PLANETARIAN Journal of the International Planetarium Society Vol. 29, No. 2,June 2000
Articles 5 Report on Public Planetariums in Russia ...... Vadim V. Belov
Features 10 Reviews ...... April S. Whitt 14 Gibbous Gazette ...... James Hughes 16 Mobile News Network ...... Susan Reynolds Button 19 Forum: "Recharging Batteries" ...... Steve Tidey 24 International News ...... Lars Broman 30 What's New ...... Jim Manning 33 Planetechnica: Moon Phase Exhibit ...... Richard McColman 41 President's Message ...... Dale Smith 50 Jane's Corner ...... Jane Hastings North America Welcomes a Brilliant NelN Character in Star ShOlNs: Zeiss Fiber Optics
With the dawn of the new millenni improve the quality of Star Shows for um, visitors of the new planetariums in audiences of the Universarium. They are Oakland, CA and New York City will also offered with the Starmaster, the experience brilliant stars produced by medium planetarium. the Carl Zeiss Universarium fiber optics Quality at the highest level which systems, Invented by Carl Zeiss, the stars you can afford. appear in their natural tiny size, but We will be happy to inform you shine with extraordinary brilliance. about how Carl Zeiss can make sure thaI Come and see this absolute pinnacle you will experience a new experience of projections of stars. Fiber optic systems Star Shows. by Carl Zeiss are not only offered to
Seeing Is Believing! Carl Zeiss Planetarium Division In the U.S.& Canada D - 07740 lena cOlltact Pearl Reilly: INS TFlLJf'v'1ENT Telephone: + 49-3641 -64 24 06 1-800-726-8805 Fax: + 49-3641-64 30 23 Fax: 1-504-764-7665 E-mail: planetarium @zeiss.de E·mail: [email protected] Interne!: http://www.zeiss.delplanetariums The Planetarian (ISN 0090-3213) is published quarterly by the International Planetarium Society. ©2000, International Planetarium SOciety. Inc .. all rights reserved. Opinions expressed e ria by authors are personal opinions and are not necessarily the opinions of the International Plan etarium Society. its officers, or agents. Acceptance of advertisements. announcements, or other Vol. 29, No.2 material does not imply endorsement by the International Planetarium Society. its officers or agents. The Editor welcomes items for consideration for publication. Please consult (or request) June 2000 "Guidelines for Contributors" printed on page 56 in the September 1997 issue and posted the web site. The Editor reserves the right to edit any manuscript to suit this publication's needs. Executive Editor John Mosley INDEX OF E R ER Griffith Observatory 2800 E. Observatory Road Adler Planetarium ...... Los Angeles, California 90027 USA (1) 323-664-1181 daytime phone Audio Visual Imagineering ...... (1) 323-663-4323 fax Bowen Productions ...... [email protected] Calgary Science Centre ...... Advertising Coordinator Commercial Electronics ...... Sheri Barton Trbovich Conceptron ...... The Clark Foundation POBox 9007 Davis Planetarium ...... Salt Lake City, UT 84109-0007 USA East Coast Control Systems ...... (1) 801-725-2771 voice (1) 801-583-5522 fax Evans & Sutherland ...... cover [email protected] Goto Optical Manufacturing ...... Membership Learning Technologies, ...... Individual: $50 one year; $90 two years Miami Space Transit Planetarium ...... Institutional: $200 first year; $100 annual renewal Minneapolis Planetarium ...... Library Subscriptions: $36 one year Direct membership requests and changes ofaddress Minolta Corporation ...... cover to the Treasurer !Membership Chairman; see next Pangolin Laser Systems, Inc...... page for address and contact information. R. S. Automation ...... I. P. S. Job Information Service Seiler Instruments ...... cover The IPS Job Information Service has m.oved to the World Wide Web. Please check Sky-Skan, ...... the 'Jobs" page on the IPS web site: Spitz, Inc ...... http://www.ips-planetarium.org. Back Issues of Planetarian Available from: Charlene Oukes sociate di tors IPS Back Publications Repository Strasenburgh Planetarium Lars Broman Richard McColman Rochester Museum & Science Center International News Planetechnica 657 East Avenue Susan Reynolds Button Jim Manning Rochester, NY 14607 Mobile News Network What's New Index Jane G. Hastings Steve Tidey A cumulative index of major articles that have Jane's Corner Forum appeared in the Planetarian from the first issue through the current issue is available on paper James Hughes ($12 ppd) or disk ($5 ppd) from the Exec. Editor. Gibbous Gazette A shortened copy is at the Planetarian web site. Final Deadlines International Planetarium Society WWW A.A.,",.!...... ' March: January 21 June: April21 http://www.ips-planetarium.org September. July 21 December: October 21 Planetarian journal WWW page: http://www.GriffithObs.org/IPSPlanetarian.html
Vol. 29, No.2, June 2000 Planetarian President Executive Secretary Director del Planetario "Lie. Elections COmIlt1ittee ChairmaLD Dr. Dale W. Smith Lee Ann Hennig, Planetarium Felipe Rivera" Steven Mitch BGSU Planetarium Thomas Jefferson High School Centro de Convenciones y Benedum Natural Science Physics & Astronomy Dept. 6560 Braddock Road Exposiciones de Morelia Center Bowling Green State University Alexandria. Virginia 22312 USA Av. Ventura Puente Y Oglebay Park Bowling Green. OH 43403 USA (1) 703-750-8380 Camelinas Wheeling, WV 26003 USA (1) 419-372-8666 (1) 703-750-5010 fax 58070 Morelia, Mich., Mexico (1) 304-243-4034 (1) 419-372-9938 fax [email protected] +52 (43) 14-24-65 (1) 304-243-4110 fax [email protected] +52 (43) 14-84-80 fax [email protected] Treasurer/Membership Chair http://michoacan.gob.mx/ President Elect Shawn Laatsch turismo /3036/ cconvenciones. htm Awards Committee Martin Ratcliffe, Director, Arthur Storer Planetarium [email protected] Phyllis Pitluga Theaters & Media Services 600 Dares Beach Road The Adler Planetarium Exploration Place Prince Frederick, MD 20678 Historian/Photo-Archivist 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive 711 W Douglas, Suite 101 USA John Hare vu<\.-",,/,;v, IllinoiS 60605 USA Wichita, KS. U.S.A. (1) 410-535-7339 Ash Enterprises (1) 316263 3373 [email protected] 3602 23rd Avenue West (1) 316267 4545 fax Bradenton. FlOrida 34205 USA IPS 2000 Conference Chair [email protected] (1) 941-746-3522 Interna ti onal Planetarium Pierre Lacombe, Director (1) 941-750-9497 fax Past President Planetarium de Montreal [email protected] Society Thomas W. Kraupe 1000 rue Saint-Jacques O. c/o Planetarium EuroPlaNet @ ART OF SKY Montreal, QC H3C IG7 Publications Chair Museum of the Rockies Rumfordstr. 41 Canada April Whitt Montana State D-80469 Muenchen (Munich) (1) 5148724530 Fembank Science Center 600 W. Kagy Blvd. Germany (1) 5148728102 Fax 156 Heaton Park Drive NE Bozeman, Montana 59717 USA 498921031531 voice [email protected] Atlanta, Georgia 30307 USA 49 89 21031532 fax (1) 404-378-4314 ext 221 IPS Web Site: [email protected] IPS 2002 Conference Chair (1) 404-370-1336 fax http://www.ips-planetarium.org lng. Gabriel Munoz Bedolla [email protected]
Association of French-Speaking European/Mediterranean Planetarium Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society Southeastern Planetarium Assoc. Planetariums Association Don Knapp ,John Hare Agnes Acker Dennis Simopoulos The Henry W. Ray Special Experience Ash En1:e:q:>lises Planetarium Strasbourg Eugenides Planetarium Room 3602 West Unlversite Louis Pasteur Syngrou Avenue-Amfithea McDonald Elementary School Bradenton. FIOlida 34205 USA Rue de L'Observatoire Athens. Greece 666 Reeves Lane (1) 941-746-3522 6700 Strasbourg. France (30) 1-941-1181 Warminster, PA 18974 941-750-9497 fax 33-388212042 (30) 1-941-7372 fax (1) 215 441-6154 33-388212045 fax [email protected] (1) 215441-6006 fax [email protected] [email protected] Southwestern Association of Great Lakes Planetarium Assoc. tariums Assoc. of Mexican Planetariums Susan Reynolds Nordic Planetarium Association Wayne Wyrick Ignacio Castro Pinal Onondaga-Cortland-Madison Lars Broman Kirkpatrick Planetarium Museo Technologico C.F.E. B.O.C.E.S. Planetarium Broman Planetarium 200 NE 52nd St. Apartado Postal 18-816 P.O. Box 4774 Ostra Hamngatan 1 Oklahoma City. OK 73111 USA CP 11870 MeXico City. D.F. MeXico Syracuse. New York 13221 USA S-791 71 Falun. Sweden (1) 405-424-5545 work (52) 55-16-13-57 (1) 315-433-2671 (46) 2310 177 (1) 405-424-5106 fax (52) 55-16-55-20 fax (1) 315-433-1530 fax (46) 2310 137 (fax) [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Australasian Planetarium Society www2.nml.se/cosmonova/tc-wnpa.html Ukranian Planetariums Assoc. Peter Williamson. PreSident Great Plains Planetarium Assoc. Dr. Alexander P. Lenin Canberra Planetarium Jack Dunn, Coordinator Pacific Planetarium Association Republical Planetartum Hawdon Place Mueller Planetarium Jon Elvert 57/3 Krasnoamleiskaia Street P.O. Box 207 213 Morrill Hall Lane ESD Planetarium Kiev 252 005. Ukraine Dickson ACT 2602 Universi ty of Nebraska -Lincoln 2300 Leo Harris (744) 227-51-66 Lincoln. NE 68588-0375 Eugene. Oregon USA (744) 227-51-43 fax British Assoc. of Planetariums (1) 402-472-2641 (1) 541-461-8227 [email protected] Paul England (1) 402-472-8899 fax (1) 541-687-6459 fax Fort VictOria Planetarium j [email protected] [email protected] FOli Victoria CountlY Park http://www.efn.org/ -esd_plt/ Westhill Lane. Norton. Yarmouth Italian Planetaria's Friends Assoc. Plea..<)e notify the Editor oj Isle of Wight. P041 ORR. UK Loris Ramponi Mountain Planetarium changes oj IPS officers and +44 (0) 1983761555 National Archive of Planetaria c/o Centro stud! e ricerche Serafino Zani Christine Shupla affiliate representatives. Canadian Council of Science Centres via Bosca 24. CP 104 Dorrance Planetarium John Dickenson. Managing Director 25066 Lumezzane (Brescia), Italy AIizona Science Center PaCific Science Centre (39) 30 872164 600 East Washington 1100 Chestnut St. (39) 30 872545 fax Phoenix. AZ 85004 USA Vancouver. BC V6J 3J9 Canada http://www.c!tyline.it (1) 602-716-2078 604-738-7817 ex 234 [email protected] [email protected] 604-736-5665 fax [email protected] Japan Planetarium Society Russian Planetariums Association Solchi Itoh Zlnaida P. Sltkova Council of German Planetariums Suginaml Science Education Center Nizhny Novgorod Planetarium Prof. Dr. Dieter B. Herrmann 3-3-13 Shimizu. Suginami-ku. Pokhyalinsky S'Yezd 5-A Zeiss-GrossplanetaJium Berlin Tokyo 167 Japan Nizhny Novgorod, 603001. RUSSia Prenzlauer Allee 80 (81) 3-3396-4391 (7) 8312-34-21-51 D-10405 Berlin. Germany (81) 3-3396-4393 fax (7) 8312-36-20-61 fax +49-30-42184512 [email protected] [email protected] +49-30-4251252 fax
Produced at the Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles, California;
4 Planetarian The leaders of the Moscow
I i of astronomical education. .. reason the planetarium was I the firm "Twins," which is :>1J1:Ll,:U1L~CU I rying out of mass shows in Moscow. planetarium was closed in autumn of for reconstruction and practically de~;tn;.vf'lrL so the privatization of non-state property met judicial obstacles and was resisted
community. Private investment was CH.U'IJIJ'CU and today's director Igor Mikitasov (the of "Twins") hopes to get support from budget of the Moscow government. while he performs some activity of a tarium. We don't want the be converted to a nightclub. We are Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, I bare "Skymaster" ZKP-l, ZKP-2, and ZKP-3. Others everything we can to revive this ly speak English and that is why I don't take have the Simplified postwar projectors that tre of science, culture, and education. part in international conferences. Therefore I were made in workshops of the Moscow Now the provincial planetariums am especially glad to greet all of you and to planetarium and were saved without the "flagship" and are in a send you the warmest wishes from my cated and dangerous position. Russian colleagues, from the Management Moscow St. u,,+"' ...... ~..... practically everything, including Board of the Russian Planetarium Associa etariums reconstruction of buildings and moderniza tion, and from Georgy Grechko and Zina tion of techniques. They execute their edu Unfortunately there has never been a defi Sitkova. Thank you for your interest in cational mission only due to the enthusiasm nite government policy with respect to plan Russian planetariums. of their remarkable professionals. In the crisis etariums either in the USSR or in Russia. The situation of the years since 1994, fewer than Moscow planetarium carried out scientific, Planetariums in Russia thirty planetariums in Russia were left. Half methodical, and even technical consulta of the closed planetariums were located in Carl Zeiss lena delivered more than 100 tions for the planetariums of all country churches and mosques, which are now star projectors to educational institutions in despite of its financing by the Moscow pub returned to religious societies. the USSR. Some went to schools and others lic organization "Znanie". It was the 13th The RPA celebrated the 40th jubilee of went to institutions of supplementary edu planetarium in the world and it made a huge St. Petersburg planetarium in November cation. Today we know about the creation work for Cosmic era's coming. The Moscow 1999. This planetarium has 450 seats, a ' of nearly SO public planetariums in Russia; planetarium was opened in 1929 and it has diameter of 24 m, a conference hall with 200 many are still open, but some are closed. All 500 seats and a dome diameter of 26 m. seats, and holds nearly 2300 sessions annual- are very different. They include both stan dalone facilities and structured subdivisions of lyceums, schools, extracurricular facilities, museums, theatres, parks, and even an offi cers club. Their schedule is usually defined by legislation on culture or education. Their staff varies from one to twenty creative workers, including scientific employees, teachers, and lecturers. These people have different loads, duties, and salaries. Many Russian planetariums are in Europe, around Moscow, but there are a few in the Urals and Siberia. The planetariums are separated from each other by thousands of kilometers and they come under different government departments and founders; they have only some advocates and limited budgets in local government offices and the society "Znanie". There are three large planetariums with dome diameters up to 26 m; the others range from 5 to 15 m, but most of these are 8 m or larger and have 30 - 500 seats. Only eleven planetariums are located in special buildings; more often they are in annexes with SO to 1500 square meters of useful area; some have large exhibition halls and some do not. Only Georgy Grechko, Zinaida Sitkova, and friend. about half have the German star projectors
Vol. 29, No, 2, 2000 Planetarian ly. Under the new director Mikhail Belov, it complicated: two-thirds of Ukranian plane etarium is quite interesting. now refuses to operate as a night disco tariums were closed and three-fourths of rod is located at the confluence of the theque. Belorussian planetariums were closed. After a and the Oka rivers 450 km east of Moscow. meeting in Kiev at the beginning of 1998, Nizhny Novgorod is 8 centuries old. It is the third City of Russia after Moscow and St. The 1\.'1.11 .... .;)1."". representatives of planetariums of Belorussia, tion Russia, and Ukraine explained their difficult Petersburg. It is possible to HHUfiJ,U'- circumstances to their Presidents, and since from Nizhny to Having known the reality of past events, this time RP A works with the Russian Gov through Moscow and St. Petersburg (former we are pleased to note the variety of the sta ernment. The Government approved the ly Leningrad). In 1933 our city was renamed ble activity of many planetariums in Russia. project "Program of Immediate Steps for the Gorky in honor of the world known writer Each planetarium has its own history and Maintenance and Development of Russian who was born here. As a center of arms life. The Russian Planetarium Association Planetariums." This program was designed duction, the city was closed to foreign visi (RPA) was founded in March 1994 due to by the Management board of RP A with the tors after the Second World War and efforts of the staff the Nizhny Novgorod participation of Ministry of Education. The 1990 disappeared from the world maps. planetarium. The management board of RP A Program has 4 sections: Oka River flows from the west and the works in Nizhny Novgorod. The Euro 1. Legal authorization of planetarium Ri ver flows from the north. The Whole Asiatic Astronomical Society (AstrO) sup activity Russia Fair occupied a huge territory on the ports RP A in its effort to protect planetari 2. Methodology of planetarium activity low-lying shore. This territory is now rather ums and raise their level of activity. RPA 3. Repairs and new building a big exhibition complex, and the exhibition unites 30 planetariums, including 28 in 4. Technological modernization. "Russia on the Boundary of Centuries" took Russia and 2 in Ukraine. This program foresees support of the min place in September 1999. The medieval RP A renewed the organizing of annual sci istries of science and technology policy, Kremlin (fortress) is situated on the OP1POS;lte entific-practical conferences for planetarians finance, economy, culture, education, and high-lying right bank. The regional and to exchange their experiences. Conferences justice; the committee on statistics; Russian municipal governments are seated in the have been held in Nizhny Novgorod, Mos Aviacosmic Agency; Russian Cosmonautic Kremlin. The Volga River crests against the cow, Kaluga, Kiev, and Yaroslavl. The center Federation; Government of Moscow; and the Kremlin and flows southward to the Caspian of training cosmonauts was especially im vice-prime minister of the Government of Sea. The river Oka is the main "street" of the pressive. Russia; and offices of local government are city and merges here with the Volga River, The bulletin Vestnik of RPA and UPA attracted to the implementation of this pro the main "street" of Russia. (Ukraine Planetarium Association) has been gram. Executing this program in practice An expedition in 1887 of 4 steamships published since 1995, soon after the RPA meets many natural difficulties because of moved up the Volga River to observe the became affiliated with IPS. Zina Sitkova, political instability and crisis in Russia. total eclipse of the Sun. Bright director of the Nizhny Novgorod planetari from this observation led to the creation in um, is the RPA representative on the IPS Nizhny Novgorod Planetarium: 1888 of the "Nizhny Novgorod Amateurs Council. Circle (Society) of Physics and AS1trolt101ny In other countries of the former USSR, the history the first of its kind in Russia. It was V~i';UH.'L'-U position of planetariums has become more The history of the Nizhny Novgorod plan- only one year after the eclipse, with the highest permission of the Czar. This "Circle" became the second society of such status after the one in Paris and Camille Flammar ion was an honorable member of the "Circle," The Blagovechensky Monastery is of the same age as the city. It was closed after 1917 and reopened in 1994. The initiative to create the planetarium in Nizhny bly came from the aforementioned "Circle". The municipal administration chose the Alekseevskaya Church of the monastery as the site for the planetarium and after the reconstruction the building stopped being a church. Construction of the observatory and sighting platform were not foreseen, and the southern part of the sky is half-blocked by a slope. In those postwar years, it could not have been done better. The second v12metari um in the USSR was solemnly opened on the August 31, 1948. Two directors and two lecturers had already been changed by 1950 due to logical considerations. The third director was Ivan Chubarov, a subcolonel in the army re Artistic performance in the Nizhny Novgorod Planetarium. serve. Before the war he was the principal of a school, and served under Marshal Zhukov.
6 Planetarian Vol. The star projector was made in the work Gutsch, T. Kraupe, and J. Manning supported Kaplan's Memories was held in 1996 shops of Moscow Planetarium. the planetarium. The last threat to close the participation of scientists of NIRFI. The planetarium has 76 seats, a dome of 8- planetarium and it with a computer Serber is a lecturer at our p12metariurn m diameter, a Skymaster ZKP-2, and holds sounded in April of 1998 from Klimentiev, a scientist of IPF RAN (the
1400 sessions and seminars, concerts, perfor businessman and candidate for the mayor of Research Institute of 1 U)'UH ...... mances, and literary evenings serving 56,000 the city. Klimentiev won the elections, but ... sian ACaQlemv visitors annually. Several million spectators was convicted of crimes and now is being too is a lecturer and scientist of IPF RAN. have visited the Nizhny Novgorod Plane held in prison. During all these years there The fairy tale "New Year on the nl"rYH""C" tarium, and more than one hundred thou was a search for what to do about the plane was performed in 1997. Live theatre sand shows have been given. tarium since the religious building absolute at the planetarium. It included The scientists of the city at educational ly doesn't want to have the planetarium too. by artist Marina Gusarova, who is and research establishments were often in On May 30, 1998 our planetarium celebrat dent of the at vited as lecturers, including the world ed its fifty-year jubilee without officials. The time. The Saratov Culture Institute nD,'tr,,'Y"n_ known scientists. One was Samuel Kaplan president of RP A Georgy Grechko attended ed in 1999. (1921-1978), professor of Nizhny Novgorod the celebration and so did cosmonaut Vlad The Research Radiophysical Institute (NIRFI), and imir Dzhanibekov. The chairman of the most the author of dozens of scientific papers, Public Council of the Planetarium, Yakov common-room and a small theatrical including many overseas monographs on Khanin, Gumboldt prize winner, also attend An museum of astronomy "The physics of stars." Another was the aca ed. Among other guests were the Manage cosmonautics, studio, demician Vsevolod Troizky (1913-1996). He ment board of "Circle," including its 11th mon-rooms for the Internet are studied Venus and the Moon by the method president Serguey Ponomariov, pro-rector of Only this year (1999) did we of radiolocation in NIRFI from the very first Nizhny Novgorod Pedagogical Academy, that the will get its days of radioastronomy. He devoted the last and scientific secretary Svetlana Zolina. in 2000 or years of his life to debates on the theory of Later, members of the Moscow district staff "Big Bang." of "Carl Zeiss Jena" visited the planetarium. opening and that you can take part Today's scientists also support the plane conference in our sometime tarium. Among today's visitors and support future. ers are the leaders of Astra, professors of Moscow University Anatoly Zasov, venn,aav The Blagovechensky monastery reopened Boschkariov, and others. Our planetarium This paper is based on a at the in 1994 and at once began to demand return continues to work. The veterans of the Bai ence of the Nordic Planetarium Association ing of Alekseevskaya church. The planetari konur cosmodrome, cosmonauts, their sec September 5, 1999 in (Sarkanniemi), um nearly dominated the city's skyline after ond staff, the pilots-testers, engineers and it began to be illuminated at night for Rn~nd ~e deSigners of the spacecraft visited our plane and edited to present form Yeltsin's visit in 1997 to the Whole-Russia tarium more than once. A seminar called Smith. Fair, which is located just on the opposite bank of the aka river. The planetarium was fenced off by the monastery wall. This wall was restored without any coordination with the planetarium, and the plane tarium was deprived of its signboards. The fate of the planetarium was repeatedly discussed by two governors. The three-colored flag on the . top of the Dome was replaced by the Orthodox Cross with the blessing of the abbot of the monastery on the night before the Day of Indepen dence of Russia, on June 12, 1995. Public prosecutors re fused to hold anyone respon sible. Nizhny Novgorod has watched the unequal opposi tion of the planetarium and monastery for the past five years. The children, scientists, and educators of the city, Astra, and the Russian Feder ation of Cosmonautics, as well as IPS Presidents W. Nizhny Novgorod. The planetarium is located within the monastery church on the left.
Vol. 2000 Planetarian
7th magnitude. The display can easily be own planetarium software for the cost zoomed from an all sky view to one span a floppy! ning only about a quarter of a degree. Tool To paraphrase an old song, bar controls allow the user to easily advance best things in life are still free!" the time of the display in small or large in crements including sidereal or solar days. There is even an "autorotation" mode which Carole Stotts, will smoothly advance time at selectable Publishing, Inc., 95 lYH... U,.C}V rates. One particularly nice feature of Avenue, New York, 10016, StarCalc is that you can easily print out the (paperback), ISBN displayed map, or save it as a .GIF, .BMP, X,$5.95. [email protected] .WMF, or .EMF file. This makes it simple to edit the map or incorporate it into another Reviewed by Pam Eastlick, Puiton Tasi document. tarium, Mangilao, Guam. Solsticial salutations, fellow planetarians. Selecting any of the displayed stars and Ken Wilson and I are pleased to offer some right clicking on it will allow you to view in This is a small paperback marketed reviews, which we hope will be useful in formation about the star including name, children. there is no age level selecting software or hardbacks this season. Greek letter designation, HD number, coordi cated, it would be useful from about There are children's books here, some re nates, visual magnitude, spectral classifica grade through middle school. The sources for other cultures, and even a free tion, and parallax. The same process applied addresses stars (their birth and death), software package. to a solar system object will produce coordi stellations, the other """U.A..''-'', With thanks to our reviewers: Jeanne nates, distance, magnitude and apparent size. nebulae and the birth of the universe. It Bishop, Pam Eastlick, Francine Jackson, and Also available are the rising and setting times talks about the Solar and each Ken Wilson. for all displayed objects. individually. In other words, it attempts For the most part StarCalc's user interface talk about in the night is fairly intuitive. Most functions are acces most of astronomy, a tall order for StarCaZe 5.5 Freeware by: sed from the tool bar or pull down menus. pages. Alexander E. Zavalishin Perhaps the most counter-intuitive However, like a good planetarium for Windows 95, 98 & NT, ment is the location for selecting location, the main purpose of this book is to available free of charge objects, fonts and sky projections. These are interest in the subject. Several activities via the World Wide Web found under the "options" item in the the book allow children to explore at: http://www.relex.ru "parameters" drop down menu. Nonetheless, Instructions are provided for C011structmlg rzalex/main.htm it doesn't take long to learn how to use "stone that allows the child StarCalc's functions. the north-south line. There are also ,>,..-riuij-inc Reviewed by Ken Wilson, Science Museum The program loaded quickly and without on modeling the phases of the Moon, of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia, USA. n.,n''''· ... _nn.,('ht:> model of the " ... it's a fine program r and r"''''':lhlnrr We are blessed with an abundance of plan glass of water. making star maps for naked etarium computer software, especially for children's science books i'-HTAI,,,,,,,, the ubiquitous Microsoft Windows platform. eye or even binocular viewing '-'.HHIJ",-1'- subjects. Some of this software is quite expensive and that you can hand out to some is bargain priced or shareware. The best students or for public star aren't quite accurate or leave bargains of all come under the heading of This book has a few 'freeware'. One such program is Alexander E. parties," common errors. We see Zavalishin's StarCalc, currently in version 5.5. Milky Way with the caption "From out StarCalc downloads as a very modest size space, the Milky Way looks like a (728K) zipped file. The author claims that it any problems onto my computer and I've A side view shows the bulge at will even run on the lowly 486SX processor, been using the program for almost a year ter where most of the stars live." This so hardware requirements shouldn't be a without any crashes. that we've seen the concern for most users. Although StarCalc may not have a huge "from out in space." As with most programs of this type, stellar database, nor all of the 'bells and whis StarCalc will display user defined selections tles' of expensive commercial planetarium " ... like a good planetarium of the stars, planets, Sun, and Moon from any software, it's a fine program for making star location on Earth at any date and time. Con maps for naked eye or even binocular view show, the main purpose stellation lines and boundaries; lines of alti ing that you can hand out to students or use this book is to promote tude, azimuth, right ascension and declina at public star parties. It's also a great program interest in the subject ... tion; and object labels may also be selected to have on your laptop or desktop to quickly for display. The Messier objects and a selec check for Sun, Moon, or planet locationsi rise tion of the brighter NGC objects can also be and set times; etc. Since it is freeware and it displayed. By importing databases, StarCalc will fit on a single floppy, consider making will also display comets, asteroids, and other copies and handing them out to students in objects including alternative stellar databas your astronomy classes. As long as they have es. The magnitudes of displayed stars are a PC (or access to one) they can have their selectable in half magnitude steps down to
10 Planetarian passed between the top and bottom moons." obviously carefully chosen to illustrate the (which are not included) and then some Of course, the multiple exposure of the text. tures of the Sun and then photos of the Sun's Moon has nothing to do with the Moon's In the introduction, we learn the story of family of planets, moons and assorted other movement but shows the rotational move Edwin Hubble's observations of galaxies and relatives. I don't think this sequence would ment of the Earth. that the light from almost all galaxies he have offended my sense of orderly progres In the section on Mars is the statement could observe is 'red-shifted'. We learn about sion quite as much. "There is no air to keep animals and plants the Big Bang and about the many instru But orderly progressions aside, this a alive ... " yet on the opposite page are the ments that allowed us to gain our current lovely book and well worth the of statements "Martian air is always freezing knowledge of the universe. The book seeks admission. The pictures are uniformly cold" and "Strong winds pick up the red dust 'origins' and we are treated to many pictures the accompanying text is factual and very and move it about the surface." to illustrate that concept. easy to follow. It belongs in your and And in another kind of "error," in the it belongs in your stores. The book is of activity on phases of the moon, the child is "The book is proof of the the veracity of its introduction's last state ment. "There is nothing special about our urged to use "a large and small round object, veracity of its introduction's sil ver foil and a torch." An American child place in the Universe - but the view is spec might figure out to substitute aluminum foil last statement. "There is tacular." for 'silver foil' but I suspect the picture of the nothing special about our flashlight in the accompanying diagram place in the Universe - but would be her only clue not to ignite a large Keepers of the Night: Native piece of wood! the view is spectacular."" American Stories and Nocturnal There is one major error or perhaps omis Activities for Children, by sion in the book. An activity called "See the Michael]. Caduto and Joseph Sunil advocates using a pair of binoculars to The first plate shows the COBE Four-Year Bruchac, Fulcrum Publishing, project the Sun's image onto a piece of paper. Map of the 3K radiation background. The 16100 Table Mountain Park Although there is a disclaimer that reads second plate is the only non-photo in the way, Golden, Colorado 80403, "Take care when you use scissors!" (when book and it is a computer simulation of the USA, 1994, ISBN 1-55591-177-3, cutting the shield for one side of the binocu 'lumpiness' of the large scale universe. The $15.95. lars) there is no disclaimer about not sighting third plate is the Lick Galaxy Map, and from the Sun by looking through the binoculars. there we go to the Hubble Deep Field and Reviewed by Francine Jackson, University of The accompanying drawing shows the cor then on to beautiful pictures of galaxies. Rhode Island Planetarium, and Bryant Col rect set-up with the paper placed at the focal Our first picture of something in our own lege, Smithfield, Rhode Island, USA. point; but looking at the Sun with a pair of galaxy doesn't come until plate 16 when we binoculars can cause virtually instantaneous see 47 Tucanae in all its glory. Then come Many of you know that my weekends are eye damage and proper safety precautions stunning photographs of Milky Way de spen t in the art of gaming not are not spelled out. lights. We see star-forming regions and the spending). So when I mentioned to my cus Despite these objections, this book has consequences of stellar death. Then we're tomers that I had recently gone to Fox fewer glaring errors than most kid's science treated to lovely pictures of our own solar woods, most of them know I don't even fact books and it would make a fine addition system and we end with several views of know how to bet and were downright to your planetarium gift shops. Earth, site of our own origin. The last plate is shocked. (Fox woods, in rural eastern a Space Shuttle picture of a large crater in Connecticut, is one of the largest gambling Namibia. The accompanying text points out casinos in the world.) However, most of my Origins: Our Place in Hubble's that "We owe our own origins directly to the customers were also shocked to learn that, in Universe, John Gribbin and blow from space that removed the dinosaurs addition to the casino,the Mashantucket Simon Goodwin, The Over from their dominant positions ... " Pequot Indians, controllers of Foxwoods, also look Press, Peter Mayer Pub This is a beautiful book and I did not find invested $100,000,000 in a museum of their lishers, Inc. Lewis Hollow Road, a single factual error. Some things are stated cultural heritage, one of the most beautiful Woodstock, New York, 12498, as fact that are, in fact, only theories, but this examples of natural history presentation I've USA, 1997, ISBN 0-87951-813-8, is a common 'error' in books designed for the ever seen. Forget the tables - corne to south $29.95. popular market. ern New England for this. I do have a nit to pick however. The gener Reviewed by Pam Eastlick, Puiton Tasi al trend of the book is from large to small "For those of you looking for Planetarium, Mangilao, Guam. (the Universe to the Earth). It was a little dis additional - or alternative concerting to read about Supernova 1987 A in ways to present the night to Though you learn a great deal from the plate 27, the Crab Nebula in plate 28; Super accompanying text, Origins is at heart a pic nova Remnants in plate 29 and turn to plate children and their families, ture book. There are 42 single-page plates 30 to find a lovely picture of ... Jupiter? Next this book is for you." plus several stunning photographs in the come pictures of other planets (though not extensive introduction. The photos are from all of them) and then a SOHO image of the many sources including (among others) the Sun followed by the asteroid Ida and the Of course, if you do visit this museum, Hubble Space Telescope and other orbiting Giotto photograph ofComet Halley. you also have to stop in its gift shop. It was satellites including SOHO and ROSA T; the Perhaps after the supernova plates, we there r found this marvelous little book, ded Galileo spacecraft and the Anglo-Australian could have been treated to some of the pro icated to something most of us do: Telescope. They are all beautiful and were toplanet pictures from the Orion Nebula night programs. But, this was more than a
Vol. 29, No.2, June 2000 Planetarian 11 book just proclaiming the night sky as a errors. There are real photos of the Apollo 11 ideas in print. As MacDonald points out, ear source of wonder - it included activities that astronauts and spaceships, and informative lier explorers often lacked the astronomical incorporated all the senses, not just sight. Yes, and accurate drawings by Dennis Davidson. understanding and interest to learn much of course there are star legends, including The book tells about the launch of Apollo 11, about Inuit astronomy. How Grizzly Bear Climbed the Mountain, briefly reviews the history of lunar explo and The Seven Star Dancers, but we also ration, tells how the astronauts were trained "After seeing this book, you meet Chipmunk and the Owl Sisters, and and then describes the actual mission. Moth, The Fire Dancer, and learn How the Moonwalk is a small and very inexpensive may become enthusiastic Bat Came to Be. These additional myths book that belongs in every planetarium about presenting a program introduce chapters that enrich the evening bookstore. Having it available for purchase is with this or a similar title." as a time of activity, and a way of living not one of the best 'gifts' you can give your child often experienced in today's life. patrons. Want to add realism to a night program? MacDonald's scholarship is outstandll1.g. Make a (safe) campfire for your storytelling, There are extensive chapter notes, a while eating traditional foods. Learn to The Arctic Sky: Inuit Astronomy, bibliography, and a good index. A number of "hunt" animals with your ears and nose, and Star Lore, and Legend, by John chants, poems or songs are translated and make a trail you can follow back home. MacDonald, University of included. He is careful to present alternate Follow the construction techniques of a spi Toronto Press, St. Mary Street, Inuit names and note ambiguities in versions der web, and watch as fireflies attempt to Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario, by different authors. attract a mate. This book shows you to M4 Y 2W8, Canada, ISBN Since the planetarium can transport us so understand and appreciate the night as a 0888544278, 1998, $19.50 (on easily to near-North Pole latitudes, a pro truly integral part of life, both for us humans line price). gram based on the "Arctic Sky" seems feasi and all other animals that share this won ble and desirable. And such a program offers drous part of the day. Reviewed by Jeanne E. Bishop, Westlake the opportunity to present information This book instills a respect for the night, Schools Planetarium, Westlake, Ohio, USA. about another culture. Members of audi and an awareness of the magiC of the dark. It ences who have never seen the sky from the takes what we astronomy educators do, and After seeing this book, you may become far north should not only enjoy the view, shows how to incorporate sky identification enthusiastic about presenting a program but also should be intrigued with the Inuit with every other aspect of night living. For with this or a similar title. The book is filled cultural ideas. -tI those of you looking for additional - or alter with detailed information about how the native - ways to present the night to chil Inuit have interpreted and used the sky. At dren and their families, this book is for you. far northern latitudes, the sky has a long polar night, and in the summer, the stars are never seen. The moon is often Circumpolar 2000/' Moonwalk: The First Trip to the in winter. Stars, which are low and have dif Moon, Judy Donnelly, Random ferent azimuths in circumpolar or near-cir ~~~1~OnMtrOIOOOI02V House, Inc, 1540 Broadway, cumpolar circles, are the ones which are New York, NY 10036, USA, watched for calendar and other Signs. Polaris, 1989, ISBN: 0394824571, $3.99. at its high altitude, does not seem to attract The 112th annual meeting of the much interest. Reviewed by Pam Eastlick, Puiton Tasi Plan To the Inuit, stars are both people and spir Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP) etarium, Mangilao, Guam. its, and those we designate as the Big Dipper, focuses on astrobiology, the study of life CaSSiopeia, Orion, the Hyades, the Pleiades, outside the Earth. The key activity at It's hard for early baby boomers to realize, Gemini, Sirius, Procyon, Vega, Altair, and "Universe 2000," taking place in Pasa but the trips to the moon are history. We Arcturus are the ones for which stories are dena, California, July 13-19, is a three-day went, and we haven't been back since. told and which traditionally were useful in astrobiology research sympOSium, "From Anyone under the age of thirty has no per navigation and time-keeping. Myths often sonal knowledge of mankind's trips to the contain gruesome and sad occurrences, prob Dust to Life: Surviving the First Billion moon. It's tragic, and it makes it very impor ably reflecting the harsh life confronting the years of the Solar System." Meeting Mon tant to teach children about these events. Inuit. The book contains a number of myths day through Wednesday, July 17-19, this of not only stars, but also of the creation sub-conference features experts addres (with sister sun and brother moon), rain "Moonwalk is a small and sing the physical and chemical condi bows, halos, meteors, aurora, the earth and very inexpensive book that the sea. Moon-man is an important Inuit tions that scientists consider important belongs in every planetarium character. for the onset of life out of the interstellar bookstore." John MacDonald gathered the informa environment. The fee for non-ASP mem tion for his book over the past decade, in col bers, the fee is $279, with a $110 fee avail laboration with the Inuit elders of Igloolik able for students. Moonwalk is a Random House "Step into (69 0 22' N, 8r 48' W). His close involvement For details, visit www.aspsky.org/ Reading" book rated at Step 4 (Grades 2 to 4) in the collection and documentation of the that provides a great start toward learning area's oral history and traditional knowledge meeting.html, call (415) 337-1100, FAX about this event. The text is well written and over an extended period makes this the most (415) 337-5205 or e-mail meeting@aspsky. easy to understand and I found no factual important work about Inuit astronomical
12 Planetarian Vol. June 2000
to Space Telescope Science Institute and can contact Robert at 34 - 91 484 52 00 Stoke on the 10 th Anniversary of the fax: 34 - 91 484 52 25. Hubble Space Telescope. Great work John on the website and on your efforts to get the sci Did You entific images into the hands of so many, so The International Association fast and so easily. Can you get any free nomical Artists has an Internet stamps for us? members. If like to make use to Evans &: Sutherland who recently ent of a pr1ote5s10nal announced that they will supply the People's Republic of China with two advanced digital theater systems. The sys tems, valued at over $5 million, will be installed in two science centers being con structed in the cities of Shenzhen and Shanghai. Scheduled to open in 2001, the honoroftheVlJ'Au.L~A ~'UH~LUAL~A. 14 Planetarian Vol. ANSWER: That's easy. Everybody asks about our theme song which is the classic (Arabesque # l' by Claude Debussy performed by Tomita on the still available "Snowflakes Are Dancing" album (RCA) , QUESTION: At what and the week can • see 'STAR GAZER'l • ANSWER: Most TV stations air 'STAR GAZER' just before nightly sign-off. However, due to 'STAR GAZER'S' enormous popularity a number of stations find the show's 5-minute format can fit any where during the broadcast day and air the show more fre quently. Local TV listings seldom include 5-minute shows, so it's best to call the station for the broadcast schedule. QUESTION: If I can't find 'STAR GAZER' on PBS station, how can I see it ANSWER: 'STAR GAZER' is provided ~ of ~ 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 is. available fre.e. of ~. QUESTION: Is it necessary to get special permission to use ISTAR \I\I&:I'&:IKII\I TV GAZER' for astronomy dub meetings, teaching in the classroom, science museum or planetarium use? on ANSWER: No. In fact, many astronomy clubs, teachers, science museums and planetariums have been taping 'STAR GAZER' off the air and using it regularly as a way to reach their public. "... one of the few writers who can translate sophisticated disciplines into QUESTION: Is there any way I can get ISTAR GAZER' other than popular language without losing the science. " my local PBS stationl Dr. Sidney Fox, Nobel Laureate ANSWER: Yes. A month's worth of 'STAR GAZER' episodes are fed monthly to a satellite from which all PBS stations take it for their Pr••• knows how to come down from local programming. Anyone with a satellite dish is welcome to the ivory tower and make !:1CYI"l"Ir,I"II"Y'" the satellite feed. Again, no permission is required. For satellite accessible. " feed dates and times call Monday through Friday (Eastern time) Lovi, Astronomer 305-854-4244. Ask for Ms. Harper or Mr. Dishong. American Museum/Hayden Planetarium QUESTION: I am a teacher planning my curriculum and would like several ISTAR GAZER' episodes in ad "... 1never miss it. As someone totally vance, but I do not have access to a satellite dish. involved in science fiction, I'm enthralled Is there any D1b..e.r way I can obtain 'STAR GAZER'l with Jack Horkheimer's science fact. " John Nathan Turner, ANSWER: Any teacher anywhere around the world can obtain 'STAR GAZER' episodes in advance through their NASA e.O.R.E. Executive Producer, 'Dr. Who' Teachers' Resource Center. For details write: NASA e.0. R. E.; Lorain County Joint Vocational School; 15181 Route 58 South; Oberlin, OH. 44074. Or visit our website: www.jackstargazer.com QUESTION: Why does ISTAR GAlER' always say IIKeep Looking Up!" at the end of each showl Produced in cooperation with Miami Museum of Science & ANSWER: Have you ever tried star gazing looking down? Space Transit Planetarium Seen on North America and Int£"rn'":Itll"'>n USIA WorldNet, the Network, satellite, & on the world at: www.jackstargazer.com us at: An exciting series of workshops will again be presented at the IPS Conference. We hope to see you in Montreal and look forward to Susan your input. A full report will be provided in Planetarium and MST Center, the September column. Titles and presenters NY, USA) and Loris (Associa- of the scheduled workshops follow: zione Amici Dei Planetari, Centro e ricerche Serafino lani, "Inuit (Eskimo) Astronomy and Mythology" (Brescia), Brought to you by and of interest to: by Jeanne E. Bishop (Westlake Schools II Starlab Educator In Powerful Interactive Planetarium Planetarium, Westlake, Ohio, USA) by Whitt (Fernbank Systems "Introducing the ZPS Portable Planetarium" ter, Jim Memorial P'';>rltc>'CClrl1 by Juan Carlos labalgoitia (Astronomia Atlanta, GA, USA) Educativa Buenos Aires/Argentina) liThe Power ofStar Lab" by Mary Lou Whitehorne, (Learning Technologies Inc., Somerville, MA, USA) "Discovery Rooms and Science Shows with 'Magic StarLab' Three wonderful New 'LD.E.A.S.'for Museums and Plan contribute some materials, and 315-433-2671 etariums" by Loris Ramponi (Associazi looking for more! This is your last 315-432-4523 fax one Amici Dei Planetari, Centro studi e would like to wrap this up the ricerche Serafino lani, Lumezzane 2000 so send me more ideas, materials [email protected] (Brescia), Italy) and Susan Reynolds and tapes (I will also now accept Button (OCM BOCES Planetarium and sCripts if that is easier for you)! Thank you MST Center, Syracuse, NY, USA) advance for your contributions of IPS 2000 in Montreal; Workshops "Dispelling Misconceptions in the Planetarium" and/or materials. for Portables: by Philip M. Sadler, (Learning Tech nologies Inc., Sommerville, MA, USA) 5T I -"IIIII"llIIII""IIIIIrl• T orta I Many of you, in planetariums worldwide, already know how easy it is to incorporate a STARLAB into your existing plan etarium programs. Because of its versatility, portability, ease of-use, and cost-effectiveness, the STARLAB is considered an invaluable and exciting multicultural tool for education. STARLAB can be used in conjunction with a fixed plan etarium for: CD school outreach • community outreach CD training programs III hands-on education CD multicultural education \II public relations \II workshops • teacher training • special events III fundraising Visit our Website at L"",lfIIlI'll'IIiill'll8l Tledu'~~lalgiles8 lIIu:., 40 Cameron Ave., Somerville, MA Phone 800.537.8703 Oil' 617.628·1459. Fax 617·628·8606. IE-mail stall'lab@stall'lab.com 16 Planetarian Vol. We need quali ty audiotapes or written lessons of presentations given about specif Anticipate Trouble Tell students what to expect and what ic topics such as: Primary Level Program, expect of them. Keep it simple! Give the Seasons, Moon, Celestial Motion, Myth students a "job" which does ology, Planets, Navigation and so on. The charge of the planetarium classroom ImmE~Ol contributing presenter must include the at ely. One way to do this is to move stu,uenrs following information along with the tape into different seating places for no reason! (e.g. "Would you sit here or script: over there. Hmm, let me see. Oh yes I'd Source of lesson (original or adapted over here and you there. That looks we can begin./!) from ... ) Goals and Objectives Give Gentle Reminders "I know that you are excited and we will List of equipment/materials needed times for you to talk. Right now you Show a correlation with National or remember, if one person is called on to State science standards all must listen." Specialized Vocabulary Distract to a Positive Model "I really like the way that boy is Cnr)lAl1IY'HT Briefly explain sequence of lesson is ready to listen and learn." "I like the way elements raised your hand and waited to be called on./I List of Pre/Post activities that can be used with this lesson Inject Humor Keep the humor age-appropriate and The evaluation form used after the Offer Choices Build in times when students can direct lesson A signed release form say "You can come and sit by me or by your teacher." In addition, we still need some tips and ideas for how to train teachers to use a Give Praise or Compliments Be careful, do not give false or excessive portable. Also please send samples of is better to say something like: "That brochures and other advertising used to thoughtful answer./I Or, iiI like way you promote your program. used your observations to come to that sion./I "The Magic List" - Alternatives Offer Encouragement Again, keep it simple. "Good job, let's try to to Punitive Discipline: it a step further." "Let's try that again so Questions have frequently been asked, make a better observation. I will help you." during PIPS meetings, about how to handle Overlook Small Annoyances Some wiggles, giggles, and whispers disCipline in the planetarium. The follow to happen. ing list (column at right) covers many points that have aided me in my work with Deliberately Ignore Provocation Don't take it personally and if it doesn't go the public as well as with school children. away, think and then try some of Feel free to send me some of your own tips things on this list of tips! so that they too can be pass along, especial Reconsider the Situation Respond to the group's age, personality, ly to new planetarians. [One excellent arti ences, interests and level of preparation. cle is Roger Keen's "Ask the Teacher: Keep the presentation to maximize learning. Teach ing Control in the Theater -or- How to Sur the moment and "when given lemons, make vive a School Show With Your Sanity lemonade!" Intact," which appeared in the September 1992 issue of the Planetarian; it is also post Point out Natural or Logical COIlSeqlUerlCes Describe to the students the behavior you are ed at the Planetarian web site.] observing, then point out a possible solution, and consequences if the solution does not work. "You seem to be having difficulty concentrat That's All For Now: ing. Come and sit next to me. If that does not help you to focus on the lesson, you must leave I look forward to seeing many of you at the planetarium." the conference! ,::r Provide Revival Time "Time out" can be accomplished by nr,"",irlir' that students need to "notice au'''... "t-hi; ..... n- Demonstrate Interest and Caring The enthusiasm of the presenter and his/her genuine interest in science, in students' ences and in the learning process transmit professionalism which deserves respect. Vol. 29, No.2, June 2000 Planetarian again. If it's a nice day, I'll rev up the lawn from Lasse. mower and take a walk around the yard, then sit back with a cold soft drink. If the weather's bad, I push a vacuum cleaner instead. I also enjoy cooking, not the instant stuff, but from scratch. I enjoy the rewards. Outside of doing chores, I putter in the basement putting together simple radios and listening for distant stations (one night I heard a ball game from St. Louis on a crystal What an excellent set.) If there's a little thunder in the air, I sit ideas and on! I'm sure on the back porch listening to the storm. I people experience "staleness, boredom, read Steven King novels, and non-fiction over in their jobs; adventures like Into Thin Air and The Perfect think we are fortunate to work in Greetings to one and all. Storm I have season tickets to a small coffee ronment where fixing and -nr':>UA-nti-nrr Variety, so we are told, is the spice of life. house theater. I used to take pictures through problem comes somewhat .uuc<.u.uu Planetarians are more attached to their work, my telescope, but that was too close to work a problem I deal with every year. and focus more intently on it, than many so I've backed off a little. As the get and the other professions I could name. This led me When I really need to get away, I'll take a outside is warmer, a combination of to ponder how planetarians ensure that the short road trip to an Amish restaurant in spring fever, burn-out, and "staleness, deep enthusiasm evident across the profes Middlebury, the beach at South Haven, or dom, and over familiarity" creeps in and robs sion for the basic subject matter is main just take an afternoon drive that could end me of the I usually receive tained at a high level, year in, year out, with up anywhere. work. In the spring, we pack our out suffering burn-out. Do people wind Once I've cleared my mind, I'll shift gears. requests into long busy to down with a variety of activities outside of If I've been working on a planet show, I may the planetarium wearing shorts (this seems the profession? Perhaps they keep reinvent shift to a culture-based show. If I've been like a new thing every year in the north), ing themselves in the dome, which keeps working on a technical topiC, I may shift to a remarking about the beautiful weather, and their approach fresh and up to date. children's story. When any kind of show all I can think of is the stale "Oh Here is the topic: production gets to be too much, I'll spend I'm in the dark about these types of some time developing take home activities things." (Woe is me!) Other than taking vacation time, how do kids (and I) can play with. Even pausing a Let me share a few of the lessons you your batteries to prevent stale few minutes to write this little tidbit for the learned, and relearned in "rl.~.,.r>£'<,i ..... ~ ness, boredom and over with the Forum helps put things in perspective, qUiets issue. I'm writing this not subject matter into your planetmi my mind, and directs my energy to the tasks but also to remind Even umwork? that will follow. already learned these same lessons, HV~C:l.UH Eric Schreur, Planetarium Coordinator they will serve to remind you, also. Eric Schruer, detergent in hand, is the first Kalamazoo Valley Museum Lesson #1: Get and share new ideas to let us in on his approach. PO Box 4070 We're this right now! Whether Kalamazoo, MI 49003-4070 going to conferences, * * journals and newsletters, * * * sions on Dome-L, or talking with a ,-.VJllC:C',l;:.U.C, I have a reputation as a workaholic. I exchanging ideas and 1"",r'nr"", spend way too many hours under the artifi I don't really understand the question, at my batteries, gives me energy, and cial sky putting shows together, running least not personally. I don't think that I ever new light on dark times, shows, or maintaining equipment. I don't feel bored in my work. Still I need battery Lesson #2: Learn and Update have a lot of choice, because other than run recharging from time to time, but the reason We are fortunate to work in a mat- ning weekend shows I've been the whole is that I have too many interesting things to ter which is not stale. New discoveries are staff for the last 15 years. If I don't do it, it do and thus simply get overworked. There being made all of the time, and with each won't get done. might be a good reason for both circum new discovery seems to come two new mys- So how do I maintain the energy reserves stances: I have simultaneously two quite dif teries. these to keep going when the stress builds up? ferent jobs, between which I share my time. programs. What's recharging my batteries? You'd never One is being managing director of Tekno Lesson #3: Balance believe it! land, Falun Science Center, and Stella Nova This is a tough one for me. I've learned to I do mindless household chores that fill up Planetarium. The other is being a university be careful not to over-commit. Sometimes time, but they don't require mental strain. professor and a solar scientist. Most people saying "No" to a cool new project or idea is It's kind of a Zen thing. I gather the laundry have one (major) job and one (major) hobby. actually better for me and the serve. together each Saturday and stuff it in the For me, both my jobs are my hobbies, and When the stress of looming deadlines causes machine with a cup of detergent. Half an vice versa. So when the first Teknoland sea the programs to get in the way of hqur later I move it to the dryer, then I put son is over, in October, I would like to go to "work" done, it takes some of the fun out of the warm, finished wash away. (My wife, Denver and do some solar energy research the real work. I also find that lH Vol. 2000 Planetarian perspective. 3. Attending conventions. If you get one Honestly, I haven't had the Lesson #4: Step Back or two good ideas from a planetarium con boredom and staleness yet. time It also helps me to step back, identify our vention, then it has been worth it. Attending to feel weary, something new crops mission, examine the services we provide, these recharges your batteries perhaps better take my attention. New sound system, and look for ways to improve. Sometimes, by than anything, although there is a down vated planetarium projector and dojng this we even get a "charge" out of the side. Hearing all the great things everybody ting a new grant, or improving my aU1[Onna realization of what we are accomplishing. else is doing and you're not can be depress tion seem to divert my attention. Lesson #5: Slow Down ing. Being chief cook and bottle washer Sometimes I get so busy that I forget to So, there you have it. I did think of anoth facility as the full time resource notice the rewards and exuberant energy er. If you had all the time and money you technician, maintenance guy, staring me in the face. If you are a technician needed and could do what you wanted, that coordinator, occupies my time away or administrator that doesn't work directly would be refreshing! strict astronomy. That could be or with the audience, sit in on a show every Gary Tomlinson depending on what the diversions consist once in a while. By slowing down enough to Chaffee Planetarium Sometimes it is good to get away look at and listen to my audience, their Public Museum of Grand Rapids full load of astronomy for a while and expressions of awe and wonder, their excla 272 Pearl NW on other pursuits. I'm interested in Civil War mations of "ooohs" and "aaahs" and their Grand Rapids Michigan 49504 history, which is almost expected since energy, interest and enthusiasm become halfway between the Gettysburg and contagious. * * tam battlefields. Recently, I have spent spare I have to remind myself that each pro time tracing the involvement of my great gram provides the opportunity to touch peo No matter how much you love astrono great-grandfather from his enlistment ples' lives - make them think, wonder, and my, too much of anything -.even something death at the Wilderness. This is to ask questions a bou t the universe around good - isn't always a good thing! Sometimes adapt David Duchon's planetarium program them! When I can slow down and enjoy each you have to separate yourself from your about the Skies of the Civil War for use program, even the over-exuberance of a wild work, even for a short time. I really hate to my facility. group can become humorous rather than admit, but after a day full of school shows All in all, I believe that the best way for me annoying. there are times when I think "If I see the Big to recharge is to do planetarium lessons and Good luck to you in this battle. And I look Dipper one more time, I'll loose it!/I There are programming on my outside interests, forward to getting new ideas from the other two things I do to cope with this. One is to which incorporate astronomy concepts into responses to this important topic. read more astronomy! One of the things I the topiCS. interests and enthusiasm Geoff Holt love about this field (though textbook writ show by the lesson selections by teachers. Planetarium Director ers may hate it) is that it is always changing. Follow the Drinking Gourd, adapted from Stu Madison Metro. School Dist. Planetarium There's always another article, a recent dis Chapman's lesson, is the most and & Observatory covery, or maybe a new picture on the Web most selected one of the year, and Madison, Wisconsin that make me go, "Wow!" I get the same feel grates astronomy with social studies. ing at GLPA conferences! I also teach physics Rodney Martin at our college and, let's face it, year after year, Washington Co. Planetarium & a "force is a force ... of course, of course." Not Science Center There are only three ways I can think of to so with astronomy. Now there are days 823 Commonwealth Avenue keep my interaction with an audience fresh. where I don't want to read anything either. Hagerstown,I\I1::l,rlill::l7l,rl Actually, there is a fourth but drastically On these days, I keep an electric guitar changing your presentation daily is a lot of stashed in the planetarium gallery. Though I * * work. Besides, it took me years to prefect my don't plug it in, sometimes you just need to "performance." The three ways are: take it and jam! My colleagues know that if During the course of the season, I ... ",r' h " rITe> 1. Having a good group. In a live show, if the guitar is by my desk, it's not all that good my batteries by trying to relax. Relax? the audience responds appropriately my per ofaday! Hmmm. What does that mean? Here are a formance is much better. As a very wise per One last observation to note. When I start few ways that work for me. son once said (actually it was my boss, Dave ed doing astronomy for a living just shy of a Occasionally, after a long hard under DeBruyn), "Every audience deserves the best decade ago, I found I really needed another the dome, I like pondering the ques- show we have to offer." One would hope hobby, besides astronomy, for the little free tions" wi th friends over a few Ii ters that my every interaction is the best, but in time that comes along. I chose model rail Margaritas or pitchers of brown pop. You'd reality the audience does make a tremendous roading. The reason I am mentioning this is, I be amazed how that can be both JLH.HU.H.lLLHI". difference. was amazed to find the number of train and relaxing. 2. Having more than one staff member. enthusiasts in GLP A! It's like a secret society Sometimes, in May, when on a rare occa Not having to do every show, and having of railroad engineers! Now I'm wondering, sion the Sun is shining (I live in N. Indiana time to devote to other creative endeavors, just how widespread is this trend! Do astron where the Sun is an exciting rumor) I helps make the job more enjoyable and omy and trains go together? take off ("sick day") and do some Sun obser therefore more fresh. Inter-office conversa Dave Leake vations on a nearby manicured green pas tions (although we don't do it nearly often William M. Staerkel Planetarium ture. I have about 14 instruments in enough) can be a great rejuvenator. Discus Parkland College that is usually attached to a two- sing how to accomplish, perform and/or 2400 North Bradley Avenue wheeled cart. (Depends on whether I walk or achieve certain events with professional col Champaign, Illinois 61821 ride). leagues is uplifting. If you work in a one-per Here I study the ever changing sun son operation, see # 3 below. * * (this implies that I'm on the pasture for 20 Planetarian Vol. length of time) as well as the effects of UV that I was lucky enough to have grown up in Considering the above, and the radiation on my skin. A lesson on F=ma and the profession at the right time. I remember in this day and age, astronomy is centripetal/centrifugal force occurs once in watching Tellstar and Echo move across the making new discoveries, boredom awhile when I try to engage a round white sky, the television launches of Mercury, thing that I don't have to worry about. As pellet with one of the instruments in the Gemini, and Apollo, and the unfortunate matter of fact, I can honestly say that bag. Sometimes Newton's First Law is appli end of the Challenger. Kids, and most of the 27 years of teaching in the nl ~1""'C'+""·;l1·.-n cable. II An object at rest will remain ... " You young teachers today, only read about those I have never been bored. know the rest. things in books, the same way that they read Steven LJ Russo As you can see, it's a relaxing afternoon about George Washington. But I lived Plainedge Planetarium spent in scientific inquiry. through the birth of the space age, and re Massapequa, New York Another thing. It's hard to relax when you live those wonderful feelings each time I have family responsibilities. I have a nine watch The Right Stuff, Apollo 13, October Sky, * * year old daughter who is a Britney Spears etc. wannabe, a precocious five year old son, and I also believe that the people you work What can I do to restore the energy and a wife who thinks the planetarium is my with, and the area where your planetarium is incorporate new ideas back into my pro mistress. So my chances of relaxing in the located, has a lot to do with it. gram, after a year of teaching astronomy in evening are about as good as my chances of In my school, it is basic policy to do all the classroom and in the making the first crew to land on Mars. subjects as "interdisciplinary", and work That's a tall order, and one with which I However, If I'm still standing when every with other teachers and subject areas. My have been challenged for a lot than one goes to bed I might steal away a few planetarium lessons revolve around Astron care to admit. There are several methods moments by reading: John Grisham novels, omy, Geology, Meteorology, Mathematics, we've practiced over the years that biographies, Civil War books, and sports Social Studies, and even Music. Each year, the proven useful for me. stuff. other subject teachers and I get together to a) Review notes and ideas garnered My final technique for relaxing. Everyday introduce new lessons to the students. I am conferences, lectures, workshops and around noon (my schedule permitting) also fortunate that I have a great core of sci those that I find worthy of trying out in my instead of lunch I run (we need to define ence teachers to work with. We feed off of own venue. run) two miles on a nearby track (We're for each other's enthusiasm and excitement. b) Alter an activity or change the order of tunate to have an outdoor and indoor track I am extremely lucky to be in a planetari the presentation to force a new to facility). I've been doing this for about 30 um located on Long Island, which also keeps the topic. years, and for me it's a great way to get re my interest in the skies at a high level. Long c) Make an effort to visit planetaria when energized for the remainder of the day. Island IS the "Cradle of Aviation". It is from ever I'm traveling. It's great to see what So if you need to get a grip, or regrip, or here that Charles Lindbergh made his his someone else is doing and how restart, try one or all of the above or call me toric flight, and where the first air mail origi it. at 1-800-RECHARGE. nated from. More astronauts are from Long d) Listen to questions that students/teach Did I mention a massage? I think I'll save Island (10) than any other place in the coun ers ask, and then consider several different that for another article. try. And only five miles from my planetari approaches to answering the Art Klinger um, is Grumman, where all of the LEMs were Different learning styles demand different P-H-M Planetarium designed and built. Many of my teacher's approaches, and experience is the best teach Bittersweet Elementary School parents, and student's relatives built, and er. 55860 Bittersweet Road signed their names on the footpads of the e) Walking is therapy for me. It is my time Mishawaka, Indiana 46545 LMs that now sit on the Moon. Although the to think and create. I love walking at Apollo 13 movie shows the folks at Kennedy especially clear nights. That quiet time Space Center and Johnson Space Center trou allows me to reflect on a problem, consider a bleshooting the mission, it was the folks at new idea, or just enjoy the solitude a four A very interesting and timely topic. Just Grumman here on Long Island that solved mile walk can provide. last week, one of my sixth grade kids said to the problems to get the astronauts home. f) Summer is my time for calnplin!!,leclipse me during our usual question and answer One of the original LMs is still here on the chasing/family outings. Astronomy is a fami period: "Mr. Russo; you always seem so excit Island. Along with the LMs, the tail, wings, ly hobby as well as an occupation, so my son ed when teaching us about space. Don't you landing navigation system, and audio distri has been immersed in the topiC since birth. ever get bored with it?" My response, with bution systems of all of the Space Shuttles Nature's sky is the inspiration for our out hesitation was /I No way''' were built here. And Neil Armstrong, our sion - nothing restores your enthusiasm, pas Quite frankly, I don't think that anyone first man on the Moon, is CEO of a Long sion and love of astronomy better than who teaches in a planetarium decided to do Island-based defense electronics company. experiencing the real thing. this on a whim one morning. I think that, for All of these things add up to the fact that Lee Ann A. the most part, planetarium people have had Long Island is still a community that is space Planetari um the hobby of astronomy since childhood, oriented, and because of that, there is a great Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and most people don't grow out of hobbies. deal of interest in my school system con +ACY- In my case, my first telescope was an A. C. cerning the planetarium. This interest rubs 6560 Braddock Road Gilbert, back when I was 5 years old, accom off on me, and keeps my creative juices flow Alexandria, 22312 panied by a trip to the Hayden in NYC. So I ing, and even though I have the entire sum have been involved with astronomy for 40 mer off, I still go in several times and meet * * * years now; as a profession for 27 years. with the other science teachers to come up One of the reasons that I don't get bored is with new lessons. Vol. 29, No.2, June 2000 Planetarian spring, my wife and I tion, and having it be effective and well re It is a great tribute to plametarian,s, cuss our vacation plans for the sum ceived stimulates me to do more, to invest matter we teach, that mer, and every spring she knows that our more creativity and try again and to above center round pn:uo~;;or:mH;:S plans inevitably will include a destination improve upon what I so much like to do best allow to feel don't ne,cessaril involving a planetarium conference or relate despite the daily frustrations. I am '-'-'_U'-_LUA have to do stuff away from the to an astronomical event, such as a solar the only full-time staff person here and so it's their commitment level from tlaJgging. eclipse. Why these two events always seem important to maintain a freshness (sanity), excitement of the to occur in sequence and the summer keep my job challenging and make it reward months (or where there's a summer), some ing. It's hard work keeping your "batteries" how seem more than a coincidence to her. charged (especially working alone most of Of course, no matter when or where these the time), avoiding complacency and bore events occur, personally provide me dom, or even thoughts of leaving this field to with a sense of job renewal. pursue something else. What I do to prevent Attending conferences provide me with on-the-job staleness and renew my interest is an opportunity for verbal contact and inter almost as important as my job itself. action with colleagues, a chance to either some time to surf the Internet to observe or participate in our rapidly chang compare what other planetariums are doing, ing field, learn to integrate other teaching or find out what new products planetarium methods or presentation skills, adopt new vendors offer are both valuable, although technologies, or return to simpler technolo less intensive, sources for me to thwart job gies All have a very energizing effect. (I wish I staleness. My job is certainly never repetitive, contributions will be had time, however, to read through those and I enjoy the daily challenges of finding ceived. Don't worry if your extra pounds of conference materials I bring creative solutions. cover a few lines, send them to me '>-n-",,,,,>,, home.) And those too few minutes it takes to So, while on vacation I do enjoy after The deadline 18. observe a total solar eclipse provide me with noons on the beach and evening in the cafes, Until then, a safe and all months of inspiration, and rekindle my pas I always feel more charged up and to of you who will be sion for what I do. My childhood fascination go after returning home from a good work ence in Montreal. for astronomy was ignited by observing a related vacation. I'm looking forward this partial solar eclipse, which then led to visit year to IPS in Montreal, and next summer to ing a planetarium and ultimately a career in the eclipse in Africa! this field. Resurrecting this adolescent fasci Jon Elvert nation always is a reminder of why I enjoy Director, Lane my work. E.SD. Planetarium Although attending conferences and trav Lane Education eling to observe an eclipse are two sources of Service District work-related inspiration for me, I am also 2300 Leo Harris regularly energized by the feedback I receive Parkway from daily show performances. Continuous, Eugene, Oregon positive customer feedback is very impor 97401 tant in rekindling my job interest. Selling a good product, in this case astronomy educa- * * continued forward from page 50) stead of a box in the corner, and maybe people who see it will want to borrow it." The semester was almost over. One day I realized that the newly assembled telescope had not returned to me. I looked up Billy's schedule, found him in study hall, and asked him about it. "Oh," he said; "it's in the car. I keep forgetting about it. We can go get it now, if you want to." "Yes," I said. We went out to the street. We walked around to the trunk of the car. He opened it. As I looked inside, I almost gasped audibly, but was able to look undisturbed. The telescope was back in the box! Billy had finished the project, and then disassembled it. Then I realized: I had never told him to bring it back assembled! He had figured he needed to return it the way he found it. The telescope box is back in the corner. I could kick myself for not mentioning that the telescope could be returned assembled. I was outfoxed on this one. As a matter of fact, now that I think of it, I may have really been outfoxed. Is it possible that the telescope never left the box at all? i~ 22 Planetarian Vol. Lasershow Designer The next-generation system for the new millennium f your planetarium is interested in endings. This is perfect for depicting unconditional 90-day money-back I laser shows, then you probably comets and other wispy phenomena. guarantee. know about our Lascrshow Designer. With more colors and fa s ter 50% off for LO clients It's the world's most popul 24 Planetarian Vol. are enrolled in Triton College's Mars Millen 20 January that was attended by over 400 Minneapolis Planetarium. The MinnealJolis nium Project, which runs through the school people, including two television stations and Planetarium will present two brand year. The Illinois State University Planetar several newspaper reporters. They debuted shows which also will be available as showk ium in Normal has shown the Minneapolis their in-house produced show Planet its: Aurora and Honey, I Shrunk Planetarium's production The X-tra Terres Alignment 2000! in February. In addition, System. trial Files. Every Saturday morning through 1 they hosted special planet observing events April at the Lakeview Museum Planetarium in March as well as a four-week course enti in Peoria, a different school show was pre tled Astronomy for Inquiring Minds. sented for public audiences, with a hands-on School shows at the Peter F. Hurst Plan The updated list of Italian Planetaria activity preceding each show. A Girl Scout etarium in Jackson feature the solar system tains 88 projectors from the small Goto Badge Day was held in March for Cadets and and the New Jersey State Planetarium's to the big Zeiss IV of Milan Planetarium Seniors. The girls spent the day at the plane Follow the Drinking Gourd The Delta College last May celebrated 70 years since the foun- tarium, and earned their astronomy badge Planetarium in Bay City opened their roof dation and where a new star will by the end of the session. top observation deck to the public for the 20 installed. The second largest Italian I-HUU"-"U... A The end of 1999 was a successful time for January eclipse. Even though there were um will be opened in Rome next Strickler Planetarium in Bourbonnais. The some clouds, they were able to see the event year. The news about the second Italian Halloween weekend saw the return of The along with the 200 people that showed up, dome were released by Diego Azzaro, Haunted Planetarium. This show is an impro two TV stations, and a radio station that man of the local astronomical association vised show that combines fun music, stories, broadcasted live from their lobby. In March, Astris during the latest national of and special effects that is produced and pre the Chaffee Planetarium in Grand Rapids re Italian Astronomical Society. sented by the university students that work ran Our Restless Planet, the weather show Another planetarium has star for the planetarium. Record attendance they produced last year. In June, about fif projector. Professor D'Urso COlmnt1UJrucat(~s helped to confirm that entertainment is just teen local schools will display exhibits that the old GaWeo projector under the six as important as the educational program and/or performances at the Public Museum meter dome of Nautical Technical Institute ming. The William M. Staerkel Planetarium as part of the Mars Millennium Project. This of Riposto (near Catania, Sicily) has been at Parkland College in Champaign recently will be held in conjunction with a local replaced by a Gambato model, built the presented a new, original light show based event entitled Festival of the Arts, a three-day most active Italian craftsman in the on the music of The Who. They also did two festival that is one of the largest all-volun tarium field. During the last special public programs this spring, one on teer festivals in the U.S. February, 1200 students visited the f-ILUH'-ILU.U the solar maximum and the other on the Ohio: Ohio's oldest and smallest perma um where 2300 stars are projected. May planetary conjunction. In March, they nent planetarium turns 50 this year. The Serafino Zani Astronomical lIb,ca,'"''+-'''>"''' assisted the local scouts with the astronomy golden birthday festivities for the Spitz A-l interested in receiving children's astronomi merit badge. In April, they partnered with (this is no misprint) at Cincinnati's Wolff cal drawings from different countries their local astronomical society for National Planetarium ran from 6 to 9 April. Local ama by students that have visited pl,metaI'iUlTIS; Astronomy Day, while in May, they part teur astronomers provided some sidewalk preferably, but not necessary, about a nered with their local children's museum for viewing (solar and otherwise) at various from a lesson/show under the dome. an Space Day activities. times during the week. This facility seats 20 alternative, the Observatory is also interested Indiana; The P-H-M Planetarium & Space people under its 12-foot dome and offers in drawings about Comet Hale-Bopp, solar or Museum in Mishawaka has added auto public shows at least twice monthly. The lunar eclipses, meteor showers, or other grC:lphed pictures of Charles Lindbergh and main winter show at Youngstown's Ward phenomena studied by the schools. the Amelia Earhart to their collection. The plan Beecher Planetarium was Strange New drawings will be collected in a permanent etarium has adopted Indiana Astronaut Jerry T,;Vorlds, a creative in-house production that exhibition on line (on the science pages of Ross to be featured in their museum. Upon details the search for extra-solar planets. The www.cityline.it. The first have completion of his next flight, Astronaut Ross Bowling Green Planetarium welcomed the come from Slovakia, Spain, and United States will hold the record of the most flown astro new year with Starfest 2000, which featured and many others from the Italian national naut. The Muncie Community Schools' encore runs of many of its public shows contests of children's astronomical rI,...,,,,i,n,,.,, Planetarium held a week-long renovation since opening in 1984. A dozen shows ran for and celebration opening. Recent renovations one week each and another fifteen shows included installation of seats and carpeting. ran for just one night apiece. Director Dale Association NASA scientists and researchers from the Smith began the year with three days in the At the end of last spring, Kosmorama Stardust Mission, Dr. Steven Jones and Aimee 24-hour arctic darkness of Spitsbergen in Space Theater in BorWnge, Sweden pn~sell1ted Whalen, recently visited students in 16 early January and then escaped the winter a new program entitled Journey into Muncie Schools, presented a free public pre weather for a few days in February as a guest written and produced by the plametariUlTI sentation, and held a workshop for teachers of T. C. Samaranayaka, director of the plane staff. This program is mainly in tended for discussing the Stardust Mission. NASA has tarium in Colombo, Sri Lanka. the general audience. Before summer this donated a permanent display of the Stardust Wisconsin/Minnesota: A new show, year, an English version of the program will Spacecraft and Aerogel to the MCS Plane Journey to the Stars, has been produced by be produced. The educational live shows - tarium. the Dave, Bob and Bob Company. Their sur The Solar System and Secrets of Heaven can Michigan: As spring eases into summer, names of DeRemer, Allen and Bonadurer now be continually updated with new slides, the Kalamazoo Valley Museum began show wrote and produced this 29-minute opus for special effects, and video sequences, thanks ing to the locally produced show Terri & Her any planetarium that needs the all-encom to a new digital equipment recently installed Telescope. Cranbrook Institute of Science in passing show about the universe for grades 6 in the theater. In several stages of Bloomfield Hills hosted an Eclipse Event on and up. The show will be sold through the show production the new also means a considerable simplification. Within Vol. No.2, June 2000 Planetarian the next few months a new fabric in the the time basis. The structure of the sympOSium ater seats will be installed. This is a good sign (and the opportunities for participating) will of frequent use! A new theater entrance is be a little bit different from typical scientific under planning and will hopefully be ready meetings. There will be almost no traditional before the end of May. lectures at the symposium. Instead, the pro The great astronomical event of 1999 - the gram will consists of panels with educators total solar eclipse on11 August - was success from around the country (with opportuni fully observed and photographed by an ties for audience partiCipation), hands-on expedition from Kosmarama Space Theater workshops on innovative techniques and from outside a small village on the center approaches, small discussion groups, and line near Lake Balaton, Hungary. Slides from contributed papers in written form (made the eclipse are presented in one of their live available as handouts to all meeting partiCi shows. A public lecture has also been given pants). with videos and slides from the event. There The following panels have been scheduled are ongOing plans for observing the next during the meeting: total solar eclipse on 21 June 21, 2001, from a 1. How to Teach 100 Students and Still Get location in Zambia or Zimbabwe. Out of Lecture Mode. to Dickson, Tennessee. At the time of writing, the American ASH 2. Teaching via the Internet/Distance Meanwhile, Gutsch will travel to projector for Stella Nova Planetarium at Tek Learning: Boon or Boondoggle. Japan in to work with Minolta noland in Falun, Sweden has just been de 3. Effective Lab Experiences on a Limited Japanese version of another of his livered. The Planetarium will show Per Budget. a possible joint effort on a new program for Broman's computerized version of En resa i 4. Textbooks of the Future: How Will the children based on television rymden (A travel in space) during the sum New Kinds of Students & New Technologies He is also wClrkimlI mer. Latest astronomical addition to Tekno Change Astronomy Textbooks and Teach the Coca Cola land is Walking on the moon, a true the ing. whole-body-on experiment inspired by a 5. Responding Effectively to Creationism, similar exhibit at Clore Garden of Science in Astrology, UFOs, and Other Pseudo-Sciences. animations and may have StarTrek's Rehovot, Israel. Teknoland's first season is 13 6. Interdisciplinary Approaches (from Ryan (Seven of Nine) as the narrator. May - 8 September 2000 (closing date hap Astrobiology to Science Fiction): Special he also continues to do lots of pens to be Lars Broman's sixtieth birthday - Courses and Topics within the General work for science centers and strange coincidence!?). Course. nies from San Francisco to Bristol ,-'-"'t>"C!H .... ' About the planetarium in Tartu, Estonia: 7. What Practical Advice Does Research and Beijing to Calcutta. As a result, the ZKP-2 will not put up this year because into Teaching and Learning Have for the that he expects to soon have '-UVlAl>'.U of financial problems, but the Center has Average College Astronomy Instructor? quent miles to open a branch obtained a portable Starlab planetarium Hands-on workshops will explore and Mars. from Carl Zeiss in Jena, Germany. At present demonstrate new approaches to forming col they use their old demo set. The new one laborative groups in lecture classes, testing will be delayed due to problems related to your students in non-traditional ways, doing the changed currency rate between US and effective demonstrations, clarifying your Germany. goals in teaching the course and de~)ig]1inlg the curriculum to fit those goals, and many other topics. For more information about the entire program and how to contribute, see Announcing The Cosmos in the Class the web site http://www.aspsky.org/ room: A National Symposium on Teaching meetings/2000hedsymposium.html, or Astronomy for non-science majors on 17-19 request a registration package by serlmng July 2000 in Pasadena Convention Center, your name and postal mailing address by e planetarmrn, interactive exhibits, Pasadena, California as part of the 112th mail to [email protected], by fax to +1-415- ''''r,ITQ_rr,,'rn'''r theater, in the Reno area. The Annual Meeting of the Astronomical Society 337-5205, or by mail to 2000 Education is conducted of the Pacific (co-sponsored by the American posium, A.S.P., 390 Ashton Ave., San Fran Associates, a firm familiar to many Astronomical Society). Designed for every cisco, CA 94112, USA. (Be sure to specify your planetarilJm cOInrrmnlity The next one who teaches introductory astronomy, interest in the Education Symposium). meets in Reno, we may have some the symposium will focus on ways to im A limited number of scholarships are things to show the particilpants. prove teaching, to involve students more available to those who are teaching or are The Reuben H. Fleet Science effectively, and to put astronomy in a wider planning to teach in institutions without context. Participants will range from veteran extensive research programs in astronomy instructors (grumbling about how much bet and who cannot cover their expenses from tor. In addition, a audio """,rT,..."rI~ ter students were in the old days) to nervous any other source. See the web site for more an all format (Panasonic graduate students about to teach their first information about how to apply. round sound mixer, EMU & MAC solo course. The organizers especiall y hope Bill Gutsch reports that Where in the ly c0I11plete. to involve those teaching astronomy in Universe is Carmen Sandiego? opened in The Morrison Planetarium small without extensive astronomy Japanese at the Suginami Science Center in tered the age research programs, and colleagues in other Tokyo on 25 March. (The conversion of the Darwin sciences who teach astronomy on a part- show to Japanese was a jOint effort of Great 26 Planetarian works as well. A third Summer Series in more paper about other Russian ...... 1~1 ...... ""+"7·;. cludes astronomy & sky lore presented urns. local storytellers. sUy recently added an observatory to Eileen Starr, Valley City State University their operations. The new observatory con Planetarium, has field tested her Navigating tains numerous telescopes including a 98 em with Lewis & Clark show, which is 29 min (25 inch) Dobsonian Details can be utes and contains 210 slides for US $499. found at http://physics.weber.edu/planet/ More information about this will be given at observatory.html. the IPS Montreal conference. etari Ulm. Museum of the Roc:.kiE~S. Bozleman, MT. The Taylor Plane tarium has two new grant-funded shows in the works. Here Comes the Sun is funded by the NASA EPSCoR program. The first one, a Air Force AaldeJmy Colorado co. full-length feature show written by director Mickey Schmidt is busy installing The Ex James Manning opened in late With plorers show slated to open this summer as one of the world's foremost solar research regional Kazan. their public offering from May to September. centers located right across the street at There were as All their programs are still free of charge and Montana State University, this program the Russian showtimes are Tuesdays through Friday 1:00, highlights the school's latest solar research Planetaria 19 March. 2:00 and 3:00, Memorial Day through Labor including never-be fore-seen photography Day. The planetarium may be modifying the and animations from the orbiting SOHO schedule listed above if, the funding and observatory. Another program, called Time materials arrive to remodel the planetarium Stalkers, is slated to open in late June, and is were a lot of interviews of I.JA'"" ... '--L ...... U.UL.:> interior. They will be getting a new handi funded by the Montana Space Grant Con local mass media. AU were interested in capped accessible restroom, a display case in sortium. This production will exam date of of the first the lobby, new carpet and seats in the the ine the astronomical basis for tinlel<:eeloing. ater. The seats (by American Seating) have Both shows will become available for pur ium UUJ.IUIUlo:. been modified according to a chase to the planetarilllm cornrr:mnity Doug Glosson and Schmidt. will fea ture an LED lighted tablet arm for note tak ing in the dark. The seats will also be wired for future expansion of the interactive sys The on 31 December tem. Work is scheduled some time this sum made a strong effect on Russian mer with completion prior to Cadet classes which yet didn't sum up results of December starting in late August. elections to Duma. Putin, who fulfilled the Hansen of duties, became a favorite au·torna1:icclll Salt Lake UT. At Hansen Planetarium, became the new Russian .,.., ... ,,,,,,,1£w,'" the production of two shows has just been The first weeks winter school nautics Federation Presidium, made completed, and two more are in production. - are as tion to make to the stars in the The Simple Gifts ofChristmas is a multi-media all Russian planet:ariumls. car company GAZ on entertainment show, designed to present a lyoverfilled. would lead to the strong seasonal message and to entertain with the most popular of Christmas sounds. Parts of this show are being rebuilt in order to eliminate the local innuendo, so that it tngs on cosmonautics, conference devoted can be sold to other regions. 20th Century Giordano Bruno, and the of the Universe is a show written to deliver a 20th Moscow On these he;arilt1gS century wrap up on how we our Moscow city, the DumaIs universe, giving a historical look at the peo criticism sounded concerrlinlQ ple and the discoveries over the past few cen trade by stars in .,..,1.",....""-1-", ... ·;..,,..,,,,, turies. agreement was achieved on tOlln Vol. 2000 Planetarian within the SEPA organization contributed to .escI8.net/PLANET /texas2000.htm. The regis either the project including original artwork by tration fee is set to US $80, late registration Edwin Faughn, artist in residence at after 30 June will be $100. Pre-Conference Memphis' Pink Palace Planetarium, and com trip will be hosted by Dr. Carolyn Sumners, stat UU'UTlna poser extrordinaire Jonn Serrie, who created Burke Baker Planetarium in Houston, with a or school and portable an original music score for the 10 minute visit to NASA. SWAP President Barbara Baber at Garland LS.D. Planetarium (and mini-show. The show will be presented to will chair the Post-Conference Tour to Park Planetarium if needed), return to the membership at the opening reception of Dinosaur Valley State Park and Fossil Rim dinner at West End with The Local this year's SEPA Conference on 20 June at Wildlife Center. The following organizations tour guides. the SciWorks Planetarium in Winston Salem. (plus vendors) will have a display area: Saturday, 7 Oct.: breakfast on bus Negotiations are continuing with IPS to Lockheed-Martin, National Space Society, hotel to day in Corsciana lPLan(~talnum make the production available on a world Dallas Area Rocket Society (DARS), Texas sentations, luncheon at Cooke wide basis. Astronomical Society (T AS), McDonald Center, and tours of local sites), Speaking of George Fleenor and David Observatory, and American Association of buses return to hotel, wi th Levy, consult page 90 of the May 2000 issue Amateur Astronomers (AAAA). Collins Petersen from of Sky and Telescope and you'll find an amus Wednesday, 4: Pre-Conference Tour in ing story on George's traumatic attempt to Houston (hopefully you can come in the tions, room deal with the problem of light pollution. Be night before). Wednesday evening: registra Sunday, 8 Oct.: Post Conference sure to visit the SEPA website where a vari tion opens with welcoming reception at Glen Rose. ety of information about members, facilities, hotel in Dallas. Barbara Baber, Jones Planetarium and activities of the organization is avail Thursday,S Oct.: registration, breakfast, in Abilene, is a Grandma as of last able- www.sepadomes.org paper sessions, luncheon with Cowboy sto son Steve and his wife in Brownwood ryteller, vendor time, workshops, dinner at ed beautiful born 8 Feb. at 8 Ibs, 18" Asso- Trail Dust Steak House with boot scoUin'. long. Our heartfelt Friday, 6 Oct.: breakfast, paper sessions, Favour, Richardson LS.D. J:'ld.lleldflUIIl, affiliate meetings, box lunches on buses to loss of her husband Jim last Texas 2000 Update: Visit http://andrews CALL FOR A BROCHURE AND COMPLETE SHOW SAMPLE CASSETTES. 28 Planetarian Vol. SHOW CONTROL "I have worked with the best of the best. Compared with systems for stage theatrical lighting and other planetarium systems, the Omni ... B System has shown to be the most versatile of them all 11" Aaron McEuen - Hansen Planetarium HerB are just afBW of tlu~ rnni Plmu~tariums PLANETARIO de Pamplona PACIFIC II.R. "MAcMILLAN SPACE PIJINfJ~RIUM Spain CENTRE ~BSERVAjoHRv Vancouver· British Columbia QUEBEC· CANADA Zeiss Planetarium Jena Salt Lake City • Utah ALBERTA· CANADA For more information visit our Website at www.comlectron.com/omniq or contact us at [email protected] res en ta ti ve selection visual ...1 ..... """ .. (which, can be very sup- V.lll;:;VJlU~ HST visuals you subscribed to the IPS slide booklet offers be just as tion values similar to the clever and colorful prototype that John showed at the Desert Skies conference in Phoenix, Arizona last October. These are fine bits of work to use for talks, classes, shows, exhibits, -rar'on·t-lu lamented Mars missions and so on. If you weren't aware of notwitillst,m(lmg, we've been lots of these, and would like to request them, con new views of the cosmos of late, in a variety tact as above. Alas, he indicates of manifestations. At this I can scan that the offer is limited to US p12metariurns. ever-more-detailed pictures of the banana but has also said that num-reS'Ollution slide asteroid Eros as NEAR Shoemaker set would be available soon for any its orbit around the of its one who can download them and make affections. Or scrutinize the first views of their own slides; contact John for URL infor Galileo's pass over the lava fields of mation. 10. Or scroll down Mars Global In recent years, I've come to feel new of the summit the r!r.l'iT~,h7 telE~sc(me Mons as if I were skimrnirlg of UTe""'!"',,, ... ,,'c And of course, I can search out what latest cosmic wonders the Hubble Cal)tll.re(1. and marvel over the Louvre that the Hubble has become. This year we celebrate Hubble's tenth And if and start, it has to be a indeed. us celebrate its very considerable achievements, Mark Petersen of Loch Ness Productions, the Science Institute is offer·· Box 1159, Groton, Massachusetts 01450 some treats that make up this +1-978-448-3666 column's first item. NESSIE (that is, +1-888-463-7743), 448-3799, March, John Stoke, Informal ,-,'1.0"""1:> Education Coordinator (and one of us) in the Office of Public Outreach at the Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, 21218 USA, +1-410-338-4394, fax +1-410- 338-4579, e-mail stoke@stscLedu, web site fun car:;ltions) teH~SC()De and its science discoveries, and an 8-minute "ot·.,.",en£lr+h7C on VHS video comments from sci entists, computer animations, and set to music. of this I've just received my copy of the slide set, and it's excellent. of music, you can find most any The first half of the visuals show the tele "-''-,,...... ,'" fOf, from spacey to Native scope and the built, blasted AITlenlCaln, all in Mark's inimitable ""1-\,.",<" • .,...,,, into space, serviced in orbit, and controlled is that it's music written for from the the second half offers a rep- pla.netariurn shows who ...... 'v.... ~~ SPITZ, INC. P.o. Box 198, Route 1 Chadds Ford, PA 19317 USA Tel 610.459,5200 Fax 610.459.3830 www.spitzinc.com white pictures in the catalog look good - and available to students, teachers, and other with a PlclIU!TanU the models are nicely detailed. They sell for youth groups and organizations. Forty-five $14 U.s apiece. to 60 minute programs are also available; a Centi offers a variety of other space-based half-day's worth costs $175 U.s., a full day's products in his catalog, including soda-bottle worth, $290. rocket launcher kits, planispheres, a simple For more information, contact the Rocket laser imagery as well as a Di;;metar'imTI 16-power telescope-making kit (the same Man as given above. package slides, power that Galileo first used), constellation skies, and video, with soundtrack books, posters, CD-ROMs, bookmarks, greet New laser ADAT format. For more information on either .,.....,.f" ... .,.~~ ing cards, globes, and activity books, all at Laser Fantasy International has recently reasonable prices. (as of this writing) announced the availabili contact the company at 300 Centi also offers a variety of workshops ty of two new programs. The first is a 20th Street, Suite P290, West Chester, (within a 200-mile radius of his base of oper anniversary special edition of "Pink Floyd, vania 19380, +1-610-918-8292, ations, farther if overnight lodging is cov The Wall./I Laser Fantasy has remastered and site ered) on a variety of space topics ranging reprogrammed the show and it's available from solar system topics to space explo for ILDA standard laser systems. The intro ration to sky observing. The workshops are ductory cost is $950 U.S. As if you have or hear described as conforming to U.S. National The second program is a collaboration thing new, don't be bashful about Science Standards, using hands-on activities, with the Boston Museum of Science and is word Solar Maximum, and lasting two to six hours mostly, with called II A Brief Mystery of Time." It's your summer/winter, and, as ever, some running longer or shorter as desired. described as "an educational laser-light show new? ,tJ: Cost depends on arrangements. They're U ";';; '0i1§ ;IJ . IQWBn IIIQ~h:lGtiQns -lnlicrm'QIQlis - 1'1.111.1111 • IQWBnIIQI~mQI~'UiiU1'tl f:1 (1 ~ )'i0 t " 0"01 Sun & Stars Planets & Moons Planetary Visitors You can wl'"ri'"' ..... c:o these t>r<)a(j(c)st:-OIJOI one or several a time Celestial Motion & Orbits are available in MPEG and wo<{l5l",....,'w ... " ..... ,.N"II'.\I'.C' Animations Vi sit WUJW. o()w~enl:XCIOUlct lor 32 Planetarian ous installment entitled "Create Panoramas to With Your Computer." Since the time of that Surely all of us are familiar with a netechnica writing, I have done some more work and light source, a Styrofoam ball, and an observ experimentation with the VistaPro land er's eyes to create an interactive classroom scape rendering application, and have dis style demonstration of lunar phases. covered that - contrary to my initial concern Moon Phase of us, no doubt, regularly use this demonstra - the Auto Exposure option can be activated tion in our planetariums. However, this without creating perceptible brightness Exhibit demonstration requires direct supervision "steps" between the final panorama sections. an "instructor," and I've long pondered a (Apparently, Auto Exposure doesn't alter the way for planetarium visitors to better-under Richard McColman brightness of the entire image, but instead stand the concept behind lunar phases in an adjusts the scene exposure continuously Morehead Planetarium unsupervised exhibit-style setting. Such a throughout the entire sweep of heading display could help reinforce the classic plan CB #3480 Morehead Bldg. angles in a landscape scene.) etarium or classroom demonstration, as well This attribute has another positive bene University of North Carolina as creating an effective and attractive educa fit, in that in allows the user to set very low tional exhibit activity for those waiting for a Chapel Hill, North Carolina lighting (Sun) angles in the scene without planetarium show. After mulling over the 27599 USA detrimental effects (as opposed to my initial idea for some time, I wondered if modern statement that Sun declinations of 55 to 70 video technology might help us implement degrees were necessary to achieve good such an interactive exhibit at Morehead Usually, this column concentrates on results). This affords the user an additional Planetarium. This is the basic design idea technical or production issues inside the benefit in that lower Sun angles (25 degrees behind Morehead's new "Why Does the planetarium theater. This time, however, declination or less) create more dramatic and Moon Change Shape" exhibit. Perhaps some we'll diverge just slightly by exploring an interesting panoramic views. These shallow of you would be interested in recreating this outside-the-planetarium idea that will dove lighting angles can also add to the realism of exhibit for your own facilities. tail nicely with planetarium education - a the rendered scenes in VistaPro. The basic concept of the lunar-phase lunar phases exhibit. Once again, consider giving VistaPro a try. exhibit centers around models of Earth and If you're like us, you'll find great benefits Moon, illuminated by a single light source, as with it in creating your own computer-gen VistaPro Follow-up if lit-up by the Sun (Figure 1). At the press of a era ted panoramas. Before we dive into this material, I'd like button, the observer can - via motors built to take a moment to follow up on the previ- into the model - revolve/rotate the "Moon" Vol. 29, No.2, June 2000 Planetarian 33 around the "Earth," while the "Earth" rotates. hibit cases set into some of the A tiny video camera at the Earth continuously transmits an of the ideal, location for the Moon to a video monitor in the exhibit. exhibit's installation. it With this setup, the observer can simultane be for such an exhibit to be recreat- ously experience both a three-dimensional ed within a rrE~e-S;talJ.Q]mg "view from space" and a "view from Earth," and thus gain a cause-and-effect understand the ing of lunar the button, exhibit from the case. we wanted to the observer can pause the model's motions the exhibit a dramatic look, and study in greater detail the relationships we started building a "false back between light, shadow, and viewing perspec wall" (seen in an overhead view in 2) tives at any time during the lunar that - when black with the rest of the case's interior) would form a bac:KclroP with a "".,..,,-.:.(',~u" Morehead Planetarium is housed in an old 1940s-style building with very httle, if any, were LUi!.U'--'HU open, modem exhibit space. However, we do holes." These were made have a number of vintage, glass-fronted ex- with a Forstner bit one-inch-diameter course, video camera and monitor. Since wanted to illuminate and Moon models the 34 contact surface, which would allow "Moon" rotate inside the bronze beclrlIlgs. (This and polishing o could be avoided if '- "'0 stock is acquired.) After all relnaining ~ E U '- particles and abrasive was '-"_LUJl,-'" ro ro away, the shafts were assembled ..0 c o using the stop collars and lubricated o :?! few drops of machine oil at each bronze bearing. To spin the two shafts, two SVll1Cl1rCmcms AC gearhead motors were fitted to mechanism behind the backdrop and inter- faced to their shafts brass gear sets (Figure 5). The 1/2-inch hollow shaft is driven a RPM motor to revolve the "Moon," while the "Earth" is rotated a 30 RPM motor through the 1/4-inch These motors are wired to the 120-volt AC Earth supply through an illuminated momentary shaft push-button switch activated the observ Figure 4, er. As for the models themselves, the "MoonJ1 in side-view in Figure 4) was designed and shaft, and the smaller solid shaft were all is made from a I-inch (2S.4mm) wooden ball built. The main support shaft for the mecha acquired at a local home improvement ware purchased in a craft store. On the other hand, nism is a length of galvanized steel plumbing house. Because the lI2-inch and 1/4-inch you'll notice that the Earth model is not a pipe, threaded at one end and screwed into a shafts didn't come machined to preciSion complete sphere. Instead, it is a cut-section of steel floor flange, which, in turn, is bolted tolerances (they were actually just a bit a relatively small plastic dome. This over a I-inch (25.4mm) hole in the plywood large), it was necessary to first chuck each in choice was made because the observer backdrop. A 1/2-inch-diameter (12.7mm) hol a portable electric drill, and sand them down would only see the Earth model from "in low shaft is placed inside the fixed support with the drill running until the proper bear front" of the display, and also because the shaft to revolve the "Moon," and in turn, a ing-fit tolerances were achieved. They were video camera would need to be as 1/4-inch (6.35mm) solid shaft is placed inside then polished in the spinning drill with close as possible to the center of the Earth the 1/2-inch shaft to rotate the "Earth." These extra-fine sandpaper to achieve a mirror-like two smaller shafts extend through the hole in the plywood panel behind the mounted floor flange and are rotated by drive motors mounted behind the backdrop. To fit every thing together for a smooth motion, both the fixed support shaft and the 1/2-inch hol low shaft were center-bored at each end on a metal lathe and press-fitted with oil-impreg na ted bronze flange-type sleeve bearings. (Although we have a metal lathe at More head, the lack of one shouldn't prevent con struction of this exhibit. Simply take the necessary parts to a local machine shop for any specialized fabrication.) This feature allows both rotating shafts to spin smoothly within the fixed support. Two "stop collars" (available at a good hardware store) were tightened onto each rotating shaft to main tain a fixed position lengthwise within its "mother" shaft. To obtain a geometry which would help eliminate eclipse shadows (since this exhibit isn't about eclipses), the Earth/Moon model and its mechanism is tilted slightly with respect to the light beam. In our case, this angle was easily achieved because the back drop itself onto which the mechanism is attached is slightly angled. The plumbing-pipe (and its mounting flange), the steel tube for the hollow rotating Figure 5 Vol. 29, No.2, June 2000 Planetarian position. (This is especially critical because of the relatively short Earth-to-Moon distance compared with the model's diameters. In lens shade such a compressed-distance arrangement, it would have been impossible to incorporate a fully-spherical Earth model while -"'''-''-I-'''UF, the camera near the center of the Earth tion, as well as avoiding the creation of artifi cial eclipses with every lunar A spur gear with a set-screw-type "pin-hub" was epoxied at the inside-center of the Earth model to serve as an attachment-point for the mechanism's small shaft. Both of the t t models were painted by our staff artist light-baffle rings before mounting onto the mechanism. In order to revolve it around the "Earth," the Moon model is mounted at the end of a Figure 6 special arm with a radius of about 12 inches (30Smm). The main part of the arm was made of two parallel lengths of 1/4-inch CCO (6.3Smm) thin-wall aluminum tubing to board PVC collar keep the mass of the arm as low as possible, (wI screws) and to also keep vibration of the Moon camera model to a minimum. A short piece of thin lens liens shade piano wire was pressed into small holes I drilled across the ends of these tubes, as well ,.....----, as into the Moon model itself. At the other end, these tubes were mounted with set • screws into holes drilled in a special"connec tion hub" - a short section of 1.S-inch (38mm) • solid aluminum rod - which was also center drilled to mount over the end of the hollow , shaft with a couple of set screws (another part for the machine shop!). CGO chip Creating housing The Moon-arm also turned out to be the best location to mount the video camera. Figure 7 Because of the relatively small size of the model, a very small camera is required. The best solution turned out to be one of the tiny CCD board cameras currently on the market, housed within a suitably-small metal case. These cameras are quite small indeed - typi cally less than 2 inches (Slmm) square - and only about 3/4-inch (19mm) deep. Given this small size, such a camera would tuck nicely behind our Earth model. The other advan tage of such cameras is that they have built in electronic shutters that automatically adjust their exposure, without the need for a separate and bulky iris control on the lens. We purchased a black-and-white CCD board camera (since the Moon is mostl y gray, we wouldn't need a color unit) for about $80 U.S., and a metal camera housing for only about $20 more. The next issue we needed to tackle was that of the camera lens. The 3.6mm lens supplied with the camera gave a wide-angle view which would make the image of our Moon model show up too small on the video monitor. Although there Figure 8 are some specialized replacement lenses for 36 Planetarian Vol. 2000 This entire lens was then mount- ed to the camera via a collar attached to the front of the camera's metal CCD housing (Figure 7). This collar is made a short section of Schedule-40 PVC which was side-drilled and for set screws that were to hold the rear of the custom-built lens in of the old Unitron was smaller than the inside of this PVC collar, we simply a of turns of rYl'),d".ir\£T tape around this rear the lens which took up the dimensional (Admittedly, this isn't an elegant en,~mleermg solution, but it is, nonetheless, effec tive, the low mass of the lens.) The set screws allow the lens - once installed and focused - to be held in position. Once mounted in its metal hous ing, the camera was then attached to the Moon-arm hub with machine fasteners in Figure 9 such a way as to allow the camera aim to be CCD cameras on the market, the longer inch Moon-model diameter focal-length units are most-often not and its 12-inch orbital radius, designed to thread into the chip-housing of the Moon image nearly fills the CCD board cameras, and the few that do exist video screen, and is razor-sharp are quite specialized in application - and when focused. therefore are quite pricey. Experimentation showed us Because of this dilemma, we set out to that, if we used an unshaded make our own long-focal-length replace lens, we would get lots of lens ment lens. To do so, I first experimented flare problems every time the with the lens that came with the camera. camera rotated past our "Sun" These are typically referred-to in the video light source around the "new industry as "pin-hole" lenses - a term that we Moon" phase. In fact, even fash found initially confuSing, since the classic ioning a normal, black cylin "pin-hole camera" uses no glass optics, but drical shade for the lens wasn't only a tiny pin-hole to focus light. Actually, enough to eliminate the prob the "pin-hole lens" on a CCD board camera lems. With such a shade, light does incorporate glass, but instead of using would scatter partially down multiple lens elements to correct for chro the flat-black inner walls of the matic and other aberrations, these lenses are lens-shade, which would still merely single-element optics. Aberrations visibly flare the lens and also that would normally be a major problem cause the camera's electronic with such lenses are reduced/eliminated by shutter to reduce the displayed stacking a tiny aperture (lmm or smaller) Moon-image brightness. over the glass lens. Initially, you might For this reason, we had to assume that this tiny aperture wouldn't design a special lens shade with transmit adequate light, but in reality, the two ring-shaped light baffles sensitivity of the CCD chip is so high, that it built into it (seen in Figure 6 in actually needs the lower light transmission cross-section). The main cylin afforded by the small opening. drical part of the lens-shade is After some experimentation, I discovered made from a short piece of that I could make just the lens we needed thin-wall PVC plumbing pipe, from part of an old Unitron telescope eye which we painted flat-black piece that we had stashed away in our attic inside and out. The light baffles area. I simply removed the outer barrel and were cut from black construc all but one of the lens elements from the eye tion paper, with one positioned piece, and cut a special aperture from black and glued about halfway down construction paper to glue over the plastic the tube interior, and the other eye-lens-element retaining cap. In doing so, I glued onto the front. The rear ended up with a lens approximately 25mm end of the shade was then in focal length, compared with the 3.6mm glued onto the front cap of the lens supplied with the camera. With the 1- converted-eyepiece lens. Figure 10 Vol. 29, No.2, June 2000 Planetarian 37 adjusted for centering the Moon model in gauge the imbalance of a telescope tube on a tent, ripple-free external DC input, making a the video field of view. German equatorial mount). By strategically regulated power supply necessary. This rela Before mounting the Moon arm onto its placing and fastening a stack of steel fender tively simple power-supply circuit shaft, it needed to be balanced. With the washers to the proper position on the arm rates a standard 3-pin 78xx-series regulator Moon ball hanging off to one side and the hub, the arm's imbalance was virtually elim chip. Plans for such a circuit are widely avail video camera strapped-on, the center-of-mass inated. An application of flat black paint on able, so I won't bother to reproduce it here. A didn't coincide with the center-of-rotation. this assembly (except for the Moon ball and couple of electronics books available at your Preliminary tests with this unbalanced arm camera, of course) readied the Moon arm for local Radio Shack detail this circuit. Pre-built assembly mounted onto the rotating shaft installation. and kit regulated supplies are also available revealed that the motion wasn't smooth and from a number of electronic suppliers. If you consistent. Experimentation with the 'Round and 'Round - Slip Rings build this exhibit, just make sure to properly unmounted arm suspended via its center However, there is another very important heat-sink the regulator chip in the power hub's shaft-hole on a thin metal hand-held component that is reqUired to make the supply, and choose a supply or chip that rod gave us a rough idea of the degree of video camera work in this application. matches the voltage and current require imbalance. By positioning the arm on the Despite having a camera mounted on a rotat ments of the CCD board camera that you rod in several different rotational orienta ing shaft, power and video signal must still select. By the way, we routed the video and tions, it was possible to gauge this imbalance to be routed between it and a power supply power cables from the camera and slip rings fairly well (Similarly t() the procedure used to and video monitor. Achieving this requires alongside the mechanism's fixed support the use of a slip-ring assembly. We had the shaft and through a small hole in the exhibit option of incorporating a used slip-ring and backdrop to the power supply located be contact set from a star projector to deal with hind the backdrop. this issue. However, we opted instead for a new, commerCially-available assembly man Other Elements ufactured by Litton Poly-Scientific (1213 The video monitor we chose is a standard North Main Street, Blacksburg, VA 24060; black-and-white security-style unit. We phone 800-336-2112; fax 540-953-1841; web mounted it behind the exhibit case's glass address - www.litton-ps.com). Their product window, just below and to the left of AC4598 (Figure 8) seemed well-suited to the Earth/Moon model, and beside the exhibit's task. Litton Poly-SCientific advertises this backlit-transparency descriptive panel (text unit as "compact and maintenance-free... and graphic content of the panel is shown in (with) no lubrication required." It also fea Figure 10). For the benefit of those visitors tures a "fiber brush technology ... minimiz who tend to read very little of an exhibit's ing contact wear and extending operational descriptive text (a surprisingly frequent life." Despite the $250 price-tag for the basic occurrence), we also included a simple back 6-conductor unit, the maintenance-free and lit label mounted atop the video monitor fully-self-contained characteristics made it which reads, {{Moon" as seen from "Earth". We well worth the price, in our estimation. The felt that this concise label over the monitor black color of the slip ring assembly's cover would help ensure that even the most casual housing is also well-suited for this exhibit observers would grasp the basic thrust of the application. Aside from making the simple exhibit, and that it might even provide a wiring connections to our video and power "hook" to encourage people to absorb more circuits, the only additional requirements information from the main descripti ve for using the unit were the machining of a panel. special aluminum adapter to mate the slip Using the momentary push~button ring assembly's center bore to our smaller (mounted in the front outer wall of the diameter "Moon shaft" and a simple index exhibit case just under the glass window), the pin attached to the support shaft to engage visitor can revolve the "Moon" around the into a plastic fork protruding from unit's spinning "Earth" and stop them at any point rear cover. This last addition would keep the to witness the effect of light, shadow, and stationary part of the slip-ring assembly viewing-perspective as seen with their from rotating during the exhibit's operation. "space-based" eyes, as well as the "eyes" of an With all of the mechanical components observer on Earth, as represented by the ready, the Earth/Moon mechanism was video-monitor image (Figure 11). finally assembled (seen in a side-view taken The "Why Does the Moon Change Shape" inside/the exhibit case in Figure 9). The exhibit is qUite effective in imparting the motors and drive gears aren't visible in this lunar-phases concept to visitors in an unsu shot. As mentioned earlier, they are mount pervised setting. It has been interesting to see ed behind the exhibit backdrop (seen on the lithe light bulb go on" in the heads of ob left-hand side of this image). servers when they operate the exhibit. We've found this interactive display to be a valu "Juice" for the Video able addition to the planetarium visitor's The CCD board camera requires a consis- experience. Perhaps you will as welLI~( Figure 11 38 Planetarian Vol. 29, No.2, June 2000 Shonandai Culture Center The GSS-Relios (GSX) features 25,000 stars replroctucmg without stray stars twinkling through the image. without replacing the lecturer. The list of special find out what your could be like. console. "-'A"H,"'A~, Planetari urn. GI014si III see the film's magiC year for himself. But that of Sri Lanka(!) - and so it should come year is almost here, and with it you'll have surprise that he is the C011iererlce I t the once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet Sir agenda to include real Arthur in the magiC year itself. ink-black skies. What's the occasion? A unique interna My visit to Sri Lanka coincided tional conference - "Sri Lankan Skies and Sir annual awards ceremony Arthur: a 2001 Odyssey" - will convene in notch astronomy students and the U7,..,-nO,,<, Sri Lanka next March. Sir Arthur himself will in the year 2000 national astronomy Dr. w. Smith deliver the keynote address. Paper sessions tion sponsored the planetarmrn. and panel discussions will center on the to the planetarium, the driver BGSU Planetarium theme "Teaching the Universe in the 21st ing that we needed to arrive at Dept. Physics & century," a subject that's important to us all. am. Soon enough, I saw Sir Arthur Three days in the island's interior will fea waiting for the IPS President, and we Astronomy ture night sky observing under truly dark introduced and shook hands. But the Bowling Green skies, day and evening visits with enthusias sation was brief, for an honor University tic astronomy students and their teachers, in brilliant red awaited our attention. and time to see the landscape that bestows sounded the call with their sea horns, Bowling Green, Ohio the island's name which means "resplendent beat out the step with their drums, and USA land!" Yes, it's a long airplane flight to get to our front and sides, they led the way there, but if the week I spent in February is the dome. It was a moment of + 1-419-372-8666 voice any indication, you are in for a real treat if for all planetadans. + 1-419-372-9938 fax you attend this special conference. Sacred space, someone called our Perhaps. But even if not, this Pf(XE:SSlonal [email protected] A Day to Remember in Sri moment was a reminder to me that the work Planetarium we do is that it affects lives, and that we are indeed a global In Sri Lanka is served by a single planetarium Sri Lankan Skies and Sir Arthur. A remarks to the assembled students, I in the capital city of Colombo. Directed by 2001 Odyssey the common thread - our passion for T. C. Samaranayaka, the 23-meter, 570-seat - Announcing a Special Conference - universe - that unites us and facility carries a busy schedule of school and together across the lands and public shows (many in English) that serve really did feel very much at home in another A 2001 invitation! Colombo and other nearby cities. Recently dome nearly ten thousand miles and a The magic year is almost here. The year of equipped computer rooms provide internet time zones away from the one I work Hal. The year of the Monolith. The year of resources to many students and a new suite home because the room was filled the Odyssey. The year of the film that of video, slide, and effects projectors join the dred spirits, from my gracious host changed the world. The year that once was Zeiss under the dome. "Sam" also has estab throng of students. oh so far in the future. But now it is almost lished a traveling telescope program that has My gaze stole across the room to here. by now served nearly half the students in all You remember the film. Perhaps you saw it in 1968 when Clarke and Kubrick forever changed what a science fiction film should be. Perhaps you saw it later. But whenever it was that you saw it, the film was a master work of art. It redefined a standard, and all the future films have followed in its wake. When the Space Odyssey first lit up the cin ema screens, Sri Lanka was still called Ceylon, IPS had not been born, Apollo 8 had not circled the Moon, and most of us were not yet planetarians, and perhaps not even dreaming about it. But the film asked us who we were, and in its soaring mix of art and action, it inspired a new generation of space farers. Perhaps you were among them. Stanley Kubrick the director is gone, but the brilliant writer Sir Arthur C. Clarke is alive and well and living in paradise. Paradise means Sri Lanka - "beautiful island!" - and Sir Arthur, now in his 80s, is an honored icon in his adopted home. I had the high honor of meeting Sir Arthur in February during a visit to Sri Lanka. Though I didn't quite muster up the courage to ask him, I'd bet he didn't really expect to Sri Lanka Planetarium Vol. 29, No.2, June 2000 Planetarian students and teachers who had assembled there. We came from different nations, dif ferent cultures, different languages almost, different generations, different faiths, differ ent economies. But the thread we shared in common was the greater one and after the formal ceremonies, we could have spent all day talking. As Sam, Sir Arthur, and I alter nated in handing out prizes, I stood in awe of the talent that walked before me. Even though I was handing prizes to them, the real flow of inspiration came from them to m~. Look at what they have done already, I thought. Look at the enthusiasm that flows from their shy smiles. What will they be doing in ten years, I wondered? Will they maintain this interest as adults, I both hoped and expected. Might some go into the sci ences as a career? The late Cyril Ponnamper uma, an early leader in exobiology, was a son of Sri Lanka. At least one future scientist was among the award winners, a young man named Jagath, and the next mor1}ing Sam and I visited him at his jungle home to see Sri Lankan astronomy students and their radio telescope on the planetarium grounds. his self-made nature museum, observatory, and other projects. I hope I can see his work who, quite unknowingly, had inspired us. Is what more appropriate time and place than again in another ten or twenty years. Again, it not often so? I will long remember this day in the year 2001 in the adopted homeland Sam and I agreed that it was the student as a highlight of my career as a planetarian and presence of the man whose 2001: A Space and member of IPS. Odyssey inspired so many of us. So the conference will open with two days Conference of formal sessions at the conference hotel in Activities Colombo. These days will also include a visit to the planetarium and the address by Sir Conference host Arthur. T.C.Samaranayaka Then the conference will leave Colombo is passionately con and move to the island's cooler interior. cerned with the These subsequent days will provide ample issues of education time for those invaluable informal discus and that focus has sions that follow the formal sessions. To help shaped the confer plan this more mobile part of the itinerary, ence theme Sam and I departed Colom bo after the "Teaching the Uni awards ceremony described above and we verse in the 21 st drove northeast up to the village of century" - which Habarane which lies just north of the island's cen ters on edu center. Here I exchanged the S-star Lanka cation. So this con Oberoi Hotel of Colombo for a delightful ference on Asian chalet at the Habarane Lodge, a very pleasant soil provides a lakeside resort. It would have been easy to chance for a spe spend the day lounging around the lawns cial set of planetar and open-air dining areas. But we were scout ians and astrono ing out potential night-sky observing sites my educators to for the conference and found a prime site a meet and share few minutes' walk from the Lodge. Free of insights on this both intrusive and indirect lighting, this gen topiC that lies at erous rock outcrop provides an accessible the heart of all that 0 and spacious area with a clear 360 horizon. we do in the plane 0 At about 8 north of the Equator, the site will tarium. Depending provide a clear view of the southern sky for somewhat on the us boreals starved for the sight of the mix of registrants, Southern Cross and a clear view of the north the formal sessions ern sky for australs begging for the Big will be a mixture Dipper. Conference plans call for two nights of papers and panel at the Habarane Lodge with observing on discussions. And 42 Planetarian Vol. 29, No.2, June 2000 that crown the island's 2000-meter crest. A few switchbacks more, and then the bus will descend into Bandarawela, a pleasant town perched in the southern highlands, and graced by a classic 18905 colonial style hotel. Here will be the final observing site, most likely at an outlying school, where again we'll meet the local students and share sky watching together. Along the way from Habarane to Bandar awela, Sam and I scouted out a variety of other observing sites but in the end preferred the two mentioned here as providing the best combination of dark skies and ease of accessibility. One stunning site we checked was called Lipton's Seat (this is tea country, after all). Hidden at the end of a preCipitous heart-stopping jeep trail twisting above the tea fields in the middle of nowhere, it was a thrilling site that few visitors ever see (we walked in the last 2 km), but we feared the trail would be too risky after dark and the ride too far after a full day already on the road. If you are ever in Sri Lanka with a full Dark sky observing site at Habarane. day to spare, try to get there - regretfully, both nights, weather permitting, or alternate seafood and rice you had for lunch by climb there's not enough time in the conference activities in the unlikely event of clouds. ing to the top. It is only 1000 safe steps up, schedule to make it. Another unique feature of this conference and even the acrophobic will be the opportunity to meet local stu prez managed to conquer dents and teachers. Tentative plans call for a them. You are a wee bit visit to a school near Habarane on the after nearer (half of) the stars noon we arrive and the chance to spend when you reach the top, time with students chosen for their good the view is incredible, work and active interest in astronomy. Later, you earn a spell in the they will also join us for night-sky observing. King's Seat (with no dan- We'll have some time to see the skies our ger of a head-lopping to selves first, and then we'll help share these follow), and the walk skies with the students. We are teachers, down is easier, thanks to aren't we, in our various ways, and don't we both gravity and exhila learn best by sharing our newfound knowl ration. Conference plans edge with others? While the larger scales of call for an afternoon visit an IPS conference tend to hinder opportuni to Sigiriya with a chance ties like this, the more intimate scale of "Sri for the adventurous to Lankan Skies ... " will encourage this type of climb it. Earlier in the activity. day there will likely be From my own time spent with students at time for an elephant ride the awards ceremony described above, I can or a jeep safari to look for assure you that this will be a real treat, wildlife. though I realize that most readers need no From Habarane, the such persuasion. While I enjoyed giving my conference bus will wend formal remarks and a solar system talk at the its way south into the ceremony, it was much more fun answering central highlands, and questions and enjoying the give-and-take of exchange low-lying rice the informal conversation afterwards where paddies for tea fields that the "expert" has as much to learn as the "stu cling to hillsides once dent." you're above a few hun You can also reach for the stars in a quite dred meters elevation. different way at Habarane, for it is only a The route will climb to short drive to the world heritage site of the former capital of Sigiriya. This 5th century fortress sits atop a Kandy in a scenic moun stunning rock outcrop that presses skyward tain setting and twist on 600 feet (200 meters) from the surrounding up to Nuwara Eliya, plains. You can work off all that tasty clinging to the slopes Above the Lion's Terrace on Sigiriya. Vol. 29, No.2, June 2000 Planetarian 43 rates, and (for most) low-season and comfortable facility that is a l-... a,""",~",,+ conference site in Colombo, and in fact small international meeting was held there during my days in town. The food was excellent both at the Oberoi and throughout my stay in Sri Lanka. The T. C. Samaranayaka and Dale Smith on the King/s Seat atop Sigiriya (after a long climb in hotel buffets tend to offer both Western the tropical heat!) Lankan foods, and the local restaurants a tasty Lankan menu. The native dishes are After a final night in Bandarawela, the visit to Sigiriya fortress (afternoon) usually based on rice mixed with a ternntin.ll conference bus will return to Colombo, with night-sky observing (evening) variety of seafood, or meat. It if a cultural stop or two en route if time per overnight at Habarane Lodge you like it spicy and if you don't ask what mits, and depending on whether the preced everything is, and it's even better when you ing night was clear or cloudy. There will be a Friday, March 23: get to enjoy it at an table. while to relax in Colombo before transfer to travel to Bandarawela (day) Despite press reports that have led the airport to meet the flights departing for night-sky observing (evening) me to expect otherwise, I felt home. overnight at Bandarawela times my in Sri Lanka, found no cause to be worried about pell'so:nal Schedule Saturday, March 24: safety the normal nr,eCilUltlo,ns return to Colombo (day) So the tentative conference agenda is this: would take in any city, and the late evening departure for home tryside the conference route as countryside "' ..... "nATho·r.a Sunday, March 18: late night arrival in Colombo few Americans realize it (I did (or arrive one day earlier) All flights to and from Sri Lanka use the Lanka's beaches and highlands draw overnight at Lanka Obemi Bandaranaike International Airport a half EUlrOt)ean vacationers seeking to escape the hour drive from Colombo. I found that winter's dark and gloom. who Monday, March 19: arrival formalities were easy and currency had spent time in Sri Lanka told conference begins early afternoon exchange was readily available at the me to expect a warm and welcome, paper sessions/panel discussion Most international flights tend to arrive and and that is what I found, and it visit to planetarium depart in the middle of the night due to the what you can expect too. overnight at Lanka Obemi time zone Sri Lanka is located in. The confer You can find further details in an article ence will provide transfer between the air T. C. Samaranayaka that will appear in the next issue of the Pla.netarian. Tuesday, March 20: port and the conference hotel in Colombo paper sessions/panel discussion on both arrival and departure. A conference web site will be soon; the URL is not determined at the time of this address by Sir Arthur C. Clarke Prices in Sri Lanka, including LV .... "".UI<, overnight at Lanka Obem; food, and transportation, will seem quite rea writing, but a link to it will be installed on sonable to most visitors. The conference reg the IPS web site. Look for a conference mail ing in August or Sel)teml)er. Wednesday, March 21: istration fee will cover conference costs, all bus to Habarane (morning) transportation within Sri Lanka, and most So as you prepare to attend IPS visit to school (afternoon) meals. The registration form will also include Montreal and start for IPS night-sky observing (evening) lines to reserve and pay for hotel accommo overnight at Habarane Lodge dation. year in be1:wt'f'n The conference dates will be March way. I am 10Qlkirlll Thursday, March 22: 20m, set to fall near a new moon late in the ward to to Sri Lanka on this free time in morning, or dry season, and chosen to give the best occasion and hope that many of you will elephant or jeep safari (morning) chance of clear, dark skies, moderate hotel join me. 44 Planetarian Vol. BACK TO THE YEAR 2000 Planetariums on three continents My flight to Sri Lanka took me across the Pacific and a 22-hour connection in Bangkok gave me time to spend a delightful day at Bangkok Planetarium with Salin Weerabutra and her colleagues. The setting of the 20- meter dome is exquisite. Enough that it's next to Thailand's premier science and tech nology museum. The museum's exhibits, by the way, give due credit to Thailand's hard working king, who is a strong supporter of the sciences. Memories of shivering my way to Detroit Metro airport thirty-some hours earlier faded at the sight of the park-like set ting and colorful flowers that carpet the planetarium grounds. Above this green sea, you spot the dome. Yes, there's a sign that tells you it's the planetarium, but you really don't need the sign because this dome shows the Universe on the outside as well as on the inside: it is painted with galaxies! Inside, a well-done exhibit area surrounds most of the Bangkok Planetarium. planetarium. The more permanent exhibits tection against any recurrence of another hit re-narrate most shows they might buy from on astronomical history, spaceflight, planets, by a mudflow. Wollongong is an aboriginal the US in order to get the accent right. The stars, and galaxies were joined by an interest name that means "place of big waves./I The exhibits were nearly all ready when I saw ing display of past planetary clusterings akin city is located on a coastal plain backed by them in March, a couple months before the to this May's grouping, visible proof that the Great Dividing Range and washed by the scheduled opening in May. Most of the they don't mean the end of the world each Tasman Sea. The Science Centre is east exhibits are interactive (I didn't crash the car time. Once in the planetarium, I of course (shoreward) of the city and not too far from in the driving test, thank you) and every age couldn't understand the show's narration (it the shoreline. An observatory turret attach will find some exhibits that are right for was in Thai), but the images let me follow ed to the Centre houses a DFM telescope that them. One of my favorites was elegantly sim the story of planetary exploration and it was feeds an image to a screen in the exhibit area. ple: a horizontal parabolic surface with a clear to me that the rest of the audience The planetarium sporting its new Zeiss ZKP3 probe at the focus and a little stairway beside (who could understand the narration!) knew was ready to run, though in Oz they have to to an adjacent platform. Drop the ball and they were seeing a good show. The day sped by too quickly, and a late evening flight took me on to Colombo. (An aside to anyone who complains about airline food: fly Thai - not only is the food both good and plenti ful, but they serve a full hot meal on the 10 pm flight to Colombo and on the 1:30 am return flight!) Three weeks later found me in Sydney, Australia on spring break. Or should that be fall break? I spent a while looking around the recently restored Sydney Observatory. This historic structure is almost in the shad ow of the Harbour Bridge and its exhibits chronicle the extensive stellar transit studies performed there decades ago as well as aspects of modern astronomy. There is also a small planetarium that is used occasionally when school classes visit. Soon after, I made the short hour's drive down to Wollongong to visit Glen Moore and his newly rebuilt Wollongong Science Centre. Since its predecessor was lost to a dis astrous mudflow two years ago, Glen has been hard at work acquiring fresh funding and building a new and improved facility. The new centre is securely elevated as pro- Salin Weerabutra and colleagues. Vol. 29, No.2, June 2000 Planetarian 45 under one dome. One topic of discussion at the As I've worked with Shawn Laatsch the meeting was work to- last several weeks in the labor of pn)dlucilD£ ward the creation of a the current edition of the IPS ""-- --"-- -- formal association of World's Planetariums, I've seen another Spanish planetariums. of strength as well. In the long labor of open This society, once form ing dozens if not hundreds of plametal'iUlm ed, would apply to be web sites, I sometimes paused and a come a regional affiliate while. Sometimes they were web sites peo of IPS. Thanks to the ple I knew. More often they were web sites of steady encouragement of people I didn't know. But as I browsed Asunci6n Sanchez (Ma around those sites, and saw the of drid), the careful work of how they were designed and the rii".:>rc·ihr Antonio Camarasa and how their planetariums (and Jose Carlos Guirado (both observatories) were used, the site often Valencia) in drafting a seemed to convey a sense of excitement proposed constitution, about the planetarium and its work and mis and the commitment of sion - in the pictures, in the text - "come all present, a firm foun see this" - "look at this program or -n,.,,,,ic>.~-H" dation has been estab Taken together, these sites bespeak a lished. Discussion identi sion that's excited, diverse, and committed fied some further aspects to astronomy education. Though each of us that need attention. It's can know only a fraction of our I.,.V.llC;':1~I_H:~ likely that the remaining in person, a look at some of these sites can work can be completed give a glimpse at the work of colleagues we relatively soon, and then may never meet. If you can find a little spare IPS can expect an appli time (and that is a rare commodity among cation for its twentieth us), open up that new Directory you just regional affiliate. I would received (or go to the "planetariums of the be remiss not to mention world" page on the IPS web site), and then the wonderful meals we try opening a few of the more than 700 enjoyed at the meeting, etarium web sites it lists and take a virtual even if they operated on tour. I think you'll find it as and Spanish time - lunch at inspiring as I did. 7Glen Moore in the new Wollongong Planetarium. 3 pm, dinner ending around midnight! L'Hemis see it find the focus. Every time. Who needs feric's shows combine the calculus to explain it? stunning Zeiss VIII Universarium starfield, Last time, I made brief mention of a During conversation over dinner, Glen lavish graphiCS from the AVI Omniscan, and tarium panel at January's AAS in mentioned that he had moved into the plan video and still images, and the two opening Atlanta. As many other research societies are etarium (and science centre) field from re shows are the adept creations of Bill Gutsch. doing, the American Astronomical is search astronomy several years ago. Others En route home, I also had the good fortune giving increased attention to education. In among us, myself included, have made simi to see a couple shows in the Madrid Plan addition to an oral paper session on educa lar moves. Some, such as Tony Fairall, keep etarium, led by Asunci6n Sanchez, whose tion, AAS meetings now include a special ses active in both regimes. The challenges and energetic and educational shows are filled sion "Astro 101: a continuing dialog". Organ rewards are quite different in the two areas. If with exquisite video, pan, and aU-sky scenes. ized by Doug Duncan and Gina Brissenden this is a matter of interest to you, go hear the Now in those statistics courses I enjoyed of the AAS Education Office, the session panel discussion on this topic at the many moons ago, we were warned that you meets on the afternoon preceding the full Montreal conference, whose host Pierre La can't make sweeping assertions from small meeting's opening reception and features combe also comes from an astronomical sample sizes with any confidence, but let me three successive panels discussing different research background. stretch that rule just a bit. If I take this small topiCS. For the Atlanta meeting, I suggested a After two transpacific trips within one cal sample size of planetariums on three differ panel on the use of planetariums in teaching endar month, the transatlantic flight to ent continents all seen within a two-month introductory college/university astronomy. attend the early April meeting of Spain's span, it is very tempting to conclude from Besides myself as chair, the panel included planetariums seemed rather short in compar them that in all its diversity, our profession Dr. Stephen Doty (Denison Univ., a small lib ison. There wasn't even enough air time to is a healthy one. One filled with talented, eral arts college), Dr. Mike Bennett (ASP and proofread the new IPS Directory. This year's dedicated people each sharing the cosmos in DeAnza College, a community col1.), and Dr. meeting, the fourth annual conclave of their own distinctive ways. Ways using the Doug Ingram (Texas Christian Univ.) substi Spanish planetarians and science museum resources at hand and attuned to the local tuting for Dr. Paul Hodge (Univ. of directors, assembled in Valencia at the newly audience. As in a gene pool, it is in our diver ton and Editor of AI). We each described how opened 23-m L'Hemisferic facility, which sity, not in our sameness, that we find our we used our planetariums (that is, the star combines a planetarium and IMAX theater strength. projector) in teaching "Astro 101". We found the phenomena we tried to demonstrate 46 Planetarian Vol. leagues at the session. In the US at least, there are a lot of tarium people at colleges and universities, whether or not we see them at IPS or al affiliate meetings. A search of the Directory reveals that more than 300 US planetariums are at colleges (including com munity colleges) or universities, twice as many as are at museums or science centers, though the majority of US 1-''''HCILU.ll urns are at schools. While some of the colle giate planetariums are large public facilities (such as Morehead), 75% are smaller than meters and thus almost surely find use as an astronomy classroom or laboratory. So here is a widespread use of the planetarium that I think has not received too much attention in our Society, and we might do well to try to remedy that. If you are a subscriber to dome-I, you probably noticed the suggestion Deb Fuller that IPS should have an Education Committee. This was an excellent idea and I have authorized the creation of such a com L'Hemisferic with raised eyelid. mittee. I am also pleased to report that Sampson has accepted my invitation to were much the same (stellar, solar, and plan each meeting, and the education session in serve as chair; Gary directs the plan.etarium etary motions), that none of us spent too the main meeting is also well attended. at Wauwatosa West High School in Wis much time on constellations, and that we There are many astronomers at colleges and consin USA, is preSident-elect of GLP A, and had a variety of interactive modules depend universities who care deeply about educa won the ASP's Brennan Award in 1994 for ing on class size. If you're interested, you can tion, as we do. While there were not many substantial contributions to the of retrieve our handouts from the AAS web site people in the panel's audience whose institu high school astronomy. Gary is an outstand at www.aas.orgreducation/oldhands.html tions had a planetarium, the value of our ing educator and I am sure that he will pro by clicking on the links that say "real sky facilities was well recognized by our audi vide superb leadership to this new and and planetarium panel". These "Astro 101" ence and I think we helped raise the visibili important committee. Several US ~l"'l.l<:lU.l sessions are drawing more than 100 people at ty of planetariums among our AAS c01- ians responded to my call for committee vol unteers on dome-l and as I write, we are also recruiting international members as well and will be defining the specific tasks of the Committee. We can look forward to much productive work from Gary, Deb, and their fellow committee members. We are all, in our various ways, educators, and the cre ation of this committee recognizes the edu cational mission that lies at the heart of what planetarians do. See The world's planetariums are among at least 88 countries at last count. (There are also 88 constellations, 88 on a piano, 88 counties in my home state of Ohio, and 88 papers in some packages of muffin cups.) Once every two years we assemble as a profession in the biennial IPS conference, and we are on the verge of doing that as IPS 2000 in Montreal opens on July 9. Conference host Pierre Lacombe and his team have been working hard to create a great conference and I that made all your plans to attend, greet old Spanish planetarians meet at the L'Hemisferic. friends, make new ones, share your work and Vol. 29, No.2, June 2000 Planetarian 47 insights with the rest of us, learn a lot, see Later in the morning dark, we made a later, Saturn, still to the left and great new products from the vendors and bumpy descent into Troms0, at 69°N home now clearly above as the exhibitors, and return home freshly inspired to the Nordlysplanetariet, northernmost of angled down toward the unseen Sun. and a bit wiser. our domes in the world. When I'd last been We set down in the IPS Council will meet in Montreal on there a decade earlier, it was in the endless tal and metropolis" of Ul-"~J'U'-~"''-LL, Sunday, July 9, just before the conference light of summer and then I had relished the north, this modem town of 1400 is opens. As always, your suggestions are wel dark of an interior room as a guest in the northerly community in the world, come (and your volunteering to help is even home of planetarian Erling Husby. But this from a handful of scientifiC, weather, more welcome!), so please convey your time the landscape was draped in the deep military outposts. It was my second to thoughts to your affiliate representative or twilight of 11 a.m., the faint promise of a Spitsbergen - the first was a summer visit to the officers. weeks-gone Sun whose return was still many 1990 following the IPS conference days away. Borlange. Nightfall at noon Soon we were airborne again and as my As I stepped off the the air was watch slipped past noon, the last hints of prisingly warm - a toasty -6°C (23°F), Do you take day and night for granted? twilight faded away, and night felL When I ten Celsius degrees cooler than my summer Sure, you do. Unless you live in the arctic, wrote the first draft of this paragraph 60 visit and my minus forty re the passage of sun-time and dark-time is a hours later in my room at the Svalbard Polar mained neatly folded at the bottom of my normal part of your life. If your planetarium Hotel, it had been dark ever since, and the duffel, unused. is a classroom, you probably show this diur midnight scene from my window looked Later that afternoon, I went nal motion to your classes. You show how just like noon! only those pesky thin clouds all over the the Sun's rising and setting points slip north But back to the plane and noontime. A would go away, I muttered to But and south with the seasons and you show steady light in the eastern sky caught my eye they didn't go away and they kept ch,mging how the length of daylight waxes and wanes by surprise. Jupiter? I knew that at home that shapes - from sheets to graceful swirls to from solstice to solstice. You may even show January Jupiter was in the south at 6 p.m., so scattered puffs - and held the the midnight Sun and explain the endless I reasoned it must rise about noon. Except faintest hint of color - and soon it dawned days of the arctic summer. My classes at lati for the Moon, I'd never seen anything rise at on me that I was searching for stars behind tude 4rN are fascinated by this, so foreign is noon. Yet there was an easy way to identify the sheen of the aurora, just as our it to their everyday experience. this light. I looked again, and this time found David Leverton in Watson Lake, Yukon, The high arctic world is now enjoying its must often do. brilliant summer. The days are already end Saturn, fainter than Jupiter, to the left, and below, just as it should be. Presto - planetrise So I faced north, secured the Big 4Y less, the warmer temperatures will follow, at noon, and from 10 km high at that. high and right-side-up, confirmed my foot and the pack ice will melt, though in some But then as I watched over the next hour, ing in the snow and ice, and twisted my gaze places not until August. In Spitsbergen, the the planets seemed to twist around. As our far, far up and found Polaris almost at island of "pointed mountains" far to the plane sped north a degree of latitude every 9 zenith, higher than I'd ever seen it in north of North Cape, Norway, the Sun has minutes, and its path bent around the curva sky before, though it all seemed d-... "nITD1" not set from the time I write this in mid ture of the Earth, the sky twisted back in familiar from North Pole demonstrations at April until you read it in mid-June, and in response, and by the time we landed an hour home. Cassiopeia led the of fact will not set again until August. But this polar world has a dark side, and that is the winter night. To most of us, this night is a stranger, but a couple days after perihelion passage back in January, the bore al forces caught hold of me and I found myself flying into the arctic night. The Sun set behind us as the jet sped north. We had left Oslo, Norway (latitude 60 0 N) in the dim twilight of an overcast 9 a.m. and thankful I was to have my camera fortified with expensive 1600 speed film. As we climbed through the cloud cover, the Sun peeked out for a few minutes. But it lay to the south and as our plane pulled away to the north, the clouds soon swallowed up our daystar, and I switched on the reading light above my seat. Ahead, I spied a dark haze rising up from the cloudbank beneath. Bad weather must lie ahead. But half an hour later, as twilight faded, the mist was no nearer, though per haps a bit thicker. Then I realized that the dark mist was no storm at all, but rather was the shadow of the Earth cast on the sky by the sinking Sun, the same shadow that we see cast on the Moon during a lunar eclipse. AJanuary noon in Spitsbergen. 48 Planetarian Vol. around the southern sky. My eye dropped leaves some lights on all the time. A walk Perhaps only when are to down past Perseus to the Pleiades, but any through the snow-draped town center looks extreme, as they are in remote and beautiful hopes of seeing Orion were dashed. Split by the same at any hour. I slept with the room Spitsbergen, do we become so the horizon-hugging Celestial Equator, he lights on, so much did I want to keep the of them. But our planetariums are ""-r~"'rlhlu would never climb above the tall mountains dark at bay. When the wind and snow howl equipped rooms to teach about these that inked the southern skyline at this arctic ed and the sky was hidden, only my watch to inspire people to watch the sky wherever outpost. told me the time. they are, and to help our understand This place is so far north that for a month Yet I knew that this was not the planet of a bit more about the genuine connections around the winter solstice there isn't even a white dwarf Sun, though it surely felt as if between themsel ves and a universe twilight at noon. Twilight fades in come it were. When the gale let up, there would be must often seem so far removed from mid-January, but the Sun itself returns only a plane to the Outside and Light, to classes everyday lives. in late February. Then daylight grows by 20 and shows I would soon be missing, weather You don't have to go to the ends of the minutes a day until the Sun goes circumpo bound, and to the AAS meeting in Atlanta I Earth to teach about the seasons and all the lar a month after the March equinox, not to might still make if my rebooked flight plan other real-universe topics that we cover. We set again until late August. (Longyear-Troms0-0s10-Amsterdam-Detroit can do that wherever we are - to the But in early January, the Sun and its life Atlanta) actually worked (it did, barely). astronomical roots of the everyday world giving light are long gone. Noon is as dark as The town name Longyear, by the way, has and to impart to our audiences and classes a midnight. Perhaps, I thought, this is what it nothing to do with astronomy. It is the sur sense of the excitement we feel ourselves. might be like on a future Earth when the name of an American entrepreneur who One of my best-ever student evaluations Sun has become a white dwarf and night fol began coal-mining operations there in the read "he took a boring subject and made it lows night without sunrise. early 1900s, and whose grandson I knew a seem interesting!" We may not inspire all of Absent the Sun, we humans crave the half-century later as a sociology professor our students to our own level of native pas light. The public lights in winter Longyear during my college days. sion for our chosen subject, but if we can byen burn "day" and night. In the nearly But the name, in a sense, has everything to light a spark of interest in the dark and teach empty hotel, the lights are turned on in do with planetariums. Our lives are governed a bit besides, we've done our job well. every room. Every house and apartment by celestial cycles that we take for granted. Till next time ... minutes / slides / ...... '...... , ... """""""" UP! 20 108 $450 $ Slides A fun, trl£:>n,"'I!\l interactive exploration of the sky! Designed especially for Pre-K th .. ,'"',.,....h 1st graders, this is an ideal first show for primary school PLEASE SEND ORDER TO: Your presenter conducts this program blending live interaction with Distribution, Davis Planetarium Maryland Science Center prerecorded segments. 601 Light Street Baltimore, Maryland 21230 LIfE BEYOND EARTH 31 minutes / 368 slides / $350 Consider the possibility of life elsewhere in our galaxy and throughout the universe. DESTINATION: UNIVERSE, OUR FUTURE IN SPACE 38 minutes / 321 slides / $350 Journey into the future from a space station out to the stars. Indicate preferred noise reduction: Dolby B, Dolby Q WORLDS Of WONDER 25 minutes / 314 slides / $350 Investigate some of the exciting discoveries made about the worlds in our Solar System. intlr,)rrlraation call j 1"1(1lnflltaw'iurn at Vol. 29, No.2, June 2000 Planetarian refractor, still in its box, which looked like it learning of the usual had never been opened. I'm sure you can pic 5) Watching all the of Star ture the box: 30 in. X 10 in. X 8 in. Inside was and cross-referencing characters as to the telescope, a 5 X 24 mm finderscope, and which episodes they "'"' ...... ~"~.c'n parts to a wobbly three-legged stand. Also in really Astronomy. Try sornet:hirlg cluded was a 3x Barlow lens, 12.5 mm and 4 6) I cannot stop you from doing your pro mm eyepieces, And a 1.5 X erecting eyepiece. ject on astrology. But I wish you would There were pictures printed on the side of n't. the box: wonderfully clear, highly magnified 7) If you cannot think of "rnr+hinn read a views of planets, the moon, and nebulae that book on something in astronomy. I no one would ever see through that tele have some really interesting ones you scope. might like to check out from me [Note: Since I am the astronomy person, it was no student has ever checked out one of passed on to me. I accepted it, but didn't real mybooksJ. A in the of a Planetarian ly want it because I don't have a storage Once a month, during the semester, I room. Where would I put it? I already trip asked if anyone had come up with any ideas - The third graders got off the bus at 9:55 over a terrestrial 'scope that someone donat for his project. Most of the students had a A.M. This was their first trip to my planetari ed about 15 years ago. The telescope might general idea of what they wanted to do. um; they'd never been here before. They en be useful if it was assembled, but I really did just couldn't come up with an idea. Then I tered the high school and were immediately n't want to spend the time doing that. So I had an idea for a project he could do that met by a gruff-looking security guard who put the box in a corner, thinking I would would take just about 10 hours; I had to sell said loudly, "Come on! Move quickly and find a use for it sooner or later. him on it. I said, "How would you like it if I quietly!" He ushered them into the auditori The school year began, with the telescope lent you a telescope to look at the at um, which was already filled with 1000 high box in the corner. I started teaching my home?" He thought that would be neat. school students. The mood was chaotic, as astronomy class of talented and gifted high "There's only one catch," I said. "The tel(:so)v€ there are only 700 seats in the auditorium, so school students. One of the things I did was is in this box and needs to be put " I students were sitting on the stage, on the to give an aSSignment: a project worth 5% of pointed to the box in the corner. He shied floor. It was very noisy. Some of the 3rd grad their grade. I had made this aSSignment each away from that idea until I reminded him ers started crying. One said "I didn't know time I taught the class. I wanted the require that putting the telescope together would you had police in your school! What have ments to be simple, so that they could use count in the 10 required hours. "Besides," I we done wrong?" Another said, " I thought their creative minds to the fullest. The first said, "maybe your project could be about we were going to look at the ceiling!" Most year, the requirements read: "Do a project what it's like to put a telescope and said, "What's happening? Are we going to be about astronomy on which you spend 10 use it to look at the sky. You could tell the OK?" hours. When you turn in your project on difficult and/or easy things you found out On this particular day, every public (date), you will also turn in a piece of paper about assembling a telescope." He the school in the state of Virginia had been man telling me how you spent your 10 hours." idea. "Yes!" I thought. "I will get the telt:sc()ve dated to have a "tornado drill:" a practice of This is the seventh time I have taught this put together, then I can lend it out to peo emergency procedures in case a tornado is one-semester class. I have added a set of ancil ple!" approaching. The drill began simultaneous lary conditions to accompany this original The day for the presentation of the pro ly, statewide, at 9:45 collapse. About a half aSSignment. These conditions have been jects arrived. Billy came into the room. He hour after it began, the drill ended and the added piecemeal because of situations that had no telescope with him. "Where is it?" I third graders finally did get to go to the plan arose as each new group of "smart" students asked. "Oh, I couldn't get a ride etarium to look at the ceiling! [ Why we were has attempted to do the least amount of couldn't bring it. But I have my report put in the auditorium was a mystery. If it work for the most amount of credit. Here are about the problems of assembling it, and had been a real tornado, the students could the ancillary conditions: what you can see with it, and stuff." have watched the ceiling of the auditorium 1) Students must sign a piece of paper that "That's right," I thought; "he doesn't need collapse. reads: "I understand that (date) is a dead the 'scope to give his report." -I called a local bookstore, asking for a line." Billy's report was very good; he book called Astronomy: A SeZt=Teaching Guide. 2) You cannot, on your accounting of 10 enced all the foibles that most The clerk said: "According to our computer hours of time spent, list time noted as, assemblers have endured. The instructions listing, it is in the store. Would you like to for example: "5 hours- thinking of a pro weren't very clear. It was impossible to keep wait while I go look and see if it is really ject." anything in the field of view. The Barlow here?" "Yes," I said. After a time, he came back 3) If two or three of you do a project lens mostly magnified vibrations; the tele on the phone and said he couldn't find it. He together, each student must turn in a scope wouldn't focus very well. "And," Billy said, "I went right to the 'New Age/Astrology' paper with his accounting of his ten said, "when I finally did get Jupiter and section of the store and the book just wasn't hours. Saturn in the field of view, they didn't look there!" 4) If you intend to spend your hours think anything like the pictures on the boxl" ing of a completely new theory of "Ummm-h-mm," I thought, "his is a lesson of A something - how the universe was frustration which explains why the school planetarium is located in a public formed, for example - you must use at acquired that telescope in the first At high school in Richmond, Virginia. Last sum least five of your hours in learning the least I will have a telescope in the corner in- mer, a parent contributed a telescope to a usual theory of how the universe was principal at the school. It was a 60 mm formed and indicate your source(s) for 50 Planetarian Vol. Creating a new planetariuIll for the next century was easy _It only took the best of the world's most advanced multiIlledia technology_ Whether it is the drama of space exploration, the mysteries of quasars and black holes or the magic of the night sky, Minolta planetariums have the greatest audience impact. Long recognized for its advanced optical and mechanical craftsmanship, Minolta is now the world leader in integrating the latest imaging and presentation technologies. Today, Minolta offers full-dome laser projected ~. graphics, all-sky computer imagery, giant-screen motion pictures, and the most accurate and realistic recreation of the night sky. By pioneering the integration of these "cyber-dome" ~ technologies, Minolta has redefined the planetarium for the 21st Century. 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