THE PLANETARIAN Journal of the International Planetarium Society Vol. 22, No.4, December 1993
Articles 5 Big Video is in the Stars ...... Dave Conley and Garry Musgrave 9 Collaboration for C-360 Theaters ...... Richard S. Knapp 11 Story Telling in the Planetarium: Two Approaches ...... John T. Meader 13 Technology, Automation, and Planetarium Experience ...... Jeffrey H,unt 19 Research on Teaching Astronomy with a Planetarium .... Torbj0rn Urke 21 Folklore of the "Blue Moon" ...... Philip Hiscock 24 Countdown to '94 ...... Michael Hutton 27 Stephen Hawking is Coming ...... Kathryne Johnson
Features 32 Mobile News Network ...... Sue Reynolds 37 Focus on Education: Distances to the Stars ...... Stu Chapman 43 Book Reviews ...... April Whitt 44 Treasurer's Report ...... Keith Johnson 47 Planetechnica: All Dome Environment Projector .... Richard McColman 51 Gibbous Gazette ...... Donna Pierce 54 Opening the Dome: Best/Worst Skywatching Experiences ... Jon U. Bell 57 Regional Roundup ...... Steven Mitch 61 What's New ...... Jim Manning 64 All-Sky Circle: Unconventional All-Skies . Coleen Rowe & Ervin Bartha 70 Jane's Corner ...... Jane Hastings EXPLORE THE UNIVERSE True-To-Nature Space Exploration with Carl Zeiss Jena Planetariums
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~ E IL ER If you re replacing your star projector, or planning a I NSTALJIVlEI-...... JT ZEISS new facility. give us a call. Seiler call assist you in 170 E. Kirkham Avenue coordinating your entire planetarium package St. louis. MO 63 119 including domes. seating arrangements. auxiliary New Orleans Sales Office projectors. lighting and elevators. Our trained staff is 1-800-726-8805 Germa ny Fax: 504-764 -7665 available for technical assistance and service. The Planetarian (ISN 0090-3213) is published quarterly by the International Pl~me:tal:bllm Society. ©1993, International Planetarium Society. Inc .. all rights reserved. Opinions eX1Dn~ssed The netarian by authors are personal opinions and are not necessarily the opinions of the Injterna:Uo:nal Planetarium Society. its officers. or agents. Acceptance of advertisements. announ.celmentl!l. Vol. 22, No.4 other material does not imply endorsement by the International P~etarium Society, cers or agents. The Editor welcomes items for consideration for Please December 1993 request) "Guidelines for Contributors," last printed in the June 1992 issue. The Editor the right to edit any solicited or unsolicited manuscript to suit this publication's Executive Editor L S. ]ohnMosley Griffith Observatory President Treasurer and Membership Publlcatlou William Gutsch Chairman Undine Concannon 2800 E. Observatory Road Hayden Planetarium Keith Johnson Planetarium Adim1Il1strat,or Los Angeles, California 90027 USA American Museum Fleischmann Planetarium London Pianetm1um 213-664-1181 Central Park West at 81st St. University of Nevada MaLlYI,ebclne Road 818-708-7314 fax New York. NY 10024 USA Reno. Nevada 89557 USA NW15LR. Internet [email protected] 212·769·5900 702·784·4812 (44) 011-486·1121 212-769-5007 fax 702·784-4822 fax (44) 071-465-0862 [email protected] Advertising Coordinator President Elect Election. Co:mmmititee Sheri Trbovich Jim Manning 1994 Conference Chairman C~ Hansen Planetarium Taylor Planetarium (July 10-16. 1994) Thomas Stec 15 South State Street Museum of the Rockies Michael Hutton Central Bucks Salt Lake City, Utah 84111 USA Bozeman MT 59717 USA B.C.C, Planetarium School 406-994-6874 Brevard Community College 801-538-2104 x249 406·994·2682 fax 1519 Clearlake Road 801-538-2059 fax Cocoa, Florida 32926 USA 18912 CompuServe 76300,2027 Past-President 215·794-7481 John Pogue 1996 Conference Chairman 1410 Paris Drive (July 11·15. 1996. tentative) Membership Grand Prairie. Texas 75050 Dr. Tadao Nakano. Director Individual: $40 one year; $70 two years USA The Science Museum of Osaka Institutional: $150 first year; $75 annual renewal Nakanoshlma, Klta·Ku Library Subscriptions: $24 one year Executive Secretary Osaka 500. Japan Direct membership requests Katherine Becker 5103 Burt Street Hgtonan/Photo-AI'chl'\IDt and changes ofaddress to the Omaha. Nebraska 68132 USA John Hare Treasurer!Membership Chairman 402·556·0082 Bishop Planetarium 402-280-2140 fax 201 lOth Street West I. P. S. Job Information Service Bradenton, Florida 34205 USA To receive word of new position openings 813·746-4132 in the planetarium field, send up to six self-addressed stamped envelopes to: L Donald Hall, Director ANoclation of French-8peaking GrClllt PlUI'UI PlanetariWD ~WD AIMllOCilllUclft Strasenburgh Planetarium PlanetariumIII ANociaUon ~ P.O. Box 1480 Agnes Acker Bruce Daniel Ian D. Cameron Planetarium Strasbourg Pittsburg State Lockhart Planetarium Rochester, New York 14603 USA Universite Louis Pasteur Kansas 500 Road Rue de L'Observatoire Back Issues of The Planetarian 6700 Strasbourg. France 88361251 Italian ~tuia'sa Friendllll 204-414-9785 Available from: AMoclaUon 204-261-0021 fax Charlene Dukes ANoclation of Mexican Loris [email protected] IPS Back Publications Repository Planetariums c/o Clvid de Scienze Ignacio Castro Pinal ViaOzanam 4 Strasenburgh Planetarium Museo Technologico C.F.E. 25128 Breads. Italy P.O. Box 1480 Apartado Postal 18-816 CP 11870 Mexico City, D.P'. Mexico Rochester, New York 14603 USA 277-5779 Bozeman Montana 406-994-6814 "".L.L.!I..L"-A..I...... I..l.1b Mailing Planetariumll 406-994-2682 fax International Planetarium Society Undine Concannon c/o Hansen Planetarium London Planetarium Marlybone Road 304-242-7800 fax 15 South State Street London, England Salt Lake Utah 84111 USA United Kingdom NWl 5LR Lars Broman Broman Planetarium A cumulative index of major articles that have Plalilcumum ANociation f1AclerhwvlHl81 appeared in The Planetarian from the first issue Dennis S1mOPOUI08 Eugenides Planetarium Sweden through the current issue is available on paper Avenue-Amfithea +46-2310111 ($10 ppd) or disk ($5 ppd) from the Exec. Editor. Greece +46-2310131 (fax) 94-111·81 hcUk ~u.rtum AIMloclJlUCl~n Great LakClil Planetarium Lonny Baker March:January 21; June: April 21 AMoclaUon Morn80n Pianetarlum September: July 21; December: October 21 Dayle Brown. Pegasus Productions California of Sciences 713 Cushing Golden Gate South Bend. Indiana 46616 USA San FranciSCO. California 941 18 Produced at the Griffith Observatory 219-282-1885 USA Los Angeles, California 415-750-7325
Vol. December 1993 m the dito EX F ER
First, I'd like to thank Scott Niskach for although this might BMG years of faithful service as Advertising change with the Castle Coordinator. !t's an almost invisible, but appointment of a important, job that makes it possible to pub Publications Chair. lish The Planetarlan.. Sheri Trbovich of the But I do have fre Hansen Planetarium assumes his duties fol- quent informal the completion of this issue. If you contact with mem have a product that you think other plane bers and tartans would like to know about, please con and I hear an in tact her. Welcome aboard, Sheri. creasing sense of Sheri may soon have a Adver- frustration over (a) Coordinator to assist. If you live in lack of an IPS Mem Miami and would like to coordinate adver Directory tisements with someone local, contact Sheri and (b) lack of com Minolta ...... for details. munications from I don't have regular, formal contact with the society's officers the officers of the International Planetarium to the members to (I'm the editor, but not an officer)- explain what (if anything) the soci- ety is doing. With the notable exception of Treasurer/Member
ship Chairman Keith Johnson, who submits moon on or after li,p}"1I'11!:l111"V Jon U. Bell regular reports that are published in The who use electronic mail Planetarian, there seems to be essentially zero ~theDome note that my Internet address communication from the officers (and com I Jeffrey H. Bowen mittee chairpeople, if any committees are email Sound-Advice still active) to the members. Council meet Stu Chapman ings are held periodically; should the mem FOOWII OD EducatiOD bers expect to be informed of what was dis I Alan Davenport cussed/decided? sense unrest and the need Scrlptorlum for someone to speak up. Others who hold a view are welcome to express it as Letters to Jane G. HastiIIJl8 the Editor. Jane'. Comer Turning to for two decades Charles Hemann I've been asked by callers to tell them when ColIDPU.U!lJ' Conl« the new moon uwm be born" every time Ramadan approaches. I've stan~ Richard McColman dard almanac information but without Pluleteclm.ica much deliberate preparation. This past March I put together a memo which not only made my job easier but also for what promises Steve Mitch gave people information they found conference you will ~oaal Rou.adup useful. It worked so well I'm doing it in you there! 1994, and I share the idea with others here. Georgia Neff The memo's first page listed SUflset times and KodaUth Kom_ bearings, the moon's elevation at sunset, and Donna Pierce the moon's age (in hours) for four in Gib_boIu Gautte cluding and following the new moon, Sue Reynolds with explmatory text The second page was a sky chart prepared with Carina Software's Ne1N Network The Planetarian Voyager program that showed the moon's position above the horizon for the same at no Editor...... _...... , ..... Ne'tN days. Although I still cannot teU anyone WANTED: Far'/Ju:u R!cbaBrd Shores when they actually will see the young cres Fonua cent moon, I can tell them precisely where it will be,so they can look for themselves. The tion e The Planetarian Vol. e e e e cameras for oriJ!i]t1al I I I I When the staff of the Alberta Science aBze the impact of an image was to see Centre in Calgary, Canada sat down to it. We needed to test the best in our the plan renovations to their planetarium atre side-by-side, projecting the same theatre, the prime objective was that images:I we needed to have a 'Shoot-out.1 the new experience must have IMPACT! "Planetariums, for the most part, are creatures of the sixties," says The Star Theatre is a 20 meter dia Dave Conley, the Acting Manager of meter hemispheric room. After renova Design and Production. "We must break tions, the seating will become uni-direc- "We must break away from glorified slide shows and bring this domed theatre into the next century using presentation technolo gy with some pizzazz," away from glorified slide shows and tional and the floor and dome tilted 15 bring this domed theatre into the next degrees. This simplifies the OfC)le(:tio,n century using presentation technology needs since everything can aimed with some pizzazz." Video images in toward the front and backsca ttered particular can't be just five meters Ugh t falls in the less area across, appearing as 'postage stamps' on the immense dome projection surface. High quality, vibrant video spanning . .. can video withstand being almost half the dome was the goal. But a high quality image, and is can video withstand being enlarged that much while maintaining a high quality image, and is there a projector behind the audience. The capable of doing it? Star Projector will be Research resulted in piles of informa video computer-based .,.~ --~- .... ~- "-" ...... A ...... tion on all the various hi-end projec that enormous (albeit l.uc:a~.I..I..u...... ",.. u tors. Spec sheets were informative but it machine out of the was realized that the only way to visu- really helps matters," says Filling a large portion of the screen Dave Conley is the Acting Man with a dynamic video was ager of Design and Production at to be a technological the Alberta Science Centre, where he is responsible for the technical imagined that a matrix of 2 or production of presentations in star by 3 projectors could give a over- shows. He is a key member of the all image with high resolution on each planning team which has charted screen of the matrix. We would a new course for their planetarium to project across the 20 meter diameter theatre. Garry Musgrave is the from the projection booth at the back Engineering Manager for Commer of the new dome but a matrix of cial Electronics Ltd., a high-tech tors would be very difficult to up electronics firm in Vancouver, and keystone correctly from there. Canada, that manufactures the Alternatively, they could be IJv,nu'...... Omni Q® show control automa tion system for planetariums, in the centre of the dome a projec theme parks, and World Exposi tion distance of 10 meters, but a collec tions. He has considerable experi tion of projectors would take up a lot of ence consulting in the Audioj valuable real estate in the centre of our Visual field floor space. Also, setting up a matrix of Vol. No.4, December 1993 The Planetarian ...... • •• ...... .•.....•.••.••1:'> ••••••• ...... •••••• . , ;:...... ••••••••• ...... ·.... ( Ju'iiitv ...... ~ ...... •• ...... ' ...... •• / ...... < ••.•.•.•.•••...... ~v>·. I' ...... >. tlJ . . .•...... •• inHiO'h '. ....' •.. ·... .. • ... y ...... •. Mik...... ' ···/ .... i ...)< ..... \ ..... · ....·.}· ...... ··/······ /· ..··.i}) <}.••..•••.••••..• . :.... . The Polls are Closed NEC 9PG was quite good with the Sony gave a beautiful image. Many 1"1 .. 70.... 1-.'''''_ Probably the most interesting out VPH1271~ Ampro 2300 and both the-wool planetarians have that come of the shoot-out was that the Electrohomes being all quiet similar. video is never as high in resolution as technology in video projectors these days is fairly well developed and that ... HDlV on these bright projectors subjectively rivaled slides. all the projectors performed quite even the dynamic moving images of video 'blows the doors off' a ly. Many times throughout the testing people would say it was difficult to see show. any difference between projected images. However the scoring did reveal some favorites (Table D): The Electrohome 9000 had trouble their cherished film slide shows. Well, keeping sync. Overall, NTSC enlarged to line pairs per mm tests aside, HDTV on these bright projectors subjectively rivaled slides, and the dynamic moving images of video 'blows the doors off' a slide show. Hughes/JVC led the pack on this one followed by the Barco 1100. The Barco SOOOLC was not capable of accepting an HDTV sig nal. Sony, NEC, Ampro and Electrohome were all quite similar with very good images. Text fed from a Mac intosh lId consisted of paragraphs typed in In the first test, NTSC signal, images 6 meters is at its limit. Images were not smaller and smaller point sizes until it ranged from bright outdoor scenes and crisp and scan lines were showing. became unreadable. Graphics were scenes with fine detail to typical plane Next Sony's HDTV laser disc player screen savers with fine details and tarium material consisting of planets provided images of outdoor scenes with sweeping colors. Again the Hughes/JVC against a black background. In the fine details. HDTV enlarged to 6 meters 31SG and Barco 1100 were out front NTSC tests the LCD Light Valve technolo gy of the Hughes/JVC 31SG was scored high and gave a raster free, bright image com pared to all other pro jectors. Unfortunate ly the 31SG couldn't deliver a black back ground and so it ended up less than a clear winner. The individual pixels on Barco's SOOOLC were just discernible which resul ted in mixed reactions, and the technology of this projector meant it could not give a black background either. The Barco 1100 was probably the best of the CR Ts with good black back grounds and bright, sharp images. The Vol. 22, No.4, December 1993 The Planetarian 7 This is where the could show its stuff. maintained impn~ssilve Dn.~n.{ness and resolution. Scan lines were aU but invisible and col ors remained rich. It was beautiful. The Barco SOOOLC was not as the elation was pOint. couldn't take Switching to the like HDTV. ics from the saw and Electrohome 9000 a valiant drop out as they were incapable of han effort with the Electrohome better in dling the high scan rate. All other brightness, but with colors jectors performed very well a wash and available limited point spread. The Electrohomes stretched over too a surface showed some improvement in this test. area, they were both near their limit In the miscellaneous the Barco 1100, NEC 9PG, Ampro and Sony VPH1271Q showed sharp edges on the is certain: for checkerboard, the full range of the of NTSC, a line is scale, and· rich, true color bars. It also makes a dramatic Hughes/JVC 31SG showed some color washes on the checkerboard which were said to be artifacts of less than per fect light valves. Two of the blacks blended together on the Barco SOOOLC, and the Electrohome 9000 was purplish on the grey scale. This final test was of rT1".o':l+O<:'+ 1711"...-.r.... ·_ tance to this planetarium crowd jecting the big picture across the difference on 6 meter ...... ,.. 1'0 ...... meter diameter. At first the ~"""h," .. bled NTSC came 315G and Barco SOOOLC were HDTV. This us the ones to attempt this test because knew it would be by switching to their lenses. The people were reluctant to get involved because it would mean knocking down One thing is certain: from the centre and at the is perimeter with very little HDTY. and unknown results. But the competition prevailed the Electrohome and Sony people took the challenge and were soon shining the light of the 9000 and VPH1271Q across the 20 meter span. To the reps surprise the 9000 was able to achieve focus and the was a hair breadth away, a the people knew could be altered in shop. We then had four 13 meter The final outcome for the Alberta wide images. 8 The Planetarian Vol. • These conclusions pn~SelrltE~d I with some difficult decisions. or~taniza.tio'n decided and commit to pr~[)dllcinj;[ new lar!lle-~;crE>en r it world As a collaborative Drc)dllctiOl~, One of the common complaints about our Filmmaking is a daunting task for any indi- in vol ves profession, made by insiders and outsiders vidual planetarium, and since the birth of alike, is that there seems to be an extraordi the organization only three subscribers have nary willingness to permit duplication of undertaken it. effort in the area of show production. However, the idea of a collective film pro Progress has been made in addressing the duction effort by the subscriber theaters problem through the popularization of appeared viable, and in 1989 C-360's board of show kits, or "canned shows," which first appeared on the scene about twenty years ago. Much less common have been the Mississippi's Russell C. Davis attempts to bring the creative strengths of planetariums in the United several well-staffed planetariums together fully linking their creative and administrative under an umbrella of strong funding and selected professional talent to accomplish $1.6 million documentary film celebrating major productions. The Voyages film project The making of Voyages. a thirty-minute now in production falls into the latter cate tion 70 millimeter) format. gory. Voyages is a current project of C-360, Inc., a tion efforts within the not-for-profit corporation made up of plane of the strategies employed tariums and science centers using widescreen film, and discusses the motion picture formats as one of their pro ment problems associated with gramming elements. From its inception, "C_ 360" viewed itself, at least in part, as a film producing organization. Born with a back directors set out to put this concept to the Ex(;unt>les of the types of pro bone of personnel possessing significant film test. Jackson's Davis Planetarium was vided by the subscribers include overall pro experience, the assumption was that C-360's in charge of a feasibility study to determine ject management and finan member institutions would continue to whether a film on the spirit of eXI)101ration cial management, audio eru~inleerjin2:"""'''''''''''''- individually produce films for tl:le group. In could be initiated on this basis. ~PE~CU:lca,HY camera crew, unit D/.I"~en!nf'nv fact, this has not turned out to be the case. we were asked to develop a detailed film pro Center crew, Arctic and posal and to determine whether the quence assistance, desert and AU'",UJUUUU Richard Knapp has worked in planetar opportunities, financing and talent could be sequence assistance, and shipboru:d SE~auenc:e iums for 30 years, most of that time at assembled under C-360's control to create support Morehead Planetarium (1965-77) and as Voyages as a 3Smm hemispheric film. What It seems to me that there are director of Jackson's Russell C. Davis we learned was that the project would be so ingredients necessary in a Planetarium (1977-). Along the way he expensive and difficult that the 3Smm for ralive effort like These trained Gemini and Apollo crews in mat was unsuitable for it. This is because the shall caB Uthe 5 0;" commitment, COJnpen star recognition, created the Student sation, collective assessment, cOltnnlul1ic;a Space Station™ project, directed and 35mm hemispheric film market by itself produced C-360s award-winning The remains too small to justify expensive origi Hon, and centralized m,ma.j;[elment Space Shuttle-An American Adventure, nal productions. Moreover, the image of The first of these, commitmenta and is currently producing that organi hemispheric 3S is marginal in domes having the most features zation's film/television/classroom pro diameters greater than 30 feet, leading to the ticular collaborative effort among planetari- ject Voyages. Richard is a past president conclusion that future growth in this format ums. There is a sense ofSEPA. seems limited to the smaller planetariums. among the institutions themselves, Vol. 22, No.4, December 1993 The Planetarian On location for Mthe landing of Columbus in the New World'" The crew (at camera includes staff mem- hers from the Bee, Flclsc:hma.nn, and R. C. Davis Planetariums. This ...... ·" .. r'.,.,.. among the individuals working on the pro could receive the film at a reasonable cost. ject. I believe that this derives in large part Past experience had taught me that I could effect the and pric)rities from the leadership examples set by the depend on subscriber planetarium staff dearly out in front of the entire team, directors of the involved planetariums. members to best understand how to make builds confidence and UllldeI'standinR it n ..,",u;,rl"",,,, a way to measure our There are ample opportunities for petty jeal film work on a dome, and how to do creative ousies and "turf wars" to upset an effort like scrounging to solve production problems on this, but-so far-the leadership has held to a budgets Hollywood could never touch. On higher standard the other hand, cinematic direction and To help elicit the necessary level of com screenwriting are highly specialized mitment from the subscriber institutions, wherein errors could cost us hundreds of certain compensations have been built into thousands of dollars and possibly ruin the the project. A committee of the board of C- entire production. For this reason 360 has developed a formula for reductions benefits from having a full-time film direc in user fees on the film based on man-hours tor and an award-winning prloh!ssiOIlal oraUve on invested in the production effort Compen screenwriter at work on the project deal of very difficult work sation also takes the form of some important Communication within the management done and there are many intangible benefits for the subscriber institu team is critical to our success. To this end, we avoided, but am still very op1tirrlistic tions, not the least of which is the publicity have employed both traditional and our chances for success. which can be gained from being associated approaches to the challenge of .... " .. ;vu~ with the effort. One need only look at the principal parties informed in and extensive national and international publici timely ways. One of the most successful ty received by the City of Jackson for the aspects of the communication has been Russell C. Davis Planetarium's efforts in con the creation of an Editorial Review Com nection with the making of C-360's first film, mittee, which meets quarterly. The commit The Space Shuttle: An American Adventure, to tee is composed of the executive ...... ''V"I,'U·<' .. appreciate this aspect of compensation. the director, the business manager, and repre a thematic Collective assessment is the third "C." sentatives of the principal sponsors, as well as for use in classrooms 3-8). In1:enlctive From the outset we realized the necessity for representatives of organizations otl:erl,n2 instructional materials are also plalnn,ed, honest assessments of our collective major filming opportunities to the project the film may appear on network .. o,"''''''.~,~ strengths and weaknesses on a production of Finally, strong centralized man- in the future. C-360, Inc. eXl:leC1S this magnitude. It seemed clear that invest agement is essential to accomplish an ambi ing in professional talent would help insure tious and far-flung project like Voyages. As that Voyages achieves its potential, yet C-360, the Executive Producer of the film, I have Inc. wished to keep the end cost of the pro been gi ven the opportuni ty to organize the ject as low as possible so that subscribers resources available and manage them in the 10 t Iii • • I lum: case t several different lecturers. This to present stories in the ulanetariWlIl, pr c e don't feel that this book" tecltmilC)ue 1/ John T. Meader Northern Stars Planetarium 4 Osborne Street are no Fairfield, Maine selection of stories from some world Instead you will be briJtlgulg stories back to life and you un1n·c~""1t Storytelling in the planetarium is a won night sky from one set of appropriate con become an of derful use for a star theater. There are many stellations (or sky objects) to another. The When I refer to the stories different types of stories that can be told bridgework takes the set of stories and unites I'm not to how well in the planetarium, the obvious first them into a complete show. It con them, but the stories will De'COlme choice being sky stories. However, the ques Sistency and unity. The stories themselves because will grow and tion about storytelling is not whether they may be adapted slightly to fit the time con- as you tell them over should be presented in the planetarium or even which ones should be selected, but how they are to be presented If you want to do I believe that there are two forms of pre must take a big sentation. First is what I call the "storybook becom~ the story teller style," and second is the style of "joining the changes vastly. tradition." The storybook style is what you get with taped shows about star lore. The stories are straints and flow of the program as a will better. It's like Ul':l1~rhina reproduced nearly verbatim to the way they but generally they are simply told (or read) were collected A strength of this approach is as originally found. Oftentimes a different that the tales remain true to the story teller narrator reads the stories than the reader of learned the stories you want to from whom they were collected Historically the bridges. The story reader might have a after you have been the story may be more valuable when told tonal quality that the audience would visu months to a year, go back in this fashion as it is presented more dearly alize as a native of that culture, onszmru sources. It'll be the same for analysis. To produce such a program basi sense of realism for eXclmlPle, find that it'll be differ4ent cally requires researching the stories, finding really hearing an Indian tell an Indian the ones you like best and organizing them legend. Using a second narrator also into a coherent whole. The show ends up as separate the stories from the a series of wen narrated legends with some Narrators who imitate natives should be rec type of verbal or analytical bridge between ognized for who they really are in the credits them. The bridge may be an analysis of the as we do not want to be accused of mislead story's meaning and origin, or the bridge ing our audiences. may simply consist of moving through the Perhaps the most interestir~ alDDloac:h to have recordings of the actual T. Meader is the director and the tale. Many oral co-owner (with his wife Alison) of now exist that may have such reCOfCUn!lS the Northern Stars available. Unfortunately, the North Starlab) Pla:netarhlffi, rec:of(tinj~s varies the audience must be able to understand the narrator. iness they started in 1987. Pre- Also there are often restrictions on how John was the director of these important and valuable re<:orcUI12S the Francis M. Malcolm Science may be used and edited. furthe:rmc)re, Center Planetarium in Easton, of the stories that you want may Maine, from 1983 to 1988. He be available as an VJLAj"JLU'"" n!Cording. his start in the field of Planetarium may have been collected directly to paper Education at the University of rather than to the tape recorder, and in that Maine Planetarium in case you are back to finding a reader. Maine, during the late 19705. This storybook style of presenting tradi tional tales provides great consistency from Vol. December 1993 The Planetarian 11 grow, then my answer is to go back to the that collecting stories in this manner is time approach. It is a valid approach, consuming and takes a great deal of exper but it's not true What tise. Furthermore, it can be very difficult to imizes the second is the realization find an interviewee who is not only that the stories half the show. of study, but who is also The other half is the story tener himself. Of Most planetarians may find lntp1"'\"ip'l:ATirIO" course this does have one draw individuals too time So for the back-no one can be your substitute. When sake of simplicity, let's assume that you are you become a you are as much a using books and other collected part of the program as the stories, so you are works as your documents. Your first not I sup pose that could be looked at People like stories, but they love to told stories. as from Also, while the ..:tn,rvt'lo(V',1/' telling in the planetarium changes the a lends itself to analysis about stories to a performance by a storyteller. of the and myths, the story style does not because of the is to read a lot of stories. You need to get a fin"""' ...... r nature of the story and the way it is feel for the type of stories you wish to tell It the teller. It is no a simple is probably best to a genre to recitation of an old tale. of the his- start with, such as Native American L"'~:''''U,'''''''', torical or cultural tale or Greek Mythology. After reading a can become clouded by the n"' .. f,..,...... '" .... r''' couple of collections, think about which sto and the subtle that the teBer ries stick out in your as sto has added ries you like or as stories you deem ap'pr()Pri Also, I have found that students are as fas- ate. Go back and read them cinated with the of the stories as you should try just one or two sto- are with the stories themselves. Who ries. 1I'1"In"'1":--Vr\l1 may spawn some young Don't begin by to a show to the tradition themselves. "'.... ·t-....,.Iu on storytelling. An hour's worth of So which approach is best? both fit stories is a lot of material to put into your different needs and abilities. However, I have head and then present in a credible shows using both and while my telling" fashion. This can be a ""tn... "I-v"nL-" style were always term goal. I now present three different such received very wen, my live story pro pl(ln(~tarhlm programs; however, I grams are the best received that I have ever more modestly. I suggest that you learn done. like stories, but love to be one or two stories about one of your favorite told stories. Story in the pl(lmetarimn constellations and practice dur- chanlges the program from a show about sto ing star Many of us fill our ries to a by a storyteller. People outs with tid-bits of information that we a good over a have up about different stars, constel- reconiln.g. R.eccJrdlinl~s are great, but it's lations, dusters, etc. a story not the same as the real The a similar manner. It works wen and it broad the tradition" style is more demanding, ens the scope of a typical Don't be but I think it is more rewarding too, because surprised, however, if you're dis:appoinited as the stories grow and change so will you with your first few attempts as it takes prac and your story telling ability. tice. If your stories are rough at it won't make or break an entire show when the 'U'IJJIhA£lllll'iIIClIto story is only a short "add-on" to your out. Don't give up though, if you If the idea of becoming a storyteller intrtglLles you and you would like to try it in your story it will get better. you will plalnetarturn, there are some basic steps become comfortable with it. Then started. First you must locate the can start and pralcticlI1lg stories you want to teH. There are many des. It won't be long before have a books available today that offer vast collec 1y good Then you can think about a show devoted to your stories. tions of lore (see the at the When you find a story you want to ten, end). This is the easiest source available. Of course for the ambitious, field the first you must do is learn it. The work is a way to get sto- here is to "Learn the don't memo- ries from a sto- rize it. If you want to present it I ....., ..... 11 ..... can of written, think you should record it in the (!tnrutvv\1,r style as previously It is traditional of presenta- sut)le<:ti'\l'e to "learn the story," Start tion that is difficult to obtain from a written The of course, is the tale several times. If you have 11 lit I I I lit I I In this paper I will consider the tecnnOiC)gy in the negative that this article my ogy /culture theory to explain other culture focus of attention to the room, as if the flash and changes than the two he considered. Let's patrons were there for some sacred ceremo consider, agriculture and the automobile, n y. The show operator or letturer occupies a 5) two wide-ranging technologies beyond the place of significance as s/he controls the planetarium. medium and information, almost like a Agriculture has changed culture, especial shaman in ancient culture. If our civilization ly at its beginning. According to Kehoe (1981) were to disappear and some future anthro food collecting had reached a semi-organized pologist were to discover the planetarium, I 6) level in Mexico by 2000 B.c. As the pattern wonder what s/he would think about the of collecting turned from a symbiotic rela room. Would it be compared to other sacred tionship to one where the collectors became and mystic places? Similarly, the planetari tive question here is how the in,1hJ';ri"",,1 cultivators, a highly organized civilization um "show" has its unique culture. The show te<:hrlOlogy fits one. developed. People gathered in large settle involves darkness, stars, visual and verbal 7) Make distinctions between tec:hnlO1()gl'es ments that eventually became large cities. information, music, education, and enter that ...... ii ...... , .. ; Lands were divided into states rather than tainment. small cornITIUnUy land owned by families. The SOCiety strati Hannerz's (1992) second definition of cul those that operate on fied into classes, and the class in power ture, mentioned previously, includes the the control wealth by collecting tribute (taxes) planetarium. If we apply the technology and the on the laborers efforts. The stratification of culture definitions, we should be able to ask classes promoted skilled laborers who could some questions about how technology create massive public works or make luxury affects the planetarium experience, although "_,,.AUAVJlV";,''''''CU liif""rA''-'U are '1ATl"l1l"th'll"I'lhH,p items for long distance trade. Art and writing the answers are not yet clear. How will the harmful outcomes, flourished, and science developed It's possi planetarium experience change when tech Lewis Mumford referred to ble that societies may have declined and dis- nology is changed? Are the changes desir benefits as when their agricultural systems failed able? Can the results of change be pr(~di(:te(rt 9) Do not accept the because of drought, or climatic is out of the bottle you change. it back,' or that a te<:rulOlogy Ford's idea of pro UH~V.~"UJjc. Such attitudes In modern times, Recently, writers such as Mander (1991) a low automobile for the ty and confirm victimization. and Postman (1992) explained the """y<>tiUA 10) In about teclmc)jog~y American masses changed American culture. points of technology. When proponents While he did not invent the automobile, offer the benefits of technology, little or Ford's populist approach and great resent nothing is said about the technology'S conse ment of the upper class drove him to pro quences. Both authors warned of the infiltra duce an automobile for the tion of technology and its dangerous effects common folk. With few paved roads and no on everyday life. Postman (1992) caned the intercontinental highways, Ford had to proponents of technology "te~chnojloplhiles" a car to run on roads built for wagons. (p. 5) and strongly warned us to beware the Lacey (1986) wrote, "The Model T turned out "~Jl~"J<.'" of zealous ... nnp-("vp'n ...... n'''h,p-j-'' to be was needed by a restless popu who see only what new tec:hnlol()gi'es to fill up a continent. Farmers and are of Im,agmlng took to it in numbers .. _ It was the car will undo" (p. 5). Furthermore he stated that, of rural America, the twentieth century 0".,111'<7<>1II",.."t of the covered wagon" (p. 103). The American love affair with the automo undesirable. bile is now part of our everyday life. A rela tively sedentary society was transformed into a highly mobile one. that "it serves the interests of who benefit from our ;n!J,hH;iou the is headed" .... I<, ....."t"' .. ;.'"" medium is not Mander offered ten scale culture, but several writers (Allen &. gy, some of which are useful to "'VH"'H"'~~ Kraft, 1982; 1992; and Hannerz, 1992) here. considered the and wrote about"oJ~~nization;~ 1) Since most of what we are told about n ...... ii...,II'"'" use to the rela tiOiflSihiIJS and patterns (culture) of an organi- zation. proven innocent.' The theater has its 3) Eschew the idea that technoJC)RV culture. Patrons are seated in a domed the- ater with a in the center. The seats U10H1-.h"hlo social, poHtical, are in a concentric or unidirec- and environmental consequences. tional fashion. In either there is a 4) The fact that technology has a natural 14 point about technology. He wrote, "Isn't it tions are threatened When institutions are time for a society-wide debate on whether threatened, a culture finds itself in serious costs-economic, social, health-related, and crisis" (p. 18). environmental-are justified, especially as Informal discussion with colleagues, arti benefits (speed, leisure, length of Ufe, com des in Sky & Telescope and Astronomy maga modities) are so marginal and perhaps super- zines, and articles in our own professional Why is there no debate in the planetarium community about the machine? 'Progress had come at last to potential harmful learning and cultural effects of computers, after a million years multi-screen projections, full screen movies. and the like on our trial Tourism patrons, staffs, and programs'? Are we blinded, caught in the head Abbey warned his readers, lights. of modern planetarium technology,? into your automobile next June out to the canyon country to see ticial? No such debate is taking place, and no journals announce the demise of the plane that which I have to such conclusions have been drawn" (p. 29)." tarium. Is it no wonder that we are confused these pages .. ~ Most of which I write Postman (1992) offered some reasons to sup about the future of the planetarium when is already gone under fast" port why there is no debate. we do not understand the consequences of This paper is not meant to be an the new technologies that all of us discuss former plClmetaI'imn e;[pe'rtelnce~, 1) The boundless American spirit is in con and almost lovingly embrace? to raise questlorlS about the pos:siblle stant movement looking for improve Postman and Mander were concerned that ofnewte<:hIlO}ogtes ment. technology changes our sense of reality. In 2) 20th century capitalists Bell, Ford, Carne particular Mander made some valid gie, Rockefeller, etc., exploited new tech that large corporations use technology, espe tarium, or national nologies and convinced modern Ameri cially teleVision, to change our of Let me look at some 'iAJ'lI'HhHYC1 cans that they had no connection to reality and nature so that they can rape aplpecued in ... 1'''... '' .... ." .. ; their past. nature through deforestation and Dllmdler teclhn()I~[y and 3) Technology convinced Americans by ing natural resources. and Mander's warn:mg:s, providing us with convenience, comfort, Similarly, Abbey (1968) described the assessment concepts, and some speed, hygiene, and abundance. "[It] was transformation of the National Park cism. so obvious and promising that there because of the technology of automobiles seemed no reason to look for any other and paved roads in the parks. He described sources of fulfillment or creativity or pur his stint as a seasonal park ranger at Arches pose" (p. 54). National Park in southeast Utah and saw Several authors have att1empted what automobile technology did the the medium. McColman Why is there no debate in the planetarium experience. He called the e:xpansion of the community about the potential harmful parks "industrial tourism" (p. 39). His learning and cultural effects of computers, tion may have parallels in the piametarimn, multi-screen projections, full screen movies, and the like on our patrons, staffs, and pro Where once a few adventurous grams? Are we blinded, caught in the head came on weekends to camp for a lights, of modem planetarium technology? or two and enjoy a tnc'tb ,,,FIi."";.. .,.;""'" do not conflict There is not an issue of this prestigious pubU remote, you will now find (PI'llpnti'np .".",1-.."""".'" S/he has a different pel~P4:!d:iive cation goes by that there is not an announ streams ofbaroque automobiles pouring level of il'nntlU'lp£lc:vp cement of a new product or a paper about in and out, all through the and the use of new technologies in the dome, but summer, in numbers that would have no balancing opinions about the potential seemed fantastic when I worked there: effects of using the new products. from 3,000 to 30,000 to JUL'.UU'U Postman (1992) called the United States a year, the 'visitation,' as call it, "technopoly" (p. 22) because of technology's mounts ever upward. The little camp control of everyday life. Specifically, tech grounds where I used to putter around nology gives us "the idea of progress and of reading three-day-old newspapers necessity loosened our bonds with tradi lies and watermelon seeds have now tion-whether political or spiritual" (p. 45). In been consolidated into one master camp his view, the U. S. became a technopoly ground that looks, during the busy sea when the notion of technology became son, like a suburban village: elaborate uncontrollable. He claimed that no other house trailers of quilted aluminum country is a technopoly because factors crowd upon gigantic of within them-such as family ties, religion, or Fiberglass and molded plastiC; government-refuse to give up control. their windows you will see the blue Specifically, he wrote, "When an old tech glow of television and hear the studio nology is assaulted by a new one, institu- laughter ofLos AngeJes_ .. Down at ... the new film tecnnoJo,gy Vol. 22, No. December 1993 The Planetarian tarium and that change for the medium was we have a point of reference" (p. 75). of a planet:ari1um inevitable, a point Mander warned against L-H-S Level Specification of ysis of the effects of this technolc)gy and Abbey rebuffed. "Had the planetarium Planetarium Capabilities culture of the plall1etar'imn remained static with the advent of new tech ed with the u,,,, .. n''''''''''"' nology and presentation methods it would -Levell: be in very sorry shape indeed" (p. 20). Are star projector new planetarium formats-such as aU-screen fillm--maklln~ the medium adapt or are the -Level 2 format changes arising because of adapta two 80 try slide prcljec1tors tions to new demands from the domed the- Tape playback sound system na1tro:ns? Why is Omnimax, or other l:n'1L7p-'~rN"Pn movie formats, placed in dome? @Level3: What are the motivations and goals in using 3 Ektagraphic (or equivalent) dissolve full-screen movies? pairs, arrayed Left/Center Right Schorcht (1990) wrote about how the plan Stereo sound system in theater, fed etarium can be used to explain scientific multiple sound sources. principles and appeal to the human exis 1 motorized zoom tence. He classified the planetarium as a "sci 1 motorized slew 3 thrcmgh entific-cultural medium" (p. 10), an agree partial panorama ment with Hannerz's (1992) second defini special effects capability tion above. His writing agreed with McCol slide mounting/opaquing events for pr<)motion man about the importance of the aesthetic tape duplication level theaters? What's more ;vn,ru·",-+",,,i- appeal of the planetarium experience. the number of systems "Scientific correctness should not be confus .Level4: images on the dome or the ed with realistic presentation ... " (p. 31). Level 3 capabilities, plus the patrons take Schilling (1991) wrote about a technique to Epicentric or unidirectional How do the domes at produce all-sky projections or precise place 3-4-or more projectors in predsiion ments of individual slides. The concept aligned stackers with ..,."'+ .. ..,..... ", views of nature? involved a computer program to determine animation capability Petersen's company creates the position of any point on the inside of the Soundtrack-synchronized automation shows that have hundreds of slides. planetarium dome. He concluded his writing system controlling multi-image about m11tchiru! with, "We can hardly wait to transform the projectors and effects show with the L-H-E criteria. planetarium dome into the Sistine Chapel or multi-speaker, multichannel shows are flawless NASA's Vehicle assembly building .... And sional-quality sound system music and soundtracks set standards what about the future?" (p. 17). What effects multiple motorized zoom medium, do these multimedia do all-sky projections have on the planetari multiple motorized slews duce the desired effects for which um experience? full panorama system intended? I cannot answer with any Hom (1988) described a systematic pro video projector/videocassette deck ty because Petersen does not include gram he proposed to design new planetari multiple special effects capability d~;criIDtilon of desired effects with shows. um facilities. Most parties involved in the sound studio fec:hn,ol()gy assessment asks who design of a new planetarium rarely have copystand/camera/slide duplica tern for-the plalnetar'imn ;.., ... h,,,h·,, experience. In his "development triangle" (p. tion/masking alignment 13) he stated that team composed of three for a certain level groups of administration, consultation, and oLevelS: the show will theaters have to vendors working together could construct a Level 4 capabilities, plus dreds of thousands of dollars of hardware to planetarium to meet desired goals. He specu 6-projector all-sky system run them? lated about the results of applying this tech cross-fading panorama projectors nology; he wrote in his concluding state multiple animation-aligned pr()jec:tors ment, "Will this [concept] bridge the gap and trained on multiple screen areas The create a sense of cooperation between SMPTE (or equivalent) time code-based administration, consultants and vendors? automation system the effects of automation? \AI,,.H·ii,,..,,, Can it tum the potential Bermuda Triangle videodisc player when education was cO]lsi~dering into a cooperation triangle?" (p.14). pin-registered camera/copy stand to the classroom Petersen (1992) described a method devel mediations of master teachers, Finn (1957) oped by three vendors to determine the level @Level6: described ways that be of technology in a particular planetarium. levelS capabilities, plus 16 Planetarian Vol. If a taped planetarium show is a equiva es are brought into the organization, infor show. Producers can achieve impolrta11t len t of a master teacher in the classroom, mation must be exchanged to prevent back "unaccomplished" or "incompetent" plane ups if part of the automatic system fails. tarians can be removed from the dome. Orders need to be made to repair or make a From several years of personal observations, temporarily fix in the system. we planetarians appear to write, produce, To implement such an automated system tomers' opilnicms and present shows as if we are the keepers of in the planetarium reqUires considerable the achieve astronomical knowledge and that we have analysis of the market and target audience, The Adler also in'(;,nhT<>ri something important to ten. Planetarium lit and long range planning to implement new small segment of the show to erature reveals few systems approaches to planetarium shows. Deshpande and Webster was received and learned reach desired goals. Using a systems ap (1987) wrote about "developing a customer The test resulted in a proach changes the planetarian as a "keeper orientation" (p. 16). In order to attract show. Some of the content was of the knowledge" to a consultant who sys patrons to the planetarium, we must exhibit cated and the too fast tematically gathers data about the public's shows that are timely and fit the patrons' ence to understand it. This is impressions and current knowledge and interests. According to Deshpande and writers like McColman (1990) searches for ways to improve those positions. Webster, this requires a change in culture that it does not matter what The planetarium patron is already interested beginning from the top of the organization learns, and that show must be in astronomy and sympathetic to the goals and supported by beliefs and behaviors by to the aesthetic lntuitllon of the planetarium. S/he is a fan who is ready everyone in the organization. When plane whim. to return again and again. Taped shows can tarians consider themselves experts on the I believe that audience be successful if systems approaches are used exhibition of the universe beyond, going to prototype show segments, and IOTI2:-lral1l2:e in their development. McColman's (1990) a market or customer driven show structure planning may be the pla.netarian's concerns are well~noted, but his ideas may be will be a difficult cultural change. Market assets his/her .ImoV\r.l.e Vol. December 1993 The Planetarian 17 takes the astronomy "lecturers" out of the and gut reactions. We must determine our the Wilderness. New York: dome and replaces them with a master lec own systems approach, perhaps adapting Inc. turer show) that is monitored by tech good ideas from three or four experts in sys Allen, R. F. &: c. (1982). nical staff. tems organization. McColman's (1992) nega zational Unconscious: How to tive comments about systems are noted be Corporate Culture you Want cause technology won't solve an problems, Englewood Nl: Prentil'f'-frall but it will help direct us. Baker, L. (Ed.). (1991). "Forum." As I began in the introduction, does tech tarian, 20, 4, 58-60. Even with the rush toward more sophisti nology dull the senses and raise our level of Barton, A (1987). "Of Star Shows cated (hardware and software) in tolerance? It appears so, but we need to com Theaters: An Assessment." The 1-'81':IMot-n1V'infrl society in general, and in the planetarium in pensate for technologies negative effects by 16,2, 19-20. "'IJ ...... AU.'-. we must be aware of the negative adding human touches as often as possible. U' ... .:)HlJaJUU'~. R. &: Webster, F. consequences of employing technology to Like the apothecary, who knows the lethal Organizational Culture and A,(fl''''''''''''+;''''''' reach desired goals. Planetarians are acutely effects of his chemicals, we must know the ing the Research ,.,...",...... '-<' ...,,'v ...... aware of problems of global warming, pollu reasonable limits of our use of technology. Marketing Science Institute. tion of all types, acid rain, and dwindling From making casual observations by work Finn, J. D. (1957). "Automation natural resources. We are among the leaders ing with many children, attending planetari Education: I. General PI in "educating" the public in these issues um shows at other facilities, viewing films at Communication 5,343-359. our planetarium shows. Nichols the local Omnimax theater, and visiting Finn, J. D. (1960). /I Automation (1991) wrote that if industrial technologies local museums, patrons want to interact Education: III. and the have consequences, then technolo with people-"astronomers, the experts." Our tional Process." Audiovisual COimrlI1W1ic£lti(ln gies used in educational environments have local interactive science museum has Review, 8, 5-26. side effects, too, extending the con "explainers" who tell visitors about the Gailey, C. W. (1992). The Politics cepts of Mander and Postman. exhibits. The local Omnimax theater has a and A Educational technologies attempt to use ten-minute live lecture for the audience Gainsville, FL: Press of Florida scientific theories to develop predictive out before it enters the theater. Second and third T. (1978). Human comes. Nichols contended that this structure graders eyes sparkle when I visit to their Enl'lineer11n(T Human ppt'1"f1r:tnnnro may actually inhibit learning. Furthermore, classrooms to answer their questions and dis McGraw-Hill Co. he wrote that the use of educational technol cuss astronomy with them after they visit Hannerz, Ulf (1992). Cultural comDlexitv: ogy, "also runs contrary to meanings of an the planetarium. With aU of the technology Studies in the Social ur~~arllfzal~ion educated person .... One result of the belief (hardware and software) we have in the New York: Columbia UnivPT .. jlrv and power is that it tends to concentrate etarium arsenal, people are the best special Horn J. liThe develloplmEmt ..... _.~~1~ power within a few people" (p. 127). More- Planetarian,l7, 4, 13-14. Hunt, J. 1. (1992a) "Planetarium "This is not to say that educators must abandon the use of tech Research and u .. , ...... ,.,"'C'''' nology, but it does mean that a responsible rendition must be Planetarian, 21, 2. Hunt, J. L. (1992b). "Letter to the developed ... ,tt Plr..rne;tar;;an 21,3,7-8. Hunt, J. L. &: 1. (1992). effects I've seen. The planetarium patron Process to Build a Planetarium over, Nichols contended that educational may want to be "wowed" but they seem to prE~selnt€~d at the Great Lakes ,J''''''''''''C''''''_ technology has negative social impacts, it want to see and talk with a "live" expert ium Association Conference. takes away individual freedom, and it is before or after the show. This could be an Kehoe, A B. (1981) North American deterministic. important research study: How do live seg A Account. 1.o· ...... ,.I .... UT~.~rI and Pardeck (1991) also wrote ments help the planetarium reach NJ; Prentice-HaH, Inc. about the negative consequences of educa R. (1986) Ford: The Men tional technology. wrote, "This is not Machine. New York: Ballantine. to say that educators must abandon the use Summary ...... 44 ...... ".1. (1991). In the Absence of technology, but it does mean that a Technology is a fact of modern life. Our Sacred: The Failure responsible rendition must be developed .... lives seemed governed by the computer, Survival Indian Nations. San J:irancisccJ: Technology ... must be reintegrated into the automobile, telephone, and slide ..,. .. r" "'I',,,,.u, Sierra Club Books. human condition and not simply assimilat The major intent of this paper is to ask AV ..... 'V'U'... uau. R. (1990). IIHow Good ed into the environment ... If (p. 394). tarians to think about the technology we use Planetarium Shows?" Systematic attempts to look at the plane in our domes, and consider the technology's 12 tarium patron's psyche will neither solve all effects on the culture of the planetarium nn.. 'VV'HU,CU1. R. (1992) "Letter to the of our problems nor help us reach all of our experience. Systems approaches, sophisticat Plr..lru';tariian 21,2, 6 goals. We must not be blinded by all forms of ed eqUipment, and elegant feature star shows technology. Was Barton (1987) blinded by can help the planetarium reach its goals, but, Murphy, J. W. &: Pardeck, J. T. (1991). Technological World-view and the n<::~'U'IJj"- the positive glow of technology when he in the end, human interaction of people talk comforted us about the inevitability of the ing with people may be the most important sible Use of in the Classroom." change in formats? Systematic technology. D. &: J. Belland attempts will solve many of our problems and the balance will be solved through our References (Please see T(!(.~hn(}loJrY own intuition, instincts, style, personalities, Abbey, E. (1968). Desert Solitaire: A Season in 18 The Planetarian Vol. No.4, December R sea h n th ffe t 1. A visit is 4="'","" .. ..,1-.11"" • made in connection with an astr01101DY chi tr n m I h unit at school 2. Girls seems to be more """,.. +~,,, ... 4',,,,rI Planetari m boys with plane1:aril11m tea,chin£, Torbjern Urke 3. Volda lrerarhegskule dents with Teacher Training tests seem to omy withouta plCllDetariurn N-6100 Volda 4. The lesson should Norway in the unit. 5. One of the test items had this "'1.l"~I::"""' •• ~ and Questions inspirled" quc:!Suon: How can we ... when answering a school test, pupils Norwegian schools can now teach the Earth rotates? seem to turn to an official vie~ received astronomy with different types of planetari from teachers, books, and mass-media, ums. However, the European research litera The students' answers were collected more than to what they can see with ture is meager with regard to didactic ques divided into two main categ()ries: their own eyes. Very few students used tions dealing with teaching astronomy with a Answers based on their own knowledge ofeveryday events a planetarium. sources: to answer the questions. It seems as if The lack of Norwegian experience and I've learned it they had never looked at the sky incomplete European research on this issue books.. the day as well as during the night. ... motivated teacher trainer Torbj0rn Urke, It can be verified from astrorlonlical teaching given did not enhance pupils Starlab manager at Volda Lrerarh0gskule studies. observing, describing, and eventually (Volda College of Education), to carry out We learned about it at school. explaining the everyday events they can this study under the supervision of the b. Answers based on student's see in the sky. What teaching strategy University of Trondheim, Department of ence event~ could one suggest? ... What about future Educational Psychology, with Professor We can see it because the work? (Viglietta 1986). Asmund L. Stmrnnes as advisor. the We can see the stars move. On the Distribution Chart the group caned No Planetarium astronomy unit with room outdoor activities work. The group caned Planetarium astronomy unit with seven corre~sv,ondiru! lessons and one lesson with the plc:lmetariUI1!l. The results from both main The researched questions focused on: cate that few students based their 4H'~"'!;I;) 1) How can a single planetarium lesson achieve optimal effects as part of an astrono The students were divided into two my unit with classroom and additional prac main groups: 1) the group dents had an "official view". The ~1"",.' Vol. The Planetarian p)Cime:taI'imD should be used when students tarium Society stress the contribution to are taught about Celestial Motion and Pheno educational research of cross-communica mena ofthe Night Sky. tion? How can planetarium research be con cooperate more with How can we in our International Plane- nected with important science research into on media? We that way be more and in media to Percent 34 Students' Opinion based on: 25 Authority etc 20 Masters IIIIIIII1 Own Experience [A vaHable from Volda Lrerarh0l~skuJe 6100 the authorl 15 12 Maria Luisa (1986): "Earth Motion". GIREP Conference 1986. 10 MOS An Educational Chlzlle'rl'l'e. vr.nrpPrI_ 4 4 of a Conference held in COlpe]1htigen, 5 Denmark, 18-23 o No Planetarium Planetarium Students using the planetarium more often trust their own experience in questions. Significance with Chi=15.9, (df.=2), p (Big continued from page 8) footage shot with four cameras this could yield interesting results. But to machines performed very well and were spread a single camera image over 26 in fact only marginally away from the meters, video wall style, would not above mentioned Having seen two of work. Four CRT units would also cost the CRT products capable of projecting more than one LC light valve and a 13 meter wide image suggests that all would incur extra maintenance costs, of them are probably capable of doing production costs and hassles. so. Any of these CRT projectors could be It would be better to try to recommended for use in a planetarium 20 meter irnage from the Hl1tTh.,,.., and our decision would come down to As the manufacturers away final price negotiations, service and sup their equipment they commented on port. how this was perhaps one of the most Thirteen meter dynamic video images were indeed impressive. They occupied a good fraction of your field of vision and were bright and sharp enough to have impact. It seems that a matrix of Df()iec:tors not the answer. Four standard 1.5:1 lenses 13 meter 20 meters in 2 matrix would an overall size 26 meters across. For or:igi:nal 20 The Planetarian Vol. time, well over 400 years, I I t I time its has shifted. six different meanings in a to the moon's were used as eJGlLml:>les about which there could Four hundred years ago, would argue the moon was age sixteenth century man Depending on where you lived, 1993 had a times. The full Harvest Moon was a signal, to way we understand, 44JIe'd "blue moon" in either August or September. those who would listen, that it was time to white." This undeI'standiruz: If you were east of a line running down the start the last work of the year in the fields. absurd (the first meanil1R) Atlantic Ocean, the blue moon fell in The late fall Hunter's Moon was invented September; west of that line, the blue month was August ... no one could give me a use of There is a lot of folklore about the moon. wire stories... , "Blue Modern folklore has it that full moons make for better parties and higher booking rates at folklore, masquerading as mental hospitals, but all the serious studies I've read deny the relationship. analogy with the Harvest Moon, and some to a second mE~aniln,g, The most interesting bit of modem folk of the other almanac moon names have the say that sonleth~ lore from my point of view as a student of same ring of later invention. moon turned hI ue was like language and folklore is the sudden popular Blue Moon is different from the """' ...' ..... 1.. h" would ity of the term "blue moon." Names of or seasonal moon names as it isn't restricted a moons at certain times of the year have been to a time of year. It is a movable feast Or that it would be on the Twelfth around a long time, and almanacs are espe At least once during August or .... '-~JL ....J,UU'-J But of course we all know cially wont to list twelve of them. The this year, you probably heard Harvest Moon is the best known of these, Ull1UUl:~H the media about the "blue lighting up the fields sometime after the fall moon." People have been equinox, enabling work to continue late that "according to folklore" the sec into the night. Of course folklorists know ond moon in a calendar month is a that the traditional belief is widespread that "blue moon." So, they say, this is the certain crops harvested by the of the of the "once in a blue moon, or alternatively in the of the moon." Don't believe them! IIOnce moon, better than those cut at other in a blue moon" is about years old, but the two-fu11-mooru in-a-month of "blue Philip Hiscock has been Archivist moon" is a lot younger than that. at the Memorial of The older may be Newfoundland Folklore and Lan and the newer one solid and guage Archive since 1979. In the technical, don't let anyone teU 1970s he did and you have one with the other. It's not rare to see two full moons in month. Because the lore. His Ph.D. in Folklore is "'''''''"'0£'''''_ ed in 1994 and deals with folklore than the moon's <:ur,rv1.£,,;;o I UVlJUJlI~Jl culture in Newfound- nineteen years. That's every written columns on folk- three months lore and for several New- have different ...... 'L,II'; ....., foundland papers and A.J.U;l~aL.A.Ll\... ">, moves around a bit. In 1999 there will and he has also many be two IIblue" moons. If you think about it, television and radio dis it's little like every like blue moons. that some months you three times instead of twice. substance. The Vol. No.4, December 1993 The Planetarian In 1927 a late monsoon in India set up moon in a month. I first became aware of the ~ooo COinOlltlC)flS for a blue moon. And the moon new m€:cul:mg of the term in late .1.700, here in Newfoundland was turned blue in when it seemed that all the radio stations 1951 when forest fires in Alberta threw A..wl\5'...... ej'l;; Archive we get calls from all over, from wond~erirlg about bits and in that month I got calls about blue moons. You see there were two full moons that month. There have been just a few double moon months then, and year- 1993-was 1J'''''~U.1H;U. because ublue moon" fell in either August or "'-I"n"'.UH.''-'', It fell in different man ths aepenCHn.g; 313t- local mi,dnj[ght; ers after. If your local full moon was before your local midnignlt, then your blue month was and if it fell after mid- night, your blue the earlier smoke particles up into the sky. Even the month was September. In late December 1990 I v ... .., ..., ....· .... mid-nineteenth century it was dear that Back in 1988 I searched and low for a and ae1V'elc)plneIU although visually blue moons were rare, reference to the term having this m~!anlm:~, they did happen from time to time. So the or for any other term used to describe two phrase "once in a blue moon" came about. It The term clearly was not commonly meant then exactly what it means today-that an event was fairly infrequent, but not quite moons in a single calendar month. But regular to pinpoint That's meaning in vain. There seemed to be just no number four, and today it is still the main this term. I uncovered information on the one. other meanings of Ublue moon." But not this I know of six songs which use "blue blue moon, meaning number six. moon" as a symbol of sadness and loneliness. In December 1990, with a new "blue In half of them the poor crooner's moon moon" on, I started calls turns to when he gets his love at the and I searched harder this time. I had end of the song. That's number five: already exhausted all the usual sources of check your old Elvis or Bill Monroe historical and astronomical dictionaries, records for more information. indexes of and the like. in the 1980s, came the most recent new edition of the H"",""A.HUh of blue moon-the second full Ullctl~:Jrulry had come out in the meantime, 22 The Planetarian Star Date, may in fact have been reSl00I1lSible last decade or two the media. Until II for spreading the new (or reborn) term. wire services took it in 1988, those three During research for that program she ran media were Deborah on the across this 1943 Sky & Telescope "star radio, the children's book McLoon- which included a question about two fuB Basta and Alice Kids' World Almanac Records and Facts, in New York by World Almanac Planetarian, Pulblic:attOI1lS,in and the board game Trivial Pursuit The 1988 double full moon lifted the term off the ground the interest of wire ser vices it to newspapers, radio stations and televi- sion newsrooms all over North Ameri moons in a calendar month, the answer to ca, and perhaps the world. which was "blue moon." The term This new "blue moon" has a was not commonly known in 1943, and the kind of technical u .... uu ... j<, author of the quiz, L. J. Lafleur, attributed it which most of the earlier ones to a 19th century Maine almanac. I've search lacked. Perhaps as a result, and ed for a Maine almanac with the term in it "'~JLAV"""" it competes with five but to no avail-if any readers have such a other meanings, it will last a thing, I'd be very grateful to receive a copy! whole lot longer. "Old folklore" On her Star Date show Byrd used the "blue it is not, but real folklore it is. moon" term; that probably started the ball rolling. This is congruent with my original For a discussion of nl"'\'"''l'~''' that the term was in local circulation (per causes of a blue-appearing haps as local as a single Maine family-the moon, with bibliography, and Lafleurs?) until it was made popular in the a list of blue moons from 1898 Announcing EI tr i t r The Exploration in Education \...... C>.A ... J• .....,.. AJ n'l"'l"'IIlf'rr!lI1'1r'1 the Special Studies Office at the Science Institute is developing a series of multimedia educational publications caned Electronic Plcture Books, which are authored by space scientists. neers, and astronauts. These Electronic PictureBooks are being developed with NASA support by the Electronic PictureBooks are ..."., ..... ""' ...... -t-1 .. 7 Association of Universities for Research in Astron disk from omy. Inc. (AURA), a that oper ates the Hubble Space Telescope. Electronic Picture Books are distributed both free over the internet and via electronic bulletin boards and the proceeds cover costs and fund further research and development. The goal of ExInEd is to find new ways of relating space science and to basic teaching and learning and to the astronomi- cal community's ability to reach out to stu- and the at Electronic PictureBooks run on Macintosh com- puters and each contains full-color and PictureBooks from inil-""r,pc!il-&»,rl Vol. December 1993 The Plane tar ian 23 ance company in the MidAtlantic. II II It was inevitable that with talent as Jon, Joe, and would, sorneciav take that next step in the evolution II careers, but now I was left to build the new without ative people who had contributed so to the success of the Fortunately, I would meet and hire pIe with talents and skills .... ~ •..jO~~ ..h. the tasks at hand First to the staff was Ed Lantz followed ekani. Ed, Sam, and Farid would engineering to tackle the most unusual technical ..,. .. ,,,...,,1,,,..,,,,,, It seems like only yesterday that we were the eyepiece holder to permit better collima in the mountains of Utah enjoying the tion of the optics and added CCD equip given to the staff of a p18lfletariurn. a"d(,H"'...... scenery and the hospitality of the Hansen ment. them is Paul Steams, who moved from Planetarium. Then IPS 1/94" was of little con These efforts helped, but it wasn't until Dr...... "'," .. -_.· • ....,'0 staff into a fuB-time tec:hrllClian cern and far off into the future. But as in the Ron Maddison joined our staff that the tele position in July of 1993. inevitable course of time, IPS "94" is drawing scope received the care it lacked for so long. As early as 1987, I was convinced that close and, so too, is a sense of urgency in this Ron had the optics refigured from the origi cal-mechanical need- article. nal fill classical Cassegrain design to a slight ed to be combined with helnis'ph(~ric By now you should have received your ly faster Ritchey-Cretien. This has a mildly graphiC and video ..,. .. ~";nr-+"" .." was becoming a nn'I"'\11,I" .. registration materials and the hotel reserva hyperbolic primary and an ellipsoidal sec tion cards. If you have not received these ondary and, in combination with a field flat tariums, but to achieve the other materials, you need to stop reading this and tening lens five centimeters in front of the Digistar would have to be combined with a send me your business card with IPS 1194" focal surface, provides a coma-free field of traditional star projector. written on the back. If you have received the just over half a degree. The drive In 1990, Minolta Planetarimns, +h.-n,,,,,,,h materials and have not returned them to me, also has been augmented by stepping motors the efforts of Kosuke (Kozy) Sasaki, why are you reading this? You should be fill on both axes and a custom drive corrector work with us on the ing out the forms and returning them to me. designed and built by Chuck Adams, a vol Minolta provided an Alpha model Infinlum Remember: There is a big late fee for late reg unteer and Space Shuttle engineer. with sun and moon projectors and gave istration, so put the journal down and send The biggest problem of our sea level, sub technical support to our The in your conference registration and hotel tropical environment is the varying refrac Infinium planet were ofllitited reservations, now. tion of the air caused by temperature gradi provide space for the Digistar to "na.. ","" ,~""" .. ents, particularly in the last 5 meters as the to the Infinium. I did not feel this would I now will assume that the people light enters the observatory. Ventilation fans serious sacrifice since who are this are those who have have been installed in both the dome and motions we reqluh:ed. returned the conference materials or who the telescope mirror cell and have Sam, and Farid were rlh", .. ,.,.,ri have sent me their business card. very effective in reducing the effects of des.ig11ing a control system for the Infinil11m In the last installment of Countdown to observer body heat. If you run a that would allow ""v,\rh't'"",n; "94" I discussed the history of Astronaut observatory as part of your program, Ron with the ~&j"'&V'''''U' Memorial HaH up to the beginning of the and Chuck will be eager to swap ideas and to report that have renovation in 1988. At this time I would like stories with you during IPS 1/94." completed the basic control system. It has to continue with a discussion of the renova No sooner had these first efforts at reno been designed to operate on a Macintosh tion project including the many design con vating AMPO had begun that I faced my first computer and has a complete user siderations and problems encountered along major setback of the project. in interface. the we will be the way. 1990, and within the span of about eighteen delncmstratinli!: this unique to etarium control. Before this work another ",,~,~hl~~ ... I would like to continue with a discussion of the renovation pro pelrh(lps the most severe of all-surfaced as ject including the many design considerations and problems we the decade of the 90's: the recession. encountered along the way. We all had to deal with it in one form or another. In Florida, institutions like BCC had their first layoffs in the The first steps of the renovation project months, most of my professional staff had education. Some plctnE:talriums were small and began with the observatory. I moved on to other things. Jon Frantz started dosed, and money .... LLO ... '" raised the floor to provide better access to East Coast Control Systems and began selling Things started to look pretty bad for my the telescope and replaced some of the older an improved version of the DORK automa renovation project, but, thanks to the sup eqllipme:nt. Our main instrument never per tion system. Joe Tucciarone joined the staff port of my these nrclhlf'm<: formed up to my expectations, so I removed of JHE, and Gregg Tubbs moved on to head would be resolved. Dr. Maxwell C. the optics for resurfacing. I also redesigned up the production department of an in sur- President, and Steve Megregian, Vice dent for bUSiness, worked the with our 24 Vol. No.4, December state representatives and slowly obtained the 3Smm movie projector, demonstration area, going thr,ou~~h funds required. It sounds as if they simply laser graphic and video projectors, this the circular traffic pattern and made a few phone calls, but it was actually ater could provide greater variety in the move the main attra(:Ucms c: .....,IfV\1"i"I_ much more involved. The details of their types of programs offered Iy. efforts would fill every issue of The Planetar I could also increase the seating from 88 to The main entrance to the ~i'"n''''+~'';''''''' ian for the next ten years. I think the only 170 and create a lecture auditorium with a however, is the exhibit thing that needs to be said here is that if it capacity roughly equal to the 210 seats in the room, which acts as a were not for the support of these administra new planetarium. This would facilitate the exhibit haH from the Dl(m(~tariu tors, and my immediate superViSor, Dr. Tace movement of groups between the two the inside, the view of the pla,netartmn Crouse, the new planetarium in Cocoa aters. unique and will would have been a casualty of the economy. Other parts of the existing building which I the plalnetarilum With partial funding in place, we con would be renovated and converted included tracted with an architect and in 1992, I began the prologue theater and the Astronaut detailing the renovation of the old planetari Memorial Hall. The prologue theater was a um as well as designing the new one. From small room with bench seats where we this point forward, the project became an showed short multi-image and video presen incredible maze of details, specifications, and tations just prior to regular planetarium greater than 12 This is blueprints. When I was younger, and quite shows. With the creation of a larger slope found in many naive, this type of project looked pretty sim theater/auditorium, this space could now be fOl'milflg arts centers. In that type ple. But the last five years have given me a converted into a traditional classroom, it better audience "'"L' ..n ..... '" new respect such work. something every educational facility needs. stage area I selected this type Designing a major planetarium with as The Astronaut Memorial, located in the because of the similarities between many unique features as the one you will see lobby, would still be the main entrance but etarium and that of a pelrfolrmiing theater. Designing a major planetarium with as many unique features as Without the one you will see next summer was the most difficult and time consuming thing I have ever done. next summer was the most difficult and with an expanded theme. I feel that a new time-consuming thing I have ever done. era of space exploration is about to Working out the details for proper electrical and it will not be based on competition or distribution, HV AC, traffic flow, audience aggression but on international cooperation. Sight-lines, eqUipment selection, ADA com Consequently, our memorial to the astro pliances, and others much too numerous to nauts will eventually include exhibits about list, was far more involved than I would the astronauts and cosmonauts from all of have ever believed. the countries who have participated in the Just the problem of how to get the Infin manned exploration of space. I don't know ium to work with the Digistar was difficult what it will include or what it eventu enough. I have already described the ex- any be caBed because we are still difficult task of designing and build funds to complete the ing a control system, but there were many will be well underway by IPS 1/94./1 other considerations. Which projector At the rear of the Astronaut Memorial will What results, is a pIGm€~taritlm would occupy the center of the theater? be a gift shop and snack bar. This area, as well story space under the dome. It How would they be placed with respect to as the Astronaut Memorial and the class space that is used as an entrance. each other? Could two planetarium projec room, have been designed to allow free Once the visi tor has entered tors operate on a single Hft? How would the access by the public. Admission fees are not exhibit hall, most of the dome is shadow of one projector effect the perfor reqUired until you enter the exhibit haH. head but at a much greater ""l""",.,.H"""" mance of the other? As I became more From the gift shop, you would enter the vertical distance from the involved with the project, these and thou exhibit haH through a short darkened hall entrance of the to sands of other questions would need to be way. The exhibit haIl has a nine-meter ceil dome is more than six stories! resolved. ing as wen as over 390 square meters of open the room is that of a half-moon, The first design I worked on was exhibit floor space. Permanent exhibits are curved staircases at either what to do with the old 12-meter planetari include; a pendulum, dishes, the up the stairs, the visitor um. After evaluating the physical space, I lunar relief map used to train the 15 the seats are located. And once decided that it should be converted into a astronauts, a two-meter reHef half-moon room is no flat screen motion picture theater. It could map of the moon, and a weather satellite There is an open void "'''' ...... ,~- accommodate a screen 7.6 x 11 meters and a imaging system. Other exhibits are front of the theater and the floor tilted at 18 A large I-"~'I'-'-'UVU to the booth could be created by moving the air From the exhibit hall, you can enter the Vol. December 1993 The Planetarian A second lift moves the Infinium or the at the rear of the theater. An con struction costs for the old UU.UU.JlUJ;:. Digistar into the proper projection position. trol system can be on the stage lift new one comes to about $US 6.25 These projectors also are on air bearings, and pOSitioned in front of the audience for This project would have been impossilble which float them on and off the live demonstrations and programs. without the skills and talents of central lift and provide rapid Behind the dome at the front of the the some of whom have been m€~ntiO!lled exchange of either system. Both projectors ater is another large stage area for 3D models this and other installments of CQlun1tdown can be used at the same time but under this or live actors. A second smaller stage is above "94." At this time, I also would mode, neither projector is in the center of this stage area for additional models or the many vendors who contributed the dome. The Digistar also sits on a smaller actors. ents and skills. In no lift on the main lift; this allows proper verti An additional exit at the rear of the the cal positioning with respect to the Infinium, ater connects back to the exhibit haH thus reducing the obscuring effects of the through a black light hallway or to the Infinium starbaH. Iwerks theater. This exit will not be used as From the seating area, the planetarium the primary exit. Unless another group is Astro Works, Bowen Music, appears clean and uncluttered. There are no waiting to get into the planetarium, audi Lasers, and the California holes or sections of dome removed for pro ences will exit the same way they came in. Sciences. jectors. The dome itself is set back 2/3 meter Planetarians who have visited the facility In the next installment of CO'UTIltdc)wn from the inside wall of the theater and is 1/4 and walked through the areas I have just "94," I will the official sctl.eame meter above the top of the wall. The dome described usually have the same question conference activities and any late bre~akilng also is suspended from the ceiling, providing the end of the tour. What did an this cost? news. before then, I you a continuous 360-degree projection gallery. . The total investment for all of the sent in your hotel reservations and The controls have also been removed from ment for the old facility, the eqUipment for ence so that you can the theater and are located behind the dome the new addition, as wen as an of the con- enjoy IPS 1/94." (Story Telling, continued from page 12) Ives, Edward D. The Tape-Recorded Interview: Russell, WiHiam F. Classic A Manual for Field Workers in Folklore and Aloud, New York: Crown Publishers, 1989. the story, and give them cues that they must Oral History, Knoxville: University of Ten Staal, Julius D. The New Patterns in the listen for and respond to with a certain nessee Press, 1980. (This is the best book for and Stars, Hlalck:sbttfg, repeating phrase, sound or clap. They love someone who wants to learn how to prop V k. The McDonald &: Woodward "'''''''''''''1''11_ this and it keeps their attention. This defi erly collect stories from original sources.) ing Co., 1988. nitely works better with younger children Kerven, Rosalind. Earth Magic, Sky Magic: Vautier & McLeish. The than older kids. North American Indian Tales, New York: the Storytelling is very rewarding-and very Cambridge University Press, 1991. taxing at times. After five hour-long shows of Krupp, E. C. Beyond the Blue Horizon, New telling the same stories over and over, you York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1991. the Constellations, New York: Camt)fi(lge may have doubts, but the audience's Littmann, Mark. The People: Sky Lore Urliv4~rsiltv Press, 1989. response will keep you going for more. American Indian, Salt Lake Hansen Whitehead, Ruth Holmes. Stories From People love stories and the planetarium is a Planetarium, 1976. Worlds: MicMac Halifax: great environment for it. Try it. The rewards Lurie & Beisner, The Heavenly Zoo, New Yark: PutlUstJling LTD, 1988. make all the work worthwhile. Farrar Straus Giroux, 1979. Mayo, Gretchen Will. North American Indian Storytelling Bibliography Stories: Star Tales, New York: Walker And The Feather Moon: L1. _'01l"i,I'''''''' Clark, Ella Elizabeth. Indian Legends of Company, 1990. ----. North American Indian Stories: More Canada, Toronto: McOelland and Stewart Indian Star Tales, Oklahoma Star Tales, New York: Walker And Com MClr011ev ©1988. Ltd., 1983. Caduto & Bruchac. Keepers of the Earth, pany,1990. & Moon, "'"'Jl'\, .....,.'-'llUU Golden Co. Fulcrum Press, 1988. ----. North American Indian Stories: Earth Edwards, Pat. Who Made the Sun? An Abori maker's Tales, New York: Walker And ginal Legend Retold, Frenchs Forest, NSW, Company, 1990. Australia: Reed Books PTY LTD, 1980. Monroe & Williamson. They Dance in Native American Star Erdoes & Ortiz. American Indian Myths and Boston: Legends, New York: Pantheon Books, 1984. Houghton Mifflin Co., 1987. Hadley, Hadley, & Nesbit. Legends of the Sun Mountford & Roberts. The First Sunrise: and Moon, New York: Pantheon books, Australian Aboriginal New York: mances will be a great asset to Rigby Publishers, 1971 1984. ested in to ten stories well Hadley, & Nesbit. Legends of the Sun Proctor, Percy M. Star Myths and Stories from and Moon, New York: Cambridge Univer Andromeda to Virgo, New York: Ex:pa.iWon Press, 1972. sity Press, 1983. Haile, Beard Starlore Among the Navaho, Santa Ridpath, Ian. Star Tales, New York: Universe Books, 1988. Fe: William Gannon, 1977. 26 Vol. best feeling you ever had as a at the Christmas tree for the first Step n Hawking is really here. We didn't want to tire has Kathryne Johnson Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis-better known as Lou Gehrig's Disease-and lived Hansen Planetarium a bou t thirty years than 15 South State Street predicted. He is confined to Salt lake City, Utah 84111 wheelchair and uses a write and speak. We introduced and indicated the direction we would The "Professor Stephen W. Hawking is coming And so ... on July 2, after a flurry of nerves airport security people decided them to Salt Lake City!/I That was the mantra we at and planning, hoping that everything should would be leading the way and one would be Hansen Planetarium were chanting from late go well, Professor Hawking, his graduate assis to his side at all times. Ha! Dr. Hawkin~~'s May to July 2 when Professor Hawking, his tant, Tim Hunt, and his two nurses, Joan 1 puterized voice said, "Watch graduate assistant and two nurses finally andJoan 2, deplaned come," and away he went like a arrived It didn't take long to find Professor Some Place Hot. We couldn't catch security people couldn't catch him. This was our introduction to the weekend. It continued along the people who almost made contact were the ones who saw him sPE~edjin,g lines. same concourse and managed to way in time. What a great day for us. It all came about Hawking preferred to be called Professor This was our introduction to the weekend. when our colleague, Diane Beam, began writ rather than Doctor, and he preferred we call It continued along the same lines. We had ing a script for a new star show called Fate of him Stephen instead of Professor. planned a lot of rest time for the poor sick the Universe. She decided, since the premise of the show was so awe inspiring, to get one of the greatest scientific minds of our time to co-author her show. Whom should she ask? Why, it was quite apparent wasn't it? Was it a bird? Was it a plane? No! It was Stephen W. Hawking! Diane immediately started communica tion with Dr. Hawking. When she found out he was to be in Aspen, Colorado, she flew over to confer with him. At first he just agreed to work on the outline for the Fate show with her; but once they started dis cussing their ideas, they found themselves in agreement with what the show should be and he agreed to co-author it with her. They worked on the show by mail for several months, and when he went to Cal Tech in Pasadena, California, Diane flew down to finalize the scrip and invite him to attend the grand opening of the show. We found after he arrived here that he agreed to come because Diane was such a pest and so persis tent. Yea, Diane! Touchdown! Linda Hill was immediately put in charge of ironing out any and all snags in the fabric Hello at the airport L to R: Von Del Ch,unl>erl,ain. of his visit, and she became our brave leader KathryneJohnson, Stephen W. Hawking. in planning the weekend As you'll see, there wasn't a wrinkle anywhere when she was fin Jack Frost (his sister is named Dee), the ished Delta Airlines Customer Service Represen one who remained tative, had been very kind in working with energetic and to go. the time we Kathryne Johnson is Production us and very smoothly extricated our guests were able to finally crawl into beds he Assistant at Hansen Planetarium. from the airplane. First the wheelchair was was still saying, "What's next? Now what can we do?" His nurses are in their fifties. It's my She is also an Associate Editor of brought from the baggage compartment; considered opinion the High Altitude Observer, the then all the special equipment was rein stalled on it, i.e. Professor Hawking's comput their thirties when newsletter of the Rocky Mountain er, batteries, etc. Finally, Professor Hawking week earlier. Planetarium Association. came off the airplane. Seeing him was like the We had rented a new harldi~:ap The Vol. 22, No.4, December 1993 The Plane tar ian 27 whole van would drauUcally lower and a small ramp would appear out the side. Professor could drive up the ramp and into the empty space where the passenger front seat should be. Thus, he had a great view of where he was He loved it. I suspect that he has a van in Cambridge, En:glancl. There was a van at the womaned by Sue Christopher and Joanna Fisher, which took their luggage to the hotel while we took The Hawkings, as we'll call them, to see the Great lunch in the Salt Lake. That seemed the afternoon StelDh€~n to be a good choice. We wanted to go found out it was the fulfillment of a child side door to facilitate the movement and We got in the two vans hood dream for him. We were still placing of Stephen's chair. We were seated drove to where the Hawkin!IS enveloped in the sense of awe his presence about half-way down and had a marvelous enjoyed at Native American engendered in us. It would remain with us view. An usher stayed nearby to make sure Being a converted street~car barn, throughout his stay, but would slowly be Stephen was able to watch the show in Square is an int:er€~sti~, combined with a feeling of real love and peace. His fans had begun to realize he was in columns in the most unusual friendship for all the Hawkings. the theater. Many of them probably had to Stephen's head is of n&>£,&><;:"jt'lT From the Great Salt Lake we drove to the go back and see the show a second time to one side, he didn't Bingham Copper Mine. The view point is actuall y SEE the movie. They were very coming at him as he sped actually a little way inside the open pit mine interested in Stephen. Robert Redford, eat calling directions as so one can look 180 degrees and see the mine. your heart out! Of the Hawkings, Stephen control tower operator. --~l:epnel[l, Professor Hawking stared at it a long time and Tim enjoyed the show very much, and col umn ahead Turn a before he announced for us all, "Awesome". at least one of the Joans slept it. It is one of the two man-made sites visible Those of you who have seen the film know person, amtlOll,gn from space, the other the Great Wall of just how amazing that was. After the movie, and to some of us a near heart attack China. we waited until most people had either filed in the process. He hit That We had to hot-foot it back to Salt Lake out or maneuvered over our way. Then we wasn't his City for our dinner reservation at Benihana went out the way we'd entered minor sensation. We'll of Tokyo. I don't know about and The groupies were there, but were Tim, but the two Joans real very polite. One young man in his twenties had about an hour sure in the of the chefs who pre- handed me a letter and asked that it be deliv~ back to the hotel and rest before VIP pared the meal at our table. The flash ered to Stephen. He'd noticed Stephen in the reoeption at the Art Center to deliver- and whirring of the sharp knives as they cut theater about half way through the film and a lecture at Han. Ste·phE~n had the steak and could have been fright- somehow managed to find paper and enve- not wanted to come to the re(:eptlon in the hands of someone we but lope to the time to his hero. van. He wanted Diane to walk since we'd never met the chef we felt We found this throughout the Both nice from the hotel a block away. In he had us and would con- and unusual would try to get entire weekend wanted Diane centrate only on the we were about either to meet him or to get beside him. We had sent out invitations and to eat. i terns to him. asked for R.s.V'p/S for the reCimtilon. As we had sent a nrr,nr.CAri itil'~"'r'::Iru We were finally able to board the vans and take the to their hotel about mlon.lgnlt; ~llt:IJIHeU saying, "Now what can up. That's o.k. We're all we do." What WE did was see them squeeze or toe doesn't amount to time is the film". ensconced in their rooms, go back to the much when W. Park. And so, Planetarium to the batteries to our the two vans and drove to Corners portable and call it a on her best camp director's voice and theater manager was boss, Sheri Trbovich, was unable to directed traffic with took around to the make it any farther. In the lobby of the Plan~ The lecture was a different story. Adver- 28 The Planetarian Vol. No.4, December Using for the lecture had only begun a week day was made with those two little words. go back down to a warmer earlier. It was the 4th ofjuly weekend Every Stephen eats with a tablespoon. The chef, down the view was SPE~ct':ic\luar one would already have made plans. Where James Martin, told me the next day that he the same as should we hold the free lecture? How many was keeping the spoon Stephen used. He There were no seat belts. In fact, people have even heard of Stephen W. took it home with him and is one of his was the one in which :ste~ph.en Hawking? prize possessions. No parachutes were offered either. Should we hold the lecture in the Salt Let us now jump to Sunday, July 4. That's We then drove the back rn·l1n·trv Palace, which holds about 15,000 people? the only jumping for this day, thank you. passed Bridal Veil Falls in Provo "'-'"A A "!''''''U, What if only 500 people show up? That Diane had told Stephen about the large tram the way to and ~t(1mTJled would really be embarrassing. Let's hold it in at Snowbird. It holds about 60 people and Homestead for their renowned Symphony Hall which holds 2,801 That'll be could easily take his wheelchair. Stephen Brunch. Once we had a a safe bet. WRONG! was quite excited about taking the tram up With one week's advertising and on the to about 3,300 meters (11,000 feet). The other 4th of July week-end, all 2,801 seats were people on the tram were as entranced with discuss what ~telphe~n filled And no, I never figured out how that being that close to Stephen as he was with Bob Johnson, who is a Hansen Plalnetar·imn extra 1 seat got in. the view. Those people, like Stephen, who board member and a ..... '.,.!'''''"""., .. There were also over 150 people in the enjoyed swinging and swaying high above University got into a lobby watching on the TV monitors. rocks and snow and trees must have found sion on matters of the universe All right, let's go ahead and tell the whole the trip quite fun. The tram operator noticed themselves imlmelrlSely truth. "Damn the torpedoes". The police esti us in our NASA jackets and of course recog mated there were between 7,000 and 10,000 nized Stephen Hawking. On the trip up he just in time for a .r1nurTlnrun' people outside who were unable to get in. started talking about last summer and the seemed impe<:ca1ble They were lined up for five blocks after the International Planetarium SOciety have had Jim Manni~ hall was filled. We found out later the Conference held at Snowbird and how they of Symphony Hall staff had never seen any often rode up in the tram. We didn't even thing like it. More people turned out for this have to pay him to talk about it, but we were than for any concert or special event ever quick to point out that we were from held there. They came to hear one of the Hansen Planetarium and had hosted the con great men of science speak about Black Holes ference. and Baby Universes, a topic not usually dis Once at the top of the mountain, we dis cussed at our Utah breakfast tables. It was embarked and found ourselves wonderful. snowed upon. Why not. It was only the 4th After the lecture we got him past his fans of July. The temperature was in the 40's and went to the Hungry i, a Greek restaurant, Fahrenheit and the Joans wrapped Stephen for dinner. The chef came out and personally in blankets, but it was still only about ten theater. talked with Stephen, found out his favorite minutes before the unanimous vote came to Britt Allen, an foods, and cooked him a special made- to-order meal. We had a private dining room but made qUi te a show going through the restau- rant as recog nized One there had Stelpllen Haw!<:irur and Britt Allen Vol. December 1993 The Planetarian They talked a couple of minutes, and promised to talk more later. Stephen departed so he could ready for the show and his ques tion-and-answer peri od later. The show was co authored by Stephen and Diane Beam. The theater was filled to After the showing, Stephen drove up a ramp onto the stage to answer Cra ven took charge of this part of the program. Before the showing of Fate, Jayceen accepted questions from the guests. From these questions a committee Good-bye at the Airport of chose five or six that makes me "Yr'''''''"!''''''' would be interesting to all. First, Tim Hunt From their hotel they were able to have a still have the spoon with which ..HI;;II-/UI;;U would read the question to Stephen who grand stand view. There was just one at the airport. I wonder if I should would then begin to formulate his answer problem that cropped up in Park City. All, to Jack, too. No, I guess I'll just put it on his computer. While he was doing that, yes I said ALL, the restaurants closed early for my kitchen drawer. Jayceen Craven, Diane Beam, and Tim Hunt the festivities. Hey, everyone was h11r101'ul At the gate we were around took turns reading excerpts from books writ Luckily, team work does work. The Joans some last and ten by or about Stephen. Later that night made a grocery list, and Richard Cox, Sue good-byes. It was bittersweet. Then we found Stephen informed Diane he found it difficult Christopher, and John Sohl were chosen to some humor in the situation. Six "' .. ,on,"",1 to write his answers because he was listening fill it They started by running to the super to see if what had been written about him market since the roads were almost impass rounded Stephen. was accurate. able due to the festivities. They ended by with each other, """',"" ... ,," After the question-and-answer period, coming back to the hotel with legs working Then, without Stephen wheeled to the door of the theater at a somewhat slower rate, but that was of the group, preparatory to going upstairs for the recep made up for by the quickness of their breath a perfectly tion. He stopped by Brett's chair, looked at ing. Tim Hunt continued the teamwork by est and had another of their group him, and spoke, "Come on. Let's go", and cooking up a nice meal. The day was saved! picture. Then turned to the they went up to the second floor where they Long live Teamwork! marched off to their own gate, still talked together until it became too crowded We had three vans the morning of ...... ' ...... ·.. 6·' .. 6 a word or a with and too noisy to hear their computerized Monday, July 5. One van took the luggage else. voices. directly to the airport. The other two vans The time arrived, and we ex~:h,m~~ed Tim had told us before they arrived in Salt were for the Hawkings and Hansen staff and expressions of and rmmCISnJp. Lake City to be sure to have no one in back members. The two vans drove directly to the Then they entered the and of Stephen's chair. He should have an exit Hungry i where the chef, James Martin, met left behind. had threatened to take available to him at all times, and the Joans us and personally delivered the box lunches Diane with them. Stephen had asked she be should be able to get him out of the room he'd prepared for the Hawkings at Stephen's with him the entire and I think whenever they felt it necessary. Nobody, request. Stephen wanted to thank James per wasn't sure she should remain behind now. however, had consulted Stephen about this. sonally for the meals. However, the draw of Hansen Planetarium He sat where he had been asked to sit for At the airport, Jack Frost and airport secu great, and who can resist the chance about twenty minutes while the crowd rity met us at the parking garage entrance somewhere so <>v/~it;ino massed in front of him. All at once he said, and escorted us to the Crown Room. There us. As we waved rrr'<,nfl .. n"'D "Watch out. Here I come", and he forged out are several conference rooms off this elegant into the crowd, which parted to let him in lounge; and the Hawkings, Diane, and Von and then immediately closed in around him Del met to critique the show while having see ... again. He conversed with many people after lunch. Our time with the Hawkings was that and on his own terms. almost at an end. We ached with the After the reception Stephen was whisked thought of them leaving. At the same time to Park City where he would spend the we wondered at the thought that there night As it was the 4th of July, the Hawkings might be a period of rest coming. were excited about seeing our fireworks. When it was time to go along to the gate, 30 The Planetarian Vol. December Vol. 22, No.4, December 1993 The Planetarian 31 (Franklin at West Jerren;on NY 13202 USA). FAX (315) 425 -9072. Annette also shared the written Associate at the MOST: Brought to you by and of interest to: Stars deflate Powerful Interactive Planetarium Systems gyrnnalSiUJm floor Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, ca:SSl()pela slowly fold, extlaiil1g their last breath beneath the backboard Children's voices fade to the hwm of mercury vapor Finall y, from the zenith, Aquila and Cygnus sink, sighing into the end zone. A new member, Ted Stalec, gave a presen tation of his Mobile Solar which he takes to schools for "real time" solar view- ing. This exciting system video capabilities as students view the moon and planets on a TV monitor. Ted also made some for Notice, I have an e-mail address! It is so the small, but very effective, appropriate that after just taking a course on Spotter" (R.D. 1 Box 45A, PA 18428 how to use e-mail Alan Gould starts the USA) on a motor driven telescope mount Planetarian's Electronic Newsletter (PEN). Lindarae Bauer's demonstrated a lesson Now all I have to do is "get with the 90's" utilizing the Starlab biological cell and remember to use it! Sign me up Alan. For those of us who are not biology This column practically wrote itself. I this presentation was especially AA ...... '"'~_ .. have received so many materials from gener Lindarae's was for any ous people that there was very little for me one who wishes a copy. (Please send a blank to add. Thank you so much-keep up the tape.) good work! The second small and portable planetari um user's group meeting was held, thanks to "Sandy, Pepper, and the .lJ'-A ....'''' ..... Annette Salsbery, at the Milton J. Rubenstein demonstrated the new Technolo Museum of Science and Technology (MOST) gies pointer and displayed the new Gerald on September 10th. Interest and attendance Mallon Lessons. is growing and there are now over 40 people New members were of the on my direct mailing list The prize for trav public domain files. eling the furthest goes to Denis Caron, who All were exhausted after drove 10 hours, from Temiscouata, Quebec. er full of sharing. We were, however, Some highlights of this meeting include: appointed that the weather didn't COi)PE~ra1te Annette Salsbery gave us a tour of the new for an party. We planetarium housed at the MOST and pre .-",r,t!:l1Hu,,,.lu pl~mlllea our next m~~etllng sented a show under the 7.3-meter dome June 17th in Albany, with Laura Lehtonen ti tIed 1/ A Sky Full of Color". This was a perfect and as hosts. opportunity for us to view some effective uses of Kodalith slides produced at their facil ity. Annette later gave a detailed demonstra Hammer (New York Hall of Science, tion of Kodalith slide preparation and we 47 -01 HUh Street, Corona, NY 11368 USA) each received a written copy of her instruc called to let me know that he has three tions for success when preparing these slides. domes for sale. He says that altJtl01.1gn You can get a copy of her helpful years old are in excellent condition and tips by writing to Annette at the MOST can be for $4000 for each. If you 32 The Planetarian we had to do was just keep going down hill The trick to a multitrack tape deck is it tern is a flexible tube of variable brl~h1tness to the road-right? We walked miles out of will record and play all four channels or red rudes our way to get back to the lodge! Oh my tracks in the same direction You can record and leads nar-twalv poor feet, but it was worth it to talk with four different types of music or sounds on such a dedicated and entertaining educator. the four separate tracks of a cassette. When you play the tape, this type of deck allows Starlab you to control the output volume of any track independently. This article by John Lang (Clear Skies, For example, the tape I use the most has 10300 S.W. 4th Avenue, Portland, Oregon generic 41space" music on channel one. 97219 USA) was written for portable plane Channel two has Native American flute taria operators, but anyone with a multiple track tape deck in their dome should read music. Channel three has ocean sounds (waves, seagulls). Channel four has the ubiq on. This way of using a multi-track tape deck overcomes the problem inherent in adding uitous crickets, or night sounds. The trick is to pre-record your four types of music in background sound effects to participatory mono (due to the acoustics of a Starlab, programs. It allows your operator/educator to add the sound impact of a pre pro stereo sound is ineffective anyway) on each grammed show to the flexible format neces track. You need to record your own special tape. sary in participatory educational programs. You then utilize the deck in the "mix down" mode when performing programs. Starlab Sound System And I do mean performing! You just start of cove. Starlab's ability to change a normal room the tape at the beginning of the program and centimeters (be consistent) and into a sky theatre ranks right up there with you just turn up (via a fader-type volume soft side of the Velcro to the the old "Rabbit out of the Hat" trick as far as control) the sounds you need when you over the door and down the seemingly magical transformations go. To want then. Space music for the beginning, entrance tube. You need at least complete this effect and add drama to their flute music for the Native American cylin tab of Velcro to hold the of presentations many "Starlabbers" have der, crickets for the starfield and ocean rope. Cut the of hook side added sound systems for background music sounds for Treasure Island, all at your finger will go the rope 15 CeIlltinletE7S and sound effects. A few problems quickly tips. You can have a complete sound bank To the hook side of the arise for most people: depending- upon how many cassettes you UgIIUC)pe use the seams of the 1. You have to choose between second rate record your Peel adhesive sound quality or too much eqUipment. The Fostex X-28 also has four more inputs. lJac:KiI1~ from the 15--crn (hook side) 2. Assuming you do participatory shows This allows you to connect and indepen center the rope on the Velcro a lack of flexibility, too much changing of dently control the volume of a Sure SM-IO ends around and to cassettes for different sound environments. ($130) headset microphone and three other centimeter tab which sticks out 3. Lack of microphone input. playback (CD, VCR, synthesizer ... ) devices. the extra amount of soft Velcro 4. Reliability. To alleviate the excessive equipment ,geI1lerates. I two eigll1t-c:ent:im(eter In the past, I have used a variety of two problem, self-powered speakers are the tick of the soft Velcro side cassette portable stereos and have found the et There are a number of speakers that have seams. their amplifiers built in on the market sound quality lacking. I have also dragged For travel or around a high quality stereo and fiddled· Sony, etc.), but I found the AR active partners it fits around the pr()jector around with too many wires. I do a lot of ($300) sounded the clearest It will cost about for this "~"""'.IA <;Jranted this system is rather ""..,.".'''''.. ".''''~ programs in a day, sometimes in areas with a tern. but it is well worth the cost in it's dean. lot of outside noise. I wanted the ability to around $930 retail, but the effects are efflectiven~:s. short utilize a headset microphone to enhance the tremendous. This is an ultimately flexible, time and If you comfort and effect of my voice. astounding sounding system that does more Ijgltltr~:>De to sequence too, caU me as My current sound system allows me to with less. be done but it's a little more cOimtllicated have any combination of four independent aear Skies (503) .,.:; .... ,.~''''''. sounds in addition to a microphone. It is Starlab Cove Lighting s~·t-PTn rugged professional equipment that sounds There are a number of activities that can The folJlowinll superb and involves a bare minimum of be more easily done in a Starlab have a out at teacher sessions cords. The key components to this system good cove lighting system. Most cove ment to A Manual For systems do not appear to have these neces are a Fostex X-28 ($500) multitrack cassette Planetariums (PASS volume deck and a pair of powered speakers. sary attributes: EdD.). A normal cassette has four separate tracks 1. Even, controllable red that similar to a four lane highway, two tracks shines from over the audience's shoulder. running in opposite directions. A normal cas 2. Fast and easy to set up. Odds and Ends: Make sure sette deck records the two stereo channels on 3. uses a minimum of cords and little with you: two separate tracks (for left and right stereo or no heat output Duct channels) going in one direction which is 4. Rugged, easy to assemble, and Brush or whisk side A. Then you flip the cassette (or tape bulbs. dome floor) deck reverses) and you the other two With the of Radio Shack and Extension tracks (left and right channel) for side B. a great lighting system can be had The sys- 2 cOD:mlete Vol. December 1993 The Plane tar ian tester and charger door to re-inflate. Mention they are res"OOllSi This is the common type of ho'usehOllQ AA Maglite for seating ble for exit procedure too. sold With luck, one Headlight (headband mounted flashlight, Tell audience members not to worry Iy be on site in the school where for setting up) about trying to be the first person in, the duct tape, tape the opt;~nirlJt show will not begin until everyone is inside, tunnel to the fan. Tum the fan Special all seats are good seats, because we sit in a dr you are back in business. The 5(}cerltiIltletler l Sound: Seiko MX-2 boom box or Fostex X- cleo will inflate Starlab. These 5(}cerltilltleter 28 multitrack tape deck and AR Active Tell them to move slowly through tube, fans are not as oo1welrtul Partners powered speakers, Sure SM-IOA head bend over or crawl, stand up when through fan that comes with Starlab. Therefore, mounted microphone Supplemental images: tube, tum left (or right) follow the person in tion will be slower, and there Slide projector with ISCO 70-1 20mm 2.75- front and sit next to them on "usher's" spot deflation when students are entering 3.75" zoom lens and makeup mirror. Red light ing. however, is a drawback cove lights Hold hands up a foot apart, to show audi endured while the & ...... A'.. £ ence how far to stay away from dome walls, Suggestions don't lean back or touch dome, lights, or school, you will be back in business electrical cords. 15 or 20 minutes the READ THE BOOK!! READ THE BOOK!! Establish behavior expectations. to locate the fan. With real luck you READ THE BOOKtt PASS #4. For planet posi Remove shoes, place them in front of you, two 5O-centimeter fans. duct tioning, subscribe to Abrams Sky Calendar, leave all sharp objects outside. the front of fan one to the back get small· moon phase calendar, keep with Have teacher separate potential problem the Starlab fan tunnel to the projector. Sweep floor where dome will be pairs. fan two and use both fans as one. This set up if necessary. If thin wrestling mats are Pick "toughest student" to go in first, they any with deflation. Running available, tape them together. Use duct tape become the "inside door person" (enlist their will ...... r,h", lhhr to tape all cords and dome down (so it aid). This student steers the audience in the doesn't "float"). Have students remove shoes desired direction while you use the 41usher's" (optional). Enlist first student to be door per flashlight to direct seating. The first person son. For old style pointers, slide, do not drop imide automatically ends up next to teacher "...lI1...... ,·i ...... duct tape with you, batteries in pOinters. Remove batteries for who is the last person in. custodian has a roll. transportation and bulb changing. Never Tum down light ASAP for eye aililP~ltion, touch projector bulb with fingers, turn up explain acoustics-let them expelrinlerlt slowly, then back off a little, let bulb cool (they will do it anyway), show fan, black completely before protectors go on. To posi hole, projector, cylinders, etc. of duct tape at all times. This tion projector properly in the dark, place At end of show, remind the audience that be at any store If"#llI'"rVllnU masking tape telltales on date ring and lati exit procedure is opposite of entrance proce A roll tude indicators corresponding to your loca dure. Make sure the teacher leaves first, and tion and date. Make sure there are going to holds the "door" for the exiting students. be no fire drills during programs. Check spare Use flashlight to illuminate exit/entrance bulb inventory, if multiple users, keep opera tube, watch for theft, black hole ''''''YD",·tirr,,,_ tion log. tors and general last minute fooling around If kids play III'm last" you the last Handling person (before you) that leaves dome. An effective introduction is extremely important for an entertaining and educa Gloria RaIl (New Jersey State Museum, 205 tional planetarium program. It sets the West State Street, CN 530, Trenton, NJ 08625- mood. It lets your audience know what to 0530 USA) wrote, "Enclosed are some for expect from you, and what you expect from solving problems with Starlab that others them. It can make the difference between a may find useful. I was thoroughly chaotic free-for-all and a mutually exciting to get a call from a teacher Starlab who exploration. With this in mind here is a needed help and didn't know of the exis framework for my preprogram introduction tence of duct tape. Sometimes the and seating procedure. things get by." Line up in straight line (so whole audience can see dome "door"), sit down. Introduce self, planetarium, program introduction. Explain difference between planetarium and movie theater (walk very young chil dren an the way around). Show "door," open, dome deflates, portable planetarium's fan inflation and sup All fans will fail sooner or later. Having it port. Train teacher as 41door allowing happen while you are teaching is an exercise 10-15 students to enter at a time, maintain in extreme frustration. Here is a simple solu order, watch tripping on tunnel floor, close tion. locate a 5O-centimeter square floor fan. 34 most of the dome and the entrance tunnel dict how the constellations will move across what matches with are on the carpeting. When the entrance tun the sky as the earth rotates. Now let them you latitude. (At nel is fully on carpeting, a small area of the check their hypotheses by the equator matches with floor under the dome will be bare. We cover tor rotate once. You will see that all constel North Pole is at this with a third piece about 1 x 12 meters (3 lations here are "north circumpolar," travel x 4 feet). We do not tape the carpeting to the ing in circles parallel to the horizon floor nor do we tape the pieces together as 5. the latitude to the Equator-OD we have not found it necessary. (cylinder paranel to the floor). Notice how 1. Uncover a hole (take We bring in all the electrical cords under Polaris has descended to the north horizon. where the sun is on the first the carpeting which reduces the amount of Have students predict how the constella taping necessary for securing the cords. tions will move across the sky as the earth At the end of the day, the carpeting a rotates. Let the projector rotate once and see good shaking to get off loose paper, trash, that all constellations rise and set on and dirt. About once a month it a good vertical to the horizon. No stars are 41 north going-over with a vacuum cleaner, and, if circumpolar" (or "south cir,cUJ:lloolCiIr") necessary, ~pot clean stains with rug cleaner. 6. Using an star find Jeanne (Planetarium Director, constellations of the southern heInispbere. Westlake Schools, Westlake, OH 44145 USA) 7. Have students use the worksheets, is another source of great ideas. She writes, "I stars and constellations. (Be did a workshop for our county gifted/talent pattern is wrong-say "good try" or "would ed teachers. This is what I discussed, demon someone be able to help her ounn strated, and gave as a hand-out. The county tance of wrong answers motivate aU to G/T center has a Starlab to rent which I want to try). eqlllin.ox in used." 8. Create a new set of constellations that reflect student interests or our current sod Some Uses of a Starlab PlalnetanlJm ety. The activity illustrates the historical pro Gifted Students cess in which constellations were made. Qeveland is warm 9. Relate the constellations to stuffed ani December. Relate this to the nut-iil-iI1.1I"1;!1i·P mals (elementary) or art work that students view of the earth with an axis indlinE~ have or will make to represent (with a vertical line to the A number of the following activities are 10. Use the classical (Greek-Roman) and II'dP""nI1lTlr1llTabout the sun. appropriate for all levels if students do not native American cylinders to illustrate 4. Move to other latitudes and have a prior understanding of the concepts. I myths of the constellations. Ten some of the ~hYH."Y of sun have marked specific levels for those few myths in the planetarium. (Learn to tell a es and solstices. Learn that activities that I have found workable at just story wen, with drama, and students of aU Sun and Polar at the those levels ages will appreciate the experience.) Relate the views to climates 11. Explain that you are going to demon space view of the earth at different learning Constellations and strate how a myth is started in any culture. S. Use the lon~itud.e-Iatimcle and Stories About Them: Whisper a few sentences (a or a description) in the ear of one student. Ask L Show students connected stars on a star where the is COlmDarE~ each student in turn around the room to lis chart and how to use a star chart Have stu ten to what is said and then repeat it Have dents try to find one or more constellations. the last student teU everyone what was Ask them how they decided a group was the heard Repeat what you first told (pr~efel'ab]v tectonics rvllln,rl.!:>". constellation of interest. Distances and written out so it can be read word for word). slides aimed at different locations angles of the stars are consciously or uncon Notice differences in the two versions. Ask and mountains. sciously used why there are different versions to classical 2. Change the time of night and have stu myths of the sky. dents find the same constellations and stars 12 Compare different ideas of star patterns they saw at another time. Note that stars held by different cultures. An excellent keep their same positions with respect to one source, a book now out of is Stars in another, but figures change orientation with Our Heaven by Peter Lum. Use the classical respect to the horizon and Indian cylinders to illustrate some from 3. After learning some constellations, let write a a two cultures. the projector rotate once (one day). Have stu 2. Read December 1993 The Planetarian 35 SPECTRAL TYPE MAIN GIANTS (HI) SEQUENCE(V) 08 -7.0 BO -6.8 B2 -1.5 -6.7 B4 -0.5 -6.6 B6 +0.3 -6.5 B8 +1.0 -6.4 AO +1.6 -6.4 A2 +2.0 -6.3 A4 +2.2 -6.3 A6 +2.4 -6.2 A8 +2.5 -6.1 FO +2.5 6.0 F2 +2.5 -6.0 F4 +2.5 -5.9 F6 +2.5 5.8 F8 +2.8 5.7 GO +3.5 -0.7 -5.6 G2 +5.0 -0.6 -5.5 G4 +5.5 -0.5 -5.4 G6 +5.7 -0.4 -5.3 G8 +6.0 -0.2 -5.2 KO +6.2 -0.4 -5.1 K2 +7.0 -0.5 -5.0 K4 +7.7 -0.6 -5.0 K6 -0.7 5.0 K8 -0.8 -5.0 MO -1.0 -5.0 M2 -1.2 -5.0 Table 1. Absolute .. ,,"";0;...... '.... ""'" for the H· R 36 Please send hardcopy manuscripts or Focus py disks (mM DOS or WordPerfect please) and follow the recommended format dis cussed in the last issue and demonstrated in this plan. How Can the Distances Conducted Stu Chapman Stars be .n"'~:::."""£~ features as a !erunirlg la:bo:rat()rv Southampton School covered Outcome: Students will demonstrate the Planetarium ability to infer the distances to several stars Moores Mill Rd. by judging the star's apparent magnitude in Ai r, Maryland the planetarium and comparing that judg Introduction: As an oVjersjm~)lifjica ment to the same star's absolute magnitude. tion and The spectral types of the stars considered um teacher shall describe aU shall be given and their absolute magnitudes the How Can the Distances to inferred from a H-R diagram. or the Inferred? Students will be asked if it is ever ~iSible Materials: During the planetarium ses a candle flame to Following is the first lesson plan in a series sion, each student will need a pencil, a clip than a Students shan to be published under the Focus on board, the worksheet entitled Stellar Dis aged to reason that a candle Education forum. In this planetarium labora tances Through Spectroscopic Parallax. For the actually look than a tJ()O(Ui~t.lt tory activity, students work in cooperative post planetarium classroom session, each stu the candle flame were much groups to locate several stars on the planetar dent will also need some graph paper, a eye than the The plane1:ari"um ium dome after first identifying them on a Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) diagram and a dis teacher shall then define the abiolut:e star map. Then, they estimate the apparent tance modulus versus distance Given tude of the star as the true intrinsic magnitudes of the selected stars by visually the starting information, students will con ness of the star (its classification as comparing them to some known standards. struct the latter two items themselves on the fla£hliiRhlt., or To further npl'nn1'\_ After they return to the classroom, they are graph paper. principle of differences presented with the selected star's spectral mal2nlUaGe in the darkened plClmetal'iUlm types and luminosity classifications. Then, Advance- Preparation: The classroom classroom session with ba<:ksrro\lmd given the starting information, they con teacher should duplicate the worksheet enti we use 35 mm slides of various dicUDleters struct an H-R diagram and use their H-R dia tled Stellar Distances Through Spectroscopic colors to represent stars of differlEnt grams to infer the distances to the selected Parallax and provide a copy for each student nosities and classes. stars. before the planetarium session. matters, we differentiate bet:WE~ This lesson is intended for high school or lW1rllfliOsH:v classes (I-~mpergjlan11:s, U11-irlani~. college students. We currently use this lesson Class Time: Three class are need- and V-main seqlue:ncE~). with high school freshmen enrolled in Earth ed. One class period for Science in the Harford County Public instruction to be conducted by the students' Schools. We deliberately use a section of the regular classroom teacher, one minute sky that we know our students are likely to planetarium session, and one for post- be familiar with from their visits to the plan planetarium lab analysis to be conducted etarium in the elementary and middle the students' regular classroom teacher. school years-the Orion-Taurus-Canis major region. According to Marzano (1992), when Cross Curricular Connections: students are acquiring and integrating new Earth Science, General SCience, knowledge, one of the fundamental learning Astronomy, Mathematics. processes is for them to compare and orga nize the new information with any past knowledge they may have. After returning to the classroom, students extend and refine orcl1ected next to some other the new knowledge they have gained by the sun until we are COntilClel1t graphing and analyzing data and comparing priori tizing. students are the mE!aD.iruz it with actual observations made in the plan the concept of absolute Iru~jtulde. etarium. Through their analysis of graphical The aPJ:Nm!nt l~p::Utude data, they infer the distances to several stars the star's apparent b~:htrless which are easily found in the planetarium upon its distance from the nh'I!P1I"'U!I>1l" sky. Prior to the planetarium session, students apparent of any Other planetarians with lessons for use in should be given a basic of the tlashliRhit, or is to the observer and becomes dinruIlca' school planetaria (K through college) should concepts absolute and aPI:>aI1ent ma~ltwies. submit their lessons for publication to the the parsec as a unit of astronomical distance, distance increases from the nhl:.lI>'I"IlIl>1l" address above. and a general understanding of the the down and the stars Plane tar ian lnealter tJhr-OIJI!Jh one 4l7> GEMINI Time Code Projection t;o.:ltr~1)1 Controller EASTCOASTCONTROLSYSTEMS- 4955 Brookhaven Street • ...... ,'Ol"'''''"'' ...... • STELLAR DISTANCES THROUGH SPECTROSCOPIC PARALLAX NAMES GREEK ALPHABET ARB .. NAME GENITIVE FORM ORI Orion Orionis ex alpha 9 theta o omicron X chi TAU Taurus Tauri 13 beta 1 iota IT pi .. psi CMA Canis major Canis majoris y gamma 1C kappa p rho 6) omega C MI Canis minor Canis minoris {) delta 1. lambda a sigma AUR Auriga Aurigae £ epsilon 11 mu 1: tau GEM Gemini Geminorum , zeta v nu u upsilon ERI Eridanus Eridani T] eta t xi cp phi 21 JJ.O:. ______, " oj 48 0 '11------'~!i.c.P.". e'" LYNX '. or II. '18.( Ale·1 L~ STAR SPECTRAL ©1987 Sky Publishing Corporation +40' -;- ...-" , o PERSEUS p ',i} AURIGA ... NAME TYPE m M m-M D(pc) (II .9 ,\, j~ '. c •• ,., ~ .. f'__ T ~~7 ", ",-- (. -: fllIII'-'-+-'--.-tI-.-.-jI~--+-:1/~, I +:50' ,~", i r I I II Procyon 1"5 V 0 'olhu tli°., "... . «I fJ ,.,'11' P " ", GEMINI ,,~ AlB "" Sirius Al V ...... 4C ... " 'eo.... '- .:::. f1110- 1'1.'00.8 .M44 "'~'~ ilH~ =--t '1 Aur 53 V .~Ul.O 1r3 Ori F6 V CANCER lilA Ald.be, on 02 Eri Itl V €. Eri K2 V CANIS ~6 P' •• 70 n Cap4lllla (;2 III a Aldeb'rn K5 III Pollux xo III +1 Ed. III Tau XO III 5et'gus8 I LEPUS Rig-al ~ Aur .I11 .... 1t:ak . DISTANCE MODULUS vs DISTANCE Directions: Layout three separate graphs on one sheet of paper. Plot the distance modulus, (m - M) on the x - axis and the distance in parsecs on the y-axis for each of the graphs. Use the curves to estimate the distances to each of the stars whose you measured in the planetarium. The distance modulus is the difference between the magnitude, m, and the absolute magnitude, M. TABLE 2 TABLE 3 TABLE m - M Dist. rn - M Dist. m - M st. (pc) (pc) ( -4 1.6 +1 16 +6 160 -3 2.5 +2 25 +7 250 -2 4.0 +3 40 +8 400 -1 6.3 +4 63 +9 630 0 10.0 +5 100 +10 1000 ent magnitudes of five selected stars are dards themselves within their cooperative see that some stars from each lUrmrlOsny given for comparison purposes from the groups and to pOint them out to each other class (Main sequence, Giants, winter-spring sky. We used five of the same with the pointer flashlight Through direct giants) are selected before pl;;metar'imn stars first suggested by Reed and Harber observation, students will visualize that the runs out (1973). Again, we are assessing our students' apparent magnitude system is a system of To select the list of stars, we prior knowledge by deliberately selecting a numbers such that the smaller the value, the stars from the pages of The Astronomical portion of the sky that we know they will be brighter the star. Although the stars in the Almanac 1993 (Section H: Stars familiar with from the elementary and mid example above are given as integers, students dle school visits to the planetarium. (The should be reminded that the apparent mag Bayer system of nomenclature can be briefly nitude of a star is a real number (L e., may since that is the limit of our discussed at this point). The stars are found contain a decimal portion). Students will stars' types and classes "clockwise" from brightest to faintest, begin then be shown that the difference between a to the students were also obtained ning with Procyon. star's apparent magnitude and its absolute from the same source. magnitude, the distance can be Star Name Apparent Mag. used as an indicator of the distance to the star. should now a Canis Minoris (Procyon) 0 One at a time, using the maps provided on ~ Geminorum (Pollux) +1 the worksheets or by direct visual clues a Geminorum (Castor) +2 the planetarium teacher, students will be pla>netarimTI teacher will f.! Geminorum +3 expected to identify as many of the stars on the definition of the absolute mag- u Geminorum +4 the worksheet on the planetarium dome as nitude of a star as definition time allows. After a student has identified to the apparent m,lgljlitttde Students will be encouraged to find the the star with the pOinter flashlight for the viewed from the standard astronomical dis stars above on the maps provided on their entire class, students may confer with each tance of 10 parsecs. (It worksheets and then on the planetarium other to judge the star's apparent magnitude the candle, ... «,,.UAF."", dome with the pOinter flashlight. Instruct and to place this value in the column enti the same Olstanlce'-S,ty studen ts tha t they will be expected to tled "mil, Students should be instructed to overhead pro1jec1tor, remember the positions of these five stan estimate the apparent magnitudes to the will demonstrate how dards for comparison purposes throughout nearest 0.5 uni t...... !'."" ....'U'- is inferred from an the duration of the laboratory period. Give As the class works through the list of the type (and lun:1inosH:y them a few minutes to locate the five stan- stars provided, the planetarium teacher shall stllldents will then 40 The Planetarian value of the star's absolute magnitude in the those same stars, the student will need to worksheet column "M", The distance modu construct an H-R diagram on a piece of graph lus shall then be defined as the difference paper using the data provided in Table 1. between the star's apparent brightness and its true brightness, expressed mathematically After the H-R diagram has been plotted, RE~u!rE~nlc:es: Planetarians as m-M. By using this value, the distance to the student should then plot the data given the star may be inferred in Tables 2, 3, and 4, on another piece of graph paper. These graphs of distance modu lus versus distance will be used to infer the distance to each of the stars considered. After the planetarium session has been Students may calculate the distance directly completed, the student will have a record of (instead of constructing the graphs from his estimations of the apparent magnitudes tables 2, 3, and 4) from the following formu Classroom: of several stars. Examples of each luminosity la: class (main sequence, giants, and supergiants) log (D) == (m-M+S)/5 Curriculum will have been included. The spectral type of Pitt St., Alexandria, V A., 22314. each star considered in the planetarium has where the distance, D, is given in parsecs. The Astronomical Almanac For been provided on the planetarium work Students then place their calculated dis U.S. Government sheet. To obtain the absolute magnitudes of tances for each star in the proper column of D.C., 20402 (Mobile, continued from page 35) "mistakes" in astronomy and demonstrate as the comes in gray and flex- why the depictions are impossible. ible. 4. Simulate a voyage or another situation everyday speech, science, and geography. See beneath the stars. Role play parts of a cap the book Words From the Myths by Isaac tain, sailors, or other characters. Asimov. 5. Conduct color experiments within the Michelle Kloda (Merck dark situation: Note effects of different col Science Education, PO Box 2000, ors of light on objects of red, green, NJ 07065 USA) is a new etc. and needed materials ASAP 1. By changing latitude, show how a star know of other users in her area. moves away from the zenith as you leave nll"'lran'lllClll"'t'c: on Martha Walsh the substellar point. One degree of change is We, at OCM BOCES, also use carpeting Avenue, Cresskill, NJ 07626 equal to 110 kilometers. with our Starlab however, I have a concern new user who needed materials 2. Find altitudes of two stars with home about Starlab users placing electrical cords Steve (58 Prince Avenue, SOluttllend- made sextants. Subtract altitudes to get under carpeting. If these cords are visible stu on-Sea, Essex SS2 6NN, En:~la:nd) zenith distances and plot circles of position. dents step over them and usually do not sit lecturer at the Southend Consult an ephemeris. on them. If you are placing any cords under writes that he is uu.un.ul'l 3. Find latitude by the altitude of the star carpet you might want to cover them first Starlab as a small business Polaris (very close to the North Celestial with something called an extension cord Pole). Use a homemade sextant. floor runner. (People use the rubber cord 4. Find latitude by the altitude of the sun covers in offices where computer cords cross at noon. Estimate the date for the sun open a traffic area.) This will protect students from ing you uncover and consult an ephemeris. shock and fire in case a split occurs in a 5. Discuss bird migration routes with the These covers can be found in your local longitude-latitude Earth cylinder. A number home center or hardware store. of species fly at night. Experiments have If you need to tape your dome to the shown that they possess genetically-trans floor, all you need is one small of duct mitted information about the sky (although tape placed between the door and air tun the extent is debatable) linked with their nels. This method still allows for lifting one biological clocks. dome side for exit in case of fire or other 6. Discuss bird and bee orientation using emergencies. the sun. Experiments can be simulated Keeping a log is a great idea. We use an operation log at all times. The statistics are useful for reporting to clients, bosses, and for I am so 1. Have students prepare their own plane pUblicity. thank you for tarium programs. When patching my dome I also some busy schedules to write. Your 2. Have students combine drama with the times use duct tape but I recently heard that makes this 'l.V.i UAHU stars: a puppet presentation about a trip into some people use the new fabric (used space or mythology. for decorating T-shirts) to repair the 3. Have students collect art and literature holes and I plan to try it It should work well Vol. No.4, December 1993 The Planetarian ference of logarithmically defined mag and various radiometers wc.rkilml nitudes corresponds to a ratio from the visible infrared to rrllrrrllA1;IVP nesses. power and of computer en]hmlCE~m<~nt technology is also illustrated Who needs this? The are chosen both The artwork'is a serious liability; the poor inherent and as eX,ampH;!S illustrators seem to have had this job thrown kinds of detailed information at them with little help or explanation. able by orbital remote "'-AA''''''5. Specular highlights are airbrushed color nilly at 10 or 2 o'clock on round the the "eclipse" and "phases of moon" diagrams incorrect and useless. The maps of Here's a short column for the short days of the moon and Mars are ghastly. The winter, so check for some gift-giving ideas trajectory illustration shows one craft appar here. And anyone who receives astronomy ently repelled by Saturn's books as holiday presents is welcome to send If you want a illustrated in a review, either thumbs up or down. astronomy book, spend twice the money (PLEASE!) and get the sumptuous Atlas Thanks to this issue's reviewers: Steve the Universe by Audouze and Israel; or Fentress at Strasenburgh Planetarium, half as much, or less, and get Dickinson's Rochester, New York; Dick Knapp at the thoughtfully illustrated The Universe . ... and Davis Planetarium in Jackson, Mississippi; Beyond, or Pasachoff's Field Guide to the Stars inj:rodu,ct()rvtext,u~SUJ"5l"UU5 and Bart Wormington, Millard North High and Planets, or Chartrand and Wimmer's gecJgraphic character of the c011til1eI1lt, School, Omaha, Nebraska Golden Sky Guide. Any of them will give you and a map the loc:atllon, far better value for your money. orientation, and aerial coverage of the sentative space photos which follow. Oxford Illustrated Encyclopedia subsequent pages the text discusses of the Universe, Archie Roy, edi Looking at Earth, Priscilla Strain cHic locales and conditions illustrated tor. Oxford University Press, and Frederick Engle, Turner from ten to twenty selected orbital 1992. Cloth ISBN 0-19-869140-8, Publishing Inc. Atlanta, 1992, Most of the space views are SUI)pl~em.en1ted $45.00. ISBN 1-878685-16-3, $39.95 an additional map to orientation assistance and a terrestrial photo to Reviewed by Steve Fentress, Strasenburgh Reviewed by Dick Knapp, Russell C. Davis kind of ground truth for the reader to Planetarium, Rochester, New York. Planetarium, Jackson, Mississippi. to. The maps and terrestrial good idea and make the entire book I was about to write that this book has a Early in my career as a planetarian, a set of useful. handsome dust jacket. Then Vic Costanzo, 8xlO color glossies of Gemini III Earth pho Looking at Earth is not intended our artist, pOinted out that the Orion nebula tography reached my hands before they introduction to remote but it photo on the jacket is printed backward. appeared in print. I still remember how the the technical concepts and That's the Oxford Illustrated Encyclopedia of sheer beauty of our planet captivated all Its cursory of the im,lgirlg the Universe in a nutshell: attractive at first who saw those photos. Somehow we hadn't dows afforded glance, but vexing and disappointing on expected it to be that spectacular. trum and its sUlpernC:lal even slightly closer examination. The wealth of orbital imagery available concept of spatial resolution are not This is a collection of (it says) 1100 short today tends to make such scenes seem dent. For instance, resolution is discussed articles on astrophysical concepts, named almost commonplace, so I approached two short paragraphs and illustrated stars, cons tell a tions, planets, moons, Looking at Earth with some skepticism. two very small images identical astronomers, observatories, and the history We've seen all that before, I thought, in text~ locations at 30 and 120-meter resolution of astronomy and space exploration. It's books, coffee table books, magazines, televi its. However, the book includes several aimed at "any interested person wh0 has no sion, movies, and even advertising. taken by the Format previous detailed knowledge of the subject." I was wrong. From the book jacket and one the Soviet KFA-lOOO malDDiml It has 200 pages-not as big a book as the of Yellowstone National Forest ablaze in the camera, each of which is of H ...... ' • .-. title or price would lead you to believe. summer of 1988 to double 9 x 12 page spreads resolution. There are occasional bits of good writing of Landsat images, this book will rekindle A small (the article "radar astronomy," for instance). the awe in anyone who might have grown Most of the text, however, ranges from only too accustomed to our planet's face. More reader would be fair to just awful. Often, the writers seem to than 200 orbital images are featured, repre an from an aircraft camera, as be daring you to figure out what they mean. senting a good cross section of imaging sys make out the cluster of support U ...... UUAI'." For example (page 27): tems and a variety of imaging platforms. In and many details of the massive addition to the now-familiar pictures from The text does not tell us that the The great utility ofcolour indices is that Landsat, EROS and the hand-held Hasselblad reveals the reconnaissance poterltiill they relate to the relative amounts of cameras used on U.s. manned missions, there resolution space light radiated at different wavelengths, are images acquired by Russian mapping not the actual light levels, because a dif cameras, synthetic aperture radar systems, (Please see Book Reviews Vol. 22, No.4, December 1993 The Planetarian rnational Second Quarter Prepared by Keith H. Johnson Fleischmann Planetarium University of Nevada Reno, Nevada 89557-0010 INCOME CATEGORY TO DATE BUDGET INCOME Dues 19129.14 23000 Advertising 3684.00 17000 Interest 660.51 1300 Publications 28.00 800 Conference 0 0 Spitz Fund 75.00 100 Mailing labels 50.00 1000 Other 22.77 100 Totals 23649.42 43300 EXPENSES Planetarian 9001.40 25000 Printing 7152.41 Postage 1536.9~ Advertising 112.09 Miscellaneous 200.00 Directory 13.00 100 Publ'ns. a 000 Administration 2206 73 32.35 372.75 Phone 321.23 Office TOTAL INCOME TOTAL EXPENSES NET INCOME to date 10329. 44 The Planetarian BALANCE SHEET Checking account 6324.56 46751 98 Money Market 50757.13 Net Income 10329.71 ASSETS, 6/30 57081.69 CAPITAL, 6 57081 69 NOTES 1. ~ IMPORTANT: please do not wait until the summer conference to send in your 1994 dues! You will miss two issues of it will be a hassle to you and to Charlene Oukes to get them to you. Membership renewal invoices will go out in late NOlve:ml)er: 31 January 1994. 2. ~ Also IMPORTANT: if you do a wire transfer of money,· depositing it directly into the IPS account in Nevada e1edr'Onlcall US $12 transfer fee charged to IPS. Please add this extra amount to your deposit do not expect IPS to pay wire transfer fees! countries have trouble sending u.s. funds here. If you have trouble, let me know. 3. Here are current membership statistics as of the third week in August US NonUS Totals Individual 362 95 Institutional. 46 32 Total membership 408 127 535 Library 23 13 Total subscribers 571 4. The Credo Card expense shown above comes from the percentage of dues income charged by the bank. The rate is 4.1% both MasterCard/Visa and American Express. MC/Visa also charges a monthly minimum of $20. 5. IPS is a non-profit corporation, but not a charitable one. This means we do not pay u.s. income tax on income related to our business; but donations to IPS are not tax-deductible. We do pay taxes on non-related income (in our case, money-market interest) over $1000. this year, I must report that we paid a total of $4.82 to the u.s. government I requested that this sum be used to set up a Taurus Session Fund; no response yet 6. The bank where IPS accounts are kept is Bank of America, P. O. Box 2000, Reno NV 89520-0025. Its Interbank number is account number is 780003091 No money is kept in cash box on weekends; treasurer has less than $20 cash. The IRS identification is 23-7218926. The treasurer's favorite color is blue.- no, red_ no-AAGGHHHHHHHHHH! (sorry about the for an explanation, see at the next IPS conference wearing a "Killer Rabbit" badge). (Book Reviews, continued from page 43) opening and resists laying down. I spent sev two from NASA files. in eral hours just soaking up the photos before mini a ture on the calendar's back detail can be extracted from enlargements of beginning to read the articulate and infor which allows you to see before you many images available to the public. mative text. Looking at Earth will certainly The images are GRAND: A Shuttle The authors chose not to discuss the enhance any collection on planetology or solar eclipse with prominence, star trails important contribution spacecraft imaging geography, but it could easily by lUS1:mE!G around Mauna Kea, Maat Mons volcano of has made to oceanography. One must draw a simply for the sheer beauty of the Venus, M-42, a wonderful m\lltip}(~-e)(p()sure line somewhere, I realize, but for a work of solar the Keck this scope and price, I feel this is a regrettable (my favorite), revolving 64-meter radio omission. They also decided to collect all the Discover Space, 1994 Calendar Stonehenge at sunset, photo credits at the end of the book, rather with Star Gazing Datebook, Milky Way, crescent Earth with than identifying the source with the image. Roger Ressmeyer, Hyperion, foreground (Apollo 17), the VLA Perhaps most readers will not be annoyed by NY, 1993, ISBN 1-56282-873-8, annular eclipse ofJanuary 1992. that, but I found myself constantly flipping $9.95. Below each 9" x 12/1 (32 x 23 em) to the back to identify the imaging system the month's calendar grid Each responsible for each picture. Reviewed by Bart Wormington, Millard x 2" (3.4 x 4.5 em) area with a North High School, Omaha, Nebraska icon. Major holidays are labeled. ... this is a majestically Gazing Datebook is to the left of A wall-mounted appointment calendar is grid It lists current and historical astronomi bea utiful book that invites handy for the office, home and classroom. cal events for the month. These fine opening and resists laying When the calendar is both beautiful and are certainly suitable for or lamina- down. includes interesting historical information, tion for pass-around in classrooms. as well as astronomical events of the day, it This beautiful calendar retails $9.95 Deficiencies notwithstanding, this is a becomes a near necessity. The Discover Space (USA) and needs a 13.5" x 24" (34 em) majestically beautiful book that invites 1994 Calendar qualifies. Ten images are ~a selected from Ressmeyer's photographs and * Vol. No.4, December 1993 The Planetarian At GOTO our business is Planetariums NO ING ELSE HARDWARE SOFTWAREIARTWARE Planetariums: 8 models from 3 to 30m, 500 to 25,000 stars Over 15,000 pieces of art Domes Over 400 Skyline Scenes (panoramas) Multi-Image System (auxiliary projectors for the planetarium) Over 1000 planetarium shows in our library Astrovision (panohemispheric motion picture system of 10mm 1Op/35mm 8p) 50 entirely new shows produced a Computer Controlled Telescopes Short Film Library: over 30 topics, scenes Astrocar Feature Films: 20 films now available in Astrovision AND THE NEWEST GOTO ADDITION: NEW CONCEPT PLANETARIUM GSXorthe 21st Century ./ Compact projector, a mere 1 meter in diameter ./ Four axes of motion so no "dead zone" ./ Independent Light Source in each Projection Tube . ./ 160 scene SKYLINE PROJECTOR, a unique rotating panorama nrniRl'tiJ'In ./ Digitally Controlled Shutter System ./ 25,000 stars visible to 7.4 magnitude ./ Intelligent Functions: computer assisted operation fills the gap between manual and automated operation ./ Independent Rotation of Star Projector and Skyline Projector GoTo OPTICAL MFG. CO. 4-16 YAZAKICHO, FUCHU-SHI, TOKYO 183, JAPAN TEL: 0423 (62) 5312 FAX: 0423 (61) 9571 TLX: 2832421 GOTOPT J your repertoire of alternative march around your "cool environments. then set to the music of your In 1990, Morehead Planetarium was in the his eXlperim1en1:atiOn, midst of its and school starshow, Dinosaur Disaster. In the Assistant Director Austin Guiles decid ed to incorporate a sequence the major events in the evolution (dare I utter the dreaded liE-word") of life on Earth. One scene he wanted to visualize was of undersea life prior to the In other sequence, Austin needed to the firestorm that resulted from the theoretical with a statlOnalry impact of a comet nucleus or asteroid 65 mil lion years ago. Austin Steve Nichol of Morehead's technical staff to explore the possibilities for visual effects that could simulate these two very different envi ronments. Interestingly, what Steve came up with were variations on the same basic design. The planetarium's starfield is entrancing. Anyone who's built special effects for a This is true largely because it covers the planetarium show knows that the process entire dome, surrounding the audience with mandates a certain trial-and-error aP1Dr(J~aClt1. I will detail another such device that we've used successfully at Morehead-the "all-dome environment projector." want to project), face-mount socket, two AC line with a scrap of 3/4" (2 em) Steve's Dinosaur Disaster expelrinlerltau(Jln and a sman scrap of sheet aluminum. seamless imagery and immersing them with ultimately led him to a funny (though some Hon to the basic components, in an alternate environment. Add to this the might even call it "tacky") little in ability to move this environment around the need a few assorted fasteners and a the Radio Shack catalog called '~ainbows of icone adhesive/sealant. audience and you have some understanding Light" (catalog number 42-3018). (This First, cut the scrap to diIne1tWc:ms as to why the starfield is the prime special uct has also appeared under the names "Color that will accommodate the basic cOlrnoonient effect we have available in our facilities. But Light Show" and "Psycho Lite".) This device, we are also aware that "too much of a good which is marketed as a thing" can lead to tedium. As a result, many "mood effect" for parties (a of us try to fade down the star field at appro- sort-of projection version points in our shows in order to break of the old "lava lamp"), up the potential for visual monotony, as well consists of a dear plastic as to preserve the magical quality of our arti dome with a lamp and ficial skies. Unfortunately, during these image cylinder inside, and starshow sequences we are limited in our a black plastic base (Figure ability to match the spectacular nature of the 1). Once the lamp is turned starfield's dynamic, visual-surround environ on and heats up, convec mental character using video, slides, or even tion currents rise out the slide projection systems. Digistar users top of the image cylinder have the ready ability to create alternative, through slanted metal all-dome, moving environments; but alas, vanes, and this action these are primarily limited to abstract wire causes the cylinder to spin frame imagery. slowly atop a steel needle. Over the years, a number of planetariums Meanwhile, light rays and companies have developed a few special from the lamp stream out effects devices that provide some nice of. colored "hearts," IIdubs," all-dome-environment alternatives "~r,,,.niC><;''' in the otherwise- to the traditional star field, such as "rain," ,.",Ilin."!,:,.· The from the " or "cloud" effects. In this llUlilcUjlUH~lH, then pass molded lens- I will detail another such device that we've facets in the clear dome, and are focused on used successfully at Morehead-the "all-dome the and walls of your room, environment you too can bedroom, or bathroom (whatever turns you motor find some uses for, and variants on, this easy on, I guess). The result is hundreds of colored the lazv-~WClm ~ear1ng; to-build special-effect concept, and add to etcetera, which Vol. No.4, December 1993 The Planetarian dome and the pulley; (d) separate the for its mounting screws, and mount the bear effect-one on either side of motor/pulley from the dear dome enough ing onto the base. Now you can mount the In this cOl!1fi~~ur'ati~Dn, to place adequate tension on the drive belt; AC lamp socket on the underside of the base Iy semicircular with it extending up paper around the "instrument into the lamp open DI()lelctc,r's clear dome, ing. With the style of as a The paper is then porcelain sockets that side of the .... h" ..'r.ro.ri we use, Steve was able When each of the two pro1jec1tors to simply mount the unit on the base using two round-head wood screws and nylon standoffs. ence, so we have these pr()je<:tors nlOllTI1:ea Finally, place the between the circular center pla.tfo1rm dear dome back onto Zeiss Model VI, and the .,.n"UT._'UTnT_n<:'''1I"1ITHT the lazy-Susan bear which surrounds the ing, center it, and run 5). This a smooth bead of sili clear shot to the planetarilLU11 cone adhesive/sealant Motor around the jOint seen between the two such an arrangement around parts. Apply the sili so you may wish to Figure 2 cone with the outer another to surface of the bead unseen. and (e) have an assistant measure how large a sloping down from the dome to the bearing and will surface will be needed to permanently at roughly a 4S-degree angle. In addition to affect the type of pro mount this configuration, induding some holding the parts together, this slope will Whatever you do, make use extra space on the board for mounting the also prevent the drive belt from riding down with unfrosted, or non-clHtused entire finished assembly at its projection the plastiC dome position in the theater later on (Figure 3, top and scraping against and left). Also have the assistant measure the the outer edges of distance between the motor shaft and the the spinning metal center of the dear dome (Figure 3, bottom). bearing. Leave the This measurement will provide you with a assembly alone for reference for positioning the bulb socket and 24 hours, and allow motor holes in the plywood. the silicone to fully After cutting the plywood base, induding dry before handling the holes, paint it flat black. Now, cut and further. drill a piece of the aluminum sheet which After the silicone will facilitate mounting the motor (shaft up) is dry, you can inside its hole in the plywood base. You'll remove the dome/ need holes in the aluminum for the motor bearing from the shaft, motor mounting machine screws, and plywood base, in screws for mounting the sheet onto the stall your selected wooden base. After painting the aluminum lamp in the socket, plate, mount the motor, plate, and base reattach the dome/ together. Next, center the lazy-Susan bearing bearing, and stretch over the lamp opening, mark and drill holes the drive belt around the dome and motor After connecting the AC line cords to the and lamp socket, the basic aH-dome environ ment projector is complete. Actually, to work best-and to the most even illumination across the plilmetar'i urn dome-the all-dome should be placed near the center of the theater. As you can imagine, this presents a in that a large shadow will be created on the dome as the star will be in the 1U!J!1t-1oal:n of the effect. At Morehead, we eliminate this tone overall, but also Figure 4 problem by using a pair of units for each waves that cover, and 48 descen t bul b used to illumi nate a top or a on a wall. We used this version for our "fire storm effect" pro jectors. After being dipped in transparent red lamp-coloring paint, the Tubu lar lamp was installed vertical ly in the tor (Figure 6) cre a ting dozens of air when flickering, line- and remember to do all your the dome. We used this effect together with like red phantoms which dance around the any oil to the """""'L AUI<'._ of rocks and seaweed scattered about dome. the way, the filament in this In terms of rotational in a "sea-floor-bottom" panorama, and pre will vibrate a bit with historic fish projected from zoom-slews. It the rotation of the made for quite a convincing deep-sea envi projector's plastic ronment! dome, adding an effec tive "undulating" mo The magic of this design is tion to the projected patterns of light. Also, that you can deliver some experimentation with dynamic, and dome-filling the exact lamp angle effects that will leave your has led to an interest ing variation. Tilting audiences entranced- all the lamp 2S to 30 for a relatively small invest degrees off-vertical ment in both time and (Figure 7) creates dy namic, natural-look money. ing streamers of red "flames" which swirl Another very different effect can be creat around the dome. ed with a long vertical lamp filament. This Besides the post- filament shape and orientation can be fire- obtained by using a 2S-watt IITubular storm effect, this variation can be used to domes on the underwater Lamp"-the torpedo-shaped type of inc an- suggest the interior of a star, or the inside of at around 1 RPM. In our the pre- tion, we're mm (1/2") (1iame~ter Big on 10 RPM motors. The tirE~stolrm lens-faceted dome to rota te around the lamp inside. A though the ball- v .... '...... Ul<. "races" or UH.V .....J;:.H your own eXJ>er:im4~ntaUon, tracks (holding the find even more lasl:in,itirlR steel balls) that are using the basic pressed in to the I sheet metal halves are use in your theater. the perimeter of 7 these sheet metal Vol. No.4, December 1993 The Planetarian FOR PLANETARIUMS To Alan Gould (Lawrence Hall Science) for the electronic newsletter. The idea of IPS email is overdue. news now would be such an advan tage. As I write Gibbous for our Winter Solstice issue in October I regret not the possibility of two more weeks before the dinosaurs were deadline because I know I will be Fair of Texas seeing so many of you in Oklahoma at the Now that news will have to wait until the Vernal Eq1uiI110X On second thought, would you an be to read billions and billions of Gibbous Gazette ?????????????? (Richland Cosmic To Collins Petersen (Loch Ness Science Place 2 Planetarium) Productions) for her cover story in the Schalk (Garland IS.D. Planetarium) September issue of Sky & Telescope and as The Local lead author of her book Hubble Vision to be published this spring! is the Japan Planetarium consist- .... .I.,...... ,,, ..... on the Hubble project Dixie Brooks were of 73 institutions! Their journal Twilight Sarn~iOn (Wauwatosa West is quarterly, and JPS is looking for School Planetarium) as the first winner of ward to the success of the first IPS Confer the Thomas J. Brennan Award to honor ence in the eastern world in 1996! Several of ex<:eptional achievement in the of their representatives attended the astronomy! "Gary is a true master teacher, a LU/'IlUnLLWn (IPS affiliates and totally committed and dedicated prclfessioln RMP A) in Oklahoma City last fall. al whose good works have touched the some However, I am hearts and minds of thousands over his report that after wi th Is and honor-studded career." eXE~rcilsinlg in water; eXE~rciisirUl "Throughout his entire career, has re- children; and eXE~rcilsinlS! We planetarians are the villains?? Wrong. mained on the cutting edge of curricular and team as Park's new The fact that science cannot find purpose to technological advances and innovations in Coach I am well on the road to 1f'Ptro""prv the Universe does not mean there is not one. the teaching of astronomy." Way to go Before anyone else asks: no, I We are free to the wonders of the To Jose Olivarez (Wichita ...... ,lAU'."""' ..... ,."" But, I do have oq:anizational heavens, and we planetarians are entrusted and Science Center) as the of the to share those feelings. Right. With science Walter R Haas Award of The Association of under attack our challenge is to bring astron Lunar and Planetary Observers! The award omy to the public. We are in the right place at was presented to him last summer at the Bm and his the right time! Association's 43rd Convention in reC:OS!lli tion of his outstanding observational work has come with lots of as an "amateur" observer of the "Joe lots of hours to The Petropavlovsk Astronomical Society has carried on research in several branches of Planetarium presentations. What is requesting assistance to spread the word astronomy, and his studies of Jupiter have ful group all are! What would about astronomy. They are asking for astron been especially noteworthy." (Did you know without our volunteers? _ Our best omy and space related slides and photo that a type of cloud near the equator of for better heal th to Olarles Fer,gwiOn graphs as well as used equipment. In return Jupiter is known as the Olivarez Blue Feature!) Mountain Park Planetarium they will send photos of Russian astronomi To David Hurst (Glendale '-''''' ..u, ...... ,'u sen (Loch Ness Productions) had fall cal and space activities. If you are interested College) for his prestigious Di~.tirUn.llistled of two new albums: Anasazi and Aztec in helping please contact our own Mickey Faculty Award and Classroom Excellence in (Does Mark ever ...... How Schmidt (US. Air Force Academy). [From The Teaching Technology Award! envy Russ (Robert B. Oliver High Altitude Observer, Vol. XU, No.2, taTium) on his retirement! _ Who Summer 1993.] News About can't go home Dr. Darrell Past IPS President is cUITenltly returned to his alma mater Luther working for the American Federation of The foundation /"\h,<:'PT'V~tn.Y·v at Clark To the Boston Museum of Science for Teachers in Grand Prairie. He, among others, Touch which brings visual wonders toasted Howard Estes (Spitz at of astronomy to the of the visually Howard's Annual Covered-Dish at imlJail:edl Printed in Braille and type, my last fall. The Local consist- Touch the Stars such as stars, of the DallaslFort Worth plan- summer!. 5,;",aAl"';), the solar system and astronomical treat Howard to some Written and illustrated our own hOlme-cooking. Others induded: Brad Wel Noreen Grice (Charles Planetarium) (Ri1ch<'Lrru;on IS.n. Planetarium) who told over Arkansas-the h ... .-h ..,I',,,·,,,, Touch the Stars is w-o-n-d-e-r-f-u-l ! about his exc:iting week at last dent Clinton. But, John did undel:-stalnd excitement over being the golf coach since Columbus. Camp Sunrise is p ..,auuA"6 he was an assistant golf coach at Centenary build a science museum near College for several years! John reports wife planetarium. A users group for the East Coast ing time! What's this jonthy is enjoying teaching courses in her Control Systems?? Jon Frantz wants to start field of technical and expository writing _ one. Jon demonstrated a new video control MAPS has set their Conference dates: May 18- system from Sony called VISCA-a protocol I am unable to get satlsnlctc:>ry 21 at the Southworth Planetarium of the that will allow VCRs and other video equip from David Menke (Buehler Pla]netaritlm) University of Southern Maine in Portland _ ment to be controlled by computer. Sony the distribution of this very Vi:UUdlu!~ York Films in England produced a documen has a VCR that is frame-accurate and can mation. Oh thank heavens tary on the Christmas Star that will be aired fade video and audio from different sources. sen's The LNP Planetarium L'Olrnpenartwn. on the Discovery Channel in December. Christian Lofton (Patterson Planetarium), Hope you see our very own john Mosley Catherine Blocker, Vickie Watson, ...... ,;_"'&&... (Griffith Observatory) as a participant! _"_' Bryant (Savannah Science Museum), Dan Our heartfelt sympathies to Clifford. Holmes' Gustafson (Sunrise Planetarium), (Riverside Community College Planetarium) Dykes (Middle Georgia RESA), Ken family. Last fall Clifford died from complica (Emory University), and, of course, Carole tions of a severe asthma attach. Cliff was Helper and jim Greenhouse were also in founder and president of the Riverside Tele attendance at the GAP meeting _ 'I.JV,lyc,AaL.;> scope Makers Conference for over 24 years to Undine Concannon (The London Plane and president of Riverside Amateur Astrono tarium) for becoming the new rh~~lY'T\&>Y"~on mers for 12 years and past president of the of the IPS Publications Committee _ A real Western Amateur Astronomers. A true loss to the planetarium community with the astronomy friend! ...... Jim Greenhouse changes at the McDonnell Planetarium in St (Museum of Arts &: Sciences) loves the MS-lO Louis: Laura Kyro is currently for a Hercules projector control system! He writes local television studio and that they are riding the Jurassic Park craze has gone into administration. ____ How did with the Kokoro dinosaurs and over a thou the trip with Von Del Chamberlain (Hansen sand showings of Dinosaur Tales (with the Planetarium) to Canyons of the tum ECCS system enduring lighting strikes and out? I have such fond memories (National Re:;ea:rch "-AIUA.'.... UI power failures). A meteor watch, Dinosaur Conference Trip a year ago! ._ ... _ A talk on the National W'''A'''U'~''' Survival Party, and an pajama party planetarium? Ask George Reed «West Chest Standards. for the lunar eclipse have kept them busy. er University) about his. I want one! To have Jim has been writing the astronomy column the 512's best features on my A4 would be Skywatch for the local newspaper in his spare wonderful! ...... Kudos to the National time, and is enjoying working with Hands on Workshop on Teaching Astronomy in Grades 3 Universe-a computer lab that high school to 12. I attended last summer at San students use to retrieve telescopic images State University! Jointly the from computer controlled telescopes in Cali Astronomical of the Pacific and fornia and Utah. Jim sent in following news Astronomy magazine and modeled on from the Association of Planetar- SPICA, the sessions featured n".... ~ ...... hum at Mark Smith Planetarium: activities, research and IPV/P'nI1'10' (Savannah Science The Universe A National ""~ •• _. -'~'A6 Bell's outdoor analem- Astronomy Expo and Fair, induded an interac mic sundial. John offers his that tive solar system walk; star will the proper Just Reuben H. Fleet Science Center; send him the exact latitude and of mingling with astronomers from aU your location and the size you want the sun world; and ""'''''''T''''' "'1.1 ...... '...... dial to be! David Dundee Mem William lU1.1ltfficmD, Harc:lirJg orial Planetarium) had an orange cat in his museum! Garfield the cat's first pianetari1WTI show the Fernbank Science Center! Ask David about his moon orcljector with douds! Poor Bob Gardner's exhibitors who made week an ab~;olll1te (Northside School Planetarium) school . _ Qu1stlne Brunello district wants to install a in his (great for weath- ones er??); Summers (Fulton Planetarium) has that work and the ones that do not! ...... bats in his and Tate's What's the latest on the National Planetar~ Planetarium) are having to iwn Coundln ...... work with Jim and the other Bob. summer in & '"",l'L>€'r''''''''' ,.,.", ... e;1(tr~emelv Powers has been to ter1esun,g, to say the least I wonder how Director at the Patterson Planetarium and Koehn vs . .Kru McCall (Sudekum Planetar Carole Rutland (Nathan M. Patterson Plane ium) vs. Bob Tate Planetarium) feud tarium) is teaching at the university in is along??? Anyone 52 The Planetarian ScreenMaster & ScreenMaster P. C., VC-12 and SMPTE Stepper, for total control Rotating Planets & Planet Chords, Emulators, Scene Machines, All-Sky W "Bear Tales and Other Grizzly Stories ': "Daughter ofthe More exciting shows in production now. Production Facilities Original artwork by staff artist Joe using our in house recording studio ment Representing Major A/V Manufacturers: Wiko Lamps, Panasonic, JVC, Tascam/Teac, Sound ng Experienced, professional designers to ensure highest quality in your acoustic and enVIronment. Multi-color portable laser systems that graphics animation are available at courtesy of Patrick Rowan at the Seymour you expect, this ening Planetarium in Springfield, Massachusetts, annoyed the TV who put together a consortium of planetari Meanwhile, ums capable of providing a satellite Planetarium was Dome up/down link. "It was a pipe dream I'd had to the local television station ...... "6 put together this network, and it was only in Florida uplink took it into the last couple of months that everything uplink earlier than told began to fall in place," said Pat. lilt was a very were going to. wanted to go conducted by Jon U. Bell gratifying experience, for it turned out the lier so that could feature Planetarium Director way I'd imagined, and I can't wait to try it shot in their news segment. again for the annular eclipse in /94./1 At the moment of the switch, Indian River Community The basic network consisted of Spring changing over to their College field, Newport News, Pittsburgh, and Braden to boost the ton, Florida. Pat was able to get some grant 3209 Virginia Avenue money to lease an uplink; Newport News, Pierce, Florida 34981 Pittsburgh, and Bradenton talked local sta tions into providing both up and downlinks. Janus, the two-headed Roman god of com And another dozen planetariums took ings and goings, and for whom the month of advantage of the downlink service: Strasen January is named, prompts this end-of-the burgh in Rochester, New York; Charles year column. This is a great time for looking both backwards and forwards ('course, if This is a great time for looking both i")<:l/~V\A)'<:I"'/!e. you're also looking up at the same time, it's a wonder the experience doesn't leave you Hayden in Boston; Adler Planetarium in I think my worst event for '93 seriously mangled ... ). I got to thinking that an informal canvass of the membership Chicago, to name a few. And CNN used the the Perseid Meteor Shower. could yield some rich material for this arti satellite feed in their news segments. Musk itself was But lot of media from Mark Petersen and Jonn Serrie also to go outside and look at 9 in the CH1/tJ'nh-uy cle. So I asked a few unsuspecting planetari am the following questions: accompanied the images of the eclipse. after sunset. For the next lt was a good thing we had the downlink, I listened to disillusioned meteor watcners. because from Newport News, this /lOh man," I told them, "You shoulda 1. What was your best skywatching experi began just minutes after moonrise, and the out a little later." ence of 1993? trees that surround the Virginia Living 94? If I can 2. What was your worst? and Museum prevented folks from seeing the 3. What 1994 skywatching event are you first half-hour of the event. We went ahead solar in November, I'n do it looking forward to? and set up a second observing site just off the museum grounds, which made for some Here's what I got: slightly complicated logistics, but our shuttle vans were able to handle the 400 who bought tickets for the party. At the same time, the video from I thought I'd start out by talking to myself our satellite downlink gave anyone at the first, because I usually find it pretty easy to museum a good view on monitors. Half an get a hold of me. "That's a great batch of hour before totality, folks were shuttled back questions, Jon, and may I say you're doing a to the museum for refreshments (Moon Pies, wonderful job with this column!/I /lAw, Eclipse Punch, Saturn Cider, Lunar Green shucks," I replied, "it's all in a night's work. Cheese on Crater Crackers, Chocolate Aster And speaking of nights, wasn't that lunar oid Cookies-you know, the usual stuff... ) eclipse last December a hoot?" "Yeah, but And besides telescopic views, there were that was at the end of '92," I pointed out. "So other events: astronomy lectures the staff what?" I replied. (I hate it when I get flip and NASA educators, children's programs, pant.) moon rocks on display, te.leSCODlC Besides a totally awesome, out-of- Saturn, lunar this world event, it seems like that ecUpse got folk mUSician, planetarium sky shows, outer some excellent treatment from a lot of plan space face painting and a moon suit to etariums. own facility in Newport News, on, and a mural wall for kids to illustrate Virginia, hosted a "Night of Total Luna-see," with space scenes. (Hey, it works for me, aU right?) We'd had a As totality neared, excitement grew, all lot of success with the lunar eclipse parties eyes were on the moon, and the television held in '82 and '86, so we if the media went into some kind of a fren weather cQ()p(!ralted we'd have anoth- zy (this was all happening during their local er sky event. meteor shower, but news spot, you see.) Seymour Planetarium, for the ~~,;;~~,,'" This time out, we also had the opportuni which was on the uplink, was losing the ty to hook up with some other facilities, The lunar image (that was one dark As their 54 The Planetarian hilltop fortress two and a half miles out from Ian and John felt this setup made for per- Armagh, that was once the of the fect event because it lots of activi- province of Ulster. "You try a 14-inch ties besides the It gave them another Celestron 250 feet up that bloody great ansne--trle combination of the ancient site, hill in the fog and the cold and then tell me the traditional music, the fireworks at totali it was perfect!" muttered Tate. Well at ty, and of course the least they were able to leave the electrical for a memorable eXlperlerlCe. generator at the base of the hill, along with a "Our worst event? Well, that would have of the Perseids, AJ .... u ...• ...... , great tent set up for and other to be the last winter when our tele (also of the Fels) and some radio social interactions. scope drive unit went out on the 16-inch calls from the "It was quite a foggy night, to tell you the " said Ian. lilt was too to truth," said John. "The fog added to so we got out some smaller the whole thing-as the ele'SC()pE~S for the we lost a stellations in the heavens. the moon shone dear through the mist; and chance to show off Saturn before it set." there we were, standing there on top of this As of this the folks are ancient mound-it was like back 1-"~'''''''JL6 on up for November three thousand years, and u1""trl-,;n 28th's lunar eclipse, even it will be ancestors must have done, 'AT",ih'-'lT halDPcmlng in the small hours of the morn- old Celtic gods to draw a curtain over the In '94, there's the IPS conference in moon-it was totally .. u ....' ...... u6. Cocoa and the 25th of the first Visitors could hike up to the to manned moon plus the of watch the eclipse with and the a new exhibition hall on the front of the naked eye, then stroll back down from time planetarilll!ll and an astronomy as welL to time to take part in an incredible series of activities: astronomy lectures; traditional Irish song and dance or ceilidh (pronounced lee) with straw-hatted singers and "I think the Perseids were both our best rhymers; theatrical presentations and poetry and our worst event in '93," said readings; even a play based on the legenaaI'Y Towne, of the Fels Planetarium in Philadel Chuchulain and a spirited cattle raid. The Pennsylvania. lilt was our best event Stone.") II Planetarium had recruited from several arts because Derrick had a great conduct- and groups throughout Ireland, and had gotten a a live radio broadcast at the of the to Oaxaca in Mexico wide spectrum of community involvement. shower; it was the worst because a half dozen what's in store for them! Public enthusiasm was so great that most of our staff went out to a local a Her everybody stayed until the very last umbral of later (August B), and the was contact, and the planetarium staff didn't get overcast. And people showed up any- the opportunity to strike the tent and their equipment until 4 in the Still, Ian The Fels staff said, "Several pints of Guinness to smooth out our dispositions." moonrise. listed the visit to the n ... ,aUI;::lU) Russian I.:Ui[Uluunn:y:· "Oh, and the Perseids because there were lots of ible here. But because the planet:arium views of it." Per ardua ad astra ... me a letter! Vol. The Planetarian Spitz. Setting and ",,,,,,-,,,,11,-,'-'-,",,, since 1945. S PIT Z, INC., P.O. Box 198, Route 1, Chadds Ford, PA 19317 USA Tel: 215. 459. 5200 FAX: 215. 459. 3830 fill being established and should be for I distribution soon New AMP AC officers for the 1993-94 term are: President: Ind Miguel Gil, Director, Luis E. Erro Planetarium. President Elect: Lie. The Abrams Planetarium in Miguel Angel Delgado, Centro Cultural Alfa MI had a successful reclDe:niIll2 Planetarium. Secretary: Prof. Ledes ma, Education programs, Cuemavaca Plane tion of their new Di~~ista:q)roiecltor. tarium. Treasurer: Capt. Francisco Ramirez, The Cleveland ...... ~"' ..JjLUU As:mc:ia1tion Nautical Schools' Planetarium Rel:)feSeIllta Planetariums held the third tive. Council President: Fernando zummer zocial" at the home Oviedo, Traveling Planetarium. Pam on June 26th. ran laser The host for the 23rd AMP AC General shows this summer. Attendance Meeting will be Alvaro Hernandez, Director than and will C011tblue of the Mazatlan Nautical School Planetar fall. ium, MazatJan, Sinaloa. The meeting will be January 19-24, 1994. um in Grand The United Nations book, Planetarium-A the 3rd edition Ast701110rnIV Challenge for Educators, has been translated able for a very reasonable cost into Spanish and will be ready by the 23rd To order your copy, send a check AMPAC meeting. the Astronomical to As1tro:nOlmv A training course for planetarium pro Public Museum gram production and operations is currently SE; Grand As you can see in the following article, being prepared by Lylian Damy and 49503. there is a lot happening in the world of plan Ledesma. They are also producing a video etariums. Many thanks to all of you who and promotional leaflets about AMPAC. sent in articles for inclusion in this edition of New AMPAC members are: Planetario de Kej~lOnal Roundup. The deadline for the next la Ciudad de Pachuca, Pachuca, "'U.40A.KU. edition of Regional Roundup is Monday, which opened on Feb. 4, 1993 with a Zeiss •"".,. •• "',"'" 10, 1994. I realize that this date ZKP3 under a 11 meter dome, directed by lng. may be a little early, however, I have a siz Guillermo Weber; and Planetario de CuH able commitment the following week and acan, part of Centro de Ciencias de Sinaloa will not have the necessary time to complete which opened June 22, 1993 with a refur the article and submit it to John in time to bished Zeiss ZKPI under a 10 meter dome, meet his deadline. directed by Josefina Morgan Only those affiliates that sent reports are included here. See your representative Qisted lakes Planetarium on page 3) if your affiliate is not represented. Association (GlPA) The 29th annual GLP A Conference was Mexican held at the Philips Space Theater, (AMPAC) Museum of Natural History, Ohio The 22nd AMP AC General Meeting and on October 20-23, 1993. The host of the con the 2nd Iberioamerican Planetarium Associ ference was Planetarium Director Arthur ation (alP) Meeting was recently held at the Goss. The conference took place just after the Bend, KS; and Bob Centro Cultural Alfa Planetarium in Monter deadline for this article. Please see the GLPA Southwest Math/Science rey, Mexico. In attendance were: Asuncion section in the next issue of The Planetarian tarium, Kansas KS. Sanchez, Director of Planetario de Madrid, for additional details of the conference. Spain; Nelson Sanguinetti, Museo de los The 30th annual GLPA Conference will be Nifios Planetarium, Caracas, Venezuela; Jose held at the Benedum Natural Science Rafael Guerrero, Director of the Quito Theater, Oglebay Resort &: Conference Cen ter, Wheeling, West Virginia on October 26- Planetarium in Ecuador and Orbis Durval, sUJ>plllers is Director of Cidade do Rio de Janeiro Plane 29, 1994 and will be hosted by Steven tarium along with most of the AMPAC Planetarium Director. members. Orbis Durval will be the host for The Cernan Earth and Space Center in the 3rd Iberioamerican Planetarium Associ River Grove, Il recently received its second ation Conference which will coincide with consecutive general support grant the November 3, 1994 total eclipse in South from the Institute of Museum Services America. which will be used to enhance the facilities lng. Jose de la Hemin was elected General ..... !-,... ..,.u ...... The Lakeview Museum Plane includes the TOII01ATI1I'1(1' clllar.ter's: allJXiUal'V tarium in Peoria, II also received an IMS Secretary of alP after the sudden death of instrument vr Middle Planetarium Nordic Planetarium As~;oclatllon Society (MAPS) (NPA) The Robert}. Novins Planetarium at The 10th Nordic Planetarium was more than .LJU'.V,",'V Ocean County Community College, Toms hosted by the National Museum of Natural River, New Jersey, has been offering an ongo History's Cosmonova-Nordstjeman Planetar ing series of live musical events entitled ium September 3-4, in Stockholm, Sweden. "Concerts under the Stars." These concerts Kjell Engstr6m, Tom Callen and the staff of tus. provide a unique service to the community the Cosmonova hosted the which Henrik Nielsen of the Orion Planet:ari"um by presenting high-quality musical perfor was attended by 35 delegates from Danish, mances in the unusual environment of the Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish v ...... ' ..A. planetarium theater. The planetarium spe urns. cial effects, panoramas, lasers and of course Several papers were prE~lntE!d the star instrument are used to compliment meeting. They include: the music. In the past year, several concerts "Research on the Effects of were offered. They include: "Xisle" per Astronomy with a Starlab formed an electronic concert on October 3, Timo Rahunen, "Self-Made 1992 to commemorate the 35th anniversary Animations and Image Prc:X:E~SSilnJl of the birth of the space age with the launch PC;" Franck Pettersen, "Stones in NI1.nAllllUO of Sputnik 1. Three concerts were held in They Have Any Connection with Astron March to honor Women's History Month. omy?;" Jan-Erim Solheim, "Closest On March 7, the Carol Heffler Quartet per Star Evolution;" Antti janDes, uProDome formed a jazz concert. On March 27, compos All Sky Projectors;" Per Broman, "New er Wendy Chambers presented a lively and Musical Abilities at Broman Planetarium." informative discussion of her co;mr.osJin2" The also included a tour of Stock- t~:nJu("Jlut: and sources of musical inspira holm's historic observatory in tion. The musical duo 44Giverny" performed where a Venus transit was studied 200 years a program of modern classical music on ago. A post meeting tour to Falun, Sweden 58 Vol. ZKP-3 projector (the first production unit). The Hansen Planetarium in Salt Lake City, Timo Rahunen of the Tampereen Plan Utah, reports record-breaking attendance etaario, Tampere, Finland reports that more this summer with their original program than 90,000 visitors carne through his facili entitled "Fate of the Universe," cowritten by cation in South Florida. ty between January and August, 1993, which Hansen's Diane Beam and Stephen Hawking. A Black Tie Celebration of represents a sizable increase over last year. A Professor Hawking traveled to Salt Lake City versary Horkheimer's inteIT-Lation:alh program on natural causes of UFOs was both to present a lecture in conjunction with the acclaimed "Child of the Universe" successful and controversial. The interactive program's grand opening over the 4th of at the Miami system in the planetarium was used to ask July weekend. The lecture hall was filled to April 24th. The visitors if they have ever encountered a UFO. capacity with thousands turned away at the among other 20% claimed that they had while 70% said door. message from that they had not. The RMP A annual conference is a part of voices), a Ann-Gerd Eriksson of the Teknikens Hus the Triple Conjunction with GPPA and President Bill Clinton, and last but (House of Technology), Lulea, Sweden re SWAP in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma this of the classic ports that the facility is a large Science and year. The conference was just a week away """"n .... n was dedicated to the .."."',,,,,,.,"' ... "" Technology Center that has a 5 meter diame from the deadline for this issue and the con Arthur Smith. ter earth globe that houses a small planetari ference information will appear in the next um, liThe Universe Inside the Earth." The issue. capacity is 2S persons and the projec tor a Spitz Nova. The facility also owns a Starlab which is used for outreach programs. Arvo Kuusela of the Saarijarvi, Finland The 1993 SEPA Conference was hosted by Planetarium reports that his facility, a Goto- the Planetarium in Bradenton, Pierce sent some of the ni~:nl.i,~nts 3, has been operating for 11 years. Last year, Florida, June 15-19. The conference theme the conference that was to more than 25,000 school children visited the was "technologies" and a record turnout of after the deadline for this issue. planetarium. 153 delegates attended from 28 states, Dr. Robert Kirshner, Steen Iversen of the Tycho Brahe Planetar and England Harvard Dr. Bm ROJrnaJrlisllin, ium and Omnimax Theater in Copenhagen, Jon Bell assumed the of the Denmark reports that his staff has recently new Spitz 512, 4O-foot facility at Indian River been reduced due to economic reasons, how Community College in Ft. Pierce, Florida. TeJ.esc:ooe. were sctleduh:rl ever, several new grants have been obtained Because of Jon's move, the 1994 SEP A Confer to turn things around The Danish ence, which had been scheduled as a SWAP President Mark ~o:nnjta.2 • ,..""""..,, .. toy company, LEGO is producing a short conference with MAPS, has been rescheduled State Omnimax film which will be distributed by at the new Kelly Voyager Planetarium the Brahe Planetarium. in Charlotte, North Carolina. The conference etarium), "~«-Y'~t~1"V l'1r1'4>!:I'IO!lIU'g:.1i" Sakari Lehtinen of URSA, an Amateur will be held in June at a date to be announc- (ME!Sql.lite Schools Pla:net;uh.llm), Ne1N'sle~tteI Astronomer's Society in Helsinki, Finland ed. It will not be a conference as Editor Wendi Elliott (Kilrkp1atrick Pbn"",l'!:I1i"w reports that among several other activities, it ium) and IPS ret)re5ientatiive also a school planetarium which The Mark Smith Planetarium in Macon, has a 6 meter dome and a Goto prc~jecltor. '-' .... ''''JL,.. .." has been selected as the site of Hard Hietala of the Verne Theater, 1995 SEP A Conference. Council at the Heureka, Helsinki-Vantaa, Finland reports Conference. A of also estab- that the several programs they ran this year lished the of IPS Council representa- in more than 250,000 visitors. tive. This function was handled r.1"r'lr.y'n Urke of the Volda of the Hare was aDtJOi:nb:~ Education, Volda, reports that the serve in this until the next Starlab 3 years ago is used election in 1994. for teacher and research. On a sad note, Charles 1<"" ...... ".,,...... Wells Planetarium in Halrri~onl)ur:~, suffered a massive cerebral he1nOlrrh;~e past Charles was in a coma while and still suffers from short ory loss. While he is out the outlook for a full recovery remains low and he has had to curtail his work in the Also, from the Miami tarium, Arthur most 7'<:>r,,,nf-ll,, one-time board and acl!Cn~::>wle(lQ"ed "Father of the Planetar- away this past Arthur's has caused not a tremendous DeI'SOJlalloss to those aCQluaj.ntE~ with him, Vol. No.4, December 1993 The Planetarian ANSWER: Thafs easy. I-V&:lffVn.rvru is the classic AraoosQue on the still avalllaOle R~~~~mJlaDJ~ At what of the week can I see HUSTLER'? irs my December, 1991 column. That video combines NASA and Russian visuals of the planets, computer simulations, and effects with Isao Tomita's rendition of Gustav Holst's liThe Planets" musical suite, no narration, and a minimum of reader cap tions. The new video is the same as the with one nu~'-anQ difference: it includes narration none other than Jean-Luc Picard of the known in this era as British actor Patrick Stewart continues. And The version was very much an Resetar, 12980 artistic some first-rate Burnsville, Mi:nn~~sota Sometimes no news is not news. visuals and sequences and the Tomita score. Witness the U.s. Mars Observer's terminal (612) 882-0731, who The addition of Stewart's narrative makes it cal collection silence since it last an educational as wen. In fact, it as it prepared runs very much like a Sometimes, slow news is news. show-an aided Galileo's dribble of data in Evans &: Sutherland's SeI)telnlJler eventually formed the first won starfields used as ba<:kgrouma detailed picture of the asteroid Ida, tion sequences. which it successfully reconnoitered also last 4'"Ui.H\,j• ....." .. the video title is "Patrick Stewart Narrates 'The " the title that Sometimes, news is just mixed. As when, appears in the video itself is liThe Planets for also last August, the Russian Mir space sta People." It's not dear this second tion was apparently by Perseid title is used, since the video seems not micrometeoroids without serious effect, but ularly aimed at young and the pro- at the same time, £SA's satellite ducers even have Stewart make the spinnjing out of control due that the video is for "aU " The way to a meteoroid hit of its own, the my information sheet put it, Stewart mission of the planets of our solar in a way And sometimes, news is that is simple enough to be under- the recent discovery of four stood by children, but also detailed Neptune, alleged escapees from the to be of interest to adults." Read: ... __ .____ _ bel t of cornets audiences. Pluto. Since the basic video has been described in But no news is never news for this past colwnns, suffice it to say that it's a very column which and thrives on the nice romp through the solar system, news that you send to me about what's made better in educational terms on in your sector of the pl(1lne~taI'lUIn addition of information universe-new new ideas, new Stewart's rich voice-which seems to turn de1Iel()PIneIlts, new ways of doing things. 'O"."' .... T'lAJh,p'r,p these days, almost to While we may not be able to com pete with the latest from the space frontier, I'm sure that there are lots of new on that you could share with (01- who'd like to know. So pass YOUf contributions in this and I'll put them in the column where-to oaJrat.hrase another old chestnut-we try to include "all that's new that's fit to " Last issue I reviewed a series of videos from the Malibu Video line distributed RTI, Inc. Wen, there's a new video out from the 1'"",,,,rl1u·t-linn company, this time dis- BMG 6363 Sunset Floof, California telelpnOlrle- (213) 468-4069. version of MaUbu's .U""~A""' ••_' video " first mentioned in tant for BMG, writes that the video now Vol. December 1993 The Planetarian in the context of any live planetarium show SMPTE soundtrack ($125), and a duplicate Cowboy Astronomer," first ae~"e.l4::mE!a produced by registered owners." (To me, a slide set for archival purposes or whatever Nello William's nl~'ng:>f"~1'ill1n-1 ''live planetarium show" means one that isn't ($300). Wyoming at his sU8;gestiOln, taped. so I presume that the composer means The information sheet also indicates that "in-house." You may wish to clarify this to "More Than Meets the Eye" was produced in be sure. Also, according to the information I cooperation with Spitz, Inc., and that Spitz is It's now have, "registered owners" refers to the fact including the program with all new plane company. that people who purchase the collection tarium Model 512/ ATM-3 automation sys I've heard the tape and seen return a registration agreement which vali tem installations. visuals, and as someone dates their use of "Star Traks.") Resetar also One of the important by-products of this in the town that hosts the National offers a six-minute demo tape containing program is the invaluable set of telescopic Finals Rodeo, I can tell you that excerpts of the music, available for $5 U.s., views of assorted objects created by artist hoot-and that it will '''"F"" .. ii .. o for those who'd like a sample. Tim Kuzniar, which is also available as a sep broader than you This is great music for the planetarium, arate item in the Loch Ness catalog. I got the and very well worth a listen For more infor planet set and the initial deep-sky set some mation or to order, you can contact Robert years back, and I swear by them. We use Resetar at the address and phone number them constantly in classes, lectures, and our provided above. current-sky shows. Whenever we want to discuss a planet, we almost always show the latest From Ness audience the kind of view they'd actually see The prolific Nessians have struck again through a small or medium-sized telescope the kind of view they'd have access to if with several new and/or expanded versions before we show them the fancy color images of shows and other products available to the planetarium community. First out of the they're used to seeing in books and on TV. blocks is an expanded 1993 version of their We do the same with the deep-sky objects for which we have telescopic views. show "More Than Meets The Eye." This 31-minute program (expanded from The planet set indudes assorted binocular, 4-inch (10 cm), and 8-inch (20 cm) views of medicine wheel, to star colors, SUl:>erno'vas the 1987 17-minute original version) features all the planets as appropriate, except for 1'."...... 4'\...... ", views of and information on the moon, the and even mention of Pluto. The original deep-sky set includes the Tel1esc()pe. And it works! prominent naked-eye planets, and some of same for such objects as the Pleiades, Albireo, "The the brighter deep-sky objects, concentrating Epsilon Lyrae, the Hercules Globular Cluster, US., tnC!U(]l:1.1g on how they appear with different amounts of optical aid. The show takes the viewer the Double Cluster in Perseus, the Orion Nebula, the Lagoon and Trifid Nebulas, and from the naked eye through binoculars and the Andromeda Galaxy. I've been hoping for small telescopes to the familiar color pho more, and I'm happy to see that the new tographs available in astronomy books from show provides them: Mizar/ Alcor, the big observatories, spacecraft, and now the Nebula, the Crab Nebula, the M6/M7 open Hubble Space Telescope. One of the major dusters, the Beehive Cluster, and even some points is that things don't look to the eye views of the moon and a binocular through a telescope the way they do in the sion of the Milky Way. picture books, but understanding what these These are great slides to have, and objects really are /lcan spark the imagination, a remarkably good job of and make the search worthwhile." right impression of what Ness show, a A show like this performs the valuable ser vice of preparing the public for what they'll expect to see through a that's Season/' is very important for us to do. Better to have November release actually see through a telescope, and as the them understand ahead of time what the the program information sheet points out, is a great pre view is like than to have them disap1)Oi.ntE~ at the cursor to a public star party. I've heard the at the telescope. If I have one about Loch Ness acquin~d new tape, and it's up to Loch Ness' normal the slide set, it would be that some of the high quality: dear and concise stellar images aren't as accurate as I'd straightforward narration, appropriate and Specifically, Albireo B is too relaxing musical score. It's a very good, staple compared to Albireo A, and Alcor is relative show to have in your planetarium repertoire. The show package, aimed at the general ly too bright compared to Mizar A. But if you're dever, you can fix that public, includes an annotated script, slide I can think of few better slide investments Nessians and production notes, 86 masked color slides I've made over the years-or few slide sets details. in Wess glass mounts, and the stereo sound I've used more. This is the kind of set every track available in cassette, half-track 7.5 planetarium should have in its The and 7.5 formats, for a cost of slides sell for $12.50 U.s. apiece. $425 U.S. Additional items And now for something completely differ include a narrationless soundtrack for trans ent ... consider the Loch Ness program liThe lations ($75), Sky-Skan SPICE data files and 62 Products names with which stars and constellations ences, P.O. Box 2053, Princeton, Earlier this year, NightStar Products, Inc. are labeled Most are correct, but you'll find USA. You'll find videos on many introduced two new models of their among them the constellation of Letus, and ics with a little tossed stars named Arctus, Altar, Ajgol, and-inex As a final item, I received NightStar flexible star map. The basic model plicably-Margarita There's even an Equator cover for a calendar called ni'O;:l"r'Vf'\Y' was introduced about eight years ago, and named Celeste. Clearly, someone ought to Universe 1994, created Richard you're probably familiar with it-which is have proofread this umbrella more closely ASl':r0110niY .&fag4ui'Je.. good, because it's hard to describe. It's that mer editor of eight-inch (20 cm) soft-plastic adjustable before it was mass-produced. endar indudes 24 full-color !t's sturdy and I'm sure it keeps the rain dome printed all over with constellations. off, but if you're also looking for educational You can adjust it so that the concave surface accuracy in the products your gift shop sells, portrays your current sky; you look up inside it and it becomes a little bitty portable you might consider this a lesson in caveat emptor. planetarium to help you find your way around the sky. Accessories include a snap on time dial, a latitude-finding device, plan et-finder overlay strips, a red pocket-light, ... for the 1994 catalogs to start aOloea,rinJZ. and a 48-page activities handbook. and a some have already arrived. Induded is I became acquainted with it some years the 1993-94 catalog of The Astronomical ago, when a salesman regaled me with Society of the Pacific, 390 Ashton Avenue, visions of sitting in a hot tub on a clear night San Francisco, California 94112. It's filled the waterproof NightStar, letting it with books, slide sets, videos, audio cassettes, float around on the surface of the steaming posters, computer software, observing water, retrieving it for periodic use. I bought and assorted products, some of them new So ... here's Ulic,h' ..". a NightStar. I'm still saving up for the hot items. It's a good resource for your tub. or planetarium. season, and a ber ... What's new? Anyway, it's a clever idea that comes in I've also received word that MMI '-AJIU• .I'I.J1UlI" several slightly different versions, and now Hon's 1994-95 astronomy materials there are two more: the "Legend," which entitled "Astronomy, Space Science and adds constellation figures, and the "Naviga Planetarium Guide" is out and has doubled tor," which is imprinted with "celestiallongi in size. I haven't seen tude and latitude lines," according to the it, but past catalogs information I received The wholesale price have been treasure for these is $15 U.s., and they have a suggest troves of aU sorts of ed retail price of $29.95. useful materials. The NightStar offers quite a lot of accompany- company also has a materials-informational booklets and new Elementary (Kin posters and such, and I'm quite impressed dergarten through with what I've seen of these. If you haven't Twelfth Grade) As- looked at NightStar in a while-and especial tronomy Materials cat ly if you have a hot tub-it might be a good alog containing appro PAUL KAPLAN - time to take another peek. Contact NightStar priate products, and Products, 695 Mistletoe Road, Suite D, Ash- the Geology and Earth Oregon 97520 USA, telephone (503) Science Materials cata- 482-8719, fax (503) 482-6846. log is likewise avail -ORIGINAL SCORES FOR PLANETARIUM I came upon another portable product able. Catalogs are free with a starry motif not long ago: a standard to educators; others are SKY SHOWS AND FILMS sized dark blue umbrella with a white im- asked to send $3 U.S. of the northern hemisphere constella for postage within the tions and Milky on its outer (convex) U.s .. or $S U.s. for over - PRE-RECORDED MUSIC WITH IN-HOUSE surface. It's called, apparently, a "Galaxy seas mailing. Contact PRODUCTION AND SYNCHRONIZATION Umbrella" and is marketed by Shaw Crea MMI Corporation, P.O. tions, 28 West 20th Street, New York, NY Box 19907, Baltimore, SUCH AS THE VERY POPULAR COMPACT 10011. Maryland 21211 USA, I found it to be much better as an artistk telephone (410) 366- statement than I did an educational one, and 1222, fax (410) 366- perhaps that's all the company was striving 6311. for. It's attractive, but if you look closely, Another useful cata- you see that the printed pie-shaped cloth is the 1993 l'Physics panels don't fit together particularly well, so and Astronomy on that some constellations are partly missing Video" fall catalog 103 SEVENTH AVENUE HAWTHORNE, in the seams and some are partly doubled from Films for the 201 238-1042 201 And it's quite an adventure scanning the Humanities and Sci- Vol. December 1993 The Planetarian Ancient petroglyphs. Fractals. Stained glass projectors is certainly a big able The All-Sky windows. Bubbles. Wildflowers. DNA strands. to dissolve between all-skies is a very effec The Buddha. Agates. Microphotographs of tive tool. For what it's worth, we have an cells and vitamins and metals. Bolts of light MC-lO automation system. Circle ning. Microchips. One of the most important elements in What do all these have in common? They creating a good all-sky is the soft mask. all exist as photographic all-skies in my To my way of unless the is Conducted by: dome. Armed only with an active imagina- completely seamless, the effect is not what it Coleen Rowe & Ervin Bartha tion, a willingness to ------NADA take chances, and a As for what can become an alh3ky, the good copy stand, I tions are not the subject matter, but 172 W. Clinton Ave. #107 have experimented the original image will work with the format. Salt lake City, Utah 84103 over the past few years with imagery that extends well beyond the field of astron should be. Those of you involved with creat In this issue our guest contributor Dan omy. What I am fond of telling visitors is ing all-skies know well that a dark scene will Hawkins describes the means whereby all-skies this: The planetarium dome is like a big not show seams, whereas a bright is can be made from photographic prints. These curved canvas, waiting for an image. The joy very demanding. The I use for techniques will open up a whole new range of of painting with slide projectors is that I can making masks is essentially the same as that creative possibilities for planetarium producers put up image after image with the push of a shared with me by Vic Costanzo, the by expanding the role of the all-sky system in button. Painting with light endary artist and designer at the Strasen every production. We hope that our readers find This article is about creating unconven burgh Planetarium. His unselfish advice and this article beneficial to their endeavors. -C.R tional all-skies. First let's consider questions willingness to help exemplify what is the and E.B. of "what and how" and later raise issues of very best about planetarians. After many, "when and why". What I am working with is many tests I have a mask that works very Unconventional pretty straightforward. An Oxberry Pro-l well in my dome. If anyone is interested, I camera with aSS mm Micro-Nikkor lens is have typed up the process and will send it to All-Skies the set up I use for shooting all my flat art you on request work, although the truth is that for this kind As for what can become an all-sky, the Daniel l. Hawkins of work, a pin registered camera is not essen limitations are not the subject matter, but tial. The overlap on the dome is so great that whether the original image will work with SpaceQuest Planetarium any good camera on a copystand should the format What we are dealing with is six P.o. Box 3000 work quite well. Our projectors in the dome wedge shapes that have a lot of If I are what you'd expect-six pairs of Ekta can adapt a photographic term, there is a Indianapolis, Indiana 46206 graphic III E's, arranged in the usual manner. "circle of confusion" at the apex of the dome. 317/924-5431 Ex. 4109 We use Iseo 35mm lenses. Having pairs of This is where all six slides are converging. For some images this will not matter; the exam ple I have for this is photo #1, below, an all sky of E. Coli DNA ejected from the nucle us. Because the subject matter is of twisting, overlapping strands of DNA, the convergence at the apex blends into the entire image. In photo #2 you will see my Buddha all-sky. When photographing the original artwork, which remains flat on the copystand, care was taken to keep the Buddha's head well away from the top of the frame. At a certain point it becomes a question of intuition and trial and error as to how to size and Hon your image. Just 64 The Planetarian Vol. 22, No.4, December 1993 which sequence will produce the most com plementary The different angles of view help to keep the from looking artitic:ialJly "mirrored" across the dome. Yet in other such as photo #3 (be low), this mirroring cre ates a powerful effect. This all-sky is six identi cal slides, with every other one to mirror the one next to it. The overall effect is like an Escher labyrinth. Likewise in photo #4 (next page), six identical slides are used to create a kaleidoscopic scene. The subject is a micro photograph of alumi num, taken from a book. Over time one develops a feel for what will work and what remember the "circle of confusion" must al As for the sides, the twisting shapes of the won't. Sometimes you just have to take a ways be reckoned with. DNA overlap well and create a good blend chance and see what happens. As much as Another factor in creating your all-sky is between the six separate slides. Obviously possible, keep in mind what you're trying to the size of the original you are working with. they must all extend roughly the same dis create on your "canvas" after it is masked The E. Coli DNA was shot from a photo in a tance down the dome to match up. Usually I Which leads us nicely into questions of large book. If your original art, photo or will shoot more than the six necessary slides when and why. I often find I have a few book is large enough you can compose your so that I have 10 or 12 images to choose from. frames left on a roll of film when I'm shoot slides from one image. By bringing the cam Then I can sit at the light table and decide ing, so I'll use those to experiment with an era closer to the print, one can begin to com pose several images from the larger one. What needs to be kept in mind during this process is the basic lim itation of an all-sky you must get six images, they must overlap on the sides and they must all join at the top of the dome. With the E. Coli I was able to turn the book around under the cam era and get several dif ferent slides composed from the one picture. All the strands radiated from the center of the original photo, so I put that center roughly at the top of my re-com posed images. When projected, all the strands extended from the apex of the dome. Vol. 22, No.4, December 1993 The Planetarian 65 all-sky. I've calculated the cost of color film, processing, masks, and glass mounts, and the number I come up with is 50 cents per slide. So for $2.00 I can create an all-sky; it seems like a modest investment to me. I'm finding that many of these experi ments are ending up in our shows. Last summer I photographed ancient Indian petroglyphs in Utah and Arizona, which later became an all-sky. This is being used in our new pro gram "Earth Cycles." which explores cycles on earth and in the sky from the Native Ameri can point of view. Another useful all-sky has been clouds. I pho tographed dozens of close-ups of big cum- ulus clouds and have turned those into beau images. Then I black out the sky with Plaka there must be time to explore new potentials tiful all-skies. Many of the microphotographs and photograph the prints just like a piece of and develop new techniques, or we will sim I have played with will hopefully go into a artwork I would have illustrated. When I add ply repeat the same things over and over. To program on "innerspace." an all-sky of photographic clouds, the effect keep both ourselves and our audiences inter My advice is to use your imagination. is truly beautiful. Scenes I've created so far ested in what we are doing, we must con Look through books of photographs. Take include a day and night version of the stantly be learning, growing, and becoming your camera outside and start taking pic Indianapolis skyline, a carnival at night, and ever better at what we do. tures. Don't give up if the first few don't areas in Colorado and Utah. This summer I work the way you thought they would. Last went to the Southwest to shoot in Zion, We wish to thank Dan for his insightful con year I began combining photographic Bryce, the Grand Canyon, and other locales. tribution. He can be contacted for more specific panoramas with my all-skies. What I do is It was great! details at the address and number given above. shoot the landscape with negative film and The bottom line is that we learn by experi loin us again in our next installment as we once then have 8 x 12-inch prints made of the six menting and trying new ideas. Even with the again explore new horizons in The All-Sky hectic day to day schedule we each have, Circle. {( (Technology, continued from page 18) Petersen, M. C. (1992) "L-H-S Level Specifi Postman, N. (1992). Technopoly: The Sur cation of Planetarium Capabilities (revision render of Culture to Technology. New York: Regained: The Uses of Illuminative, Semiotic, 1.0)." In D. W. Smith & H. Haubold (Eds.) Alfred A. Knopf. and Post-modern Criticism as Modes of Inquiry Planetarium: A Challenge for Educators: A Schilling, G. (1991). "Digitizing the Dome." in Educational Technology: A book ofReadings Guidebook Published by the United Nations for The Planetarian, 20, 4,15-17. (pp. 385-399). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Educa International Space Year(pp 75-80). New York: Schorcht, V. (1990). "Planetaria are Gaining tional Technology Publications. United Nations. in Appeal." The Planetarian, 19, 2, 9-10, 31. Nichols, R. G. (1991). "Toward a Conscience: Stein, J. (Ed.). (1980). The Random House Negative Aspects of Educational Tech ... we must know the reason College Dictionary: The Unabridged Edition. nology." In D. Hylnka & J. Belland (Eds.), New York: Random House, Inc. Paradigms Regained: The Uses of Illuminative, able limits of our use of Yamada, Y (1991). "Planetariums in Japan." Semiotic, and Post-modern Criticism as Modes of technology. The Planetarian, 20, 4, 14-17. {( Inquiry in Educational Technology: A book of Readings (pp. 121-137). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Educational Technology Publications. 66 The Planetarian Vol. 22, No.4, December 1993 Florida's Brevard Community College will unveil a new achievement in planetariums ONLY when it hosts the 1994 meeting of the International Planetarium Society. This FROM THE ground-breaking planetarium features a startling and innovative design as well as the first MIND Minolta Infinium in North America. If you can't wait until 1994, call your nearest Minolta representative now. After all, at Minolta we know that once you have seen our sky, you too OF will believe. MINOLTA Worldwide: In North America: In Japan: Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. Minolta Corporation Minolta Planetarium Co., Ltd. Planetarium Operations Planetarium Division World Trade Center Bldg. 2-4-1 Esaka CTS Center 101 Williams Drive Hamamatsu-Cho 2-30 Toyotsu-Cho Ramsey, N.J. 07446, USA Minato-Ku, Tokyo 105, Japan Suita-Shi, Osaka 564, Japan Tel: (201) 934-5347 Tel: 03-3435-5511 Tel: 06-386-2050 Fax (201) 818-0498 Fax 03-3435-5520 Fax 06-386-2027 MIN The P lanetarian welcomes submissions that would be erence is given to articles that closely relate to the philosophy, .I..u...... u,J-.....,.U..... "".I.1LO" "' ...'''"''.lUlll ...!!.'''''''''' ...... ".I!J""''"'''''"''Q ry of planetariums, and to ideas that can readily be incorporated Text: The Planetarian is prepared on a Macintosh computer 600 needs to be in computer-readable form and can be submitted in these ways 1) mailed on disk as text file Macintosh or IBM format. Please ..,..., .., ...... (do not use page layout software). 3-1/2" disks OK; 5-1/4" disks should be accompanied by a clean printed paper copy. 2) as electronic mail; send via Internet to [email protected]. 3) mailed as clean, clear, dark typed or printed copy on paper, ""' ... .I."' ..... U' ... """ character recognition; if dot matrix, please use highest-quality Articles that are sent on disk or as email should be accompanied by one italics, boldface, Greek letters, accent marks, and other formatting that are lost when transmitting unformatted text. Handwritten faxed (please use fax for inquiries and proofing only, or to accompany advance when submitting text and illustrations on disk to Illustrations: All illustrations must be camera-ready and ..., .... J.!!. ...."'«.JHdlV'.I..!!. full size b/w prints, and I will reduce them to fit. All (and credits where appropriate). Please allow 2 cm (3/4-inch) ____ ._,..., __. __ the responsibility of the author to obtain copyright clearance; by ...... , ... .lLJI...... ,.ji>., certifies that necessary permission has been obtained. Illustrations n1"jO'1"'\-::1,,.1O>11 submitted on disk (along with a camera-ready paper copy) to allow them properly; inquire in advance about software compatibility of good illustrations is encouraged. Style: Please refer to issues journal's. Double check the spelling of proper nouns, sentence) biography. Deadlines: The Planetarian is published quarterly cover December (the equinoxes and solstices). Final deadlines advertisements, are January 21, July 21, early. Authors will be mailed or faxed proofs their the deadline. Address inquiries submissions to: Mosley, 1I....I.L1l..bf""'U.LA The Griffith Observatory 2800 68 The Planetarian Vol. IV N01(MAN iJ, OEAfIJ 30'40 CHARL~S Sf, FALlSTON Ill£), 2'01.i7 L.ET'S SEE; I tiME TO MUlTifLY THE Lf'NfrT/1 TIMES wll1TlI liMeS TtlICKNfS5 of THE HIGH""" ~ tAl/1M 'IWIBLE tltJplflOli III. SEl.17(»/5 IN rHe nJrl),{E. I WONPE.f(. WHICH MEMVf(Ef'lf.NT SYSTEM I SHOIJU' USE H W~y .DJDN'T MY TEIICHERJ fELI-ME-? THESI! ® MAJOI\ METRIC TO THe ~fJC(.lE! 5TrJPIP UNIT; CAN'T BE PIRHfLV MlIlT/I'LIEO, P/ll'llIE~ flPPEp, NM SUSTRACTEP. TmS eros wiLL TAKE F01f. EVER. ! MONICA GUICI SOT "WARS. THE ;u.l.lfATDA ", IM(JMN(€ s1"IU. LUAAJ IN TH6 '" m.A fiN' urn job deSCriptions, a potential planetarian "Excuse me," he said, "what J ne's er is forewarned of peculiar "extra duties." row will I be put into the pot I got this job deSCription from PEN (see the The guard "at 12:10 September 1993 issue of The Planetarian for liThe missionary info on PEN-the Planetarium Electronic Quickly changing to a sinister Jane Hastings Network): "Planetarium Job Description. "Terrible things will if Thomas Jefferson Title: Planetarium Technician/Museum killing me. I have Planetarium Assistant [Full Time], Under direct supervi will make the sun ... " sion of the Museum Administrator, presents "Right after the II the 4100 West Grace Street daily shows, provides care and maintenance ued of the planetarium equipment and control -Dr. Ellis D. Miner, from Jet PrclDulsicm Richmond, Virginia 23230 room, and provides for cleanliness of theater Laboratory in Pasadena, "Saturn .... Gives tours of the rock tomb" Huh? Tours than water; i.e., it would float I fix the clock. of the rock tomb? full of water. Some cohorts me Yes, I fix the clock at my school, Thomas Maybe you have some unusual duties that it would leave a Jefferson High School. It's part of my duties associated with your planetarium job. I'd -Carole as planetarium teacher. love to hear about them. My e-mail address Planetarium in Macon, ,-,.o'JA 1i:. JIG, There's this big outside clock on the front is:" [email protected]" the of her of the school building, way up high, embed hands of teen-age volunteers ded in the sandstone exterior. The clock is in attended a conference. She between four draped busts of Thomas Overheard: instructions for them. When Jefferson (really!) and some other carved -JHE Enterprises sells a planetarium show she was pleased to see items crossed embellishments of the late 1930's architec written by Jon Ben, planetarian from Indian list. She decided to check. "Clean tural era. Animals, tree leaves, and four River Community College in Fort Pierce, room": had up &>u,,,, ..,,,-I-hiin,,, Thomas Jeffersons surround this clock. Florida. It's called "Bear Tales and other corner, similar to the The building itself is square with an open Grizzly Stories." At a recent planetarium con dean up their room at home! ,,,,,,,~"i'~~ "well" interior. The wall in which the clocks ference, after that show had been presented, give them some feedback rest is one of four extra walls making a cube Jon asked for questions. Q: II Were the visuals sued the slides" notation which sits on top of the main square. It in the show shot with Kodiak film?" crossed off. Carole: "Where are the makes a sort of "tower" on top of the square -From computer bulletin board: A mis Could I see them?" didn't school. It encloses a square room which is sionary was captured by a tribe of cannibals align any slides'" Carole: "What? You have it perched atop the main school square, toward and told that he would be boiled in oil and crossed off the list!" "Oh, that Well, we the front of the building. The exterior of the eaten on the following day. While in a guarded hut awaiting his execution, he hap didn't know what it meant so it room is also of sandstone with a ziggurat off." style, stepped to a point, with a sandstone pened to notice an almanac left by a previ ball on top. (There used to be a big eagle on ous guest. A casual reading of the almanac top of the ball, but lightning finished him showed the missionary an extraordinary off sometime in the past.) coincidence: On the next day at Behind the clock inside this room perched noon, at exactly this location on earth, there on top is ... my planetarium! It used to be a was going to be a total eclipse of the sun. classroom, but was converted to a planetari The missionary threw down the alnlanlac. um when someone noticed the room had 18- jumped to his feet and approached the guard foot high ceilings and therefore a dome could be suspended for a small planetarium. This was in the late 1960's, when planetari ums were all the rage in school systems as NDEA money became available on a match ing basis. Back to the clock: even though all the other clocks at the school are run from a master con troller, mine isn't. Its wired remote controls are on the wall of my plane tarium. My work day begins clock as I enter the UUII!UIIUX accuracy. The clock "takes spells": it slows down or sometimes stops Sometimes it keeps time for several months. If it's wrong, I must spring into action, even before that first cup of coffee or "Let's Get that JU1iale1:rurla ~i"?'50~'IT"h"·'" checking my mailbox. The Hedgesville High School Band, who makes their home in Hei1ile!Mllle. I never saw "sets school clock and main home to the Planetarium and to planetmm RIJza.beth Ulr __ " __ '_ tains its accuracy" on my list of job duties won top honors in band competition for the 1992-93 until too late. At least with some planetari- petition numbers included both 70 This space (and others within) are available for your advertisement. Contact Sheri Trbovich (see page 3) for details. The Difference is Astronomical. Travel through time and space in three object, special effect and graphic art can be dimensions. See the effects of movement on projected. star positions. Get a viewpoint from anywhere Since virtually all systems are compatible, within a universe of 400 parsecs. users can share special effects and programs Presenting DIGISTAR~ the world's first fully through the DIGISTAR Users Network. digital planetarium system. 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