com African cultures. These add a nice new and even William Shatner gets a word in posing for movies and cartoons and cn:~atilng dimension to an array of cylinders that pro here. scores for planetarium shows from San ject everything from the "standard" starfield, I enjoyed the entire series. The production to New York. I recently listened to his album the "urban" starfield, and Greek and Native values and editing are good, the interviews "Music of the Domes," in 1992, American constellation figures to celestial add a human touch, and it documents the which samples some of the music he's coordinates, plate tectonics, ocean currents whole business of doing what the birds do ten for programs. The 45 min and the inside of a biological cell-plus a and more-very well indeed. The video utes of musical selections cover a wide range transparent cylinder for making your own boxes are attractive-the last two volumes of moods in a lilting, electronic SIVAe-;rcIOU projections. All cylinders sen for $470 U.S sporting beautiful Robert McCall paintings background stuff for plame~taI'lUlm except for the $210 transparent one. For and would make an excellent item for your fancy. It's easy, pnifHI'!:Ihlp more information or to order, contact the gift shop's video shelf. Individually, the tening. company above" or your regional Starlab rep- 52 The Planetarian Vol. No.1, March The album is available as a cassette from program, consider "In My Backyard," a pro .v.. A ..... Uljl;, Gourd," to Blue Chromium Records, P.O. Box 50358, duction of the Alberta Science Center/Cen to freedom. The directions for an Pasadena, California 91115 USA, telephone tennial Planetarium, Box 2100, Stn. ''M,'' Loc. (818) 791-1480. No price is listed, but I suspect #73, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 2M5. It's it's in the neighborhood of $10 U.S. Mark will absolutely delightful. soon be releasing a compact disc album enti The 35-minute program (whose show tape where members of the tled "Soliloquies," induding an hour of new I've heard) is aimed at youngsters ages 4 to 7 Railroad" them escape to compositions laced with recited poems and talks about the adventures you can have em United States and Canada. It's about space. Watch for it. in your own back yard-from studying subject of articles Gloria Ran in I've also recently listened to an 8-minute plants, animals, and insects, to watching the issues of both The Planetarian sampler from Brian Rand of Zodiac Sound change of seasons, to finding things in the Telescope U'U'6~,LoU''''1 Production, Box 148,3460 Birkerod, Den sky. The program includes songs, poems, and Dfc)ducer of the program. mark, telephone +45-45-822-772, who writes ways for children to respond. It's skHlfull y The show I've examined the musical scores for the Tycho Brahe narrated by award-winning children's enter versatile. Planetarium in Copenhagen and has also tainer Fred Penner (with help form Arnie the composed for the Orion Planetarium in Arrow) who has a TV program called IIFred minute vi<1ec)tape Judland. The sampler induded a couple of Penner's Place" on the Nickelodeon channel; tion, and music-so you electronic selections and a vocal piece; the he has a wonderful, natural conversational out a if you wish. show music had a pensive, almost bittersweet style style that doesn't talk down. with some basic star identification that I liked, one with a nice, understated A great deal of astronomy is covered, from to the pattern and beat. Brian gave no indication of the avail the cause of seasons, night and day, the plan nificance for the slaves. Next, the ability of his musiC, but if you'd like to have ets, the moon, meteors, constellations (with a examined one stanza at a time to show how a listen yourself, contact him at the address charming story variant about why the sky it could be used to follow various rivers and above. bears have long tails), an with and the Big north to Ohio and then appropriate explanatiOns. Canada. The song is then From JHE It's wen-written, weB-crafted, the songs formed with the words on the screen Last issue, I made mention of a new 10- and background music are great-and it singing along. And the final section is minute program called "Welcome to the comes with an excellent booklet of 25 ed from the Winters story of a slave Universe," from Joe Hopkins Engineering, hands-on activities suitable for the backyard, the song to escape north to Canada, P.O. Box 14278, Bradenton, Florida 34280 the kitchen, or the classroom. Included are using Winters' colorful and dis USA, telephone (800) 543-5960 or (813) 758- simple but effective experiments with wind, tinctive to illustrate the story. 6686, fax (813) 753-1482, designed to offer a rain, weather, making rainbows, planting (Live actors are faded in dimly at intervals brief, broad view of the universe for use as an vegetables and terrariums, watching for ani the story, to match paintilng rl;~'nl~nl",.rl at the moment in introduction to a live sky show, short plane mal signs, making sundials, watching for tarium demonstrations, and so on. Since meteors, finding constellations and making of tableau effect. It's clever ide'a-cOlllm~ctilflg then, I've had an opportunity to hear the your own, crafting a solar system mobile, the story wi th real and understanding the cause of day and soundtracki it offers a qUiet, reflective pre In addition to the VWle01tape, you get sentation with low-key narration and scor night. Some good ideas here with a mini of 100 slides to the program to your ing-sort of like lying out under the stars on mum of muss and fuss. p.lalnetal'lum--wUh instructions for rnlrnrjina a clear night, contemplating the universe. The "In My Backyard" show kit costs the VlCleotarle soundtrack onto another For a listen, contact Joe Hopkins as given $1,200 U.S. and contains the soundtrack (in 8- for use in your if you wish. above. track half-inch, 4-track quarter-inch, DA T, or pa~ck;:ige also comes with an annotated cassette formats), 160 plastic-mounted slides cn:~ating Joe also sent me some examples of another pn>dllctican notes, instructions for JHE product: a kit of solar system multi-slide and four panoramas (with all-sky format rainbow unveiler for the program, and panoramas of the sun, nine planets, and the available for some visuals), annotated educator's with informa- asteroid belt, with a ring overlay for Saturn. production notes, and the activity booklet. tion and activities the cause the From the samples I received, these will be For more information, a preview copy of the seasons, how the cir,culmpolcu limb views (except for the asteroids), colorful show tape, or to order, contact cn,m~~es, the effect of latitude '-U Vol. 24, No.1, March 1995 The Planetarian to out patterns until the patterns across the top of a lovely new poster entitled to see deep-sky you U ..l'I,AAJl.I'i! ... AL ...... and the stars made brighter IITreasures Space." interested in a cm camera from integl:at~~d as discussed But use your This 24- 36-inch (61 em by 86 em) wall Scientific Imaging Inc., ,JL'VJLUA',,-U. etarium to handle these sections anyway, poster comes from MindMatter Publishing, Compuscope), 3463 State Street, and the rest is very done. 9685 Genesee Avenue, Suite G-2, San Diego, Santa Barbara, California 93105 The show concept is ,.. """_"",1"<> California 92121, telephone (619) 558-9233, phone (80S) 966-7179, fax (80S) :7UU··UU::I'J. ment is good, the show fax (619) 558-8490. The company is about a mall: [email protected]. Their tion of concepts seems aplJropri,ate, year old and is run by Stephen Peters, who line, including an filter Winters artwork is wonderful. And the cost served as director of the Books and Products and 32-bit of the package is just $150 US. I liked it. Do Division at Sky Publishing Corporation for at $3,895 US. For check it out; it could fill a niche for you. three years. MindMatter is IIdedicated to pro ny. ducing thought-provoking science books If your taste runs to older instruments, and products for the consumer market," you may wish to consider a ...".,,,.,.ri11,('t by Thomas and Celina 1Vt>'rit>l.CrI,.... Look at the stars! look, look up at the skies! according to my information. If such is the o look at all the fire-folk sitting in the air! case, they're on the right track with this Marshall Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota The bright boroughs, the drcle-citadels there! poster. USA, telephone (612) 645-1782, fax Down in the dim woods the diamond delves! Featured are 20 color images in assorted 3012. to information I've receiv'ed. the elves'-eyes! sizes representing the three main classes of for $995 US., make you a recreation of Thegrey lawns cold where gold, where quick deep-sky objects: nebulae, star clusters and a 12th century Moorish astrolabe like the galaxies. Each image is accompanied by an one they were commissioned to the gold lies! ... explanatory caption. It's a feast for the eye, Royal Museum in Saudi Arabia. It's beauti So wrote Gerard Hopkins in 1877 and perfect for the classroom, the gift shop, ful made of solid brass, with a transla in the poem liThe Starlight Night." And so and anyone who likes to look at the cosmic tion of the instructions, are these words appropriately emblazoned menagerie that exists beyond the solar sys- manufacturing story, history, and presenta tem. The poster sells tion case included Contact for more details. for $9.95 (a steal), Finally, Hansen Planetarium is oWeriruz: with a wholesale new poster called at Night," a mosa- price of $4.90. Con ic of satellite of the fun continent tact as given above outlined and in for further details. dramatic view, with a reference included, and is available in laminated as Assorted wen as style. I don't have the Speaking of feasts but you can get that information and for the eyes, take a details from Hansen Planetarium look at the 1994-95 cations, 1845 South 300 West, #A, catalog of the Astro City, Utah 84115, (800) ."1£I·-L:)(l':1 (801) 483-5400, fax (801) 483-5484. nomical Society of the PacifiC, which arrived too late for a mention in the last ... to IPS's new and renewed issue but is definitely ed in the pnl"l-OT-V,paf UU.lJlVILU&.I!;.. worth a mention now. It's chock-fun Hennig, and Treasurer Keith JOlmson. of all sorts of astro for a good all best wish- nomically-related es and Godspeed. delights, U .._A ...... U ..... books, videos, com puter software, post I'm out of time and space to delve into the ers, slides, audio bUlrgeonilng world of laser this tapes, games and issue; I'll have a go at it next time.. novelty items, and Until then ... what's new? always something new. If you don't have a copy, contact Everybody is born curious. the Astronomical wants to see this universe. Ilvl>rvJfwv.lf" SOciety of the Paci understand this universe. fic, 390 Ashton Ave for someone them nue, San Francisco, Dobson California 94112 USA, telephone (800) , Those who k"''''''D,,1"llI 335-2624, fax, (415) 337-5205. to be consistent. sfrolabe And if you want - O. W. Holmes 54 The Plane tar ian Vol. No.1, March 1995 III incredible waterfalls. On November 3rd, the I I group visited Wanda, Argentina, a small mining town about 60 miles from Iguazu to The Great Lakes Planetarium As~;;ociatJlon observe what turned out to be a spectacular held their 30th Anlnivf'r~:uv CQ][lteJ:en<:e solar edipse. The post conference trip con the Benedum Natural Science Theater duded in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with a ed at the Resort and Ccmten~n(:e visit to the Galileo Galilei Planetarium Center in WV, October where host lng. Antonio Cornejo hosted the One hundred and fifteen aeJ:eg,ues group and presented a special program to the states attended the conference group. Steven Mitch and his staff. The next OIP meeting will take place in Conference induded an either Valencia, Spain or Campinas, Brazil in ment of excellent papers. W()rksh()ps 1996. The 1998 OIP meeting will be in ed a Make-it, Take-i t wOlrK~mClp conouct€:Q MedelHn, Columbia and will be hosted by by Brown of Gabriel Gomez, Director of the Medellin Starlab Planetarium. The meeting will coincide with the February 23rd total edipse which will be visible in northern Columbia The next AMPAC meeting will take place in May 1995 at the Pachuca Planetarium, Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico. Planetarium and Hurd of the Edinboro of Kudos to all who sent in material for this (CGP) issue of Regional Roundup! I can only pass ",,,I·<7,,a... i~· and an audio conducted on to your colleagues what you send to me. The Council of German Planetariums was Jeff Bowen of Bowen Music Productions Please mark your calendars for Monday April founded in Mannheim on May 3, 1987 to entitled "The Smart of Low-cost 10th which is the deadline for artides to be integrate the common interests of several Comj:mt4er Based to ind uded in the next issue. Thanksll planetariums in the region. Assemble and Mix Planetarium Soundtracks. During the Fall 1994 meeting at the Zeiss Planetarium der Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung AM in dance for the AS:SO~::lat.(J'n of ME!!Xu:an Cassidy, Professor of Geology and ~1~lnp't:l'l'V Planetariums (AMPAC) Jena, two new members were added, bring ing the total CGP membership to 19 institu Sciences at the of PU:tsl[)unHl, After many months of preparation, tions. opened the conference with a talk entitled AMP AC held its first international meeting The host for the conference was Dr. Hans liThe Frozen Meteorites of AIlllal[CIlCa ; outside Mexico. The meeting was held in Melnl, Planetarium Director. Dr. Meinl also James B. Kaler, Professor of As1:rOltlOlmy conjunction with the In Iberioamerican serves as the Speaker for the Council of of minois, Planetarium Organization (OIP) meeting last German Planetariums. gave his annual lecture October 31st, and was hosted by Ormis Dur The Spring session of the CGP will be April which covered all of the wonderful new dis- val, Director of the Rio de Janeiro Planetar 30 and May 1 at the Kieler Planetarium in coveries and past ium in Brazil. A total of 33 participants from Kid, Germany and will be hosted Mr. year; Dr. Darrel Professor 22 planetariums represented 3 Iberioamer Eduard Thomas. For additional information, and Science Education at ican countries: Brazil, Mexico and Columbia contact Mr. Thomas at: Planetarium '-'uu ... 1"...... , ~,._~._.,., Iowa, gave the Armand By-laws of the organization were reviewed AIte Chaussee 32, D-24107 Kiel, Germany. the GLP A banlqm~t. for corrections and additions. The current Before the unification of the Federal General Secretary of the organization, Ing. Republic of Germany and the German tarium's Role in Educational Reform," and it Jose de la Herran will produce the final draft Democratic Republic, there were about 80 induded an interactive session in which all of the by-laws within six months and the planetariums, 41 in the in the GDR The des the at the and organization will finally become official. tiny of a number of planetariums in the for Mr. Villard, Head of Educational Other business induded the election of other mer GDR is uncertain. Some were dosed due Public Affairs for the officers and representatives from various to financial reasons and others for unknown llierioamerican regions. reasons. "'""'11''''1'1''' in tlaJlUrnore Several papers were presented during the The technical capabilities of the 19 CGP talk was entitled "Hubble conference that stressed the responsibility of members runs the gauntlet ranging from New V/orlds of I }i'~rn'UPlr'll planetariums to forward vital messages con homemade equipment to the ultramodern lot of new Hubble •.... _... _._, ''''r'I,"t'iiinff cerning conservation and the environment Zeiss MK-7 projector. Ancillary equipment of Planet Earth to the public. Other papers ranges from single-slide projector, manual maker/Levy 9 impacts considered the planetarium as an important operations to sophisticated, computer-con Other ind uded a Vendors tool for teaching Science, to look into ways trolled multimedia systems. Showcase, a visit to the new ~&A'~"-.'itl~. to update planetarium programs and equip Prior to World War II, there were 12 large Learning Center at Jesuit '-'v· ...... fi'. ... , ment, and to fuUm the educational objec planetariums in Germany, the first of which tives of the Iberioamerican planetariums. opened on May 7, 1925 at the German A post conference tour was arranged for Museum in Munich. Only the planetariums tarium Association's Mobile the group to visit Foz de Iguazu and its in Hamburg andJena survived the war. Observatory which was '-'"."... ,..... Vol. 24, No.1, March 1995 The Planetarian ference by Wes Orloff of the Euclid City Ohio on Saturday April 8, 1995. Dick Speir for the opening of the National Schools, Cleveland, Ohio, and the World will be the host for the meeting. Planetaria The site will be the Serafino Premier of the new Loch Ness Productions The Wisconsin-Iowa-Minnesota State Study and Research Center, located planetarium program "Hubble Vision," pre Meeting will be held at the University of small industrial town of LUmrne:l~zane, sented by Mark C. and Carolyn Collins Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls and the Grout kilometers from Brescia. The archive will Petersen. And of course, a conference such as Planetarium in Waterloo, Iowa on Friday include foreign about plane1:ar- this would not have been complete without and Saturday, April 28th and 29th, 1995. ia and will be the the gracious hospitality oOoe Hopkins oOoe Last August, the Elgin, lllinois Planetarium Planetaria's Friends Association. It Hopkins Engineering. Much was shared, dis (officially known as the Elgin National tant that each country have a center cussed, and argued in the suite after hours to Watch Company) was entered into the publications and information the benefit of an who shared the experience. National Register of Historic Places. planetaria be located And finally, the success of the conference According to Director Gary Kutina, the The Italian National Archive will corltain: must be shared with the tremendous support observatory was built in 1910 by the Elgin a) publications and information of the numerous vendors and corporate National Watch Company for the sole pur Italian Planetaria, b) edited sponsors! pose of telling time from the stars. This Italian Planetaria's Friends Association, c) The 1995 GLPA conference will be held at observatory is the only time observatory in Bibliography about planetaria, d) Documents the new Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium in the world that was owned and maintained about managementp e) Grand Rapids, Michigan, October 25-28th. by a watch manufacturer. It contains a tran Publications of the International Planetar Hosts for the conference win be David sit telescope, a chronograph, a shortwave ium and of reg'lOlnal DeBruyn and Gary Tomlinson. Additional radio transmitter, and three German-made planetarium associations thlfDll£tlDllt information about the upcoming confer clocks known as Reiflers. From 1910 to 1958, world, f) Catalogues of plane1:arium ence will appear in future articles. the observatory was part of several historic facturers and suppliers, g) '-'v.• n ..... L~"'U The lllinois State Meeting will be held at events, the most noteworthy of which was licaUons, plans, photos and slides about the the Strickler Planetarium of Olivet Nazarene the turning on of the outside lights at the buildings, the projection rooms, exhibits of University in Kankakee on Saturday, April 8, 1933-34 Chicago World's Fair. In 1960, the planetaria and science centers, h) Audio col 1995. The host for the meeting will be Troy watch company deeded the observatory lections of show recordings, lectures and Stoneking. over to School District U-46. Three years shows for the sight imlpaiJred. Carl Wenning, Director of the illinois State later, a 24-foot diameter planetarium was Each year, the Archive will the list University Planetarium announces that his added to the facUity. Approximately 14,00 of the publications that are available. The facility recently received a $300,000 grant student from the district will visit the plane Archive will be open in time for the from the lllinois State Board of Education to tarium and observatory this year. To cele European of Portable Planetaria be used for the enhancement of science brate this achievement, the city of Elgin will teacher training at ISU and the improvement feature the observatory on its vehicle sticker of science literacy in high school classrooms. in 1995. Some 40 teachers will be involved in the The 1995 Middle Atlantic Planetarium two-year process. Italian Planetaria's friends Society Conference will be held 17-20 at The Indiana State Meeting will be heJd at Association the Raritan the P-H-M Planetarium in Mishawaka on The 9th National Meeting of Italian Plan Planetarium in Somerville, New Saturday May 6, 1995. The meeting will be etaria was held at the Planetarium/Obser will be hosted Planetarium JA-P ...... " ..H hosted by Art Klinger. vatory of Crespano del Grappa, near Treviso, Vinski, Buinis, and the Garden State Dayle Brown of Pegasus Productions in Italy. During the meeting, it was decided that Planetarium Association (GASPRA). South Bend, Indiana has begun a new leasing the "Day of Planetaria" will be held on One of the primary aspects of the confer program whereby teachers are taught to use March 19, 1995 in Italy, France and the ence will be a tlStarlab Conference" on the Starlab eqUipment for one week inter Eastern European countries of 19th. The mini-conference is for vals. Slovakia, Ukrania and the Czech republic. classroom teachers who use the Starlab and Dan Smith has retired after a long an suc The formula for arriving at the "Day" for will focus on advanced lessons for all cessful career as the planetarium director of each year is determined by the Sunday levels, hands-on workshops for classroom the Kennedy Middle School in South Bend before or just after the vernal equinox. The activities, workshops delmcmstratinlg; The Michigan State Meeting will be held "Day" for 1996 will be March 24th. and low-tech accessories for Starlab, and at the Abrams Planetarium in East Lansing The meeting in Crespano was also devoted developing an astronomy curriculum. on Saturday, May 13, 1995. David Batch will to the presentation of the prototype of a Ex:peI'ierKed Starlab teachers will serve as be the meeting host. small and inexpensive planetarium instru presenters. Approximately 60 classroom The Chaffee Planetarium in Grand Rapids, ment built and distributed by Giampaolo teachers from MAPS region wiU be invited Michigan has unveiled its new SO-foot Gambato. This new model will be presented and will be a wonderful for Digistar Planetarium and is showing off its during the European meeting of portable them to network with other users and new video capabilities with Sky Dance, an planetaria that will be held in Brescia and tarians and to share lesson ideas. original production. Lumezzane on October 13-15,1995. The meet For additional information, contact The Kalamazoo Planetarium in Kalama ing, organized in collaboration with the IP.s. Vinski or Lonny Buinis at: Planetarium zoo, Michigan will close at the end of June Mobile Planetarium Committee, will present Department, Raritan 1995. Their new 50-foot facility is undergo workshops conducted by American, French Conege, P.O. Box ing construction and is scheduled for open and Italian planetarium operators. Jersey 08876 or call (908) 231-8805. ing in November of 1995. During the 1994 national meeting of the The Ohio State Meeting will be held at the Italian Planetaria, a proposal was developed Sidney Frohman Planetarium in Sandusky, 56 The Planetarian Vol. No.1, March 1995 the semi-annual FlorPlan m€~tjn£ hosted the Planetarium in Bradenton, FL October 21, 1994. A fun and IP'UP'1I'1l1TUf The Pacific Planetarium Association .. ", ....'.,.",t-Iu held its 1994 conference with the Mountain Planetarium Association at the Reuben H. Fleet ~n,iCef~:leTl(,f' Center in San Califor nia, October 13-15th. The conference was hosted John and Dennis Florida Mammana and the staff at the science center. The conference induded paper sessions and a Starlab Friday afternoon was spent the science center and expe- rieIlculg the Omni Omniscan ed by Audio Visual Imla£lnleel~m£. tation. behind the scenes tour of the Dr. of the San Diego State Univer- sity gave the entitled "Find- were in the audience. Your Information Su'oeJrhi.£hw(lV" the group visited the Mt. Palomar Observa tory for a tour of the 5-meter Hale tel1escope, the 48-inch Schmidt and the 1.5 meter tele HUUUU6 continues for the scopes. conference to be held at the Burke Baker The 1996 PPA me1etulg will be held March 30 - Aprilt at Yosemite National California The host for the meeting will be Gail Chaid of the Planetarium in San Jose, California. For additional infor mation contact Gail at: Independence Plane tarium, 1776 Educational Park Drive, San Jose, CA 95133; (408)729-3911 ext. 2469; e-mail: [email protected] Patrick McQuillen, of the Penin- sula News, " ..·n" ...... assumed the of Planetarium Direc- tor at the Brest Planetarium in T!:lrllr<':rll""iH"" FL. Dr. Ben Zeinor has assumed the po:siti.on as Planetarium Director at Southern UniversH:v in Statesboro. Ben was nr,:>u;nnd" 'ej€~sc()pe Science Institute. The planetarium in Albany, Georgia, sus tained major damage as a result of Hurricane Gordon. The closure offered an OPPolrtunitv to address a number ium needs as well as the repairs necessary to reopen after the first of the year. The lafayette, Louisiana, Natural Museum Planetarium remains dosed long-delayed action from the city gov- ernment its future. In the mean- time, Director Dave Hostetter has been a vvJ...... ,n.. pl(lmetariurn. The city of Kenner, Louisiana (a suburb of New Orleans), has a tentative for a SO-foot for- mat film theater. hn .. t-u_'I'n .... Florida plilmetaI'iaIls attended Vol. No.1, March 1995 The Planetarian a from the social studies area skills) which is be part of the curriculum at any level. Then, he utilizes some of the recommendations for plannmg the core of science con tent found in the current issue of Bench Science Literacy as the vehicle for ULI.UUUJJ'5 those content the benchmarks that this o1C:me:tar'1mn aims to attain are (a) most parts, (b) may not work if some of u .. ""' ....,.,, (c) when parts are put can do couldn't do by themselves, and (d) may not work as well (or at all) if a part of it is missing, broken, worn out, mismatched, or misconnected This is a lesson on the in which each cooperative group, and in tum each studen t has a part in the final pro- whole map! We would Much of the justttilcauon for the existence like to encourage other to try of comes from the claim that the lesson below with some of their school they can be exceHent laboratories groups and to share their results with Dave for students. While that is true, it orme. has been my that most of the stu I would also like to encourage other dents benefiting from the planetarium expe tarians who work with school groups to con riences are the youngest students of the ele sider some of their favorites with mentary school The reasons for this this co] umn for here. Planetar are many and varied, but ium lessons are welcomed and enjCOLlraJ~ea its roots to the fact that levels. Please send your submissions more rigid in the secondary schools, electronically (WordPerfect S.1 binary file, or preventing or some of the out- ASCII text) or on an IBM tor'maltteO of-the-dassroom stu- disk (save as DOS text or WordPerfect) file. dents are likely to benefit from the You can reach me on E-mail at ~'-'A"~H""''' elementary school years. most of @umdS.umdedu. us-especially those of us involved with the schools-are more to have a base of students to work with in our planetarium than Therein lies a dilemma. Nearly aU research indicates that the of astronomical content for students in 1-4 should be limited to observations, des coml,le1te their individual maps criptions, and finding patterns. Any attempt ble them into a to use models or otherwise to extend these a observations into explanations will be limit Classroom teachers ed by students inability to understand these whatever time concepts at this early age. As school districts class across the country become more and more familiar with current research in eJem{~nt;ary Cross-cwrtcular Activities: science education, they will come to expect Social Studiesl Science, Art that the planetariums which serve them to utilize the results of this research into the planning of their planetarium offerings. In many cases, the will be used as a learning laboratory for the social studies and language arts areas as well as that in To address some of the concerns expressed above, my colleague Dave also of the Harford County Public Schools, devised a two part planetarium lesson which is team Outcome: Students will demonstrate the taught with the school class ability to work in cooperative groups to: room teachers he serves. First, he has chosen 58 The Plane tar ian Vol. No.1, March 1995 The Planetarian dome will then be turned off and the stars turned on. This will show the students that the also has latitude and North Pole, an equator. From here, we will enter a brief look at one area or two constellations. Ursa The will be h .. n,,,rr ... t way while the star ball moved. Students will receive their instructions about follow. Each group is to of the to map. p!Gme'tax'iUlm since he or she dents best. One member of the a'i seen now will not viewed at the new that of the Southern as viewed from South Pole. A system of themselves. (trian:~le and meridian) wiH Each group asslgrlea one of the number to copy onto their paper. It is not 'rnnn,·t 60 The Planetarian National Science Education Standards, on Saturday and Sunday June 24-25,1995. el grants will be provided for them. National Research Council, National Science The purposes of the symposium are: 0) to Chair: LOC: Professor D. G. Education Standards Project. 2101 Consti review current research programs, projects, University of Maryland. Registration will be tution Ave, NW, HA 486, Washington, DC and other developments in astronomy edu organized by ASP Headquarters. There will 20418, November 1994 (Draft Copy for cation; (ii) to publicize such programs and be a modest registration fee. Response and Comment) This document programs through poster papers; (iii) to dis Chair: Program Committee: Professor John includes recommendations from a national cuss how the theoretical and practical results R. Percy, Erindale Campus, University of governmental recommendations panel. of these programs and projects can be shared ; Toronto, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5L Many excellent ideas are found here too. At (iv) to plan for the next decade of develop 1C6. Phone: (90S) 828-5251. Fax: (905) 828- the time of this writing, a review and com ment in astronomy education; (v) to create a 5328. Internet: [email protected] ment form addressing the specific recom network of astronomy education resources, Meeting Format Invited review talks (20). mendations was available to interested citi both people and materials; (vi) to bring Extensive structured discussion. Poster zens, incl uding planetarians! together the 200 most active people in papers related to the topic of the sympOSium. astronomy education in North America The sympOSium is co-sponsored the Astronomy Education: Recent Develop todaYi (vii) to disseminate the results of the American Association of Physics ments, Future Directions symposium through a high-quality con American Astronomical SOCiety, American The Astronomical Society of the Pacific ference proceedings. Association of Variable Star Observers, and (ASP) announces a major symposium on The focus of the symposium will be on the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. astronomy education, to be held as part of astronomy education in North America. Other co-sponsorships are pending. * the 1995 ASP Annual Meeting. The meeting Participants from abroad are welcome to will be hosted by the University of Maryland attend and submit poster papers, but no trav- Vol. 24, No.1, March 1995 The Planetarian 61 was, after all, just a glistening sunrise with screen saver. some interesting cloud effects. Let's not kid - WINNER of the Best T-shirt ourselves. We may PRETEND that it doesn't matter whether we see the eclipse or not; that it's the trip, the camaraderie, the new places that we visit that really make the excursion worthwhile. But we really want to see the eclipse. So the next time, on the big Planetarium island of Hawaii in July of 1991, my group did a little more to guarantee our success at 4100 eclipse watching. We investigated sites all Virginia 4:.....JI4:.....JI_ over the Big Island to come up with a good one. Wrong! We were clouded out. Was it "third time is always different" Some school-affiliated planetarians mythology that led me to go to Bolivia? wouldn't hesitate for an instant! It would not Why did I cave in to become just another take them more than an eyeblink to leave unscrupulous eclipse-chaser with no scheduled classes during the school year to· thought to my school groups? go chasing after a good eclipse. Wen, actually it was because of my school nt-"""".F<,,,,i-n.'u and Science Center in 'V'U.... A ...... , Not me. The first question I always ask groups that I decided to go to the eclipse. Calif., when slides didn't advanc~ when an upcoming event is presented to me When I saw that the dates for the eclipse trip presentation: "This is like an automation sys- is "When is it?" I don't care how wonderful it included the dates each year that I dread tem in a it kind of does is, I won't even consider it if it's during the facing school groups the most, I began to thing," school year, my contractual period of think differently about the proposal. I never - A ae.l.<:Jlvea presenltatilon employment. I have a good job, with sort of want to be a planetarian on these dates. I everyone WliliUmr. decent pay, and wonderful people to work always hope for snow on these dates, but it's long: first one laser dot the with. They pay mej I put in my hours with too early. What are these dates? The days dome, then another. Soon the im:prclmlJtu them. That's all there is to that. immediately following Halloween! Hordes of "dueling laser pointers" routine entertained So, when John Hare, Planetarian from sugar-crazed fourth graders, leaving a trail of everyone until the show started! Bradenton, FlOrida, presented the idea to me miniature candy wrappers in their wake, - ...... , ... U .... U .• ~ of laser ..... ".,i .... t-"" ..'" in 1992, I dismissed it immediately. "No have to be scraped off the dome each year on Planetarian in EI Paso, Texas, warns thanks/' I said. "Not during the school year." these days. The neighbors who give the kids using it outside of the He hid "Off limits." "A no-no." all that candy should have to be "planetari and aimed it at a tree in the yard of a He did not insist, realizing that he was an-for-a-day" to see what havoc they have bor, as a a poUcl~man, dealing with a completely scrupulous EDU wrought! in the yard and dove into yucca CATOR of the PLANET ARIAN PERSUASION. That did it. Noticing that the dates \.)f the next to him-he he was the It really sounded good, though: TOTAL eclipse induded my dreaded "Monster Days" someone a ona ECLIPSE OF THE SUN, in Bolivia, South convinced me that we were aU better off if I America (somewhere I've never been but were out of the country. always kind of wanted to go), mild latitudes, P. S. We saw it this time! The stars are accessible to us near some interesting archaeological sites, tant visual exploration. This inevitable restric- and, best of all, with a small group of plane Overheard and at tion not us tarium-related folk. (Some think that last - ] on Elvert, Planetarian from about life on all these great bodies, but also item would be a detractor from the invita Oregon, during his presentation, "It took 20 bids relative tion; I've found planetarium types to be, years for the overhead projector to get out of to their chemical or even natures. shall we say, ... interesting.) the bowling alley to the classroom." - August Comte, 1844, But when those late October-early - 2nd place in the Best T-shirt at IPS Sun and Earth, rrit:~drrlan, November, 1994 eclipse dates were presented, Contest in 1994: Carolyn Petersen of Loch that "school year" flag ran up my flagpole, Ness Productions, with artsy looking uni For all the wonder eter- and that was the end of that! verse painting with a fake drawn and what no~ they are not everlast open to show real universe objects. they are not eternal; they burn out like can It's December, 1994 and guess what? I - Bess Amaral, of Goddard Planetarium in dles. ... Imagine them all extinguished, went. To Bolivia To see the total eclipse of Roswell, NM, to Carolyn Petersen, while mind feeling its way through a heavens the sun. This is not me. Why did I do it? looking at Carolyn's Loch Ness slide display: darkness, occasionally striking Am I turning into an eclipse "geek" who liDo you have a Cassiopeia with clothes on?" black, invisible cinders of those stars. follows the sun twice a year to exotic and - John Mosley, having been given a cheerful, and wish to remain so, leave isolated locations laden with cameras and Special Service Award for a fantastic job as ofastronomy alone. mylar filters? Is it a need to feel the primal Editor of The Planetarian for 8 years: "I don't - Thomas Hardy, Tower, 4, pp. 3.5-6, fascination as the sun "gets gobbled up by get very many awards. This one is really spe on about a nova in ~()rpLUs. the puma," as the Bolivians believe? cial. I like it." Maybe it was a disappointment with past - Rob Landis, guest speaker from Space We are alllffnOrc.lnt. We are eclipses. I was in Helsinki in 1990 with other Telescope Science Institute, who, on his lap ofdifferent things. IPSers for a total eclipse of the sun which top computer, had a Hubble Space Telescope -Will 62 The Planetarian Vol. No.1, March e (NO, ... NOT h ) Our POLYCHROMATIC ACOUSTO OPTIC MODULATOR • Modulates up to 8 • OEM driver modules available wavele~ simuHaneoualy for Ar+!Kt* Iasen .. Euytouse .. Competlthely priced • Fast factory support A MUST FOR lASER UGHT SHOWS AND lASER DISPlAYS Are your 3 modulators letting you down? ... Our new POLYCHROMATIC ACOUSTO OPTIC MODUlATOR can stand up to your needs. NEDSI4300-C Fortune Place, Melbourne, FL 32904 "'_lIIIIIIIIIiiiiiiiiillliiiiiilllliiiiii"_ Phone: (407) 676-9020 Fax: (407) 722-4499 ince 1983, the power of DIGISTAR has thrilled Saudiences in more than two dozen locations around the world. 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