THE PLANETARIAN Journal of the International Planetarium Society Vol. 24, No. 2, June 1995

Articles 5 George W Bunton, Jr., 1910 - 1995 ...... Roland Force 6 Pluto Express: Big Mission, Small Spacecraft ...... Rob Landis 9 Lessons from Museum and Leisure Research ...... Sharon Parker 12 Planetariums in Japan ...... Isshi Tabe and Kimberly Ayers

Features 17 Forum: IPS: Value for Money to International Members? .... Steve Tidey 20 Computer Corner: MICA ...... Ken Wilson 22 Planetechnica: Where is My Zoom-Slew? ...... Richard McColman 27 Book Reviews ...... April S. Whitt 34 President's Message ...... Jim Manning 39 Gibbous Gazette ...... Christine Brunello 41 What's New ...... Jim Manning 45 Focus on Education: Classification of Stars ...... Stu Chapman 47 Mobile News Network ...... Sue Reynolds 49 Regional Roundup ...... Steven Mitch 51 Secretary's Report ...... Joyce Towne 54 Jane's Corner ...... Jane Hastings .... ----, '- _ __ ...I

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The Skymaster ~ EILER ZKP3 INS T RLJlVlE NT l.~nl~'d &. ",,,,,'1,1" .11... -'1... m."I.'. I',,,,.~e- ,,' •. , ilUI ".,,... ••",1 he- .",,.01, """ """"'': 170 E. Kirkh"m All" ., .I,,"' .... 51;. l ouis , MO 63119 J\ I'"" .• N.· ~,·,I"" ..'.lU",," hit """1,1."1,· non",,1 "I ,I", m."n I""~' h" .",,1 ,t', ,1 ... 1<.-1.1 ,.• ' " 1-0. ,·",h,'" d .... ,!:",,1 Olh",,'!: th., .."n", "'I"""" 1",· ... '"1 .• 1''''' 'I".,tol,,'" ," .. tI ... , 6"" I''''~'h''' . 11", ,,~, ",."h·'" tl,'"b,lm New Orleans Sa les Otfke w",,"'<1 """t'''''''''' .,,,.1 ""''',' ,I,m ,·,,,'II" 'lI ,h,.",· ,.. , ,·"'l,,,.: .I.,,,,, .... 11\,1 ,,,,.. Upl ...... l"''''''\-. 1 - 800- 726-8805 FAX: 504- 764- 7665 The Planetarian (ISN 0090-3213) is published quarterly by the International Planetarium Society. © 1995, International Planetarium Society. Inc., all rights reserved. Opinions pV1".r.,."'C!~ The Planetarian by authors are personal opinions and are not necessarily the opinions of the International Planetarium Society. its officers, or agents. Acceptance of advertisements, announcements, or Vol. 24, No.2 other material does not imply endorsement by the International Planetarium Society. its offi­ cers or agents. The Editor welcomes items for consideration for publication. Please consult (or June 1995 request) "Guidelines for Contributors," last printed in the June 1994 issue. The Editor reserves the right to edit any solicited or unsolicited manuscript to suit this publication's needs.

Executive Editor John Mosley INDEX OF ADVERTISERS Griffith Observatory 2800 E. Observatory Road Bowen Productions ...... 29 Los Angeles, Callfomia 90027 USA 213-664-1181 work phone Calgary Science Centre ...... 818-708-7314 home fax Davis Planetarium ...... 33 [email protected] DSC Laboratories ...... Advertising Coordinator East Coast Control Systems ...... 40 Sheri Trbovich Evans & Sutherland ...... back cover Hansen Planetarium GOTO Manufacturing Co ...... 19 15 South State Street Salt Lake City, Utah 84111 USA Joe Hopkins Engineering ...... 16 801-531-4949 Laser Images, Inc ...... 15 801-531-4948 fax [email protected] Lavallee/Brensinger Prof. Assoc...... 48 Miami Space Transit Planetarium ...... 26 Membership Minolta ...... 21 Individual: $40 one year; $70 two years Institutional: $150 first year; $75 annual renewal NEOS Technologies ...... inside back cover Library Subscriptions: $24 one year Planisphere Productions ...... 37 Direct membership requests RS Automation Industrie ...... 44 and changes ofaddress to the Treasurer Membership Chairman Seiler Instrument ...... inside front cover Spitz, Inc...... 38 L P.. S. Job Information Service To receive word of new position openings Technical Innovations ...... 53 in the planetarium field, send up to six self-addressed stamped envelopes to: Donald Hall, Director Associate Editors Strasenburgh Planetarium P.O. Box 1480 Jon U. Bell Richard McColman Rochester, New York 14603 USA Opening the Dome Planetechnica

Back Issues of The Planetarlan Jeffrey H. Bowen Jim Manning A vailable from: Sound Advice Wbat'sNew Charlene Oukes Christine Brunello Steven Mitch IPS Back Publications Repository Gibbous Gazette Regional Roundup Strasenburgh Planetarium P.O. Box 1480 Stu Chapman Sue Reynolds Rochester, New York 14603 USA Focus on Education Mobile News Network

A cumulative index of major articles that have Deborah Judith Steve Tidey appeared in The Planetarian from the first issue & Ervin Bartha Forum All-Sky Circle through the current issue is available on paper Ken Wilson ($12 ppd) or disk ($5 ppd) from the Exec. Editor. Alan Davenport Computer Reviews Scdptodum Final Deadlines April Whitt March:January 21; June: April 21 Jane G. Hastings Book Reviews September:July 21; December: October 21 Jane's Comer

Vol. 24, No.2, June 1995 The Plane tar ian 3 I. P. S .. Officers

President Executive 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 Hoads 406-994-6874 703-354-9300 x 48 London NWl 5LR England Buckingham, PA 18912 USA 406-994-2682 fax (44) 071-486-1121 215-794-7481 [email protected] Treasurer and Membership (44) 071-465-0862 fax Chairman Awards Committee Chair President Elect Keith Johnson Historian/Photo-Archivist Phyllis Pitluga Thomas W. Kraupe Fleischmann Planetarium John Hare The Adler Planetarium Forum Der Technik University of Nevada Bishop Planetarium 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive Planetarium Reno, Nevada 89557 USA 201 lOth Street West ChIcago, Illinois 60605 USA Museumsinsel 1 702-784-4812 Bradenton, Florida 34205 USA 312-322-0319 D-80538 Muenchen 702-784-4822 fax 813-746-4132 Germany [email protected] 49-89-21125-250 Publications Chair Permanent Mailing Address 49-89-21125-255 fax 1996 Conference Chairman Undine Concannon International Planetarium July 11-15, 1996 Planetarium Administrator Society Past President Dr. Tadao Nakano, Director London Planetarium c/o Hansen Planetarium William Gutsch The Science Museum of Osaka Marylebone Road Hayden Planetarium Nakanoshima, Kita-Ku London NW1 5LR, England 15 South State Street American Museum Osaka 530, Japan (44) 071-486-1121 Salt Lake City, Utah 84111 USA Central Park West at 81st St. (44) 071-465-0862 fax New York, NY 10024 USA 212-769-5900 Please notify the Editor 212-769-5007 fax changes oj IPS offICers affUiate representatives.

I. P .. S. Affiliate Representatives

Association of French-Speaking Great Lakes Planetarium Assoc. Nordic Planetarium Association Russian PlanetariumlB Association 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'Yem 5-A Universite Louis Pasteur 219-282-1885 8-424 66 Goteborg-Angered Nizhny Novgorod. 603 001 Rue de L'ObseIVatoire 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. Assoc. of Mexican Planetariums 60th & Dodge Streets 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 20l-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 of British Assoc. of Planetariums Loris Ramponi Planetariums Undine Concannon National Archive of Planetaria Planetarium Assoc. of Canada Donna Pierce London Planetarium c/o Centro studi e ricerche Serafino Ian D. Cameron Highland Park Ind. School District Marlybone Road Zani Lockhart Planetarium 4220 Emerson London NVVI5LR,En@and via Bosca 24. CP 104 500 Dysart Road Dallas. Texas 75205 USA (44) 071-486-1121 25066 Lumezzane (BreScia). Italy Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2 214-523-1836 planetarium office (44) 071-465-0862 fax 30-871861 Canada 214-520-6917 fax 30-872545 fax 204-474-9785 Council of German Planetariums 204-261-0021 fax Ukranian Planetarium.. Assoc. Dr. Hans Meinl Japan Planetarium Society [email protected] Dr. Alexander P. Lenin Zeiss Planetarium Dr. Tadao Nakano. Director Republical Planetarium der Ernst-Abbe-Stiftung The Science Museum of Osaka Rocky Mountain Planetarium 57/3 Krasnoarmeiskaia Street Am Planetarium 5 Nakanoshima. Kita-Ku Association Kiev 252005 0-07743 Jena Osaka 530. Japan Bess Amaral Ukraine Germany Robert H. Goddard Planetarium 044-227-51-66 49-3641-27315 Middle Atlantic Planetarium Roswell Museum & Arts Center 044-227-51-66 fax 49-3641-24632 fax Society 11th and N. Main Joyce Towne Roswell. New Mexico 88201 USA European/Mediterranean Fels Planetarium 505-624-6744 Planetarium Association 20th and The Parkway 505-625-6765 fax Dennis Simopoulos Philadelphia. PA 19103 USA [email protected] Eugenides Planetarium 215-448-1166 Syngrou Avenue-Amfithea 215-448-1332 fax Athens. Greece 94-111-81

Produced at the Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles, California

4 The Plane tar ian Vol. 24, No.2, June 1995 of these was his 1958 trip to Pukapuka to George W. Bunton, Jr. observe an eclipse of the sun. On the he also visited Tahiti where the transit of Venus was observed by Captain Cook in 1769. In November 16, 1910 - February 21, 1995 1974, he and several other astronomers and his Wife, Marie, saw another solar eclipse, this Roland W. Force one from Australia Our Apollo flights to the moon were especially exciting to He Honolulu, Hawaii was asked by the Smithsonian tracking sta­ tion on Maui to keep a dose watch on the George Bunton spent his life among the Department of Astronomy and Manager of moon during the Apollo 8 flight in 1%8. He stars. Perhaps because of their preoccupation Morrison Planetarium. also served as a commentator on television with the vastness of the universe, astrono­ Without doubt, the happiest years of for the Apollo 11 and 12 shots in 1969. mers possess a special perspective on the George's life were from 1962 until his retire­ Another high point was the 1970 exhibition heavens, on the earth, and on human life. ment in 1980, when he served as Astronomer at the planetarium and on Kauai and the Big They are concerned with both space and and Manager of Kilolani Planetarium and Ob­ Island, too, of a moon rock that was retrieved time of stunning scope, far beyond the com­ servatory at Bishop Museum. The planetari­ by our astronauts. On another occasion a prehension of most of us who are awed by um was opened to the public in December of laser-light show lit the heavens over Kalihi cosmic events, light years, planetary atmo­ 1961. Dr. Earle G. Linsley, Astronomer on the and hundreds of cars converged on the spheres, celestial bodies, and so much more. Museum staff, had seen the planetarium Museum to see the excitement. George Bunton spent much of his life through the planning and construction Most people are unaware that Hawaii does explaining the stars and all the related phe­ stages and he wished to return to the main­ not adjust its clocks as the mainland does for nomena to those whose exposure to the sci­ land Dr. Armand Spitz, designer of the plane­ Daylight Saving Time because of George. He ence of astronomy was limited. And he was tarium projector, was a consultant, and dur­ pointed out that because of Hawaii's location good at it. He was a teacher, and the planetar­ ing February of 1962, visited the Museum. He there was really no need to do so, and that we ium was his classroom. highly recommended Bunton to succeed Dr. were better off remaining on Standard Time Born in COVington, Kentucky, the only Linsley. As director of Bishop Museum, throughout the year. For years he alerted the child of George W. Bunton, Sr., a Methodist George was my first staff appointment, and community to upcoming eclipses and minister, and Ina Case Bunton, he moved one of my best. He began work on April 1, comets-once mistakenly announcing that a with his family to Dayton, Ohio when he 1962. I told him I wanted him to run the meteor display would be visible at 5:30 am. was five, and started school. Five years later place so I wouldn't have to worry about it. When it didn't happen, he apologized in the the Buntons moved again this time to south­ He did and I never did newspapers to everyone. He received letters ern California There were many Bunton virtues. Besides from many people who, far from From the time he was in junior high astronomy, George was knowledgeable ip the annoyed, thanked him for getting them up school, George was fascinated with science. fields of physics, optics, electroniCS, and early to see the dawn, a thing they hadn't After he graduated from Hollywood High meteorology. He was a facile and articulate done in years. School in 1929, he enrolled briefly at the planetarium lecturer: he knew his subject. He Something else. George wrote poetry, some University of Southern California, but the worked well with others and had a marve­ of it inspired by his love of astronomy. Here depression cut his studies short. lous sense of humor. He once said, poking fun are a few lines from a poem he caned Despite the economic distress of the time, at himself, that he was 40% scientist and 60% Universe he and his childhood sweetheart, Marie ham. His community outreach included Jardine, were married in 1930. A daughter was writing a regular astronomy column in the From a hollow ofdarkness light was let forth. born to them in 1932. George resumed his Star Bulletin, making radio and television pre­ education in 1937, earning a bachelor's degree sentations, giving talks to service clubs, and From a stark vacuum all matter was born. in physics with a minor in astronomy from playing an active role in the Hawaii From a point within emptiness a universe UCLA in 1940. The same year he enrolled at Astronomical Society. Somehow over the grew ... USC again, this time as a graduate student in years, he found time to write more than 40 For thus it is written in the book of the gods ... physics, aiming for a PhD. The war interrupt­ popular articles on astronomy. No one will ed his plan, and in 1942, he left school to ever forget his planetarium program and The way ofthe gods is seemingly strange. work in an aircraft plant. At the same time, booklet on The Star ofBethlehem Man bred for life had bred to his death. he taught astronomy and other scientific Perhaps George's greatest virtue was his His stay on his world seems (utile and vain. subjects at USC and worked part time as a absolute mechanical genius and his engineer­ But the gods had a plan that included his time. technician and gUide at the Griffith Obser­ ing skills. He could and did produce remark­ vatory. This became a full-time job in 1944, able devices to assist him and the other lec­ From the ashes ofdeath sprang a figure superb. and he ultimately became Head Guide and turers in the planetarium put on their shows. Man (ull adorned with glories unheard. Chief Technician. He continued there until If no piece of equipment was available to Man knowing love and none ofthe hate. 1951. He then became a technical consultant produce a particular effect, George designed Man with wisdom, in tune with the gods. during the construction of the California and manufactured it in the planetarium Man who came near to being likegods. Academy of Science's Morrison Planetarium workshop. Sometimes he did so, even if a in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. A year piece of equipment did exist. George Bunton still lives among the stars. later he was named Curator of the Academy's There were high points in his career. One

Vol. 24, No.2, June 1995 The Plane tar ian 5 e Plut Expre e describe sions to visit the outer .".. "c._,,>. iilCIUOlnll Bi Mission, Small Spac ra Pluto/Charon. Pluto is the most dUticu!t planet to reach. Until the rn1nVII"TI­ tional wisdom was that the end-to-end Rob landis sion (in of economic e:on,U'h,.,."n_ ment) would take too and Space Telescope Science Institute much to be successful Several in the 3700 San Martin Drive, tary science c0111IIlUrlity for a Pluto mission since 1989. Baltimore, Maryland 21218 Following the successful Neptune a few eng;im~ers Originally designated the Pluto Fast Flyby, ets. All known planets in our solar system orated on an idea to send a 39 the Pluto Express mission is planned to have been explored by robotic emissaries of spacecraft" on a five- to launch two spacecraft on fast trajectories to the Earth save one, the Pluto/Charon system. tory to Pluto. study Pluto and its moon Charon. Last year In the early 1970s, when space scientists and In 1990, a circulated amongst prototype instruments were delivered to JPL. The spacecraft may be launched on either an mission American Delta or a Russian Proton rocket. This paper briefly describes the Pluto Under a collaborative American-Russian cost, schedule, and performance. approach, the twin Pluto-bound spacecraft would be launched in 2001 on a Proton mission planners began considering the epic launch vehicle and would carry two small Voyager odyssey, investigators considered called for 350 Russian-built atmospheric probes, called sending Voyager 1 on to Pluto. At that time, it "Drop Zonds." Spacecraft would arrive at was generally assumed that Titan, Triton, Pluto/Charon system between 2008 - 2011. and Pluto were very similar bodies. Mission This paper briefly describes the Pluto Express planners decided to send Voyager 1 on a tra­ mission design, cost, schedule, and perfor­ jectory to take it close to Titan as Earth­ mance. bound telescopiC studies indicated the pres­ assists. Travel time to Pluto would Planetarians may playa role in educating ence of a thick methane (CH4) atmosphere. years with launch from and exciting the public on the "Mt. Everest" Voyager 2 would fIy on to Triton. Mean­ to 2003. of solar system exploration. Such a show, while, Pluto would have to await another Another Pluto mission concept am)eared "Pluto Express" is being presented at the generation of scientist explorers and C'pace­ in 1991. This would have Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles; similar craft. more than 2000 kg and would cost shows may be performed elsewhere. Pluto Since the twin Voyager spacecraft were of $2 billion. The Mariner Mark II spacecratt Express gives planetarians the opportunity launched, knowledge to discuss a future mission to a major solar regarding PI uto has system body while it is still being planned, changed appreciably. rather than reporting on what has already Pluto's moon,Charon, 1930: Discovery of Pluto been discovered had not been discover­ 1965: 3/2 orbit resonance with Neptune discovered ed; the mutual event 1976: Methane (CH~ ice discovered of Pluto occultations (between Pluto Background 1978: Discovery of Charon, mass of Pluto + Charon determined Pluto and Charon) in Although 18 February marked the 65th 1980: Stellar occultation reveals Charon radius -600 km the mid- to late-1980s anniversary of Pluto's discovery, the ninth 1985: Onset of Pluto/Charon mutual events hinted at Pluto's polar planet has guarded its secrets well. This cold 1986: Determination of separate albedos and colors for Pluto caps and mottled sur­ world is so small and distant that even the and Charon face; a stellar occulta­ best Earth-based instruments show it as a fea­ tion in 1988 revea] ed 1987: Water (H20) ice discovered on Charon tureless blob. More recently, the Hubble Space 1988: Discovery that Pluto's orbit is chaotic the presence of a tenu­ Telescope has confirmed the existence of Stellar occultation reveals Pluto's atlloosphere ous atmosphere; and, Plutonian polar caps and a darkly mottled Mutual events hint at the presence of polar caps the latest Hubble ima­ band girdling the planet's equator. 1989: Suggestion of thermal structure in Pluto's atIJom;pnere ges of Pluto/Charon Pluto/Charon is the solar system's only 1992: Nitrogen (N2) and carbon monoxide (CO) discovered seem to confirm the example of a double planet and may be the Pluto existence of polar caps key to understanding conditions in the outer Discovery of significantly different densities of Pluto and a mottled equato­ solar nebula in the region of planet forma­ Charon rial band. The Pluton­ tion. The onl y means to better understand 1993: Pluto/Charon barycenter located and mass determined ian system is distinc­ this far away world is to send spacecraft to using the Hubble Space Telescope tive in its own right complete the reconnaissance of the solar sys­ 1995: HSTobservations confirm the existence of Plutonian and has a unique tale tem. polar caps and mottled equatorial band to tell. It beckons for a Shortly after the dawn of the space age, 2001: Pluto Express 1 and 21aunch? planetary explorer. people began sending spacecraft to the plan-

6 The Planetarian Vol. would have a daughter probe to investigate both sides of Pluto, a much larger science Table 2: Pluto Mission Core Science Objectives payload, and a flight time of 16 years. This (no priorization within categories) behemoth would require launch on a Titan 4/Centaur and would have flown the same Category lA: Characterize global geology and morphology flight path as the 350 kg class vehicle. Surface compositional mapping The Outer Planets Science Working Group Characterize of Pluto's neutral atmosphere (scale height, structure, (OPSWG), a NASA chartered group of leading composition) planetary astronomers, examined small and Category 1B: Surface and temperature time variability large missions to Pluto and reported their Surface imaging findings to NASA in May, 1991. In subse­ High resolution terminator mapping quent meetings with NASA, OPSWG and Surface composition mapping NASA's Solar System Exploration Characterization of Pluto's ionospheric/solar wind interaction Subcommittee formally endorsed the JPL -Search for neutral species including: H, H2J HCN, CxHy, and other concept of a dual Pluto flyby with very hydrocarbons/nitrites in Pluto's upper atmosphere small spacecraft in 1993. Obtain isotope discrimination where possible Search for Charon's atmosphere Faster, Cheaper, Better, Smaller Determination of bolometric bond albedos During the current era of economic aus­ Surface temperature mapping. terity, NASA has been directed to find faster, Category 1C: Characterization of the energetic particle environment better, cheaper ways of doing space science. Refinement of bulk parameters (radii, masses, densities) Magnetic field search In order to "stay in business," the space agen­ cy needs to find new ways of doing quality Additional satellite and ring search science with less money. Upon learning of the proposed Pluto mission, the NASA same science payload, increasing data return, ence goals for the mission, arranging and pri­ AdministratOJl gave his enthusiastic support and maintaining mission reliability in order oritizing them into three classes (see Table 2). of the mission provided the spacecraft did to achieve a successful decade-long mission. Category 1A represents the "must do" science not exceed the 164 kg mass class. This direc­ To come to fruition, the mission must objectives. These include the charac­ tive, to reduce spacecraft mass, has become maintain an exciting science content, early terization of Pluto/Charon's global geology, the driver for adopting and developing new launch, and an attractive life cycle cost and morphology, surface compositional map­ technologies that would enable a 100 kg­ cost profile in a fiscally austere budget ping, and characterization of Pluto's tenuous class vehicle to do the same science as a environment. This presents quite a challenge atmosphere. Categories 1B and lC will be more massive one. Some of the new tech­ to mission development activity. Mean­ attempted if still within the project con­ nologies might then spin off into other while, preproject funding remains constant straints. space missions and into the private sector to permit substantial prototype har

Vol. 24, No.2, June 1995 The Planetarian 7 spacecraft: to obtain (at a minimum) the The Space Research Institute of the Rus­ dieted to occur between Category 1A objectives. The scientific objec­ sian Academy of Sciences headed the tives of the mission define what the Pluto of a possible joint mission. In 1994, the Express spacecraft must be capable of doing. Russian study team presented recommen­ Performance requirements on the spacecraft dations to the JPL Pluto Express team. The are derived from the scientific objectives. Russian group shared several using Performance requirements include: electrical the Proton rocket (and different upper stage power generation, data storage, communica­ combinations to send the spacecraft on tions capability, propulsive capability, ther­ direct interplanetary trajectories), use of ion mal control, pointing control, and numerous thrusters, and an ultralight Zond to other resources which the spacecraft must make in situ measurements of the Plutonian provide to the instruments. atmosphere. Cost, schedule, and performance are not independent variables. Given this prioritiza­ tion, the design approach must be very sensi­ and current science discoveries sm:roun,dirur In the years since discovery in 1930, Pluto tive to cost and allow capability within cost has retained its secrets well. Pluto and its Pluto/Charon, and to the and schedule to define the performance (i.e., moon Charon have a tale to tell. Pluto's two small spa.ceclratt science return). atmosphere is much thinner than Titan's ic double-world and is being replenished by a primordial reservoir. Unlike Triton, which is currently As recently as 1993, NASA was not permit­ about Pluto's distance from the Sun, Pluto ted to consider joint missions with the for­ has simpler seasonal changes which are driv­ ence, mer Soviet Union. However, the Planetary en by an elliptical orbit and very high October 1994. SOCiety-not constrained by governments uity, has polar caps which are probably tem­ nor bureaucratic restrictions-approached porary, and was evidently formed in the several Russian space organizations regard­ solar nebula instead of in a planetary nebula ing a possible joint effort with the United The scientific imperative to visit Pluto States for a Pluto mission. before its atmosphere collapses (which is pre-

Dear Editor: I warmly congratulate Thomas A'A~~p_ President-elect. As another I was very ImDr€~Ss€~d statement of goals and with the talents he Dear Editor: the many people who offered kind words of support to First of all I would like to thank those (very few) who have the weeks of the election, and now look forward to the ...... ' ...... AA ..A .. responded to my request for information about Sources and about leadership Thomas will to IPS in the years ahead Special Effects. Unfortunately, those keen people are very few in number and the committee would much appreciate a little more input to our task of trying to expand the number and relevance of IPS Publications. Just to remind everybody, we are planning to reprint the Resources Dear Editor: Directory-this time making it an international list. That is planned For a show now for possible publication at the end of this year. The next task is to about legal cases with astronomical p'l:Tirlt>l... r,p revise, update and expand the Special Effects Book. There have been cases with astronomers as expert witnesses. If some useful new contributions for this but many more would be than Lincoln), write the unldersi,gned, appreciated, 3480. Thank you very much. The IPS Membership leaflet has been translated into Russian, courtesy of Oleg Sizuchin, and is available from him at the Moscow Planetarium. Publications are for your benefit. Please contribute. Undine Concannon London Planetarium

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FOR SALE: GOTO M-l and control console to highest bidder ($1,000 minimum bid). Purchaser reSIPOltlSUIJ!e mantling, crating, transportation, and all other charges. Must be removed by December 31, 1995. Deadline for written bids is Sel0te'ml:>ef 30,1995. For information contact: Dave DeBruyn, Public Museum of Grand Rapids, 272 Pearl NW, Grand MI 49504; b1tt-4:~.WI

8 The Plane tar ian Vol. Fundamentally, museum visitor behavior is incompatible with a learning ""' ...... u. Lessons from Museum and Museum visitors typically spend 90-120 minutes in a museum, during which time Leisure Research they skip 60% of the exhibits and 3/4 of their time in non- learning related activi­ ties. The exhibits they do visit are attended to for no more than a couple of minutes at Sharon K. Parker most and label copy is frequently ignored A typical exhibit visit lasts about 30 seconds. Buehler Planetarium By comparison, visitors spend 8 hours or 3501 SW Davie Rd. more (often over several days) in theme parks which are increasingly adopting edu­ Davie, Florida 33314 cational agendas. Consider Epeot Center. It is strongly educational in nature, costs about The information that is included in this visitor attitudes toward learning in cultural $30 for a single admission, yet still manages article came about as a result of extensive lit­ facilities in general. The studies I found sug­ to be one of the nation's premiere tourist erature research that I conducted on visitor gest that many museums, (and probably attractions. As for Disneyland, three out of behavior, motivation, and expectations in planetariums, too) are seriously out of touch four visitors are adults. One comprehensive leisure and informal education settings such with visitor motivations and interests. There museum study revealed that parent/child as museums and theme parks. appears to be a Significant difference groups with children age 6-11 years are least I believe my findings can be generally between what visitors want (as indicated by likely to be interested in learning and most applied to planetariums because 1) planetari­ their behavior), and what museum profes­ likely to be interested in active participation ums are places where visitors spend leisure sionals continue to provide and social engagement. But isn't this the time, 2) planetariums are infor- group we spend the most time mal education settings that trying to educate? Today's museums and planetariums are faced with chal­ share a similar educational and If museums, planetaria, and cultural function to museums­ lenging trends that are effecting their ability to survive as theme parks are places where and, in fact, are often located in mainstream cultural institutions. Fundamentally, these people choose to spend their museums or cultural complexes, trends are connected to their ability to attract, maintain, leisure time, and if education is a goal of each of these leisure and 3) people are likely to have and increase visitation among economically and ethno-cul­ similar motivations for attend­ venues, then why is there such turally diverse populations. ing these facilities even though a big difference between visi­ they may have different expec­ In consumer oriented societies, businesses must be sen- tor behavior in theme tations of each. sitive to customer perceptions, motivations, and expecta­ and museums? I believe the Now, for a rhetorical question tions in order to succeed. Cultural institutions, like muse­ differences are caused by two ... what motivates people to visit ums and planetaria, are no different-they cannot afford things. 1) theme parks recog­ your planetarium? Do they visit nize that people are there to to ignore market realities. If planetaria and museums fail because it's something to do have a fun, social experience when the weather is lousy? Are to understand and address visitor needs, they will lose vis­ with members of their group, they there to entertain them­ itors to competing leisure attractions, will become less and they design experiences selves or perhaps a child? Are successful in attracting corporate and grant funding, and that foster social engagement, and 2) theme parks recognize they wrapping up a museum may be considered less valuable by their parent institu­ visit and simply want a place to that, as far as visitors are con­ tions. sit down or dark place to catch cerned, learning is secondary some sleep before heading home Recent museum and leisure research sheds light on visi­ to having a good time. Conse­ with the family? Are they there tors' leisure motivations. Research documents that visitor quently, they market them­ to make out with a date in the behavior in museums is inconsistent with a learning agen­ selves as being places to have fun and rarely mention lithe E back row? Or, are they there da, and that program/exhibit objectives and strategies are because they have a burning word" (education). Research often out of touch with visitor desires. Research suggests desire to learn something about tells us that learning in a muse­ our wonderful universe? that planetaria and museums will be better eqUipped to um context occurs most often Since I could not find any face the challenging trends of the future if they avoid via social mechanisms. So, published visitor studies for stagnation; diversify programming; develop innovative, encouraging the social aspect of a museum visit may actual­ planetaria, and since such stud­ effective, and entertaining approaches to science educa­ ies are Ugh tl Y guarded secrets ly be the most effective way to tion that are more active and less passive; facilitate posi­ among theme parks, I investigat­ get people to learn! ed museum visitor studies. tive social discourse within visitor groups; and if their par­ The social elemen t of a Given the socio-economic and ent institutions commit to investing in technologies that museum, planetarium, or demographic similarity of plane­ will allow them to compete successfully with increasingly theme park visit is not tarium and museum visitors, it sophisticated information delivery systems and "edutain­ critical to learning, but also seems reasonable to assume that influences the meaning visi- ment" opportunities that are available elsewhere. such research can shed light on tors assign to their experience.

Vol. 24, No.2, June 1995 The Planetarian 9 One poll found that 60% of regular museum funding, and we run the risk of being consid­ Research Says About visitors had their interest in museums ered less valuable to our parent institutions. Museums. Association shaped by a family member, while only 3% Developing new, innovative programs nology Centers. Pp 10-12. of visitors stated that their interest was that address visitor's leisure needs should Csikszentmihali, C. and shaped by a school field trip. This may be increase repeat visitation, increase minority tlOptimal related to the fact that children found and lower socia-economic participation, and Leisure". unstructured (self guided) experiences more pOSition our facilities to compete with the Psychology, 56(5), 815-822. enjoyable than those which were structured myriad of new leisure/learning venues that Cohen, S. (1989). Shared ...... "u..... 1"> and overtly educational (guid- Among Children ed). This finding has powerful The Children's implications for repeat visita­ ... what are you doing to design innovative planetarium Young Children, 44(4), tion and suggests that an overt, experiences that provide opportunities for social inter­ J. (1986). educational agenda may be action within visitor groups or, for that matter, self defeating in the long run. It also suggests that it may be between visitor groups? What are you doing to create 29(2),139-154. possible to increase economic, programs that allow visitors to participate actively in Era tuB, M. and ethnic, and cultural diversity your programs? (1990). liThe t.XIJen.en(:e among visitors simply by appealing to a universal ery Room", Science Education, value-the social experience. After all, theme are after the same discretionary dollars that 74( 4), 481-493. parks, unlike museums, have little trouble we are. The beauty of this approach is that it Falk, j. H. (198?) " The Use of Time as Measure attracting a culturally diverse audience. doesn't necessarily require big budgets or of Visitor Behavior and Exhibit Now, for a few more rhetorical questions fancy hardware-just some creative thinking tiveness". Museum Education Roundtable ... what are you doing to design innovative on our part and a willingness to try some­ Reports. 7(4),10-13. planetarium experiences that provide oppor­ thing new. Further, it doesn't reqUire that we Falk, J. H. (1991). 14 Analysis of the Behavior of tunities for social interaction within visitor abandon our commitment to education, Family Visitors in Natural groups or, for that matter, between visitor only that we package it in more entertaining Museums". Curator, 34(1), 44-50. groups? What are you doing to create pro­ and engaging ways. Ways that are grounded Falk, J. H. (1993). "Assessing the grams that allow visitors to participate in visitor needs and interests rather than in Exhibit on Visitor Behavior actively in your programs? By active partic­ the museum or planetarium professional's and Learning". Curator, 36(2),133-146. ipation, I am not talking about directed ques­ agenda Falk,]. H" Koran,].]., and Dierking, L. D. (1986) tion and answer sessions with a presenter or I hope that the preceding, cursory review "The Things of Science: the so-called "interactive" button systems. I am of recent museum and leisure research will Learning Potential of Science Museums." talking about real mental engagement-role stimulate some discussion about the pur­ Science Education, 70(5), 503-508. playing, problem solving, experimenting, pose, function, and future of our profession. I Falk, J. H" Koran, J. J., L. questioning, fantasizing, and discovering also hope it will encourage more planetari­ Dreblow, L. (1985). "YI'eOlctlmg unknown capabilities. I'm also talking about ums to experiment with new kinds of pro­ Behavior". Curator, 28(4),249- 257. real physical engagement-handling objects, grams in their planetariums. Without a will­ Gallagher, J. M" and L. S. (1987). exploring visual perception, moving around ingness to re-evaluate the value and nature "Parent-Child Interaction in a Museum for the theater, playing games, and sensory stim­ of what we do for a Hving and to act upon Preschool Children", Children's Environ­ ulation. our findings, our profession will become sub­ ment's Quarterly, 4(1),41-45. Active participation is just one of the crite­ ject to stagnation. Hood, M. G., (1989). "Leisure Criteria of ria that people use to define leisure experi­ If you are interested in discussing this sub­ Family Participation and N(,lnT\::ITTI("I­ ences. Other factors incl ude lack of self or ject or in receiving more detail on it, please pation in Museums." Marriage and external evaluation, physical and/or mental contact me directly or drop me an email Review, 13(3-4), 151-169. effortlessness and comfort, emotional relax­ message at SKP [email protected]. Horna, J. (1989). liThe Leisure COlmponent ation, opportunity for personal growth or the Parental Role." Journal creativity, degree of social interaction possi­ Bibliography Research, 21(2), 228-241 ble, "worth" of the activity, opportunity to King, M. J. (1990). "Theme Park Thesis." Allen, L. R. and Donnell y, M. A. (1985). II An learn, and whether there might be a chal­ Analysis of the Social Unit of Participation Museum News, V69(5),60-62. lenge of new experiences. Personal relevancy and the Perceived Psychological Out­ King, M. J. (1991). liThe Theme Park and meaning, control, and feedback are also comes Associated with Most Enjoyable ence." The Futurist Nov-Dec. 24-31. important. How may of these factors do you Recreation Activities. Leisure Sciences, 7(4), Koran, J. ]., Koran, M. L., and J. consider when designing new programs? 421-441. (1986). liThe Relationship of In consumer oriented societies, businesses American Association of Museums. (1993). Attention, and Holding Power with Two must be sensitive to customer perceptions, "Excellence and Equity: Education and the Types of Science Exhibits", ...... ,...... \". motivations, expectations, and needs in Public Dimension of Museums". American 227-235. order to succeed and survive. Museums and Association of Museums. Washington, D.C. Koran, J. J., Longino, S. J.p and Shafer, L. planetaria are no different. If we fail to Beer, V. (1987). "Great Expectations: Do (1983). "A Framework for COIlce·ptuali2:ing understand and address visitor needs (includ­ Museums Know What Visitors Are Research in natural ing the ones they don't know how to articu­ Doing?". Curator, 30(3), 206-215. Science Centers." Journal late), then we will lose visitors to competing Sdente Teaching, 20(4),325-339. Chambers, M. (1990). IIBeyond I Aha!': "leisure attractions", we will become less suc­ Motivating Museum Visitors". In What Kremer, K. B. and Mullins G. W. (1992) cessful in attracting corporate and grant "Children's Gender Behavior and Science

10 The Plane tarian Vol. 1995 Museum Exhibits". Curator, 35(1), 39-48. Curatorship, 7,37-44. Involvement and Leisure Behavior: A Con­ Laetsch, W. M" Diamond, j., Gottfried, j. L., Miles, R. (1987). "Museums and Public ceptual Specification." Journal and Rosenfeld, S. (1980). "Children and Culture: A Context for Communicating Research, 20(3), 237-244. Family Groups in Science Centers". Science Science." Science Learning in the Informal Shaw, Susan. (1985) "The Meaning of Leisure and Children, 17(6), 14-17 Setting Symposium. Chicago Academy of in Everyday Life". Leisure Sciences, Leichter, H. j., Hensel, K., &: Larsen, E. (1989). Sciences. 1-24. "Families and Museums: Issues and Miles, R. (1991). liThe Impact of Research on Shaw, S. and AIt., M. B. (1984). "Characteristics Perspectives." Marriage and Family Review, the Approach to the Visiting Public at the of Ideal Museum Exhibits". Brittish Journal 13(3-4), 15-:-50. Natural history Museum, London." Inter­ ofPsychology, (75), 25- 36. Mannell, R. c., Zuzanek,]., &: Larson, R. (1988). national Journal ofSdence Education, 13(5), Smithsonian Institution (1979). "Children's "Leisure States and "Flow" Experiences: 543-549. Perceptions of a Museum Experience", in Testing Perceived Freedom and Intrinsic Ostlund, K., Gennaro, E., and Dobbert, M. Proceedings of the Children in Museums Motivation Hypotheses." Journal ofLeisure (1985). "A Naturalistic Study of Children International Symposium. Office of Research, 20(4), 289-304. and Their Parents in Family Learning Museum Programs. McClung, G. (1991). "Theme Park Selection: Courses in Science". Journal of Research in Stevenson, ]. (1991). liThe Long Term Impact Factors Influencing Attendance." Tourism Science Teaching, 22(8), 723-741 of Interactive Exhibits." International Managemen~ 12(2), 132- 140. Philipp, S. F. (1991) ''Racial Differences in the Journal ofScience Education, 13(5), 521-531 McManus, P. M. (1987). "It's the Company Perceived Attractiveness of Tourism Desti­ Stronk, D. R (1983). liThe Comparative Effects You Keep ... The Social Determination of nations, Interests, and Cultural Resources". of Different Museum Tours on Children's Learning-related Behaviour in a Science Journal ofLeisure Research, 25(3), 290-304. Attitudes and Learning". Journal of Museum", International Journal ofMuseum Searle, M. S. and jackson, E. L. (1985) "Socio­ Research in Science Teaching, 20(4), Management and Curatorship, 6, 263-270. economic Variations in Perceived Barriers 283-290.

McManus, P. M. (1988). "More on the Social to Recreation Participation Among Wolins, Inez. (1989). II A Case for Family Pro­ Determination of Learning-related Behav­ Would-be Participants". Leisure Sciences, grams in Museums." Marriage and Family ior in a Science Museum". The Internation­ 7(2),227-249. Review, 13(3-4), 7-15. al Journal of Museum Management and Selin, S. W. and Howard, D. R. (1988). "Ego

"Jay" Gunter 1911-1994

Dr.June U. Gunter, of 31 Pondview Court, The Forest At Duke, died November 14, 1994. Born Sanford, NC,january IS, 1911, son ofjunius Utley Gunter and Kate Ledbetter Gunter. Dr. Gunter graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in i931. While an undergraduate at UNC, he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa He attended Medical School at University of North Carolina for two years, serving as President of his class, followed by a two-year teaching fellowship in Histology. He then attended jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, receiving his MD in 1936. Dr. Gunter served in intern and resident capacities at Cooper Hospital, Camden, NJ, Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, and Duke Hospital. He then worked at jefferson Hospital, Roanoke, VA, as a pathologist. He served in the Medical Corps, USN, during World War IL Dr. Gunter served as Pathologist and Director of Laboratories, Watts Hospital, Durham, NC, from 1947 until his retirement in 1976. He was Visiting Assistant Professor of Pathology at UNC School of Medicine during this period. He authored many papers published in regional and national medical journals. Dr. Gunter was a Diplomate of the American Board of Pathology. He was a Life Member of the Durham-Orange County Medical Society, the North Carolina Medical Society, and the American Medical Association. He was Emeritus Fellow of the College of American Pathologists and the American Society of Clinical Pathologists, and an Emeritus Member and Past President of the North Carolina Society of Pathologists. Dr. Gunter was a member and director of the Durham County Chapter of the American Red Cross, and played a key roll in estab­ lishing the Central North Carolina Blood Bank. Following his retirement, Dr. Gunter became an amateur astronomer of international reputation. He had a special interest in aster­ Oids, and published regular articles and columns on asteroids in several astronomy journals. For over 15 years, he published Tonight's Asteroids, a bimonthly newsletter. This newsletter was distributed to amateur astronomers in many countries, enabling hundreds of readers to view asteroids by using the tracking charts published therein. In 1980, the International Astronomical Union named Asteroid No. 2136 jUGT A in his honor, the name being derived from his initials and the name of the newsletter. He received the Amateur Achievement Award of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific in 1983. He received the Caroline Herschel Award from the Western Amateur Astronomer Society in 1989 for his work on Tonight's Asteroids. Dr. Gunter was a member of the Cofounders Oub of the Medical Foundation of NC, the President's Oub of jefferson Medical College, and the Davison Club of Duke University Medical Center. Dr. Gunter was a member and deacon of the First Presbyterian Church of Durham, NC. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Kerr Gunter, daughter Elizabeth Johnson of Wilson, sons John of Rochester, NY and Stephen of Raleigh, and three grandsons.

Vol. 24, No.2, June 1995 The Planetarian 11 .. I arl where N == number m in Ja a in years I knew some a ts nn\N for I S I which has remained Isshi Tabe and Kimberly Ayers past 25 years. In the early 1980s Yokohama OPTICAL MFG. build a science center unlike any 4-16 Yazaki -cho The exhibit spent studying the in San Frandsco. Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183 Living in the space age, an earth-based Japan of the heavens seemed too [email protected] kohama plalnners odgin.:l.Hy thCIU2"llt ate a sphere with views of the stars

wen as the of -1-1 ...... """' ...,,.,. Introduction Museum in the U.S.A. After the two local players entered the Japan, a small country with the land mass 400 of California, has over 300 planetaria. If market, outsiders awards were given to the countries with the such as Zeiss and Spitz were seldom most planetarium facilities, Japan would win 300 1----1----1------second place, just behind the United States. ever heard of Yet very little is known about what goes on again. .~ under an those domes in the East. In prepara­ In Japan, there ~ was no late 60s ~ tion for your trip to IPS in 1996 we would n! 200 like to enrich your knowledge about the his­ early 70s plan­ etarium construc­ tory of the planetarium in Japan, the people tion boom like I who run the facilities, the kind of shows 100 given, and the present trends in the field. that of the United States; rather plan­ History etarium growth has been fair! y Osaka built the first planetarium theater 1965 1970 1915 1980 1985 1990 1995 steady since the Year in Japan in 1937. Soon after, in 1938, Tokyo mid-60s. In fact, fonowed suit. At this time Zeiss still held its the growth curve Equatkn Describing Planetarium Growth monopol y on the world planetarium mar­ is so smooth that a ket. Then World War II put further planetari­ member of our marketing department (actu­ in space. The of where to um growth on hold for 13 years. Things slow­ ally a frustrated Jupiter researcher) found audience kept this idea from ly started up again in 1951 with the first Spitz that the curve can be described by the equa- getting beyond the earliest projector installed in !koma Minolta Camera tion: rumors that a Theater cOlmblini,n2" entered the market with its first machine in planetarium and OMNIMAX theater was 1958 followed closely by GOTO's planetari­ N == 0.540414 + 355.942t - 0.365624 t + being completed in San reached the um debut with its installation at Bridgeport 0.0000938886 t attention of the designers. A study group left immedia tel y to meet with the staff of the 700 >-.------.----.- k--- Reuben H. Fleet Space Theater. The result: the world's second Space Theater, the Yokohama /' ~ 600 Science Center, opened in 1984. Thus Japan's love affair with the tilted dome. Over Stfltes .~ 500 /.u"d 40 have been built in the last 10 years. ... The last 15 years has seen a burst in the ~ 7 ~! 400 growth of larger domes of 14m and over in ~ public facilities such as museums, science .... o 1,300 - -- I- centers, public halls and children's centers. Cities and prefectural governments ~ ~ encing "dome envy" compete to build 200 Z world's largest dome. The Ehime Science Center now holds this distinc­ tOO / V tion with a 30 meter or 100 foot diameter tilted dome. Even --:::::::V domes of the 8 to 13m range are still the most 1930 1940 < 1960 1910 190 0 1990 Year common type of theater. While almost every Japanese school has a Planetarium Growth in the US andJapan

12 The Planetarian Vol. well. Ready to up you a in Japan? Wait! Not idyllic as it seems. A consists of 2 to 3

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Planetarium Growth inJapan fewer have the fully equipped facilities Nagoya Parco and Machida Star Hall or pri­ found in many U.S. schools. Most astronomy vate companies such as the Sunshine education is carried out at the local museum Planetarium and soon to be opened Kenji ... p .....u ... u ... in support planetarium. World. Of the government funded facilities staff, such as building maintenance, Museums and Science Centers often com­ 40% are managed directly by the govern­ and ushers, for museums. bine large format motion picture projectors ment while 60% are managed by non-profit with planetariums are extremely popular corporations. Both types of organizations The majority of theaters PUlrchase In preparation for your trip to IPS in 1996 we would like to enrich made or custom shows from show "...... ,--..n,,... •. your knowledge about the history of the planetarium in Japan, the tion companies such as Potofu, Idea Science people who run the facilities, the kind of shows given, and the pre:.. Art, Japan Planetarium planetarium equipment manufacturer. sent trends in the fjeld. Minolta and GOTO have show pr<>d.tlctjlOn divisions to meet this demand. GOTO plies 200 shows a year to theaters throuJ~h­ with 35 such facilities in operation. Film receive financial support from the local gov­ out Japan, 50 of which are new titles, offer- clips, short one- to two-minute sequences of ernment towards yearly running costs. fun programming and installation a shuttle launch, the formation of the Imagine having the city pay an your bills, A few theaters write and their galaxy, the rings of Saturn, etc., are often provide an incredible budget for show pro­ shows Of, even rarer, will write used in the planetarium show, greatly en­ duction and film leasing and, on top of that, a scenario and contract a show pnJOtlctllon hancing the impact of the material. Theaters provide you with staff to run the facility as typically alternate between the planetarium show and film presentation but the planetar­ ium show inevitably sells out first with the 40 stragglers opting for the movie. Only the Ikomayama Space Science Center Museum (11m, Minolta MS-I0 in 11m dome and Tsugamirama 35mm 5p film in tilted 17m f------dome) maintains separate planetarium and film theaters, although there was one other example in Miyaki City (GOTO GM-lST in I 15m dome and Astrovision 35mm 5p in 15m semi-tilted dome) which is no longer in oper­ ation. 10 / Management Local governments, i.e. a city, county or / prefecture, provide funding for the construc­ ./ tion of over 98% of the planetarium theaters 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 Year in Japan. The remaining 2% are commercial theaters owned by department stores such as Increase in Tilted Dome Planetariums

Vol. 24, No.2, June 1995 The Planetarian company to produce it. 250 ~ Animation slide frames provide the bulk of any show with little emphasis on special V effect projectors. Sheer volume of the num­ Under 13m 200 /'------ber of shows which must be installed by the V show production companies severely limits

.~H the amount of creative time available to III p think of unique ways of presenting concepts QJ 150 / and, perhaps an even bigger factor, no the­ ~n, .. , ater maintains a technical staff capable of o building special effects for a particular show. h ~ i 100 V Video is still relatively new and is used spar­ Z ./ ingly; however, many new theaters include at least one Sony or Barco projector among 50 / / the auxiliary projector systems. ~ 14m and Ow r On the other hand, the use of short films ~ ---"" on large format (70mm lOp is most com­ .-/ mon) surpasses any other place on Earth. 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 GOTO has an extensive library of 70 clips Year covering 36 different topics designed specifi­ Dome Size Distribution cally for planetarium shows. A typical show with large format capability will use 2 or 3 machines, rather than computers, in the clips in a 20 minute planetarium show. office and home. But the promising possibili­ Almost all shows in Japan use a standard ties have been recognized and it is only a format of 15 to 20 minutes of the stars matter of time before Japan adds its own of you tonight lecture, often done live, followed by ramps to the information superhighway. time will find ideas and technical a 20 to 25 minute thematic program, almost Work is already underway to connect an Hons worth bringilng to your own plalnetari- always presented using full automation. major observatories and planetariums via urn. PAONET (Public Astronomy Observatory In 1853, Commodore Sources of Astronomy Informa­ Network), giving them instant access to the Ship forced open gates after tion latest images. 300 years of total isolation from the Lack of contact with professional astrono­ world. Two very different cultures mers create a less than ideal environment for Planetarium Societies that had a lot to offer each Openling of to the Western up to date astronomy education. While this Three societies exchange information and might be true everywhere, Japanese profes­ ideas among planetarians. The natlonal brought about great and i-'H.'''I-'''~AH for all those involved. We sional astronomers do little to assist the pop­ group is the Japan Planetarium Society ularization of astronomy. The main astro­ which is affiliated with IPS. Two smaller nomical research institutions in Japan are: groups are the Planetarium Society of Japan, 1. National Astronomical Observatory which is essentially a GOTO User's 2. ISAS (Institute of Space and Aero­ (but all are welcome), and the AHJapan Plan­ nautical Science) etarium Association, which is a Minolta nese fear that communication 3. NASDA (National Space Development User's Group. All three groups together with Agency of Japan) the Society for Teaching and Popularization stumt)liflg block. However, overcome with patience and underst':ln(jinlg 4. Tokyo University of Astronomy will assist the Osaka Science from those who andwith courage 5. Kyoto University Museum, the host of lPS'96, to make every­ and perseverance those who live 6. Tohoku University one's trip to Japan in '96 an enriching and Communication is more than mere words or Amateurs, on the other hand, actively par­ rewarding experience both technically and true communication is of ticipate in educating the public by helping culturally. planetariums and museums hold star parties minds. Planetarians dreams will find that lanlguage and by assisting school clubs. Three monthly Conclusion astronomy magazines aimed at non-profes­ barrier after all And "Ih •• ~.-.~"h cQiov@~ration sionals keep serious sky watchers attuned to Like many industries in Japan closed to of us will benefit from shared the latest events, both cosmic and local. outside influences, the planetarium field in and lm(lerstandtng. Very recently the word Internet entered Japan is in some ways like a Jurassic Park. the Japanese language, but finding anyone Many theaters suffer from stagnant presenta­ who actually uses it rare. A few universities tion methods and inefficient management and research institutes are on line but only methods while pouring money into the lat­ one planetarium site has access at this time. est and greatest high tech goodies, such as 8 Even computer communication via services, track CD sound systems and touch panel such as Niftyserve and CompuServe, are few. control consoles. It would not take much for The slow transition to electronic communi­ these facilities to evolve to their true poten­ cation is most likely an after effect of the tial but a serious push is needed IPS '96 will proliferation of dedicated word-processing bring enlightenment to many Japanese the-

14 The Planetarian Vol.

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Joe Hopkins 4301 32nd Street West C-1 Call 1-800-J H E- 960 Bradenton, Fl 34205 tion of whether IPS membership has value are in development, an for aU dues-payers, regardless of nationality. tionaI version of the Great Lakes fi.J'1~rH>t·~ll'_ rum Yes, I do believe that IPS offers value for its ium Association's excellent resource membership dues, and that certainly the IPS publication will include AnClericaln includes international colleagues. Let me and non-American sources of IPS: Value for count the ways ... vices relevant to our work. (The Great IPS has never been more international affiliate also worked with the Money to than it is right now, with non-American Nations for Outer Space Affairs to membership up and 11 non-American organ­ the book, Planetarium: A Chall~enJ.~e International isations among the 18 IPS affiliates, four of tors, edited by Dale Smith and them having joined in the last two years. Haubold, with assistance from Members? (Past President Bill Gutsch and 1994 host Bishop. It is available to Mike Hutton and his staff have worked with government education ministries Steve Tidey particular vigor in the past two years to wide and is published in ...d'l"U"''', J;:lpcm(~se, encourage international participation in the and Spanish at the present 58 Prince Avenue organisation). Everyone benefits from this IPS is working in many other ways Southend-on-Sea, Essex 9iversity in the communication and vide value for u ...... " ...... ,., ..... l-/, ral1ging exchange of ideas, information and experi­ working with Space Telescope Institute offi­ SS26NN ence. cials on the best way to apprise IPS members England This exchange occurs in person at our of the latest Hubble materials and biennial conferences through workshops, get them, to trying to facilitate the transfer Hello again. First of aU, may I apologise for paper seSSions, informal discussions and of information and materials to pICJme'tarl­ the absence of the Forum column in the last product exhibitions. Our next two confer­ urns with limited resources such as those in issue of The Planetarian. This was the result ences will convene in Asia and Europe, the Eastern Bloc. of being let down by a third party, who was which I hope will encourage increased Of course, not all benefits of IPS member- supposed to have sent the column to John international participation and benefit. ship are passive ones, nor should be. As Mosley via the Internet. I was assured it had Exchange continues between conferences with so many things in Hfe, what get been sent, but the copy deadline had passed through the IPS journal The Planetarian, out of IPS membership depends a lot on by the time I learned that John had not received by all members-excellently done what you put into it. So let me encourage received anything. This won't happen again, and published like clockwork under John you to participate. Attend a conference. as by the time my next column is ready I Mosley's editorship. And anecdotal experi­ Present a paper. Write an article. Volunteer shall be the proud owner of a modem which ence suggests that it's having the desired for committee. Suggest a new idea. Share will bring the joys of the Internet direct to result: just recently I received a communica­ your experience. Become active in your affil­ my workstation. tion from a French planetarium (a new insti­ iate. Contribute. It not only benefits For this issue's column, I decided to tutional member of IPS) asking for the best it will benefit you. choose a topiC which would gauge the feel­ way to contact a vendor mentioned in my For our part, the IPS officers and increas­ ings of the membership about the degree to "What's New" column. Clearly, this planetar­ ingly international Council editors, confer­ which the IPS has undoubtedly already ium got the journal and found something ence hosts and committees will continue moved towards meeting the needs of its useful in it. our efforts to the best value we international contingent. I was thinking in Another benefit of membership is the IPS for membership, for all our within terms of the non-American members, and Directory, published by Loch Ness Produc­ our means to do so as a volunteer org;anjlsa- the value they feel they get from belonging tions for IPS in 1994 after a four-year tion. In the meantime, don't be to an organisa tion with such a strong absence, and for my money one of the best about telling us how we're doing, and what American flavour. But as it turned out, the values of membership along with the jour­ you'd like to see IPS doing in the future. correspondents widened the scope for dis­ nal and conferences. It's a wonderful tool for After an, IPS belongs to you. cussion by looking at whether all members, aiding communication among colleagues regardless of their country of origin, get throughout the world planetarium commu­ Taylor Planetarium value for money from the IPS. The topiC was nity. There will be another Directory pub­ Museum of the Rockies worded: lished this year to incorporate new members Bozeman, Montana USA following the conference in Cocoa and to in­ clude new information on facilities, much of * * * * * * Does the IPS give value for money it international. Thereafter, the Directory will One of the advantages of our memolersintp to its international membership? be published in odd-numbered years with in the IPS is that you are linked with fellow * * * * * * possible addendas in the even-numbered professionals from around the world. Work­ years. ing both in a school facUity and museum When Steve Tidey asked me to offer my The SpeCial Publications arm of IPS is facility, I see that we become so involved in opinion on the question of whether IPS reviving under the capable direction of the show production, lecturing, h"rla",,+; gives value for money to its international London Planetarium's Undine Concannon transportation, curricul urn de'V'eloDm(~nt (that is to say, non-American) members, sev­ and her Publications Committee. The fine and justifying our own existence that we eral thoughts struck me: that the opinions of booklet So You Want To Build A Planetarium, have little time to interact with others in the other members might be more interesting to developed by Ken Wilson and his Planetar­ museums or schools that we work read than mine; that my answer wasn't ium Development Group, is IPS's first special Although we become isolated the nature going to surprise anybody, and that the publishing effort in some years. Other ideas of our jobs, The Planetarian is sometimes the question is really a subset of the larger ques-

Vol. 24, No.2, June 1995 The Planetarian onI y bridge between us as professionals. * * * * * * recipe for home-fried potatoe~;). Where else can you read comparative The money we pay for dues is reviews of video projectors in star theatres or The first point I would like to raise is that certainly much less than that for ?f wha~ great value an IPS membership truly gain valuable lesson plan ideas for the pre­ museum or science pr()fessi~Dn:al ofj!l:misa­ sentation of new or unusual topics just for IS. Typteal national or international mem­ tions. If you don't feel planetariums? What better source of lesson bership fees for other professional associa­ money's worth, then plans and worksheets than from others who tions commonly run to $150, $350, $650 and consider ways in which more value have tried the ideas already? more per year. This is even true of associa­ gotten for your dues. In other The advantages of attending the IPS Con­ tions related to the planetarium communi­ tribute your ideas, your and ferences is icing on the cake Although too ty. And I find the use of the fees collected by to those things in IPS that you would IPS to be managed responsibly. The sponsor­ numerous to list here, anyone who has see enhanced. H got a great ship of the Membership Directory produced so attended can tell you of the feeling of being book or then submit it. connected to a team of outstanding individ­ w~n b! Ma~k and Carolyn Peterson is a very something that the organisatJion uals. We face the same problems, share some Wise fmannal investment, and alone would that you think to be done, volurlteer of our best achievements, and relate to out­ justify my membership fees. But a member for heaven's sake! No sense standing events that could only be appreci­ also receives a quarterly copy of the IPS jour­ things that can be and ated by others in our field. Please get that nal, The Planetarian. A member may than no sense to drop out of IPS because you next issue of The Plcmetarian to me as soon as approach use of this publication in two don't feel fair value possible. ways: to glance through the current issue dues. Get involved! and throw it into the comer magaZine pile, Japan, here I come. Jon U. Ted Williams or to read the issue cover to cover and use Planetarium Director Planetarium Director the information to enhance their level of Indian Arcola Intermediate School development as a planetarium professional. Fort Pierce, Florida 34981 USA Eagleville Road As with many opportunities in Hfe, the true Norristown, PA 19403 USA value of an IPS membership lies in what you yourself make of the opportunity. * * * * * * My own opinion on this is Jeffrey H. Bowen * * * * * * Manning hit the nail on the head Members Bowen Productions Without a doubt, planetaria are among of any organisation can't sit back and expect 3590 N. Meridian the Hubble Space Telescope's greatest cheer­ things to be dished up to them on I Indianapolis, IN 46208 USA leaders. Only recently has the Space Tele­ like to be an active member (hence my scope Science Institute (STScI) become * * * * * * responsibilities for this column) and new increasingly aware of the pre-existing plane­ contacts I make because of it increase my I tarium network. In my short tenure at STScI This is a tough question to ask. And don't value for money in the IPS. tide we have learned that the planetarium com~ think it's a completely fair one, because of thought in the upper echelons of when you start questioning the value of munity is not merely receptive to input is turning inexorably towards ""£,,,,H~~ something, you usually have a couple of from HST, it is wildly enthusiastic! concerns of the international rr""H,~~,'-'" Although details are being worked out as options to consider. For example, if you and it is up to those very members of this writing, STScI hopes to be proactive question the value of the automobile you tribute to this in its involvement with planetaria I cannot own your decision could result in either bec:olll1inl2': active in think of a more efficacious means to share hanging on to the car you've got, or buying fact that I did not receive any contributions the wonders of HST discoveries than via the a new car. Very seldom do you opt to get rid from non-American members would indi­ planetarium community. of your old car and walk everywhere. cate that, on the this section IPS STScI is working closely with Jim Man­ . When you ask "Does IPS membership pro­ feels they are getting value for money. ning in formulating a survey to IPS members Vide good membership?", you simply don't on the level of support that would be appro­ have these options. There is no other multi­ national planetarium society that you can * * * * * * priate, affordable and useful. The subject for discussion in the next choose as an alternative, nor should there be To date, we've done our best to fulfill Forum will be: requests on an individual basis. Of course, one. we'll continue to do our best to support that So, what the question really boils down to activity, but we'd like to make it more "auto­ .is, "Should I or should I not be a member of matic". I'd like to canvass the membership to IPS?" begin thinking of what would be most use­ . The community of planetarium profes­ ful for you, and your planetarium. slOnals, worldwide in scope, is still a very small community. Many of us know a lot of In the next issue of The Planetarian STScI-along with IPS-will present a ques~ our colleagues, which means that communi­ tionnaire to this effect. On the basis of the cation within the IPS organisation can be result of that questionnaire, we will proceed incredibly swift and thorough. I can think of further and will make your IPS membership no other global profesSion, where an individ­ more val uable. ual can make such a great impact on his Rob Landis peers or his discipline. Can you imagine try­ ing to advance your theory on the best way Space Telescope Science Institute Please send contributions to me to cook home-fried potatoes to a huge, inter­ 3700 San Martin Drive the latest. Baltimore, MD 21218 USA national convention of short-order cooks? (Incidentally, 1 have come up with a terrific

18 The Planetarian Vol. Mauna Kea, The Australian Outback, The Space Shuttle in Orbit and A Goto GSS .. Helios Planetarium Theater. .... What do all these places have in common? A spectacular view of a crisp, clear star

Shonandai Culture Center

GSS-Helios The GSS-Helios (GSX) features 25,000 stars reproducing a sky seen only from space. Digital shutters mean panoramas without stray stars twinkling through the image. Computer-assisted functions give manual mode the ease of auto mode without replacing the lecturer. The list of special GOTO features goes on and on. Contact your nearest representative and find out what your planetarium could be like.

The G l014si offers Space Simulator functions GOTO's exclusive automatic lamp replacement mechanism. No more shows lost to lamp burnout. With the G 1014si, your spare lamp leaps into action with a simple touch of a button at the console. Simple, fast and efficient. That's a GOTO Planetarium.

GOlD OPTI 4-16 Yazaki-cho Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183 JAPAN TEL: Inti No. +81-423-62-5312 FAX: Inti No. +81-423-61-9571 Email: [email protected] GI014si any object in its database. These positions comes on either six 360K S.25-inch floDDies. can be determined as apparent, astrometric or three, 720K 3.5-inch diskettes m u or geometric and for barycentric, heliocen­ page manual (with cover art tric, geocentric or topocentric origins. These Carlos, no less!). The manual is positions can be tabulated for anyone of ten with several worked ex.amlpI4::!s Corn r five reference frames: equator of )2000, eclip­ you get started. There isn't any telephone tic of )2000, equator of date, ecliptic of date, support for MICA, but that or local horizon. ed for this There is an address Ken Wilson If you're a solar or planetary observer, manual to and comments. Universe Theater MICA will give you the apparent magnitude, There is also a MAC version phase angle, and angular dimensions of the able for MAC Plus, or better with Science Museum of Virginia planetary disks along with the sub-solar and megabyte of rn"'rn,,,ru ... 11r.1"IIii1"ll ..... 2500 W. Broad St. sub-earth positions and the position angles or higher. A hard of the axis of rotation for planets and sun. megabytes of free space is also Richmond, Virginia .L--""'-L....'LI' Quantities in the output tables are corrected installation. As with the DOS version, k wi! [email protected] for light travel times to give observed values. coprocessor is highly recommended Low precision topocentric information Some of you may have heard of Software Review: MICA (version 1.0) by on the sun, moon and major planets at any antecedent ICE (the Interactive Com1JlUt~~r the U.S. Naval Observatory Platforms: MAC given time can be listed in a single table Ephemeris). ICE wasn't restricted to 1990- and PC (DOS) Price: $55.00 (U.S.) Available using the 'configuration' option. This pro­ 1999, but its interface was cruder and guess from: National Technical Information Vides, RA., Dec., Distance, Azimuth, Zenith the folks at the Naval Observatory weren't Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, Distance, Elongation, Diameter, and Magni­ entirely happy with it for some reason. At VA 22161, USA. tude. any rate, you can still find ICE on some of MICA will calculate in either TDT or UTI the computer bulletin boards if you want to In my 'B.c.' (Before Computers) period in time scales. For UTI it uses measured values look at other decades. the planetarium profession, I used to dread for delta T in 1990 - 1992. For subsequent In sum, MICA is an excellent the occasional phone call that started, "I'm years it makes an estimate of delta T with an gram that no planetarium should be with­ going on vacation to Bermuda and I want to estimated accuracy of 1 to 4 seconds. out. It may not be pretty, but it is the final know exactly what time the moon will rise The user interface for MICA is very primi­ word in accuracy. So, get a copy of MICA and on July 16 ... " or some variation. What I tive by today's flashy, resource hogging, GUI stop dreading those calls dreaded was the tedious interpolation of standards. All selections and commands are "What times does the moon rise from ... ". Just tables in The American Ephemeris and Nauti­ accessed by simple drop down menus. None­ remember to dust off your copy of The cal Almanac (now The Astronomical Almanac) theless, the menus are very straight-forward Astronomical Almanac every now and then, and button pushing on the calculator. In and intuitive. This elemental interface no if only to remember the old'RC.' those days of yore, that was the way to go if doubt has a lot to you wanted a precise and reliable answer. do with its wide Moon When the first personal computers appeared, usability. MICA Location: W 77 0 26'09", N37°32' some of the earliest astronomical software will run on an y (Longitude referred to Greenwich m .. ' .... "'.. '"' ..... , developed for them calculated sun and IBM PC or clone Sea level; level horizon moon rises and sets. Unfortunately, some of with an Intel Time Zone: 4h OOm west of Greenwich these early efforts left a lot to be desired in 80x86 processor Date Rise Az. Transit Alt.. the accuracy department. Now, thanks to running PC- or (Zone) the good folks at the U.S. Naval Observatory, MS-DOS (version d h m d h III 0 d 1995 Dec 20 (Wed) 20 06:26 113 20 11:41 335 20 16 54 we have the Multiyear Interactive Computer 2.0 or higher), 512 1.995 Dec 21 (Thu) 21 07:33 114- 21 12 :44 335 21 11 55 246 Almanac - MICA, for short. K bytes of RAM, a 1995 Dec 22 (Pr!) 22 08:34 114- 22 13:41 335 22 19 02 247 1995 Dec 23 (Sat) 23 09:30 111 23 14:49 3613 23 20 12 250 With MICA you can compute much the clock speed of 8 1995 Dec 24 (Sun) 24 10: 19 107 24 15:47 395 24 21 22 255 MHz or greater, 1995 Dec 25 (Mon) 25 11:02 102 25 16:43 435 25 22 31 260 information found in the tables of The 1995 Dec 26 (Tue) 26 11:40 97 26 17:35 485 26 23 37 266 Astronomical Almanac but tailored of any and a hard disk 1995 Dec 27 (Wed) 27 12:16 n 27 18:24 525 28 00 40 272 1995 Dec 28 (Tht:!) 28 12:50 86 28 19:12 575 29 01 42 277 location on earth whose latitude and longi­ with 1.8 Mega­ 1995 Dec 29 (Pr!) 29 13:23 80 29 19:59 6lS 30 02 .u 282 tude you know and for any date or span of bytes of available 1995 Dec 30 (Sat) 30 13:58 76 30 20:45 645 31 03 39 286 1995 Dec 31 (Sun) 31 14:34 72 31 :21:32 675 01 04 35 290 dates within the 1990 - 1999 decade. In addi­ space. A math co­ 1996 Jan 1 (Mon) 01 15:13 69 01 22:19 695 02 05 29 292 processor is not 1996 Jan 2 ('l'ue) 02 15: 55 67 02 23: 07 715 03 06 .21 294 tion to sun and moon rises and sets, MICA 1996 Jan 3 (Wed) 03 16:40 66 03 23:55 715 04 07 09 294 will also calculate astronomical, nautical and reqUired, but civil twilights. In fact, it will calculate rises, highly recom- TOPOCENTRIC CONFIGURATION sets and transits of any major body in the mended. These Location: W 77 0 26'09", N37°32'lS", 49m solar system as wen as any object in the minimal require­ (Longitude referred to Greenwich meridian) MICA database. This database includes the ments make 1995 Dec 20 00:00:00.0 (UT1) 1535 stars of the FK5 fundamental star cata­ MICA an ideal Object R.A. Dec. Dist. Z.D • .lz. lUong. Di&ll. log, the 108 Messier objects (cross referenced program for those of you still h m .l.U. with NGC numbers), the 233 member com­ Sun 17 49.6 -23 25 0.984 114 258 32 30.S pact extragalactic radio source catalog of The clinging to those Mercury 18 54.0 -25 07 1.275 103 248 ! 15 o 05.3 -0.7 Venus 20 01.1 -22 20 1.382 89 241 B 30 o 12.1 Astronomical Almanac, and a 1482 star subset old AT dinosaurs Mars 19 05.0 -23 38 2.317 100 248 l!: 17 o 04.0 1.2 of the Yale Bright Star Catalog. There are also and their clone Jupiter 17 45.8 -23 08 6.257 115 259 W 1 o 31. 5 Saturn 23 21. 8 - 6 27 9.684 48 208 !81 o 17.2 provisions for creating your own catalogs of Siblings. Uranus 20 03.7 -20 57 20.580 88 241 E31 o 03.4 The PC ver­ Neptune 19 44.2 -20 47 31. 042 91 244 ! 27 o 02.2 o objects. Pluto 16 08.1 - 7 53 30.732 125 289 W 29 o 00.1 13.8 MICA can also calculate the positions of sion of MICA h m km .. .. !llum. Moon 15 43.3 -17 24 366987 136 284 W 30 32 33.7 n

20 The Planetarian Vol. Last July, Florida's Brevard Community College hosted the International Planetarium Society. Pictured above are some of the nearly 500 planetarians from around the ON world who gathered to exchange ideas and witness America's first Minolta Infinium FROM E Planetarium. The result was nothing less than dazzling. For more information about the Infinium and other model projectors, call your nearest Minolta representative today. After all, at Minolta we know that once you have seen our sky, you too will believe. MI 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 specialized controls. between the rate and servo m(:x1f~s-·esI)ecla.l­ PI The alternative in such circumstances is to Iy in tight sequences, or while other netechnic control zooms and slews manually. But planetarium are reQluil'ed. unless a show is constructed in such a way that the ending position of one motion is Seeing Richard McColman essentially the same as the starting position While working at Gibbes Planetarium in for the next one, the show giver is left to Columbia, SC, back in the mid-1980s, Morehead Planetarium blindly grope about with the zoom and slew up with a cheap, low-tech soJlutjlon controls in a feeble attempt to reposition CB #3480 Morehead Bldg. to this problem. It involved those devices between the mOVing-image "position feedback" circuits for the University of North Carolina sequences. This can be particularly problem­ mechanisms. On each zoom and slew a atical when controlling a zoom as wen as Chapel Hill, North Carolina "feedback" was mounted and both X and Y slew axes. Because of the pro­ 27599-3480 geared into the motion and duction design constraints of the typical Where is y In this installment. we'll explore a relatively inexpensive way to this equipment [zooming and slewing projectors] more Zoom-Slew? and user-friendly in shows.

Zooming and slewing projectors have planetarium program, it is seldom desirable wired to a corresponding VaJnej-mounu~ been used commonly in planetariums for at or even possible to start every zoom-slew voltmeter back at the console. A A,"".'.U'~'~.~ least a couple of decades now. These devices motion from the ending position of the pre­ make it possible to visualize dynamic scenes IX: power supply was used to power aU the vious moving image. zoom and slew feedback circuits. is a of moving planets and spacecraft USing our At least one vendor has attempted to schematic diagram of this as used to old friend, the slide projector. In fact, motor­ address this problem. In their design, there is ized zooms and mirror slews are among the monitor a zoom and an X-V an alternate "positional" or "servo" mode in slew mechanism. most popular moving-visual devices operat­ which the operator-instead of controlling ing in planetariums today. But while their The operational premise behind this sys­ slew rate-can use the controls to drive the tem is straightforward. As the slew mecha­ use has been enhanced in some facilities by unseen image to a desired position on the nisms are panned and tilted, and the zoom is integration with computer automation, this dome. However, trying to use the joystick driven or the for trend has not been universal. Indeed, most and range/sensitivity knob in this mode is, at zooms and slews are still operated manual­ each mechanism has its shaft and best, inexact. Furthermore, some folks find it tion moved via the inter-meshed ly-which is a problem for those of us who quite cumbersome, mentally, to switch try to incorporate them into our presenta­ tions. In this installment, we'll explore a rela- . tively inexpensive way to make this eqUip­ ment more versatile and user-friendly in CON LE shows.

The Problem p For the zoom or slew which is coupled together with a Single-shot slide or filmstrip­ S type projector, there really is no problem with operation-either manual or automat­ ed. Since such devices are generally designed to be used only once within a presentation, they can be set up positionally before the program, and simply motion-controlled when called for later in the show. However, many zooms and slews can now be found coupled together with Ektagraphic-style multiple-slide projectors, making it possible to use this eqUipment many times for many different images within the same presenta­ tion-at least in theory. While a couple of planetarium eqUipment manufacturers have incorporated poSition-repeatable automated controllers for zooms and slews, the unfortu­ nate reality is that the cost of such interfaces is prohibitive for most low-budget facilities. And some automation systems have no pro­ vision at all for utilizing such refined and Figure 1

22 The Planetarian Vol. 1995 a result, the pot-which is connected to the rate, regardless of line-voltage fluctuations or tiny light shield-cut from a output of the DC supply-itself outputs a current draw from the other feedback pots as black-plastic Kodak film cassette changing voltage to a DC voltmeter back at they voltage-fOllow their mechanism tridge-around the holder to mlnUn12:e the console. The show operator, therefore, motions. The following is a component list unwanted light spray.) by watching the needles on the "X", "V", and of the main power suppl y parts: The feedback pots are 10K-ohm "zoom" voltmeters, can in effect "see" where are of the panel-mount or how large the invisible slide projector SI- SPST mini toggle switch exact selection isn't critical, it is impolrtamt image is before it is used in the program. Fl-l/4-amp slow-blow fuse to use pots which are decent (This is particularly helpful if the "V" an liZ" Tl - 25.2-volt, 450 mA center-tap trans- ty, and have a linear taper-not audio meters are turned on their sides, and if the former taper. Also, the selection should have shaft­ meters have appropriate labels affixed to Ll -12-volt, 75 mA panel lamp, E-5 base diameter compatible with a standard their faces inside their dear bezels, as depict­ BR1- Bridge rectifier, 1.5 A, 100 PIV bore. In the US, this generally toward ed in Figure 2). This allows the operator to Rl-100-ohm, I-watt resistor a pot shaft of 1/4 inch. the repeatably and accurately position the R2 -220-ohm resistor linear-taper pots available at mechanisms "blind" prior to each sequence R3 - 10K trim pot Radio Shack have a shaft diameter which is in which those images actually appear in the Cl - 1000 MFD, 50 WVDC electrolytic slightly smaller than 1/4 inch. This means show. capacitor that a 1/4-inch-bore gear will mount it C2 - 100 MFD, 50 WVDC electrolytic rather lopsided, creating severe nr,,,hiPIT\<1 The Electronics capacitor when meshing it to the zoom or slew mecha­ Ul - LM317T Positive adjustable DC volt­ nism. In addition, the Radio Shack are The DC voltmeters we used are Radio Shack #270-1754. This model comes with a age regulator optimized for use with a SWitch, 15K-ohm dropping resistor-which is sup­ which can be mounted onto the backside of posed to be wired in-series with the meter's All of these power supply components are the control. As a result, these units are available through Radio Shack. (A few other designed so that roughly 30 to 40 of (+) lead. However, we chucked the 15K unit and opted, instead, for a 10K resistor and a components-such as a project case, circuit their counterclockwisemost of rota- board, fuse holder, etcetera-may be needed, 10K trim pot, which allows for a "gain" tion provides no resistance change whatso­ adjustment on the meter. Each trim pot and depending upon the specifics employed in ever, further making these units unsuitable resistor are wired in-series as shown in Figure the final layout.) For darification, the trim for this application.) Try either a local elec­ 1. In turn, the trim pot on each is connected pot R3 sets the output voltage of the regula­ tronic parts store, or an electronic parts mail to the wiper of a 10K feedback pot which is tor Ul (1.2 to 37 volts), and thereby provides order warehouse for these pots. a rough "master gain" setting for the feed­ mechanically coupled to the corresponding slew or zoom mechanism out in the theater. back system. Ll is simply a lamp-scavenging The side terminals of each feedback pot are low-voltage AC from one side of the trans­ The mechanical aspect of this is former's center-tapped secondary-that can wired to the power supply back at the con­ perhaps the most problematical, it sole. Specifically, one side-terminal of each be outboarded from the supply and used to requires that care be taken to inte- pot is connected to "ground", and the other illuminate the voltmeters for visibH:ty in grate the feedback pots and their shaft­ the dark. The l00-ohm, I-watt resistor (RI) is to the supply's (+) output. Each meter's (-) mounted gears into the zoom and lead is connected to the power supply used to limit current to Ll, making the lamp slew mechanisms. Sloppy work or poor a good, subtle intensity for use in a darkened ground terminal as well. A small-gauge retrofit design can result in a failure to suc­ planetarium, Radio Shack also has panel­ multi-conductor cable is then used to inter­ cessfully mate the feedback system the connect the console and zoom-slew compo­ mount lamp holders (#272-340) to fit the E-5 mechanism, or worse, to damage of the slew nents, with two conductors needed for the base of Ll, and these units have red lenses, or zoom assembly itself. Do of making them particularly applicable for use power supply feed lines, and one additional research and planning before into in the dome. (We mounted one of these on a conductor for each feedback-pot wiper. this aspect of the project. (Remember the old The DC power supply

ing mechanisms during drilling and ..... ' •. H ...F,. Meticulously taping-off those areas will go a long way toward protected them. a vacuum hose dose to work-in-progress will also provide insurance against a fleck of alu­ minum lodging itself inside an unsealed ball­ bearing or other part. The major tasks in the mechanical retrofit­ ting are the of the to some fixed point on the device, and smooth­ ly integrating the pot shaft into movements Figure 2 of the mechanism. Whatever and

Vol. 24, No.2, June 1995 The Plane tar ian 23 no more than about 80 .... ",,,,,..,,,.nt rotational range when £'I"".",."""" zoom from one end of its motion the other. Much more than 80 you run the risk of the is driven hard the other hand, less than 40 ... "' ..... "'."..'1-_,,,,,,

From there, it's a ",,,I

24 The Planetarian Vol. zero when the feedback system is ...... 'UY"".. "'rI As far as parts sources ly all of the available space inside their axis­ down, but this is of no of the electronic items drive boxes. When retrofitting the SS 244 at cal consequence.) Even tnen-CleI:lelllOlmr mended feedback Schiele Planetarium in Gastonia, NC, we had upon how much of the feedback pots' ranges to select miniature panel pots (Clarostat are utilized, given the gear ratios selected, source for spur gears is: 308N series) whose bodies were only 1/2 inch you still may not be able to get the needles (13mm) square. This allowed us to mount the Winfred M. Inc. all the way down to zero. If this is the case, 499 Ocean Avenue X-axis pot inside the X, or base box, and you can be even more sneaky. Simply mount the Y-axis unit just outside the Y­ East NJ 11518 remove the dear-plastic bezels from the (516) 596-1700 drive box via a metal bracket, but dose front of the meters, and adjust the needles' enough to interface with the axis-gear. low-ends further down by to the This outfit has a voluminous However, the pot selection forced us to right with a small screwdriver the small slot­ able with all sorts of neat me~c.h;anicaJ machine small adapter sleeves to mate the ted metal adjustment lever inside the meter. and have oodles of gears miniature pot's liB-inch shafts to the pot By alternately tweaking the high ends of the and diameters, gears' 1/4-inch bores that we used range with the trim pots, and the low ends and bore sizes. with the meters' mechanical adjustments, do some custom for ;)lJ";I..UU!~'\CU Final Setup you should be able to achieve a fun swing on After mechanical and electronic assembly, the meters. Finally, snip the tiny plastic tabs you11 want to adjust the feedback system to off the bezel adjuster screws (since they're achieve maximum range and resolution on useless at this point anyway) and replace the the meters. The first order of business is to bezels. dimension to the shows that mechanically "center" the feedback pots to may even the zoom and slew mechanisms. First, run outlook on these motion devices, lots of visual tricks to i"..,-... u'n"', .. ·~'~'" each so that it is exactly in the center of its As you operate the zoom and slew con­ programs, and motion range, and using the set screws on trols, you'n quickly notice how certain alism that was UHlJV;l>;)U.Jl\c the pot gears, adjust them on the pot shafts meter-pOSition combinations correlate to to place the pots at their range-centers as image sizes and positions on the dome. well. This can be done by simply "eye­ You'll soon find that it's easy to use these balling" them, though use of a volt-ohmme­ readouts to accurately position images with­ I'd like to make a clarification ter will make this adjustment more accurate. out them even being visible. In fact, it is cussion of dimmer crosstalk from Next using a volt-ohmmeter, adjust the even possible to jot down IIposition index installment of Planetechnica In that power supply output to about 20 volts, and numbers" from the meters onto your show mentioned that "hot" wires in US ele,ctrilcal then connect the supply, meters, and feed­ script and achieve very accurate and repeat­ "." ...... 'UA.:> are black in color. llri,,,,,,Uu back pots together as shown in Figure 1. able "blind" slews and zooms during shows. Powered up, roughly center the meter nee­ However, in the case of slew mechanisms, it dles (with the zoom and slew mechanisms is very important to bear in mind that still centered) using the individual 10K trims tional repeatability can only be maintained for each meter. Now run the motions. You if the slew head and projector are in a should see the needles track along with the fixed orientation with respect to each other at M()reneaa, slew and zoom motions. You'll probably and to the dome. Developing a strategy for val uable insights find that one or more of the meters moves either anchoring, or otherwise re!lerenC1Ln2: pnen~C)mlenon. It was "backwards," or disagrees with the logical these devices will enhance your to ence with such eQ1LllJ:lm~~nt motion direction of the slew or zoom. In move your zooming, slewing images with date some of the more esoteric that case, you can simply reverse the two accuracy. insidious plzmetaI'iUlm ...... ""t'IJPrn side leads on the corresponding pots, which will immediateI y correct the problem. As you operate the zoom and slew, you11 probably notice that the meter needles don't cover their entire ranges. You can expand the upper ends of the ranges by readjusting the meters' trim pots. Unfortunately, the cir­ What: A party to roast and toast Don's retirement after 27 years cuitry doesn't incorporate a "bottom end" or the RMSC Planetarium "threshold" adjustment. While this could be added to the electronics via the addition of When: Tentatively scheduled for Saturciay 6 p.m. some op-amps, doing so would add complex­ i ty to the project. The same result can be Where: RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium accomplished through a slightly unortho­ 657 East Avenue dox approach, though. The mechanical Rochester, NY 14607 "zero" adjustment of the meter-usually used to set the meter with no voltage present­ For further information: contact '--'.,," ...... 1.,' .... ""'U",,'L."'. can be changed to place the bottom end of Planetarium, PO Box 1480, KOChest:er, the range at zero for that corresponding part 4552 ext. 401; FAX: 716-271-5935 of the zoom or slew range. (Actually, when used in this way, the meter will faU to below

Vol. 24, No.2, june 1995 The Planetarian Most Frequently Asked Questions: QUESTION: What is ~ most frequently asked question about 1ST AR HUSTLER'? ANSWER: Thars easy. Everybody asks about our theme song which is t~ classic •Ar~besque #1' by Claude Debussy performed by Tomita on the stili available "Snowflakes Are DanCing- album (RCA)

QUESTION: At what times and days of the week can I see 'STAR HUSTLER'? ANSWER: Most TV stations air 'STAR HUSTLER' just before nigh~y 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 station, how can I see It where I live? ANSWER: 'STAR HUSTlER' is provided free of charge by WPBT, 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 m available free of charge. THE INTERNATIONAL QUESTION: Is It necessary to getspedal 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 dassloom, 9dence ITl&Un a pIanetaIlm use? ANSWER: No. In fac~ many astronomy dubs, teachers, science muselJ'Tls and planetariums have been taping 'STAR HUSTlER' off ..... one of the few writers who can the air and using it regularly as a way to reach their public. translate sophisticated disciplines into popular language without losing the science. QUESTION: Is there any way I can get 'STAR HUSTlER' other Dr. Sidney Nobel laureate than my local PBS station? ANSWER: Yes. A month's worth of 'STAR HUSTlER' episodes are fed monthly to a satellite from which all PBS stations take it for If... knows how to come down from their local programming. .&:Jy.Qllil with a satellite dish is welcome to the ivory tower and make astronomy the satellite feed. Again, no permission is required. For satellite accessible. .. feed dates and times call Monday through Friday (Eastern time) George lovi, Astronomer 305-854-4242. Ask for Mrs. Harper or Mr. Dishong. American Museum/Hayden Planetarium QUESTION: I am ateacher pIannIlYJ my CUTIcuIum and would like several 'STAR HUSTLER' episodes In advance, but I do ..... 1 never miss it. As someone totally involved in science fiction, I'm enthralled not have access to a satelUte dish. is there any ~ way I can obtain 'SfAR HUSTLER'? with Jack Horkheimer's science fact. .. John Nathan Turner, ANSWER: Arly teacher anywhere around the world can obtain 'STAR Executive Producer, 'Dr. Who' HUSTlER' episodes in advance through their NASA C.O.R.E. Teachers' Resource Center. For details write:NASA C.O.R.E.; Lorain County Joint Vocational School; 15181 Route 58 South; A Nationally Syndicated Ohanin, OH. 44074. ILIfILlPIILL.. Miami QUESTION: 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 stations North America and Internationally satellite, the Armed & NASA • magnification through a telescope. Other Antarctic projects are unusual and might involve search Series Volume 64, Walter views research and experimental skills found Tape, American among older students, such as "Booking Your Union, 2000 Florida Flight," which examines the correspondence NW, DC April S. Whitt between bird migration and seasonal 1994, ISBN 0-87590-834-9. changes in the length of daylight. The Fernbank Science Center authors suggest studying the swallows of San Reviewed by David Maness, 156 Heaton Park Drive NE Juan Capistrano, data perhaps not easy to Museum, Newport News, ''''.--:.-,~ obtain. Atlanta, Georgia 30307 I am partial to projects which focus atten­ I was a bit wary of this book when tion on the "basics" of astronomy: measure­ opened the package. It looked like it ments of time, motion, and mass. This book's be dry and technical. But I was nlC";:!<;

Vol. 24, No. 2,lune1995 The P/anetarian time arcs and black holes as the cause of cosmic eX1PaJlsilon. Scientists have searched for

PJ.UU.>AUH.. causes for each. It's The resulting universe osciUates in 40-bil­ undet'Standing of what worth for the photos alone. Hon-year cycles with a Milky Way galaxy at least 300 billion years old In the face of dis­ Home Is Where the Wind Blows, agreement verging on ridicule, Hoyle and his by Fred Hoyle, University supporters propose alternative explanations Science Books, Mill Valley, CA, for most verified "big-bang" discoveries. (See Some theories have merit, 1994, ISBN 0-935702-27-X. "A Catalog of Quasars Far and Near" in wild as the world December, 1994's Sky and Telescope and the I'd like to be able to report that Reviewed M. Lazich, Russell C. Davis Newswire section of the january, 1995 issue falls the former category, but unforturlat~ely, Planetarium,jackson, Mississippi, USA for examples.) it falls in the latter.

The "exquisite complexity" of physical First, the author holds a Un;u.l'-CU Some years ago a friend objected violently laws and the "incredible chain of subtlety" While the book describes to a planetarium show we had seen which behind biochemistry leads Hoyle to "doubt career in Qlc)wilnQ portrayed the big bang as established fact. I the nineteenth century denial of a purposive of any in thought of him as I read this autobiography universe" as wen as lithe crude breaking of or mathematics. It describes his bac:kglfOumd of Sir Fred Hoyle, whose derisive nickname physical laws that occurs in big-bang cos­ with as "an , .... ,~""1F"'·O "big bang" took such hold that even a recent mology," He sees the Universe of physics as curiosity about how the universe MJ'''-or,,_ Sky and Telescope contest failed to dislodge it. "a set of restrictions on mathematical quanti­ especially Hoyle's personality has suited him both to ties ... optimized for their consequencesll Quinn's concept cosmology and to controversy. (liTo achieve with God as "the chap who thought up the ory first pm;tUllated anything worthwhile in research, it is neces­ restrictions." Rejecting prayer as too prone to This sary to go against the opinions of one's fel­ self-deception, Hoyle suggests consciousness mondains, minute TI~lrtir·I""c.: md'\'UI,ncr lows.") Already "an observer of the world itself as a means to "extra-Universal" com­ in all directions in space. Quinn later and a ponderer of its problems" as a toddler, munication with God ties these and he displayed "a stubborn obstinacy to get ... Despite his uncertainties, Hoyle maintains gravity is on VU'!>;;;II..L;). into trouble." A visit to the top of a wall on a his optimism. II After a lifetime of crabwise quote: IIIn areas of space remote "perfect starHt led him to "deciding thinking, I have gradually become aware of matter, [to] find out what those things up there the towering intellectual structure of the would be from random (lirecti0I1S were." world ... [W]hatever the end may be for each and the flux of energy would be Home Is Where the Wind Blows takes us on of us, it cannot be a bad one." I enjoyed this directions-or However, a richly rewarding tour of Hoyle's life, his book on several levels: as the story of an ence of matter, the energy flow would studies and work at cambridge, and twenti­ interesting character; as a glimpse into the isotropic. An or mass would absorb eth-century astrophysics. Through Hoyle we workings of twentieth-century astrophysics; reflect some of the EMW and distort meet such notable characters as Sir Arthur as a stubborn defense of an apparently dis­ of energy in the space around the Eddington, Paul Dirac, Richard Feynman, proved theory of cosmology; and as the ret­ shadow would be created about any m~u:elmu and Wolfgang Pauli. Hoyle worked with rospective of an individual who has spent object because of its interference Hermann Bondi and Tommy Gold (on the his Ufe attempting to make sense of the uni­ of EMW energy. The shadow steady-state theory), Geoffrey and Margaret verse, of human existence, and, uH:irnlat<~ly spherical about the mass and the int,,,,,,,,c'itu Burbidge (on stellar nucleosynthesis within of himself. the shadow would decrease ac(:ordirlg red giants and supernovae), and Chandra Planetarium educators, who c011temIJla1te distance of the Wickramasinghe (on comets as the source of the universe with their audiences, should "This disturbance of the iso'tropic organic molecules on Earth). find this book especially thought-provoking. energy would result in a space Hoyle expresses a wide range of interests At over 400 pages, Hoyle's story is not a pressure about an This shadow dis­ and insights. He notes the transience of per­ quick read, but those with the time and tortion of radiation pressure could be called sonal relationships and ponders the inter­ patience to accompany him on his some­ a field about a mass. If this shadow field acts play of physics, mathematics, and the uni­ times "crabwise" excursions wi11 find the like then we can that verse. His several science fiction books effort amply rewarded. is a mechanical effect caused when include The Black Cloud, which Hansen an of Planetarium produced as a public feature in space pH!SStlfe. the 1970's. Gravity, A Mechanical Theory, He describes the formation of stars be Hoyle'S asides reveal an active, inquiring, by Robert D. Quinn, not what is COllv{~ntionlaH and critical disposition. Bureaucratic estab­ Press, 516 West 34th Street, New lishments, especially in science, evoke special York, New York, 10001, USA, creates the protostar, but rather the result of criticism for their "unproductive activity," 1990, ISBN 0-533-08379-6. photon pressure the gases to~~etlher contradictory practices, conservatism, and to form the protostar from surrcmflding evasion of responsibility. Reviewed by james Brown, Stan back Plane­ space. He further describes the tormatticln The final chapter of the book treats tarium, Orangeburg, South carolina, USA. galaxies as "... formed from the eX1PloiSioifl Hoyle's major concerns: cosmology and the­ massive star." He discounts the Hubble ology. In both areas he criticizes prevailing Everyone, it seems, has a slant on gravity. stant and claims that effect shift thinking and suggests alternatives. Sir Isaac Newton, of course, gave us the foun­ is caused by 1/ Rejecting the big-bang theory as "a form of dations in mathematics for our current I've heard and read a few religious fundamentalism," Hoyle proposes understanding of graVity. Albert Einstein fur­ unorthodox theories in my pr,of(~ssi011al intermittent "creation" of matter around thered that knowledge with his work. career, including one man's

28 The Planetarian Vol. that the Sun was a living, breathing organic Reviewed by Jose Olivarez, Wichita Omni­ clearly detail what a creature. But up until now, nothing to top sphere and Science Center, Wichita, Kansas, before purchasing a tele~sc()pe. "-'U'UIJL',"A Robert Quinn's "theories" on the nature of USA help readers get a pretty idea gravity. It bothers me that this book could kind of telescope they want, and '-'&" ... 1-' ..... & be read and accepted by laymen as a viable Today, beginning telescope buyers and guides them through 37 retailers of alternative to accepted physical laws. It budding amateur astronomers must wade astronomical eqUipment. One line of doesn't take much to show that Quinn's through an ocean of literature and propa­ advice in Chapter 4 states, "Do not a "photon" theory doesn't hold up. For exam­ ganda before they are able to select a tele­ telescope from a department store, toy store, ple, if I take a ball into a closed room in scope intelligently. Some seek help from hobby shop, or any other mass-market retail which there is no light and let it drop, it will other amateur astronomers, but for many outlet that advertises a 600 power X 60mm still fall toward the Earth. Our understanding their first impulse is to call their local plane­ telescope." of gravity today is based on the work of sci­ tarium for some quick and authoritative The selection and purchase of is entists, work that has been proven time and adVice. What is a planetarian to do? This is covered in Chapter 5 (The Have It), and time again. I have no doubt that in time a where this wonderful book comes in! Chapter 6 (The Right Stuff) discusses fuller understanding of the nature of gravity After opening with a chapter that explains finders and photographic eqUipment. will be uncovered and I would recommend telescope history and jargon, Star Ware dis­ Interestingly, not all of the best astronom­ this book for reading only if the reader is sects and explores today's astronomical mar­ ical eqUipment is for sale-some of it can be familiar with the work of Newton and ketplace. Where is the best place to buy a made! Ten homemade projects are outlined Einstein and is looking for some recreational telescope? Is there a telescope that does in Chapter 7 (The Homemade Astronomer) humor. everything well? How should one care for a where plans are also provided for the con­ telescope? What accessories are needed? struction of an observing chair, an illuminat­ Although there is no single answer to these ed clipboard, a binocular mount, a Star War~ by Phillip S. Herring­ questions, Star Ware provides intelligent camera tracking device, a solar and ton, John Wiley and Sons, Inc. options so that a potential equipment buyer even a complete backyard observatory. 605 Third Avenue, New York, can make an educated decision. Star Ware concludes with an in'\n.n,lI"t~lnt New York, 10158-0012, 1994, Chapter 3 (So You Want To Buy A Tele­ chapter on the care and cleaning of a tele­ ISBN 0-471-57671-9. scope) and Chapter 4 (Attention Shoppers) scope and a couple of chapters on how to do

Vol. 24, No.2, June 1995 The Planetarian 29 sky observing with a telescope (A Few Tricks and espeCially the GalUeo model are not to If you're looking for an astronomy book Of The Trade and It's Time to Solo). scale. They are beautiful works of art in the that's east to read, informative and entertain­ Star Ware is truly an "ultimate gUide to book, but nowhere near true size. Photo­ ing all at the same time, look no further. The choosing, buying and using telescopes and copying these pages won't help get these Wrong-Way Comet is just the ticket for you. accessories." Mr. Herrington has done a fabu­ models made. And the star charts for the The book captures Evans' long-time fasci­ lous job of presenting the material. The book planispheres (this book was written for both nation with the solar system in a multitude is a gold mine of information and sensible hemispheres) are in the seams and won't of engaging essays, lists of astronomical triv­ guidance for those who want to purchase copy flat. ia, and exercises that help backyard stargaz­ the right telescope without the fear of ever All in all, the book is good If a parent were ers feel part of this seemingly awesome uni­ regretting their choice. Star Ware should also looking for SCience-related activities to do verse. Each of his essays stands alone-no pre­ be kept in a handy place in every planetari­ with a child, then this is a good choice. The vious knowledge or background is reClluiJ:ed um's library for ready use when the phone topiCS are relatively clear, many of the exper­ to understand and appreciate his subject call comes in from a bewildered telescope iments are easy to follow, and anything that material. buyer. With Star Ware on hand, you will be can get a kid away from a TV screen (espe­ What I particularly like is that one may able to advise shoppers with authority and cially an educational activity) sounds great open the book at any point and begin read­ confidence! tome. ing. There's only a loose connection among the essays. In other words, the book is ideal The Wrong- Way Comet and for short-attention-span readers. How the Universe Works: 10'0 Other Mysteries of the Solar The Wrong Way Comet is written on two

Ways Parents and Kids Can Share System, by Barry Evans, TAB levels, one for the Ilraw beginner" who has the Secrets of the Universe, by Books, Blue Ridge Summit, little scientific background, yet possesses a Heather Couper and Nigel Hen­ Pennsylvania, 17294-0850, USA, fascination with the cosmos and our place in best, The Readers Digest 1992, ISBN 0-8306-2679-4. it, and one for the amore advanced reader Association, Inc, Pleasantville, who can pick out dozens of new facts, per­ New York, 1994, ISBN 0-89577- Reviewed by Dennis Mammana, Reuben H. ceptions and quotations. 576-X. Fleet Space Theater, San Diego, California, As an author of four books, I often read USA. others' work with an eye toward how I Reviewed by Francine Jackson, University of Rhode Island Press, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.

The surprising feature of this book is the target audience: families. How the Universe Works was made, not as a regular "lab" book, but as a set of projects the whole famB y II could do together. Each section begins with a Ian paragraph or two about the subject. An aver­ age of three experiments per topic completes tilt each two-page spread Although some of the projects can be For out-of·this-world slide effects, insist on adapted for class use, I noticed that the words Fuzzies™ Soft-Edged Masks, "simple" or "easy" do not appear in the title. Some of them are, of course. I've performed With over amillion soft-edges in sto~ we the Radar Mapping of Venus using rocks expedite the masks you need when you need instead of building blocks, and the Floating them. DSC makes custom masks] too - to your Saturn and Why Stars Explode experiments specifications. can be done within thirty seconds. But many others are so elaborate, I worry the child will Panorama soft-edges that produce invisible go back to his/her video game before the joins - every time. Soft and hard-edges, different setups are finished. For example: The shapes and all-skies,,, pixels and dropped­ Streetlight Pollution segment involves con­ shadows. Masks that you'll mix and match structing a box with three partitions of for spectacular effects - on one saeen or many, foamcore, making three separate "street­ lights" from coat hanger, wooden skewers, For the biggest ban& call the masking flashlight bulbs, clay, tape and a toilet paper specialists at 05(, When you're projecting roll, then hooking them all up with a 4.5 volt something as great as the universe, battery. Also, the end photo in the book is no other masks will do! too perfect. I'm afraid the child would be dis­ appointed with the Rube Goldbergesque OS( Laboratories product with which many parents would 3565 Nashua Drive, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada l4V 1Rl end up. Tel: 905-613-3211 Fax: 905-613-0929 US Toll-Free: 80o-COR-lABS Very disappointing is the fact that several patterns, such as the zodiac, the planetarium,

30 The Planetarian Vol. 24, No.2, June 1995 might have done the work better myself. I information about the moon. Probably observing and ph.otlogl~aT)hi.ng must admit in this case, however, that every factual detail you could pOSSibly want maps, "geological" couldn't possibly improve on Evans' effort. to know about the moon and its movements exploration, and a discussion of moon This seems remarkable in that The Wrong­ are at your fingertips, with this book as a dars. Way Comet is Evans' first book. That's not to resource. Although the author goes into say that he's new to popularizing astrono­ great detail, his explanations and illustra­ my-he's been producing a syndicated tions are very easily understood They're use­ Luna: Myth and monthly sky column since 1987. He express­ ful as another tool for developing strategies Kathleen Cain, Jollm:on es himself with the easy-going style of a vet­ to teach students concepts related to Earth's 1880 South 57th Court, .uv'A!I... ,.A, eran author, and skillfully leads readers natural satellite. CO 80301, USA, 1991, along a wonderfully enchanting path of dis­ Some of the topicS induded: vital statistics 55566-070-3. covery. of the moon, actual and apparent motion, His enthusiasm and fascination for the phases (see illustration below), moondogs, material show in every word, and his style­ moonbows, eclipses, tides methods for light and friendly to even the most novice among us-reminds me of that of the late Isaac Asimov. Granted, that's a pretty lofty compliment, but as I read the book, I was Lunar Phases reminded time and again of the way Asimov awakened me to the universe in the early 196Os. If my guess is correct, The Wrong- Way New Moon Comet is destined to inspire countless young­ One lunar cycle has been completed. sters of the 1990s in much the same way. In the introduction, Evans explains the Old Crescent Moon goal for the book: "", it's an attempt to evoke The moon is ahead of the in people with little or no scientific back­ earth, but beginning to ground some of the same spirit of wonder move toward the trailing that I see in even the most serious of edge of the orbit. astronomers. After all, astronomers are scien­ Last Quarter Moon tists, and what are scientists but adult-look­ The moon is 90 degrees ing girls and boys who have never been able (1/4) around its orbit, on to stop playing?" In that regard he succeeds the leading edge of the beautifully. earth's orbit. For those like me who've never complete­ Waning Gibbous Moon ly grown up and still love to "play" among The moon is moving into the stars, I heartily recommend The Wrong­ the leading side of the earth's orbit. Way Comet

Full Moon The Moon Book, by Kim Long, The moon is opposite from the sun, on the far Johnson Books, 1880 South 57th side of the earth. Court, Boulder, CO 80301, USA, 1988, ISBN 1-55566-028-2. Waxing Gibbous Moon .. The moon is moving into Reviewed by Susan Reynolds, OCM BOCES =co the far side of the earth's Planetarium, Syracuse, New York, USA. orbit. away from the sun.

This book is meant to be "a companion First Quarter Moon text to The Moon Calendar, also by Kim Long. ~ The moon is 90 degrees 0:­ (114) around the earth. The Moon Calendar is an annual publication ~ ~ I still on the trailing side. in poster form (80 x 52 cm) printed in noc­ '~~ turnal black and lunar white. The phases of the moon are graphically displayed for every Young Crescent Moon day of the year, with information about The moon is trailing to behind the earth in its phases, lunar edipses and dates of apogee orbil. and perigee." The complete title of the book will give ..,.. New Moon you a due about information contained in it ~ ~~ and the writing style of the author! The The moon is between the sun and the earth. Moon Book: The Meaning of the Methodical 29 Movements of the Mysterious Moon and Other Interesting Facts About the Earth's Nearest Neighbor contains a million and one bits of Lunar phases diagram (page 29) from The Moon Boot

Vol. 24, No.2, June 1995 The Planetarian 31 Readers of this book will not oni y be able ask for proof. Throughout Private Lives ofthe ble end state of our Sun, fonowed a dis­ to use it as a source of basic lunar mytholo­ Stars, the proof is given in layman's terms. cussion of planetary nebulae and novae. The gy, but will also gain new perspective in Chapters two and three focus on the Sun book concludes with chapters on variable reading mythology with imagination. Luna and our struggles to determine its distance stars that "can't make up their mind," and could well prove to be a valuable resource and size. The reader is taken on an imaginary the anomalies of the galaxy, namely super­ for those wishing to develop multi-cultural journey to the center of the Sun, on the way novae, neutron stars, pulsars, black and programs. Ms. Cain states, "The original pur­ passing the corona, chromosphere, and pho­ IIgoblins," or mini-black holes. pose of writing Luna: Myth and Mystery was tosphere, to the core. The discussion of the My only criticism of the book is '<-,H,nUL'::' to provide a Mythological handmaiden for Sun's fusion powerhouse is excellent! four on the "big bang" and galaxy tormattoln, The Moon Book (see review above) written by My favorite sections of the book are chap­ which could probably be omitted and not Kim Long." ters five through nine. They introduce the disrupt the flow of the manuscript. The short Luna concentrates on the way people in reader to the different types of stars that section on star formation could have been different cultures all over the world have inhabit our galaxy. Gallant does not speak in situated elsewhere. viewed the moon, though their myths, leg­ general terms, however. He acquaints us by I would recommend this book to any high ends, stories, folk traditions, poems, songs discussing specific stars we can easily see in school, middle school, or planetarium that and customs; and how those cultural ele­ the sky. We learn about Rigel, Deneb, and has a library. It would be the perfect gift for ments may have been continued in present Sirius as examples of blue and white giant that young astronomer who has learned a practice." The materials presented are inter­ stars. Then come the red giants in the form few constellations and now desires further esting and varied, and some of the ill ustra~ of Betelgeuse, Antares and Aldebaran. Each knowledge of how the universe works. It is tions and quotes are wonderful. star comes with a "portrait" displaying some full of black &: white photographs and a glos­ The author does not claim this book to be of the star's vital characteristics and full-page sary at the end The real treasure of this book, a scholarly work. The reader must therefore charts are included to show where to find however, is Roy Gallant's writing style. It is screen for technical errors. One scientific these stars in the sky. as if he is talking to you as you read * error, and one of my pet peeves, is the pic­ White dwarfs are introduced as the proba- ture on page 104, where the moon's orbit is labeled, "The moon's rotation around the earth."

Private Lives of the Stars, by Roy r------, A. Gallant; MacMillan Publish­ ing Company, New York, NY. Zeiss Universal 1986; ISBN 0-02-737350-9 Reviewed by: David Leake, Planetarium Proiector William M. Staerkel Planetarium, Parkland College, Champaign, IL ~®() At some time in his life, every stargazer will remember one book that made the uni­ verse a bit more knowable; a book where for 16 to 21 meter domes complete everything just seemed to "click." I can recall with all controls and auxiliary projectors. reading Herbert Friedman's Amazing Universe many years ago, and the sequence of stellar Installation and Training available. evolution just seem to make sense. Reading Roy Gallant's Private Lives of the Stars gave me flashbacks to a time when "the light bulb Offers welcome. turnedon." Contact: Bill Peters @ In his unique, fatherly style, Roy Gallant takes the reader through stellar evolution at ~ (403).221.3704 about the middle school level. Major topiCS include where stars come from, why they fax (403).237.0186 shine, why they come in different colors, /l:JJ The Science Centre, and their eventual fate. All the bases are cov­ ered and it doesn't read like the Astrophysical P.O. Box 2100, Stn M, # 73, JournaL Calgary, Alberta, Canada Mr. Gallant begins with an ancient view of the universe, through the gods and goddesses T2P2M5 of our ancestors and the rise of the constella­ tions and the lore that accompanies them. I particularly appreciate that the author chal­ lenged the reader's beliefs in a rotating and revolving Earth. We often take for granted what is printed in our textbooks and fail to

32 The Planetarian Vol. 24, No.2, June 1995 FOR PLANETARIUMS boned with thin cirrus. Clouds north and against the dark, blue-shadowed

south thickened, made a feint toward the with pale saffrony the UVA.AI!.VH. Pres; ent's sun, and then dissolved-taking with them a Camera shutters heads good deal of our apprehension. The cirrus eyepieces, people tried to look IC:>U8"1Mr... ,h., .. "" Messa e remained; the sky would not be perfect! y once, trying to burn a hundred t'i""."" .. ii ...... clear, but we would have a view. impressions into their emotions In the tradition of Bolivia's Aymara ing in their throats. Aside from the technolo­ Jim Manning Indians, solar eclipses occur when a sky gy, how different, really, from eamse-V1TatICn­ puma eats the sun. On this day, the puma ers oflong ago? Taylor Planetarium took its first nibble at 7:20 a.m.-and the After three minutes, a Museum of the Rockies show wason. nence popped out on the moon's +..... u ...... Montana State University Over the next hour, the sun shrank to a edge, fonowed moments later Bozeman, Montana USA sliver crescent as the puma-moon slid laser Ught that grew into a diamond precisely into place over the solar disk. around the moon. The corona was Preparations were made, equipment was guished, the blue shadow itself Greetings! and hurtled southeast toward Last fall, I was part of the general astro­ checked and rechecked, filtered peeks at the sun were offered to local residents who gath­ Totality was over, leaving us Im)U,mt nomical exodus to South America to watch blinking in the new sunlight the sun go dark in the Andean morning sky. ered and regarded us with bemused looks. Fifteen minutes before second contact, the Over the next hour, the puma dis- My task was to help shepherd a diverse, landscape took on an eerie, whiskey-colored gorged the sun-a time for high and international group of people across the cast in the weakening sunlight. Hearts beat lowering blood pressures and those equator for the big event. We were Amer­ faster as Venus was located above the ailing glorious minutes of total eclipse. As we wait­ icans, Canadians, British, Germans. We sun in the deepening sky. With two minutes ed for fourth contact, the whole eXloeI'ieilCe ranged in age from 16 to 98. (That's not a to go, a blue darkness gathered and grew in seemed to caB out for some final typographical error.) We were eclipse veter­ the northwest; 90 seconds later, shadow acknowledgement. I joked ans and novices. And we were intent upon bands rippled across the ground. At 8:24, the Bolivian escort, Luis Carlos, that we witnessing the unique rendezvous of sun moon's shadow descended on us like a could fashion a Nazca-like line across the and moon that creates, to my mind, the ulti­ falling curtain; the last blazing bead of the rocky ground. And that's when he sU2Xes:ted mate in astronomical experience. sun's disk faded away, and the solar corona that there was, actually, something we Our destination was Bolivia and the mountainous terrain bordering the eastern blossomed gloriously into view to the primal do. We might build a huaca. whoops and shouts of all who watched At 9:39, the puma-moon at last released its edge of the altiplancr-the great high plain of below. grip on the sun. After we broke down our the Andes. Our quest took us first to eqUipment and had up for the capital, La Paz, for a few days of departure, Luis Carlos us acclimatization to the altitude, then on to the old white-washed together for that final of acknowledgement. He eXlplaine~d capital of Sucre, then on a spectacu­ that the gods of the ancient lar climb by bus up to Potosi-at Andeans were in the more than 13,000 feet (more than forces of nature-sun, moon, thun­ 4,000 meters), the highest city in der, rainbow, and other natural the world. We arrived at nightfall phenomena. When the on November 2nd-the eve of wished to thank these local eclipse day. We roused out of bed at 2 a.m. for ~~ift received, built a huadi;-an altar of stones on the next morning to coca tea and they placed sweets, buses waiting to transport us 30 co-things that the gods use. miles south on a winding moun­ tain road to our observing site. Did we wish to make such a con­ struction? He hadn't finished his Guided by the Southern Cross and words before we were for the Clouds of Magellan rising in the stones. south, we reached our site near the First Luis Carlos set up the core hamlet of La Lava an hour before sunrise, with dawn just graying the of the huaca-a small, der planted upright in deference to eastern sky. the seemingly universal prlnCiple We tumbled out of our buses of a male/female balance in nature. onto a cold, rocky plain dotted with prickly pear and scrub, curling up into For three minutes, we reveled in the rare, Around it we piled our chosen weath­ rugged ridges on nearl y every side. As our twilight world of totality. Forty degrees up in ered smooth in the harsh climate of the the east, the moon was a black disk sur­ Andes, until a small cairn stood on Bolivian hosts set up bathroom facilities and a tent for breakfast, the group began staking rounded by the gauzy streamers of the sun's I handed Luis Carlos a chocolate bar I'd crown. EquatOrial plumes swept outward for been saving, and he carefully broke into claims to observing spots and erecting a for­ several solar diameters; delicate brushes pieces and placed it on the stones. Soon est of tripods on the otherwise treeless curled over the sun's poles. Venus blazed everyone was digging into their for an expanse. brightly just above, Jupiter below, and a few offering: now another chocolate The sun peeped over the eastern ridge bright stars peeked through the cirrus-all about a quarter to six, illuminating a sky rib- package of crackers, an a

34 The Planetarian Vol. 1995 couple of cigarettes carefully shredded and colonial intervention. He said that what the the planetarium that could possibly relate. I sprinkled over the stones. people probably saw was a group of foreign­ promptly responded that nearly everything Someone kicked over a rock next to our ers who came and extracted an experience we did had an aspect of the humanities. cairn, revealing a small, swarming ant hill. from the land-and took the time to leave Because if you removed human context and The ants will consume our offerings, a voice something behind in gratitude. He said that perspective and culture from our programs, said. Luis Carlos calmly observed that they they were probably impressed. you might as well remove the aUlGl€:nce, were a part of nature too-and perhaps a way I have many memorable images of that too-for our efforts would be as sterile as the for the gods to receive our gift. The native trip to Bolivia-of the people, the culture, the moon. Bolivianos of La Lava clustered around us, harsh beauty of the altiplano. But most vivid I think that's true for all of us, whatever watching intently. The chocolate began to of all remain two images from La Lava: the the size and scope of our planetarium, melt in the sun and drip down the stones-as strealQng corona of the eclipsed sun, and a whether our mission is aimed at school or if the gods were accepting and transmuting simple cairn of stones in the middle of a des­ public, whether we do interactive programs, our gifts before our very eyes. olate plain. The universe manifesting itself present the current sky, or craft automated There was something as visceral and mov­ overhead, and below, a token of our human multimedia extravaganzas. To enlighten, we ing about this scene as there had been for reaction to it. must first engage. To engage, we must make totality: 20th century travelers respecting I guess that delicate co un terpoise of relevant. And relevance comes with personal the old traditions of this land, trying-how­ images remains so vivid because for me, it perspective. ever fleetingly-to make an emotional con­ distills the essence of the work that we are Our business is to forge connections to the nection with the culture and people, just as about. Ours is not so much the astronomy of universe, to channel human reaction into they had sought to make an emotional con­ research and discovery as it is the astronomy understanding. But how best to do this? I'm nection with the universe barely an hour of interpretation and enlightenment. We reminded of something storyteller before. It seemed the perfect punctuation to deal as much with people as we do the uni­ Moroney said to me a few years back, affect­ a singular experience. verse-perhaps more. And like that con­ ing her best Oklahoma drawl: "Ain't nobody When our efforts were completed, we tention of quantum theory that says at some don't like a good story-and ain't nobody boarded our buses for the dusty trip back to level the observer alters reality by the mere don't like the stars." Potosi. Later that evening, one of our group act of observation, we cannot consider the I've never heard a better, simpler for noted the interest that the local residents universe in our work without also consider­ success in the planetarium. First, give your had taken in our huaca-building project, and ing the human response to it. audience the it's asked Luis Carlos what they might have felt A few years ago, our museum was develop­ sky, the view from Pluto, or a simulated cos­ about it. His answer seemed to reflect those ing a grant proposal for the National Endow­ mic environment ten billion light years ancient Andean traditions, mindful of what ment for the Humanities. My administrators from home. Then give them a good story­ had been lost or taken through centuries of turned to me and asked if we did anything in whether it's a tale of Coyote the

Vol. 24, No.2, June 1995 The Planetarian 35 stars or how the atoms of our bodies were Complementing the European effort is an ent gap in communication between reseai'ch forged inside them. ongOing effort in the United States, repre­ groups and the plane1:arilum cmnrrlunlity Give them the stars-and give them a good sented by the National Academy of Sciences' what better ways can story. Make relevant, engage, enlighten. draft proposal for National Science Educa­ make the communication between Whether it's a huaca in the Bolivian tion Standards. The objectives of these stan­ research and the mediums of comInu,ni~:::a- highlands, a telescope on Mauna dards are much the same as for the European Kea, or snuggling into a comfortable seat in a goals-among them to advance the goal of more Dr~DaluC'nve. big-city planetarium to see what a dark sky achieving scientific literacy for all students abstract. really looks like, we aU seek to make a con­ and to encourage enlightened public deci­ The session is divided into paper DrE:~serlta- nection with the terrors and wonders of the sions on science and technology, to develop tions and discussion session; universe. Opportunities and t:>v'n"",·it:>,nr.,,,, universal curriculum goals, to promote ters as of this ind ude Martin, abound-let's not waste a single one of them! activity- based science teaching with empha­ Kinney of the Science sis on scientific inquiry, to improve teacher tute in Baltimore, Dale Smith from BO'wli,m! preparation and teaching resources, and to Green State in Ohio, There are several important movements provide equitable access to good science Collins Petersen of Loch Ness currently afoot to offer new standards and teaching for all students. In this document, University of Colorado in .uVUH.u;;a. guidelines for the teaching of astronomy-in astronomy is included mainly under the Duncan, which all of us should be interested. aegis of the "Earth and Space Sciences" cate­ Adler Planetarium in Last November, a "Declaration on the gory. Wyatt of the Burke-Baker Planetarium Teaching of Astronomy in Europe's Second­ The draft document has been circulating Houston Museum of Natural Science. ary Schools" was adopted by more than 100 for some months, and many of our Ameri­ Martin's effort ering that AAS n'l'.,."",'1t:>,...t- secondary school teachers from 17 curoIJean can colleagues have been involved in countries attending a workshop sponsored reviewing and offering comments on these recently caned for the creation by the European Union (EU) and the Euro­ standards. I'm most familiar with the efforts astronomy and science education rn'''''''''''~+_ pean Southern Observatory (ESO) at ESO of planetarians in my region of the U.S.­ tee to ways in which the AAS Headquarters in Garching, Germany. The Mickey Schmidt at the Air Force Academy in largely research-oriented mE~mlbershi,D central statement of the document declares Colorado Springs has been particularly better communicate an educational mE$S~lge that "astronomy should contribute towards active in encouraging planetarians to to the This is ever the consciousness that, in a complex society ipate in the review process. Bess Amaral at as grants for scientific reseal~ch abounding in science and technology, a sci­ the Goddard Planetarium in Roswell, New increasing} y an outreach effort. entific education is essential for the choices Mexico, Bob Stoner at the Fiske Planetarium I wish Martin all and will that every citizen has to make in the demo­ in Boulder, Colorado, Carolyn Collins Peter­ forward to his assessment of the <1:&><1:<:1"".,..'", cratic life. Moreover, students should feel sen of Loch Ness Productions, Lonny Baker results. that the Earth is a wonderful in the at the Astronomical Society of the PacifiC, a week after the AAS m€:~eting, Universe, and to be cared for and defended" and Alan Gould at the Lawrence Han of The declaration outlines basic recommen­ Science in Berkeley, California are among dations on astronomy aims, cur­ those who've also been involved. If you'd riculum development, teacher in-service like more details, I'm sure that they and oth­ training, and special activities for students. ers would be happy to steer you in the right One of the goals is the establish- direction. ment of a unified curriculum in Again, these are important standardiza­ tion efforts in which American and astronomy-one that IIwould illuminate astronomy as a human endeavor, with asso­ European planetarians have an i ...... "',p+"'..... + ciated doubts and lack of answers, the inter­ stake. Let your voice be heard tosa, play between experiment, observation and In the meantime, it would be very a nl<~ ..... '."" theory, the philosophy of science, the scien­ to learn what standards or standardization ums, and Jeanne will make a in tific method as well as the interaction efforts our colleagues in other parts of the the K-12 small group session on her 'l'iP

36 The Planetaricm Vol. Ience in secondary astronomy teaching at Greece, and myself. Since the IPS Council CATNAP-A the ASP awards banquet on June 27. Con­ will be convening its off-year meeting in San gratulations, Jeanne, on this wen-deserved Diego on October 13, there should be addi­ recognition! tional opportunities for participation in the of PlanetarIum Educators. I'm Yet a third effort to reach out to other ASTC meeting by Council meeting atten­ but I remember it as a organizations will occur this fall at the Asso­ dees. Perhaps we11 see you there! student as I considered the pv.,.."aLlUAL:/ ciation of Science and Technology Centers We also need to make connections with career in this crazy business. He follo~lled (ASTC) Conference in San Diego, California, similar sorts of organizations outside of the with a second edition in 1973. October 14-17. Dennis Mammana of the host­ U.s. I hope that our international colleagues Bill Lazarus and Tom Flelmtru! ing Reuben H. Fleet Space Theater and will assist us in identifying these groups, so Science Center is organizing a showcase ses­ that we can begin to build bridges of com­ sion entitled "A Universe for Everyone." In munication around the world Planetarium ni1l',ori',,...... ' keeping with the conference theme of lowed in 1979 our new des:igIllation, "Science Centers and Communities," the ses­ 1995 Directory the International Planetarium sion will focus on how planetariums and As I write, work on the 1995 Directory is educational organizations around the world proceeding, and appears to be on schedule are reaching a variety of communities for delivery probably by the middle of July. Petersen bn)u~~ht through the creative use of astronomy. Keith Johnson especially deserves a special An international group of planetarians thank you for his work in creating the new will be participating in this session, indud­ data base and formatting the master copy for ing Dennis, Bill Gutsch, Derrick Pitts from printing. the Fels Planetarium in Philadelphia, April Thanks also to Publications Chair Undine Whitten from the Kountze Planetarium in Concannon and her committee for their Omaha, Nebraska, IPS President-Elect guiding hand, and to John Mosley for his ny pJulgg(~Q Thomas Kraupe from Munich, Germany, help. tarium COl71!Jema'uu:n, Undine Concannon from the London Plane­ The comprehensive directories of recent last year by pf()Qucinlg Norm, Tom, Irli"ln __ I\.JI,:3rlr thr,oU$l~h tarium, Dennis Simopou}os from Athens, years had their beginnings with Norm whole of the last decade-and now Kei th deserve our great thanks for their dedication cOlmpilirlg and a pubH<:atllon with The Planetarian, hnnnY't~T,t and usefullXjn::ul~ membership we have to offer. On behalf of the melmbersllip, sincere thanks.

The time for c011sil1erilng prclpo:sals

the 2000 IPS conference aplProaclles; "--'U'LUn_tl will be so at its October 13th me1etirlg in San If your would like to C011S1laer our eclectic group, there's still of time. Please contact me for the IPS lines for a bid

Past-President BiH Gutsch and I received a most invitation from Dr. Tadao Nakano, of the OfJ~arlizi,ng Committee for the IPS 1996 to visit Osaka to confer with the committee on plans for next conference hosted the Science Museum of Osaka The is also sponsored by Minolta Planetarium pan y and Goto pany. Bill and I will also have an rlrU'VlIT'tn1rlIi_ ty to address our at the me'etiClg the Japan Planetarium in to visit conference and tour sites. The trip is scheduled for late a report from us on conference pn~pairat:i011s in the next issue. Until then ... sayonara ...

Vol. 24, No.2, June 1995 The Planetarian of designers, engineers and from start to finish,

Spitz. Setting the standard and excellence since 1945.

SPITZ, INC., P.O. Box 198, Route 1, ChaddsFord,PA 19317 USA Tel: 215. 459. 5200 FAX: 215.459.3830 Federation of Teachers Union and is on the We've added a new staff mc;~mIDer i b School Board; and Mark Wallace from the Discovery Aaron GULmlml Andrews ISO Planetarium is now the merly from San State) will Assistant Superintendent of Operations at ing our outreach program, lnC:IWCUlltg G Andrews ISO. hope) a Belated condolences to Mark Petersen also OC(:aslOlllauy (Loch Ness Productions) on the loss of his imagine father, and to Donna Piette (Highland Park the shows will go on! Christine Brunello Ind. Sch. Dist. Planetarium) who lost a There's a new intern at younger brother in February. tum-Kevin Scott (a Goldwater Don Harrington Discovery Population explosion?? Tony Butterfield Winner) is orloa1l1Cilfl2: Center (Saunders Planetarium) has a baby daughter; how the ae'veJlop,m4mt 1200 Streit Dr. Martin Ratcliff (Buhl Planetarium) had a guided us to a dearer unaeI'stanatng baby last fall; Kris McCall (Sudekum Plane­ Universe. PerlcetJitimlS Amarillo, TX 79106 tarium) had daughter last year, Art Klinger Trek Voyager's jeJ:mi.fer work: 800-784-9548 ext. 13 (P-H-M Planetarium) is a new daddy, and Kess) and the score is done fax: (806) 355-5703 Donna Favour (Richardson 1.S.D. Planetar­ Petersen (Loch Ness Productions). ium) now has a new granddaughter-Rachel Bill Gutsch (Hayden Planetarium) ~"~6 "'-­ Donna Pierce has asked me to take over Elizabeth. Planetarium) have Gibbous Gazette, so here I am. Please bear Schenectady Museum &. Planetarium held invited to visit Osaka Dr. Tadao NaJiamlO with me-no one could possibly fill Donna's a IIMars Party" last winter to celebrate the to confer on the upcornirlg 1996 IPS confer- shoes, but my feet are pretty big so I'll try! return of Mars into the evening sky; includ­ ence, and to address the Jal,aIles:e Please send me information about your affil­ ed were Mars Bars, Red Planet Punch, Celes­ We know that iations, your planetariums, and your lives! tial Cookies, visitor Marty the Martian, and hold their sake? (And ask Donna how her golf game is going of course The Mars Show, according to Direc­ Raml)ortl (Unione AstrofiH the next time you see her!) tor Richard Monda. Schenectady Planetar­ tarium) and the Associazione Amici del ium is also searching for a planetarium Planetari are information and Congratulations intern, beginning October I, 1995-for more publications with the IPS affiliate representa- information, contact Richard at Schenecta­ tives, and are a National Archive of (and maybe condolences!) to our new IPS dy, New York. Planetaria in Send them your DUlJHCa- Officers: Jim Manning (Taylor Planetarium) Speaking of The Mars Show, it was playing Hons and It sounds like moved into the President's slot; Thomas on Valentine's Day in Robert Wollman's ing enterprise! Kraupe (Forum Der Technik) as President­ planetarium (Richard King High School Plan­ Elect; Lee Ann Hennig (Thomas Jefferson etarium) when a young man asked Robert to High School Planetarium) as Secretary; and project a fun moon on the dome with the continuing Treasurer and Membership Chair stars while he proposed to his date. The gen­ KeithJobnson (Fleischmann Planetarium)­ tleman apparently is conSidering holding some people are gluttons for punishment! A the wedding in the planetarium as weB! special thanks goes to Joyce Towne (Fels Other stories of romance under the stars: Art urn; and Planetarium) for acting as Provisional Sec­ (Joss (Philips Space Theater) was married last Einstein Planetarium. retary to bridge the gap between Katherine year in his planetarium, and Dale Smith Seven EuroJJean countries paJ:ticipatea Becker and Lee Ann. (Bowling Green State University) reports that the UDay of Planetaria" back Other congratulations are in order: to a proposal was made last spring to one of his induding the Czech ...... JUL'.. '-, Jeanne Bishop (Westlake Schools Plane­ students during a show. With the programs Poland, Russia, and Ukraine. How tarium) for earning the Brennan Award for that they've been holding in Dale's planetari­ did it The Portable Planetarium Com­ "contributions to the teaching of Astron­ um (I4Twilight Readings" of poetry and a mittee and the Italian Planetaria Friend's omy in high schools" this June from the String Quartet performance) is it any wonder Association are a EUlroJ)ean Astronomical Society of the PacifiC; to David that romance is in the air? of itinerant and small in Dundee (Fern bank Science Center) for receiv­ London Planetarium is proceeding with October at Brescia-sotmds like a great reason ing the 1995 Museum Professional of the its renovations-it will be a real treat to visit to visit (as needs one)! Year award by the Georgia Association of in 1998! Undine Concannon undoubtedly Mark and Petersen were featured Museums and Galleries; and to Dionysios P. has her hands fun already-there will be a in a set of interviews on Denver's KUSA Simopoulos (Eugenides Planetarium) for dedication ceremony this summer for their Channel 9 and CNN's Showbiz after being named Chairman for the European new Digistar II! Mark was contacted by CNN to be one a Association for Astronomy Education. Bowen Productions (formerly Bowen group of ambient space music composers. Music Productions) has been awarded the Martin Ratdlffe (Buh} Planetarium) orga­ Did You Know••• design consulting contract for Kerry Magru­ nized a special half-day session for the Barbara Baber (Abilene LSD.) started some­ der's new planetarium at the Oklahoma American Astronomical in thing-Writing about past SWAP members Baptist University in Shawnee. I guess Jeff Pittsburgh this to address whereabouts and whatsadoings: H. Rich Bowen finally had more work than even he the gap in communication between Calvird from El Paso ISO Planetarium is fish­ could handle-Jeff has added additional two astronomical research and the means of dis­ ing and farming in East Texas; John Pogue new staff members, Mark Kindred and persing astronomical information to the (formerly of Grand Prairie Planetarium) is Jennifer Piekarski. (Please see Gibbous one of the top people in the Grand Prairie

Vol. 24, No.2, June 1995 The Planetarian

Center, One Allegheny on 15212 USA, and narrated Office of Public OUltrE!aclh, another "Star Trek" alumnus: actress Gates McFadden-Dr. Crusher from "The Next Generation." I mentioned it last Issue, but since then I've seen the final and heard the soundtrack. The program begins with a deft htstorlLcal section focusing on Edwin Hub- ble's work, and rl"",,,'rh, mission and organizes selected Telescope results the ever-broaden- addition to astronomy eOluCi:tti~:m. ing topiCS of solar system, and the you finally cosmic evolution. One of the I Despite this seeming era of retrenchment head but two more grow back in space exploration, there's still much that's like about the show is that its focus is palrlOlmg universe of laser te(:nrlOlO~V new and news going on over our heads. the great questions of how Around the time you read this-and Hubble is helping us to them. Last summer's IPS conference assuming aU has gone wen and on schedule­ My only quibbles are a few small gram­ and last faB's International matical ones with the narrative. space shuttle Atlantis should be engaged in Association (ILDA) COlrlte'rel1ce the Eyes of Hubble" has a nice, pn)fessi~Dna1 its mission to retrieve a mixed Russian­ Jack Dunn's Mueller Planetarium American crew from space station Mir after a feel-well-Written, with a Net)ra~ika. both illustrated the great rii'U'pn;:ihl balance of astronomy and Hubble results three-month stint aboard the orbiting craft. of laser-related and .... "'r" ...... "'''"''' This unprecedented mission of international and a perfectly-matched musical score. Good cooperation begins Phase I of the plan to show! build space station Alpha, scheduled to start Buhl is currently offering the in 1997. Eyes of Hubble" as a show kit in two forms. And in a matter of months, spacecraft The non-video version includes slide set, Galileo, crippled main antenna notwith­ audio tape, annotated script and pr()Qllcti.on standing, will begin dribbling back to earth notes for $395 U.S.; the video version in earnest its approach pictures and data of includes all of this plus a CA V laser disk con­ the Jupiter system. taining special effects, Hubble and And of course, the Hubble Space Telescope stills for $595 U.S. Contact Martin Ratcliffe continues to ply its clear-eyed trade above and his staff for more information. Lincoln, this laser COlm]:lan,y Another good show is Loch Ness Produc- the atmosphere. its new Laserium CSL Pf()je<:Ucm Hubble especially points out how we can tion's "Hubble ViSion," also last tern, advertised as a smaller, chlea}:>er, issue. This crisp, presenta- serve as channels to keep our various publics ter version of its Model 6B. It's tion, loaded with Hubble results, is available informed on aU things astronomical. A few automation Laser immediate examples foHow ... for $595 U.S. 130 .u ...... " ...... trol interface and ADAT mounted slides, show tape, and loaded with fealtUlres. tion notes, and h."r-I7,v .. n.".."rI Available with the information. Author Carolyn Collins Peter­ These days we're all making liberal use of the results from Hubble put out the Space sen reports that the program will be the sub- ject of a paper at the of the Amed- Telescope Science Institute (STScI) and oth­ can Astronomical in Pititsbur~~h ers. A notable example comes from Philadel­ and occurring in mid-June as you read-and phia, where the Pels Planetarium at the will incl ude a of the video Franklin Institute Science Museum, Ben­ jamin Franklin Parkway at 20th Street, adapted from the program. For additional information on the program or video, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 USA is run­ tact Loch Ness Box ning a 30-program called "The Other Side of Boulder, Colorado 80307 USA, tC!leptlOfle the Universe" narrated by actor Avery 303-455-0611, fax 303-455-1742. Brooks (Commander Sisko of "Star Trek: Finally, as fast as Hubble chums out Deep Space Nine"). new images, STSCI turns them into slide sets; Producer Joyce Towne relates that the I recently received set #6 from Rob Landis show includes a four-minute live section and new age themes in aUUltlOll. which includes such goodies as the during which staff presents the latest news company has international (Planetary) Nebula, the Cartwheel and views from Hubble; the segment its clientele. For more information Quasar PKS 2349 seelTIinlgly mergiflg changes every few weeks. She also credits on what's new at Laser COlmT)arlion galaxy, clusters, STSCI with being most helpful in briefing Ivan President, or Mitch M100, the star Gliese 623 and its diminutive staff and providing information. Vice President. Another STSCI conaboration is "Through ~~U""""l'>. and solar sys­ tem views including Uranus, the gross sur­ the Eyes of Hubble," the program from the face of Titan, that second storm i.n Saturn's other side of Pennsylvania produced by the atmosphere, and the evolution of the G-site Buh} Planetarium of the Carnegie Science

Vol. 1995 The Planetarian in its series of "Lasershow Designer" laser include a new grating box that can swivel more inforrnalti011, graphics software systems, called IILasershow into the laser beam to produce holographic Lighting Systems Designer for Windows." This package is PC­ effects, a setup incorporating four projectors Garden Road, based and designed to run with the Win­ that receive light through fiber optics and USA, telephone dows program using the QuadMod32 laser project anything from zodiacal figures to 3965: one of this cmnp.my"s computer card. animations, and a "waterscreen" which uses the ExcaHbur Vector :sc,lmuDlg "-""",,au,,-, The system provides extensive, "user- a film of falling water as a projection screen compact laser gra,pflliCS nr4oiect()f friendly" graphics-generation, editing:. and for laser and multimedia display (the last per­ that moves a laser beam around very scripting capabilities and comes in two fla­ haps not ideally suited for planetariums, but to create an The device comes vors: the entry-level LDBasic and the ilstate­ it sounds fascinating). gle-channel and dual-channel versions of-the-art" LDPro These packages Most intriguing of aU is LOBO's "1aser- is, containing one or two X-V scan work with any kind of laser projector or glove," a control system which creates a kind and is designed to work with any laser color system, and are suitable Jor use with of virtual reality laser program by allowing ics computer that X-V the new PCAOM's (shorthand for "Polychro­ the controller to change up to 13 arbitrarily informa Hon, and an matic acousto-optic modulators"-use thatin definable show parameters (such as color, projector. a sentence three times!). position, and rotation angle) through simple Mike Pangolin's literature says it can also supply movements of the hand and fingers. The pos­ it in opleration hardware, but recommends buying directly sibilities rather boggle the mind! ing that it had "the from manufacturers, and offers an excellent For more details and prices on these and ratio of IJrllgtltfles:s brief "Laser Resource Guide" a number other LOBO products, contact Lothar Bopp of them along with Pangolin dealers. I've also at the address given above. "Turbotrack 2" scanner arr.lpljltie:r, which can heard that its worldwide client list has the AudioVisual Imagineering, 10801 Cosmo­ run both General Scanning and CalnDrlal~e capability of functioning much like a users naut Boulevard, Orlando, Florida 32824 USA, Technology scanners. group. For more information and prices, con­ telephone 407-859-8166, fax 407-859-8254: Another new LSDI is tact president Patrick Murphy. this is the company that developed Brush," a dynamiC focus mechanism which Laser Fantasy International, 1408 W. Omniscan-the full-dome computer graphiCS allows one to vary the width of the Hume Street, Portland, Oregon 97219 USA, laser projection system demonstrated at IPS beam, and thus the lines it cre:at{$-aHc)win.2; telephone 503-244-1123, fax 503-244-3911: /92. According to a recent press release, the for soft images, fill patterns, and variable line here's another company with an interna­ system was demonstrated in March in com­ width. The brochure indicates that works tional clientele and which can supply both bination with Carl Zeiss jena's new fiber wen with any part of the visible spectrum­ hardware and software products. One of its optics planetarium projectors, the Starmaster and could add considerable strong suits is its impressive program catalog; and the Model VIII, with pleasing results. The imagery, I would think. the 1994-95 edition contains about 30 shows release stated that the combination of tech­ For more information on LSDI ...... ,...,..I1"r .. " covering almost every musical taste and nologies produces full-color vector displays contact Makhov includes educational programs. IPS '92 atten­ without fading star brightness. address given above. dees may remember IILaser lOlli-in which an AVI has also recently announced the Laser Production "-101.·... 7." ...... animated electron demonstrates how a laser development of a new educational laser pro­ east 4th Court, Miami, Florida 33138 works; it's a good example of the detailed gram called "Laserwarp." The program tel~eptlOnie 305-754-6885, fax 305-751-7574: animation work for which the company is employs "classical-style" and 3-D computer this is a newer company started in known. animation, KodaHth slides, and AVI's trade­ one of its is the The company offers its programs through mark IIChromaDepth 3-D" technology (in LASERMAX system for and a Programming Network in which clients which special glasses show the four nl'ilTBU'V ing laser The company offers can license shows according to a cost formu­ laser colors at different apparent distances ety of software and computers, la incorporating market size, theater capaci­ for an unmistakable sense of depth) to ten scanning systems, and effects-includ- ty, and the number of shows desired. Con­ the story of two children who are phmg~ed "Smartscan," a laser simulator that tact Mike Lutz, Director of Theater Opera­ into a laser "virtual reality" by a ho'1O~~raDhic a 300 Watt Xenon and program- tions, at the address and numbers given gUide who takes them-and the audience­ mable to create laser-like effects. above for more details and costs. on a journey from the beginning of time Of note is the ..... V.UI"U.U LOBO Electronic GmbH, Hofackerstrasse through the age of the dinosaurs. LASERMAX ARTGROUP service: T,p",_n!llUn',ff 13, D-73430, Aalen, Germany, telephone 49- The story was developed with the assis­ members of the group receive a 7361/6095, fax 49-7361/68810: this full-service tance of our profession's own Jon Bell at the ready-made graphiCS and animations, with laser company recently sent me a color Indian River Community College Planetar­ regular updates and custom ser­ brochure and press releases announcing ium in Fort Pierce, Florida, and was designed, vices available. Again, for more data, contact some of its latest products. LOBO offers an according the producer Derek Mackey and as given above. "economy line" of hardware products in­ AVI General Manager Joanne McCullough, Creative Laser Production, Max-Weber­ cluding the ELGP-3 laser graphiCS projector to respond to requests from planetarium and Pl.10, D-81675 Muem:ne'fi, "",'-AA'''UU and the EPU-3T player unit, designed to be science center directors for more educational phone 49-89-4705611: this company also turn-key systems requiring a minimum of laser programming. offer holographic referred maintenance. The systems work with a vari­ "Laserwarp" is scheduled to run this sum­ Lightworld Gratings, for laser ety of lasers, can accept laser light via fiber mer at the McLaughlin Planetarium in optics, and can run a library of some 150 Toronto, Canada, and at the St. Louis Science Laser Spectacles, Inc., 1700 RR12, shows produced for the company's LACON-3 Center, the Hansen Planetarium in Salt Lake Marcos, Texas 78666 USA, 512-392- line of products. City, and the Discovery Place in Charlotte, 4600, fax 512-392-4601: this company

Some of the company's other products North Carolina in the United States. For tributor for the above-mentioned ]l:,HjlU.'):.;) 42 The Planetarian Vol. the U.S. and Canada. The company also the book now A notice from R offers a device called the Horizon-Scan 360- exists to you degree Laser Scanner, which uses a rotating A Computer Musician, authored mirror at an of 45 degrees to rotate Bowen of Bowen Productions and offered scanning laser graphics aU around the hori­ Sams Publishing, a division of Macmillan zon. For details, contact Tim Walsh. Computer 201 W. 103rd Street, . Laser Physics, Inc., 3673 West 1987 South, Indianapolis, IN 46290-1097 USA, teje~ph()ne Salt Lake City, Utah 84104 USA, telephone 317-581-3500, fax 317-581-4669. 800-527-2778, fax 801-975-7011: this company This is an interactive aimed at makes the Reliant Series Laser-lithe first air beginning and intermediate-level users- cooled argon laser with the power supp! y either for computer users to get into and laser head integrated into one small composing or composers to get into compact package," according to the litera­ computers. The book introduces and ex- ture. For and more information, give the of comput- my rocket gUioamc:e n",1-",,,,,,,,,, Laser Physics a ers to make music, with for both cle,antng, but we aU use WeB ... perhaps this can serve to give a Macintosh and PC _____ ... __ _ sense of some of what's happening in the step hands-on approach the use of scour. The system comes wide world of laser technology, but of tutorials which access an enclosed CD-ROM ent models prc)OUClnlg course, it just scratches the surface. I hear containing Mac an

Vol. 1995 The Planetarian

in the planetarium sky with the pointer Canis minor, e) Canis f) (Aur- flashlight. EYE-ga). Make no marks next to them. Focus on 2. Relate the color of a star to its surface c) Identify a star of each surface tempera­ temperature. ture on the star chart. With a Education 3. Solve comparison problems involving the name of the star in the proper in the brightness, distances, and temperatures the table at the bottom part of the star chart. of stars. On the date of the planetarium visit the stu­ MATERIALS: For each student, a pencil, a dent should have found and recorded the A Problem-Solving star chart entitled IISidereal Time 3 Hours, following information on his/her star chart: "and the worksheet entitled, IIWhat can we Activity for Middle Learn from the Classification of Stars?". Clip­ Alnitak 30,OOOdeg boards to hold student worksheets will be Rigel 20,OOOdeg School Students provided by the planetarium. Sirius lO,OOOdeg ADVANCE PREPARATION: Prior to the Procyon 8,OOOdeg date of the planetarium visit, the classroom Capella 6,OOOdeg a planetarium lesson by teacher should have duplicated both the Aldebaran S,OOOdeg map and the worksheet. Students will need Betelgeuse 4,OOOdeg Stu Chapman their maps for an aSSignment on the day Harford County Public prior to the planetarium visit. The work­ (temperatures are given in degrees Kelvin (K) sheet may be distributed on the planetarium where Kelvin :::: 3· Celsius + 273.) Schools Planetariums day. Southampton Middle a.ASS TIME: Two or three class periods. In Planetarium Day Procedure the first class period, students complete the Moores Mill Rd. 1. The outcomes (above) shall be rli~lnl::!1"Pi1 warm-up activity with their regular class­ and explained to the class. Bel Air MD 21014 room teacher. The second day is a fifty­ 2. The planetarium teacher wiH minute lesson in the planetarium with the [email protected] the stars numbered as 0,+1,+2,+3, and +4 for planetarium teacher and the classroom the class. Students will discover that these teacher. A third day may be needed for the numbers (apparent magnitudes) describe the completion of some post-planetarium activi­ brightness of a star as seen from earth such What Can we Learn ties in the students' home school with their that the smaller the number, the regular classroom teacher. star. from the Classifica­ CROSS CURRICULUM ACTIVITIES: 3. The planetarium teacher will then ask Science, Social Studies, Math. for student volunteers to pOint out each of tion of Stars? SCIENCE THINKING SKILLS: Identifying, the seven stars located on the star chart in categorizing, classifying, comparing'vcon­ class the day before on the planetarium A great deal of information presented in trasting, visualizing, decision making, with the flashlight pointer. While this is the planetarium requires students to under­ sequencing, explaining, distinguishing, orga­ being done, students will be encouraged to stand how certain facts are arranged and nizing. observe the color and magnitude of each of how they are related to other facts. Students the stars and to record that information on in the middle grades of 5-7, who are asked to Pre-Planetarium Warm-Up their star charts. classify objects by a single trait, begin by per­ 1. Display this outcome: (#1 part 1) The 4. The planetarium teacher will now ceiving similarities and differences. Then, student will demonstrate the ability to iden­ up the lights enough for a short discussion. they may be able to separate these objects tify several stars and constellations on the The planetarium teacher will explain the dif­ into several groups according to shape, color, provided star chart. ference between a star's apparent brightness or some other single trait. As additional clas­ 2. Distribute copies of the star chart, and its true brightness. He will ask what two sification skills develop throughout the mid­ "Sidereal Time 3 Hours," to the class on the factors could determine how bright a star dle school years, students gain the ability to day prior to the planetarium visit. The teach­ appears to us here on earth (the distance to arrange objects along a continuum (hot to er should work with the class using an over­ the star and its "true" brightness). He will ask cold, big to small, etc.) and to recognize that head projection transparency of the same what factors could determine the color of a an object may belong to more than one class star chart to perform the following tasks: star? (the surface temperature). The planetar­ (e.g. realizing that the sun is in the solar sys­ a) Identify the "numbered" stars. They are ium teacher will now discuss the color-tem­ tem and in the galaxy at the same time). The found in a "clockwise" order from the lower perature relationship for stars and the rela­ focus of this planetarium activity is to left. They are: tionships between distance and apparent address students' acqUisition of some of the Procyon 0 brightness of observed stars. When students classification skills described above by classi­ Pollux +1 seem to be comfortable with these concepts, fying stars found in the planetarium sky ~tor +2 the lights will be lowered and the students according to several traits. Mu Geminorum +3 will be presented with several problems NuGeminorum· +4 which relate to the concepts just discussed OUTCOME(S): The student will demon­ Make no marks next to them. Students and the stars on their star charts. Students strate the ability to: will discover the meaning of the numbers on will fill in their responses on the worksheet. 1. Identify several stars and constellations the day of the planetarium visit. a..oSURE: The planetarium teacher shall on a provided star chart and to point to the b) Identify the following constellations on provide some additional problems similar to location of the same stars and constellations the map: a) Orion, b) Taurus, c) Gemini, d) the ones above using the stars in the as

Vol. 24, No.2, June 1995 The Plane tarian 45 they will appear during the week of the stu­ Planetarium dents' planetarium visit. What em we lam from the Oasdflatioo ofStus? ENRICHMENT: Students may be encour­ aged to visit an observatory open house with OUTCOME: The student will demonstrate the ability to solve comparison his or her family where he or she can make Iems involving the color, distances, and temperatures of stars. some of his or her own observations and DIRECfIONS: The following problems are to be solved during the planetarium ses­ where members of the Harford County sion. Circle the best answers. Astronomical Society will be happy to explain on the student's level just how we 1. WHICH STAR OF THE "WINTER TRIANGLE" IS PROBABLY THE LARGEST IN are able to determine the distances and sizes SIZE? A) BETELGEUSE B) SIRIUS C) PROCYON of stars based on relatively simple observa­ tions. 2. WHICH OF THE TWO STARS BELOW PROBABLY HAS THE GREATEST "TRUE REF.ERENCES: Teachers might wish to con­ BRIGHTNESS"? A) BETELGEUSE B) RIGEL sult some of the references upon which this laboratory activity is based They are: 3. WHICH OF THE TWO STARS BELOW IS PROBABLY THE MOST DISTANT Reed George, "The Winter Sky: A Fifth FROM THE EARTH? A) BETELGEUSE B) RIGEL Grade Program," Planetarium Director's Hand­ book, No. 31, March-April 1975, Spitz Spa<;:e 4. WHICH OF THE THREE STARS BELOW HAS THE COOLEST SURFACE TEMPER- Systems Inc. ATURE? A) E33 ORIONIS B) MIRA C) ALDEBARAN Friedman Alan J./ et al. "Planetarium Edu­ cator's Workshop Guide", Planetarium Activities for Student Success (PASS) Volume 1, COMPARE TWO OF THE CLOSEST STARS TO EARTH TO EACH OTHER: STAR 1: SIRIUS (9 LY) STAR 2: EPSILON ERIDANI (8 LY) Regents of the University of California, 1990. WHY ISN'T EPSILON ERIDANI BRIGHTER THAN SIRIUS? .

Harford County Planetariums Sidereal Time 3 Hours cJ ea pe IIQ (.,000" K .~ 45lY TAuRUS /'-. .-----;" IAURIGA .\ \. i \ I CETUS ","Ald;.: boran ._ ...... (WltI\lE) • ~AItIOTI:EIt .. 5000"K ...... ---- •• ;tJ TYPE F !Ad; ~ /' • ~2. ' ...----.".' ~ .. • a' Ca.s{o(' ,,----GEMINI H ~~ \ \ (lWIN!», Bde.'qeuse~' """ € e-~, , Pollux ,L • -- \ AooO-bK t~tll'lIblk",: SLY 't- • 'I. ~ 30CXlO • • ~ _0- t t . (,00 Lyo(' I, • /' • \" \I< A· 9e.1 ~. OR 10 N ./ 20000"" CANIS" I lliUNTEf().,/~ / I / MINoR (7. -Ii Procyon /" • (SMAll OOG,) 0 9000· K II LY • /.r'" Sirius + DoG 5TA~ lopoo"K 9lY e

TYPE TEMP COLOR EXAMPLE 0 30000" B 2QOOOl> A 10,000· F ~ 000° Gi ',000" K 5000 M 4

46 The Planetarian Vol. 24, No.2, June 1995 much this dome was even­ 1-1.""..-1 .., .... in New tually dosed by the Fire due to con­ before that." I'll cerns about evacuation time in case of fire. This unfortunate happening led to further experimentation and the of a lessons! lighter-weight material that works better for Brought to you and of interest to him. He has designed a door that is conve­ Powerful Interactive Planetarium Systems niently a tall opening so you can walk into the dome. Anyway, it is a and wonderful story and Ray is now interested in Susan Reynolds building planetariums (dome and projector) OeM BOeES Planetarium for others-and at a very reasonable PO Box 4774 Ray also sent an audio tape of his pro­ Syracuse, NY 13221 USA grams. It is delightful to hear the accents and another teacher's style. I am to Phone (315) 433-2671 send him a tape in return (another wonder­ Fax (315) 433-1530 ful way to network), Most of us do not write [email protected] out our lessons as we to remain responsive and interactive with each It is really difficult to believe that summer audience; however, tapes of this kind would (winter for those south of the equator) is certainly have helped me in the beginning already here again! Hopefully your experi­ and now give me new ideas! THANK YOU ments with new techniques and ingenious RA yn Ray also sent me a few pictures of a col­ methods are meeting with success. We are league who owns and operates the inflatable continuously challenged to effectively gUide 14Cosmodysee II"-the dome, beau- students in their attempts to comprehend tiful with a walk-in door, appears a bit basic concepts. Connecting with colleagues smaller than Starlab. at various conferences and get-togethers real­ Two more items of interest from ly helps to get the creative juices flowing. It there is a new news group on the 14 net" for winter (summer there) to will be wonderful when all the regional devoted to matters: discussions, SCc)rpius or for summer (winter organizations are promoting area PIPS meet­ advertisements, and one or two items for sale a photo of Orion. We can ings for portable and small planetaria as sug­ (this is on news:scLasto.planetarium) There is dome the gested at IPS '94. I have not received any also in existence an astronomical net maga­ news of that happening yet, nor have I zine which is twice monthly. (This received news of new columns of interest to is available at ftp:l/ftp.rahul.net/pub mobile planetaria included in regional /resoufce/ASTRONET.TXT) newsletters. Loris Ramponi, however, contin­ '1'"",.."'-1"" ...... Ul'ke (Starlab ues to expand his contacts throughout Starevegen 5, N-6150 Orsta, Nn,rW_:Hl--Pfn~i Europe (see information below pertaining to Torbjom.Urke@hivoldano) contacted the first European meeting for portable plan­ ask about the October me;etiflg etaria). wrote that he remembered with me in Salt Lake City 1992. He says that the Expanded Networking: Norwegian Government has once more given economic support to their Starlab The e-mail system has proven to be a neat activity at Volda Laerhoegschole-Volda new way for me to network with fellow Teacher Training College 80 there is a lot to users around to globe. Several people from do. Congra tula tions-I like to hear various locations around the world have news! I hope to see Torbj0m in Brescia! contacted me in this way. Suzy Chippmdale (Santa Fe COlmn:lUl1~itv Ray Worthy (The Stargazer Planetarium, College Planetarium, PO Box 4187, Santa 15 Queensberry Avenue, HatlepooI, Cleve­ NM 87502-4187 USA-email: schippi@santafe land. TS26 9NW, U.K. - email: raymond@ .cc.nm.us) wrote uYour name was stargazr.demon.co.uk) contacted me to ask to me as a resource for activities. I ... "'r·".... +ln about the October meeting in Italy and to became the director of a new planetarium at ten me about his business. After retiring, he Santa Fe Community College and am start­ another neat to 6'>v ..,"" .. ilr.... 'nt" built his own planetarium (to the 6th magni­ ing from scratch. It is a nice Spitz 512 system, share. Thank you for tude/about 5000 stars) with which he travels but we are just one step above the complexi­ wrUejuan. Please stay in touch throughout North England giving lessons ty of a Starlab with just 4 slide projectors." to teU us what you are approximately three days a week. He sent, (She doesn't know that some of us have McLeod (Coordinator through the regular mail, several pictures much more technology than that in our Math/Science which give a partial history of the first dome Starlabs!) "I am scratching my head to School 100 Street, PO he built in 1986 of PVC plastic. This dome he figure out what kind of presentations would Monroe, LA 71210-1642 USA) writes, found to be extremely durable but very work in such a theater since I carne from the so much for the use of aU the space heavy and not easily made opaque. After

Vol. 24, No.2, June 1995 The Planetarian materials that you sent us. Enclosed is a copy advancement of Astronomy. Thanks Tinka, European of our "Starlab Curriculum." It's not perfect it is good to know what is going on with you -15, 1995 by any means, but we've had great success and others in our field. I would like to remind you to consider with it as a resource tool in the schools." The attending the first European Conference for curriculum Daphne sent is a very complete Current Decision Made With Re­ itinerant and small planetaria which will be set of lessons and activities for K -6 teachers gards to the Public Domain File: held in Brescia, Italy. This meeting has been to use before, during, and after trips to the At this time you, may continue to request organized by the Italian Friend's Association Starlab and are correlated with the Louisiana the entire box of printed activities in my file and by the IPS Portable Planetarium Com­ State Curriculum Guide, the Scott-Foresman that have been cataloged for $55 printing mittee. There will be workshops and papers science textbook, and with Project 2061. charge plus a shipping charge which varies pertaining to maximum utilization of What a lot of work-it is 290 pages long! according to where it is shipped. You can Cosmodysee II, GOTO EX-3, and Thank you so much for sharing! order single activities from the list at cost of etariums. We expect there will be representa­ Tinka Ross (STAR*DATA, 89 Dominican printing and shipping also. At present the tives from a large variety of countries an Drive, San Rafael, CA 949011337 USA-email: catalog is not complete or pretty. I hope to over Europe as well as some from the USA. [email protected]) owns her own Starlab get it better organized this summer when I This promises to be an exceptional and also works as a lecturer at Morrison Plan­ have some breathing time! I am also working ence for all of us and will really ~"_"~~·"h~,~ etarium, California Academy of Sciences. For .on a proposal, at Jim Manning's request, for a and enrich our network around insurance purposes she is sponsored by a special IPS publication (free to the member­ For more information and re~(istra1:iol!1: non-profit organization, Sierra Pacific ship) with some of the best materials from Loris Ramponi, Associazione Amici dei Plan­ Educational Adventures, whenever she goes my file included as well as an index of added etari, c/o Cicivi Musei di Scienze, Via to schools. She takes her planetarium to information and a detailed catalog. GLP A has Ozanam 4, 25128 Brescia, Italy (Fax 30 87 2S schools and also is developing a teacher also requested that a TIPS booklet for 45) or Susan Reynolds, OCM BOCES Plane­ training/rental program. portable users be produced and I am in the tarium, PO Box 4774, Syracuse, NY 13221 USA Tinka also sent me some information, a middle of doing that now. If you have tips (Fax 315-4331530). brochure, about Larry Harrison who is the and or suggestions for this kind of publica­ California representative for Learning tion or you would be willing to work on it Signing Off: Technologies, Inc. He runs a business caned with me please contact me ASAP, I could That's all for now, have a great summer (or SCOPE (Science Can Open Peoples Eyes), a really use some help. hands-on educational program for the winter as Juan reminded me)! *

48 The Planetarian Vol. 24, No.2, 1995 l1li the generous support of the National Grid 8th and was hosted I Co. PIc. Patrick Moore officiated the re-open- I of the on March 31st when he introduced and started the show "More than Meets the staff. " ... <1"" ..""" . .,,, on a to The Indiana State M~~Uru1.: reconstruct William Lassen's 24" reflector in the PHM Planetarium and Liverpool. Lassen used the wealth he Mishawaka and the -.-.....~~J D1"""",+·",",,,,,,,,,, acqUired from the brewing industry to fund his passion for astronomy. His was meetirlg host. the first large reflector to be mounted equa­ Gebhart is the new dirlect()[ torially. With this Lassen discov­ Muncie cOlmrrmnlitv Schools Pla.netarimJ[l. ered Triton in 1846, and Ariel and Umbriel in The is located at 1857. on the are the School two Liverpool Universities and the Museum, Dan GoIns, of the and the sponsor is the Royal Insurance School Planetarillm,

The London Planetarium closed on Fax 243-4110 January 2nd after many years of service to the public. The closing was celebrated with a party where the guests were allowed to with the Mark IV Zeiss on its last in Huntsville, Alabama this

journey. The final program was '-VUlJj,,-U The State wiH Many thanks to those who sent material with a mad array of slides; video; at the Abrams Planetarium in East for this issue of Regional Roundup. The dead­ classical music; and use of a on 13, 1995 and will be line for the next issue of Regional Roundup laser pointer. The final whirl around the David Batch. is Monday, July 1995. Please mark your was universally to be the best show calendars accordingly. ever done! It was also agreed that the wine Lisa helped! In its place, a new is being constructed To date, the skeleton of a stc'DIlled down to devote more time new 4-level cylindrical entrance, an extra role as GLPA Chairman. The Armagh Planetarium has installed floor inside the copper dome, and the frame­ Eric Schreur of the Kalamazoo their Digistar projector and are currently work of a new projection dome have been enhancing the Armagh experience to many erected. Production of the oDeniinQ delighted visitors. "Comic Perceptions," is 1'11 .... ""'t The Mills Observatory in Dundee cele­ done. dome is at brates its 60th this year. An The new, dome for the GOTO ment. increase in attendance over last year's total etarium of the Norman Observa- The new Chaffee Planetarium of 17,000 visitors is As weB as tory in has welcomed school visits, public lectures and entrance the two months since their Grand "-flU .... "CO,,,,,. urn shows, a summer exhibition will show ties, is now "'~U'LIA""_L. The Ohio State was the advances in astronomy over the past 60 will be named the Norman Frohman Planetarium in Sal1dtlSkv years. A public lecture, done in tarium, after Sir Norman 8th, 1995 and was will use the collection of glass lantern slides p]anetarium dome will be reconverted into from the early 1900's. The observatory was nhc",,,·,,,,,f-r..·u which will house Loc]('vey"s featured in the first of the recent BBe series "Heavenly Bodies." Brian Kelly has been appointed Astronomer, in succession to Wilkins. Fiona Vincent. The next of the BAP, AGM will There are plans for a to be on Saturday, May 20, 1995 at the incorporated in a new Scottish National Planetarium, hosted by Paul Dearden. Science Center in Glasgow. Prof. Archie Roy A "Rising Star" in is one of the members of the Foundation on May 1st. The interactive science center Committee, which will be visiting the state-­ contains over 170 exhibits and is the of-the-art planetarium in Munich, Germany. of its kind in the UK. The new science center Executive Committee was held on ":"f-" ..rU ... " The Greenwich Planetarium in London houses a 6 meter dome and seats 40 22, 1995 at the Public Museum has experienced an increase in the demand fora Grand Grand for shows, especially school shows, since the There is a new address for As1tro:nOlmv London Planetarium has been under renova­ information which tions the past several months. The refurbish­ ment and upgrade in at the plan­ Meetulg was held at the etarium is now complete. The computeriza­ Strickler Planetarium of Olivet Nazarene tion was made possible by a grant through University in Kankakee on Sa1turdav

Vol. 1995 The Planetarian The 1995 GLPA Conference will be held with the usual assortment of papers and October 25-28 at the new Chaffee Planetar- this MAPS conference will also contain a Onp-fll.::lV mini-conference for

nn .... ""'" plane1tarla. This conference will be al information about this conference will 19th and approximately lies were guests at a in of Round- lH'l,PTl1Ii'111rn users will be in The Fall 1995 PP A meetirlg up. ban(~uet will be held in COfltunCti".""'" the of Hubble" on March able from hosts Carole 17th. The 40-minute program was orodw:ed Greenhouse at (912) 477-3232, Fax: collaboration with the Hubble 3251 or email: e!€:sccme Science Institute. The program will be released for international distribution to other plalne'tarllunls in the near future. For Planetaria Commission of the Association of additional contact Martin Ratcliffe at rrencn-;::;.peaKllflg Planetariums; Giovanni (412) 237-3399. COlngratulcJlticms to Donna Favour the Dieter the The Area Planetarium n...... a- Richardson Planetarium in Olbers-Planetarium in Bremen, (iC1:mcmy !ion (PAPA) met on 4th at the Pine­ winner of 1994 H. Rich Calvird The IlIon the Problem of Richland School Planetarium in This award is named in honor of Pollution will held on October 21, 1995, LJU)S011la, PA Several new CD-ROM astrono­ pla.ne1tari,an, Rich and the 1996 of Planetaria will be held my programs were demonstrated as wen as a pr(~stigi()Us service demonstration of the new Zeiss lena ZKP III The 1995 Annual SWAP Conference will "-""'_"'&"1','- of and infor- director Robert Pilat. Rick Pifko of the be held at the Burke Baker Planetarium in between the Italian Friends Plane- oung!;to'wn State Tnl'UIPlrdt·u Planetarium :septemlDeT 21-23 and will be taria's Association and other V11"<"""""''''''''-'''':> pres;entled a worksllop food spe- hosted Carolyn Sumners. For additional has been very successful. The other org;aflilza­ cial effects techniqtles. intonnaltioll1, contact Dr. Sumners (713) Hons The Planetarium 639-4632. Southeast Planetarium Association (Southern Skies), Middle Atlantic Planetarium Constellation), Great Lakes "".,<,'jo",';,,,-n Association (GLPA Newsletter) The Third "Half a Dome" PP A Conference Astronomy is because it raises us and Pacific took place at Yosemite National March above ourselves, it is useful because it (Panorama). 30 - 1 April, 1995. Organized by Gail Chaid, It shows us that however small man's the time was well spent between paper ses­ may b~ his mind is great, since while his sions, the "real" sky and feasting at is only an obscure particle, his inteWige'1ce the Ahwahnee Hotel banquet. The HalrlQllet capable ofgrasping the whole was Seth Shostak, SETI Institute, who The 1995 Middle Atlantic Planetarium spoke about the Phoenix Project, a privately Society Conference will be held 17-20 at Henri Poincare funded radio survey of the southern sky the Raritan College which is currently searching for intelligent Heaven and earth were created all Planetarium in New Jersey and Signals. in the same instant, on October 2~ 4004 will be hosted by Jerry Vinski, Director and Re, Nominat:iorls for officers: Gail Chaid (pres­ at nine o'clock in the mfl,,.ni:nv~ Lonny Buinis, with assistance from GASPRA ident) and John Young (Secretary/Treasurer). (Garden State Planetarium Resource Associ­ The election will take place in the Fall. ation). The theme for this year's conference The Griffith Observatory developed its is II Advancing with " Along

50 The Planetarian Vol. 1995 voted and approved the CGP as a new from Vilnius, Lithuania. They were wel­ Affiliate to IPS. comed to the meeting along with their con­ Secretary's IPS has received requests for affiliation ference translator. from the President of the Russian Planetar­ The Awards Committee Report was ium Association, Georgii Grechko, and from by Phyllis Pitluga The President Plaque will Report Alexander Lenin of the Ukraine. Each of be given to Bm Gutsch, the Service Award to their organizations may not have enough John Mosley and new Fellow Certificates IPS members to affiliate according to will be presented at this conference. The Minutes of the IPS Council Meeting Standing Rules. Discussion ensued. The mat­ group discussed membership status for Cocoa Florida,July 10, 1994 ter was delayed until Friday after the region­ Fellows; al meetings Council reaffirmed the decision made at 4/20/95 Slovakian planetarians have made contact the 1992 meeting in Salt Lake City that through Undine Concannon, and wish to Fellowship was a permanently bestowed In attendance: host a meeting for an planetariums in the honor and not a category of me~mt)er~ml1p, President: Bill Gutsch former Eastern Bloc from October 4 - 6, 1994. and that Fellows whose membership President Elect:jim Manning We are also in contact with planetariums in would not be removed from the list of Treasurer: Keith johnson India, China, and other areas. The number of Fellows. Concerning membership, Secretary: Katherine Becker future affiliation requests is unknown. also asked about Institutional Memberships; Dennis Simopoulos is contacting many facil­ it was clarified that only one person can be Affiliation representatives: ities and will work with them for member­ deSignated as the official representative of Association of French-Speaking Planetariums ships, since some money l'i available through each institution. (APLF) -Marc Moutin the EEC for former Soviet Union members - The request was made for a larger curricu­ Association of Mexican Planetariums (AMP)­ T ACIS program funds can be used to help lum vita for nominees of the Service Award Ignacio Castro Pinal bring them to Council Meetings. Plaque and a new slate of nominees. These British Association of Planetariums (BAP) - Discussion continued on the proper ways will be dealt with at the 1995 Council Undine Concannon to encourage and sponsor new members, per­ Meeting. European/Mediterranean Planetarium Asso­ haps through our vendors and business part­ The Publications Committee report was ciation (EMPA) -DionysiosSimopoulos ners or regional affiliate organizations' spon­ presented by Undine Concannon. The Plan­ Great Lakes Planetarium Association (GLPA) sorshi ps. Bess Amaral offered to sponsor a etarium Development Group has completed -Dale Smith member on behalf of the Goddard Plane­ the new publication caned So You Want to Great Plains Planetarium Association (GPPA) tarium. A motion was passed to create a com­ Build a Planetarium. It represents a tremen­ - April Whitten mittee to deal with these issues. dous amount of work and will cost about Italian Planetaria Friends Association (AADP) The International Planetarium Director's $700 to print for members. - Loris Ramponi Conference (IPDC) will meet in 1996 at three The group discussed costs and distribution japan Planetarium Society UPS) - Shingo sites in Eastern Europe. The relatio~ship possibilities for the booklet. A motion was Kawakami between IPDC and IPS was discussed, includ­ made and to make the publication Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society (MAPS) ing the potential for IPDC affiliation with free with and that others wish- -joyce Towne IPS, depending on whether it is of interest to ing to obtain a copy could the or~:anlza­ Nordic Planetarium Association (NPA) - their informal organ ization. tion in order to receive it Once the booklet Franck Petersen The Secretary's Report had been mailed to is printed, the Planetarium Pacific Planetarium Association (PPA) - all at an earlier date. It was accepted Group will begin work on Lonny Baker The Treasurers Report was presented and detailed document on planetarium Rocky Mountain Planetarium Association discussion followed Keith johnson indicated and development. (RMP A) -Bess Amaral that the organization is on track for meeting According to a survey, the two IPS Southeastern Planetarium Association (SEPA) its annual budget. Directories should have cations most in demand are the -john Hare gone out to everyone joining the organiza­ Manual, which is in short supply and Southwestern Association of Planetariums tion or renewing membership; anyone who which Undine will update, and the (SWAP) -Donna Pierce was missed or who joins late receives a publi­ Educator's Workshop Guide which was super­ cation order form to receive back issues of seded by the PASS volumes produced by the Also present: Phyllis Pitluga, Awards publications. Dennis Simopoulos noted that Lawrence Han of Science. Resource Guides Committee; Gabriel Munoz, IPDC; Martin currently, 25% of IPS membership is non-US, were also requested. Lawrence Hall Ratcliffe, IPDC; Mike Hutton, Conference up from 5% in 1974. The Report was unani­ one that is extremely comprehensive for the Chair '94; john Mosley, Editor, The Plane­ mously received USA, as does GLPA, but there is no document tarian; Zinarda Sitkova, Russian Planetarium The Elections Committee Report was read for Europe or other locales. Other requests Association; Alexander Lenin, Ukrainian on behalf of Tom Stec. Secretary Katherine induded materials for portable planetaria, Planetarium Association; Zina Sviderskiene, Becker and Treasurer Keith johnson have which Lawrence Hall has also created. The Lithuania agreed to run for office Candidates for President instructed the Committee to use President-Elect are jon Ben and Dale Smith. the GLPA document as a base and to interna­ The meeting was called to order at 9:30 Nominations will also be taken from the tionalize it and create a Publication am. by President Bill Gutsch with the best floor at the general Business Meeting. Resource Guide. attendance in many years. Members of the Russian and Ukrainian There was discussion about hard copy Application for affiliation was received in planetarium organizations joined the meet­ publications vs. publications on disk; there is good order from Hans Meinl of the Council ing at this time along with a representative not yet a consensus or decision on this point. of German Planetariums (CGP). Council

Vol. 24, No.2, june 1995 The Plane tar ian 51 Discussion turned to the IPS Directory. The Seven people were funded through grants. some Council Members can choose IPS files for the Directory are still text files, The conference budget is solid with some accept the reimbursement, the funds not a data base. Mickey Schmidt has offered overage anticipated. Conversation contin­ to sponsor conference attendees to scan and edit the The group dis­ ued about the trade show and vendors,look- assistance. cussed the ramifications of creating or , ing ahead to the Japan conference. Mike rec­ Newsletters on the Osaka Conference acquiring a data base for the Directory. The ommended that IPS create a guidelines pubU­ provided by group voted in favor of seeking bids for pro­ cation for conference hosts. Council sincere­ tentative schedule. ducing the data base through a commercial ly thanked Mike and his staff for the work meet the firm. Keith will investigate and report back they had done. by October 1. Directories will now come out Membership Committee reported that IPS days earlier to every other year beginning in 1995, with will top 600 members this year. Today there to fly on mid-week rates. addenda in between. are 595 members. The Treasurer fielded Questlorls The President suggested including another All Committee Reports were approved budget. A revised member's survey with every renewal since through a vote. later this week. the information has been very helpful. The existing Ad Hoc and Subcommittees A motion to U'-"I..,."-"A .. was A special publication on the history of our currently include: IPS Packets for New Plane­ profession was also suggested by Dennis tariums, Language, Planetarium Develop­ Simopoulos. It was reported that Paul Engle ment Group, Astrology, Portables, and had an organizational scrapbook which has History. The IPS Council Melenrlg c()nt:imled. not been updated for some twelve years. At Under Old Business, the Eugenides Friday and was called to order at the Richmond meeting the Historian was Foundation has once again funded the Script charged with creating a history committee Contest. The cycle is now off but can be In attendance: that would investigate the history of IPS and restored and announced in the fan President: Bill Gutsch our profession. Historian John Hare is in Planetarian. It will be made clear that all President ~'~'-~'J"'. 1\.1arming favor of reviving that committee for those scripts must be publishable. Treasurer: KelltnJOlm~;on purposes and to extend the archives. The Astronomical Society of the Pacific's Secretary: Katherine Becker Discussion ensued on ways to solicit arti­ newsletter was discussed. IPS had provided cles for The Pia netaria n and on Internet com­ funds for all members to receive the newslet­ Affiliation rep,reslentati'ves: munication. ter, but some names have been The Association John Mosley then joined the group. problem is timely delivery of the overseas (APLF) -Marc Moutin Discussion continued about The Planetarian mailing. Lonny Baker will be our go-between Association of Mexican Planetariums (AMP) - and its columns, current vacancies. and ASP has proposed that its newsletter be Ignacio Castro Pinal Articles could be borrowed from other jour­ printed in The Planetarian to solve the prob­ British Association of Planetariums nals such as the JPS journal, NST A, regional lem. Undine Concannon newsletters, etc. John Mosley reported that The Learning Technologies' Gerald European/Mediterranean Planetarium advertising revenues are healthy thanks to Mallon Award will be presented bythat ciation (EMPA) - n;r.. "n,!:'i",,, :sml0I)ouJOS Advertising Coordinator Trbovich. company during this conference. Council of German Planetariums Expanding on the question of language, The group discussed additional script con­ Hans Meinl Council discussed and conduded that micro­ tests or contests for other show pro­ Grea"t Lakes Planetarium Association phones and simultaneous translation for duction/creativity areas for the future which -Dale Smith Council was at present not feasible. could be sponsored possibly by foundations. Great Plains Planetarium Association At the 1996 conference in Japan, however, Under New Business, Jim Whitten there will be simultaneous translation of IPS announced that the off-year Council Italian Planetaria Friends Association (AADP) sessions. Meeting will be held in San Diego, California - Loris Ralnponi A motion was made and following discus­ prior to the Association of Science and Planetarium UPS) - sion, was passed, to create a Dan ZirpoH Technology Center's Meeting which is held Kawakami Award to honor those who are most innova­ from Saturday October 14 through Middle Atlanttc Planetarium (MAPS) tive in our field. October 17. He proposes our meeting for -Joyce Towne The group continued discussing the action Friday, October 13, with arrival on Thursday Nordic Planetarium Association (NPA) - necessary for the Russian and night. The hotel will be chosen with rorrTv,,,,,_ Franck Petersen Ukrainian for affiliation within ity to both the Reuben Fleet Space Theater Pacific Planetarium Association (PPA) - the reqUirements of the Standing Rules. It and ASTC. ASTC is a very expensive confer­ Baker was proposed that sponsorships are needed ence but is very worthwhile. Bill Gutsch will Planetarium Association of Canada for additional IPS members; one more for the see that ASTC registration materials are sent Tom Clarke Russian Association and two more for the to Council Members in June. Regional repre­ Rocky Mountain Planetarium Association Ukrainian. Goddard Planetarium, Dennis sentatives receive one-third of their airfare, (RMP A) -Bess Amaral Simopoulos and SWAP each offered to spon­ two nights' lodging, and lunch during the Russian Planetarium Association - Zinarda sor a member so that affiliation would be Council Meeting from IPS. Officers receive Sitkova possible now. A unanimous vote made the two-thirds of their airfare, two nights' lodg- Southeastern Planetarium Association affiliates official. GLPA offered to sponsor and lunch. A motion was passed to reim­ Hare another membership is need be. burse Council Members' expenses for one Southwestern Association of IJI~rnl'·t::llri11rn.;: The Conference Report was then present­ night's lodging during on-year meetings, (SW AP) -Donna Pierce ed by Mike Hutton. Pre-registration exceeded since this is an expense that would not nor­ Ukrainian Planetariums Association - 400 and the final count will be nearly sao. mally be incurred. It was suggested that if Alexander Lenin 52 The Planetarian Vol. Also present: Martin Ratcliffe, IPDC; Zina Marc Moutin requested time to confer with In subsequent discussion, Undine Con- Sviderskiene, Lithuania their institutions and consider their position . cannon from London, Marc Moutin from on this matter. The meeting was adjourned Paris, and Martin Ratcliffe from Pittsbur~:h The meeting was called to order by until 6:00 p.m. were asked to review their Institutions' pro­ President Bill Gutsch at 12:00 noon. At 6:00 Council re-convened with Lee Ann posals, including a review of costs. Council The proposed 1995-96 budget was present­ Hennig representing MAPS. then voted on the motion to vote now; ed on behalf of the Finance Committee, was The President reported that Phase Two of motion passed with one opposed. discussed and approved through a vote. meeting planning for 1996 in Japan had Council then voted, by customary secret The group discussed the selection process begun. He will be polling vendors for their ballot, on the choice of site for the 1998 con­ for the conference site for 1998 following the questions regarding trade show exhibiting in ference. the result of the vote was: London, surprise announcement, at the General Japan. The International House is the 14; Pittsburgh, 6; Paris, 1. the announcement Business Meeting, of a London-Paris joint Conference Center where most of the papers of the London Planetarium as the site of the meeting instead of two separate site bids. The and functions will take place. Costs of the 1998 IPS Conference win be made at the change to a joint conference proposal at this conference were also discussed evening beach party at 8:00 p.m. date is not possible according to the proposal Turning again to the matter of the 1998 Jim Manning commented on the excel­ deadline reqUirements of the By-Laws. The Conference, Bill Gutsch asked if all three of lence of all three bids, urged Paris and situation and potential ramifications and the original bid proposals were back on the Pittsburgh to consider resubmitting in the solutions were discussed at length by table for consideration by Council. all three future, and thanked all sites for their efforts. Council. The President asked if we might be site representatives indicated in the affirma­ The meeting adjourned. back to the situation of having the original tive. After discussion and determination that three bids from London, Paris, and Pitts­ a Council vote at this time was in compli­ Recorded by Katherine Becker burgh as they existed prior to the General ance with the By-Laws and Standing Rules, a Edited and Submitted by Joyce Towne Business Meeting. Undine Concannon and motion was made to vote immediately. 4/20/95

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Vol. 24, No.2, June 1995 The Planetarian 53 students are, conceptually. subject with little relevance to From the research he did for his doctoral science." / Corner dissertation, Phil developed a profile of a high school student entering an astronomy class. His composite: "He has chosen to take Jane Hastings an astronomy course because he is curious about the subject, but he does not consider it Thomas Jefferson a hobby.'" Planetarium More: I/[the student] tends to think of the astronomical world as fixed, or, at least, as 4100 West Street constant. He can state that the Earth turns Richmond, Virginia 23230 on its axis, but he is not quite sure of the entering an astronomy course. ramifications of this motion. The length of I knew PhH was after I A small group of my high school astrono­ daylight, the path of the Sun in the sky, and astronomy students a "nlrp_1tp<:,t" my students is working independently with the movement of the Sun against a back­ day of class. There were 25 questiorls. an activity in class. They are projecting a ground of stars are an misconceived. In his a "bright" group of kids; series of slides, one at a time, onto a piece of view, the sun moves in a uniform, unchang­ centage of the qm~stions white poster paper. ing way, rising in the east, being overhead at gle one of them thclugltlt Student: "Mrs. Hastings, there are no stars noon, and setting in the west. Its path is inde­ the east every day, is overhead at on this slide." pendent of geographic location or season. He day, and sets in the west JGH: "Stars have to be in that slide. It knows that the Earth orbits the Sun in a year, Take heart, fellow Planetarians! shows planets against a background of refer­ but thinks its path is highly elliptical." lot of work out there for us to do! ence stars." Amazing! He has ideas about the size of Student: "But there are no stars in this and relative distance between astronomical slide!" objects that are vastly out of proportion. Hastings, of the Mathematics and JGH: "Well, do you see the planets?" Both the Earth and Sun are thought to be Science Center of Ki<:nroO!od, Student: "Yes, but there are no stars!" about ten times their actual diameter. Solar presenting a sky show in Starlab system objects are thought to be much closer JGH: "Let me see ... oh ... what are those big graders.. fuzzy circles in your picture?" to each other than they actually are. This George: "Now look over here in the Student: "I don't know; they're not stars!" supports his view that the seasons are caused If you use your you can JGH: "Let's try focusing the slide." by the Earth's changing distance from the stars make letters of the Here Student: "Oh, there they are!" Sun and the Moon's phases are caused by the letter "A" [Sagittarius], below that you can see Never a dull moment with this bunch. I Earth's shadow. The Moon circles the Earth the letter "Oil [Corona Australis], and try to mix it up: activities, planetarium in a day while the stars appear fixed in the the right of that is a big letter "]" L:SOOq:)iU5j, sky." demonstrations, computer simulations, Student: "Oh. There's '0.].' in the More? U[The composite student believes videos, lecture, reading assignments, keeping - GDK [Sorry, I don't know who that] the entire universe is compressed. Stars a sky journal, tests, quizzes. I try to guess read it in Stadab newsletter] was can be found between the planets.. Since the what of this mix will worki I never guess school auditorium with a drama class. right. stars are fixed, traveling to another star drama class had their props stored on shelves would not change the appearance of constel­ I predicted to myself before the course in the same location as the electrical lations. Galaxies are much farther away than began that they would like activities best. I where the Starlab blower was in. the visible stars. The universe itself is static, was wrong. They don't "enjoy" doing the When one of the drama students removed a neither expanding or contracting. Gravity activities. They rush through them, anxious box full of glitter from the the does not playa major role in the structure of to put down some sort of answer, and go on busted out and fell to the floor ""1I",,,,rY,,,, with their lives. the universe .since it is not dependent on It's too bad, really, that they don't like mass and distance, but only on air pr~!SS1..lfe. inside the planetarium was ;H.l~.J.U~;Hl doing activities. It's too bad because " ... stu­ Go, on Phil! "Misconceptions in math­ hanced a "storm of stars" lit up dents must elucidate their own preconcep­ ematics limit the usefulness of and tions from the starfield .... " ...... ,,"" .., tions and then test them. Only by realizing calculations in helping to understand astro­ that their own ideas cannot explain the out­ nomical concepts. He can extrapolate comes of experiments or natural phenomena ic data, but has difficulty reading graphs and do people realize a need for a different theo­ extracting useful information or patterns. ry. Educators can then present the scientifi­ His understanding of scientific notation is One cannot teach without cally accurate concept as a powerful idea poor. Order-of-magnitude calculations are what it is that others believe to be true. that can predict and explain events," difficult for him and are often performed Gore Vidal Dr. Phil Sadler said the above, at IPS in incorrectly. He understand angles only when Cocoa Beach. Phil is with the Harvard-Smith­ they are concrete and small. More abstract It's better to know ... "'I-j";.... ,,. than to know sonian Center of Astrophysics, Harvard arguments using angular measure are not what ain 't so. Graduate School of Education, and he effective with him. He thinks a circle has invented the IIStarlab" portable planetarium. only 180 degrees of internal angle. Size-to-dis­ I found his quote easily because I keep a copy tance ratios are a foreign idea to him. He Whoever in discussion adduces /?Ht-",,,~ ..ii·,, of Phil's presentation handy. I need some solves simple algebraiC equations, but cannot uses not intellect but memory. help in figuring out where my astronomy apply proportional reasoning to real-world Leonardoda or word problems. He sees math as a separate

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