PLANETARIAN Journal of the International Planetarium Society Vol. 29, No.3, September 2000
Articles 6 Sri Lankan Skies and Sir Arthur ...... T. C. Samaranayaka 8 "Davie Dragon and the Planets" (script) ...... Margie Walter
Features 21 Reviews ...... ~ ...... April S. Whitt 23 Gibbous Gazette ...... James Hughes 27 Forum: Most Important Equipment? ...... Steve Tidey 31 What's New ...... Jim Manning 38 International News ...... Lars Broman 44 President's Message ...... Dale Smith 54 Jane's Corner ...... Jane Hastings North America Welcomes a Brilliant NelN Character in Star ShOlNs: Zeiss Fiber Optics
With the dawn of the new millenni improve the quality of Star Shows for um, visitors of the new planetariums in audiences of the Universarium. They are Oakland, CA and New York City will also offered with the Starmaster, the experience brilliant stars produced by medium planetarium. the Carl Zeiss Universarium fiber optics Quality at the highest level which systems, Invented by Carl Zeiss, the stars you can afford. appear in their natural tiny size, but We will be happy to inform you shine with extraordinary brilliance. about how Carl Zeiss can make sure thaI Come and see this absolute pinnacle you will experience a new experience of projections of stars. Fiber optic systems Star Shows. by Carl Zeiss are not only offered to
Seeing Is Believing! Carl Zeiss Planetarium Division In the U.S.& Canada D - 07740 lena cOlltact Pearl Reilly: INS TFlLJf'v'1ENT Telephone: + 49-3641 -64 24 06 1-800-726-8805 Fax: + 49-3641-64 30 23 Fax: 1-504-764-7665 E-mail: planetarium @zeiss.de E·mail: [email protected] Interne!: http://www.zeiss.delplanetariums The Planetarian (ISN 0090-3213) is published quarterly by the International Planetarium Society. ©2000. International Planetarium Society. Inc .. all rights reserved. Opinions expressed e n by authors are personal opinions and are not necessarily the opinions of the International Plan etarium Society. its officers. or agents. Acceptance of advertisements. announcements. or other Vol. 29, No.3 material does not imply endorsement by the International Planetarium Society. its officers or agents. The Editor welcomes items for consideration for publication. Please consult (or request) September 2000 "Guidelines for Contributors" printed on page 56 in the September 1997 issue and posted at the web site. The Editor reserves the right to edit any manuscript to suit this publication's needs. Executive Editor John Mosley IN E F ERTISER Griffith Observatory 2800 E. Observatory Road Adler Planetarium ...... Los Angeles, California 90027 USA Audio Visual Imagineering ...... (1) 323-664-1181 daytime phone (1) 323-663-4323 fax Calgary Science Centre ...... [email protected] Davis Planetarium ...... Advertising ~'V""_"'-II."''''''''_'''' East Coast Control Systems ...... Sheri Barton Trbovich Evans &: Sutherland ...... cover The Clark Foundation PO Box 9007 Goto Optical Manufacturing ...... Salt Lake City, UT 84109-0007 USA Learning Technologies, Inc...... (1) 801-725-2771 voice (1) 801-583-5522 fax Miami Space Transit Planetarium ...... [email protected] Minneapolis Planetarium ...... Membership Minolta Corporation ...... Individual: $50 one year; $90 two years Pangolin Laser ...... Institutional: $200 first year; $100 annual renewal Library Subscriptions: $36 one year R. S. Automation ...... cover Direct membership requests and changes ofaddress Seiler Instruments ...... cover to the Treasurer /Membership Chairman; see next Sky-Skan, Inc ...... page for address and contact information. Spitz, Inc ...... I. S. Job Information Service The IPS Job Information Service has moved to the World Wide Web. Please check the 'Jobs" page on the IPS web site: http://www.ips-planetarium.org. sociate s
1d:'c:"1I11oco of the flJU'71n.t.JTnnnn Available from: Lars Broman Richard McColman Charlene Oukes International News Planetechnica IPS Back Publications Repository Susan Reynolds Button Jim Strasenburgh Planetarium Mobile News Network What's New Rochester Museum & Science Center 657 East Avenue Jane G. Hastings Steve Tidey Rochester, NY 14607 Jane's Comer Forum Index James Hughes A cumulative index of major articles that have Gibbous Gazette appeared in the Planetarian from the first issue through the current issue is available on paper ($12 ppd) or disk ($5 ppd) from the Exec. Edi tor. A shortened copy is at the Planetarian web site. Final Deadlines International Planetarium Society WWW AA'-'.aAA ...... March: January 21 June: April21 http://www.ips-planetarium.org September: July 21 December: October 21 Planetarian journal WWW page: http://www.Griffi th0 bs.org/IPSPlanetarian.h tml
Vol. 29, No.3, September 2000 Planetarian President Executive Secr4etlltrY turismo /3036/ cconvenciones. htm Dr. Dale W. Smith Lee Ann Hennig, Planetar1UI11 [email protected] BGSU Planetarium Thomas Jefferson High School Physics & Astronomy Dept. 6560 Braddock Road Historian/Photo-Archivist Bowling Green State University Alexandria. Virginia 22312 USA John Hare Bowling Green, OH 43403 USA (1) 703-750-8380 Ash Enterprises (1) 419-372-8666 (1) 703-750-5010 fax 3602 23rd Avenue West (1) 419-372-9938 fax [email protected] Bradenton. FlOrida 34205 USA [email protected] (1) 941-746-3522 TreasurerIMembership Chair (1) 941-750-9497 fax President Elect Shawn Laatsch [email protected] Martin Ratcliffe, Director, Arthur Storer Planetarium Theaters & Media Services 600 Dares Beach Road Publications Chair Exploration Place Prince Frederick. MD 20678 April Whitt 711 W Douglas, Suite 101 USA Fembank Science Center Wichita, KS, U.S.A. (1) 410-535-7339 156 Heaton Park Drive NE Bozeman, M()nl:an.a (1) 3162633373 [email protected] Atlanta, Georgia 30307 USA (1) 3162674545 fax (1) 404-378-4314 ext 221 [email protected] IPS 2002 Conference Chair (1) 404-370-1336 fax lng. Gabriel Munoz Bedolla [email protected] Past President Director del Planetario "Lic. Thomas W. Kraupe Felipe Rivera" Elections Committee Chairman EuroPlaNet @ ART OF SKY Centro de Convenciones y Steven Mitch Rumfordstr.41 Exposidones de Morelia Benedum Natural Science D-80469 Muenchen (Munich) Av. Ventura Puente Y Center Gemlany Camelinas Oglebay Park 498921031531 58070 Morelia, Mich., Mexico Wheeling. WV 26003 USA 498921031532 fax +52 (43) 14-24-65 (1) 304-243-4034 [email protected] +52 (43) 14-84-80 fax (1) 304-243-4110 fax http://michoacan.gob.mx/ [email protected]
Association of French-Speaking Middle Atlantic Planetarium. Society Southeastern PlanetlU'iw:n Planetariums Don Knapp John Hare Agnes Acker Dennis Simopoulos The Henry W. Ray SpeCial Experience Ash Ent,erplises Planetarium Strasbourg Eugenldes Planetarium Room 3602 West Unlverslte Louis Pasteur Syngrou Avenue-Arnfithea McDonald Elementary School Bradenton. Flonda 34205 USA Rue de L'Observatoire Athens. Greece 666 Reeves Lane (1) 941-746-3522 6700 Strasbourg. France (30) 1-941-1181 Warminster. PA 18974 (1) 941-750-9497 fax 33-388 212042 (30) 1-941-7372 fax (1) 215 441-6154 [email protected] 33-388212045 fax [email protected] (1) 215 441-6006 fax [email protected] [email protected] Great Lakes Planetarium Assoc. tarium.s Assoc. of Mexican Planetariums Susan Reynolds Nordic Planetarium Association Ignacio Castro Pinal Onondaga-Cortland-Madison Lars Broman Museo Technologtco C.F.E. B.O.C.E.S. Planetarium Broman Planetarium 52nd St. Apartado Postal 18-816 P.O. Box 4774 Ostra Hamngatan I Oklahoma OK 73111 USA CP 11870 Mexico City. D.F. Mexico Syracuse. New York 13221 USA S-791 71 Falun. Sweden (1) work (52) 5 5-16-13-57 (1) 315-433-2671 (46) 2310 177 (l) 405-424-5106 (52) 55-16-55-20 fax (1) 315-433-1530 fax (46) 2310 137 (fax) wayne.wyrtck@hotelca!.com [email protected] [email protected] Australasian Planetarium Society www2.nnn.se/cosmonova/tc-wnpa.html Peter Williamson. President Great Plains Planetarium Assoc. Dr. Alexander P. Lenin CanbelTa Planetmium Jack Dunn. Coordinator Pacific Planetarium AsI$ociatiion Republica! Planetarium Hawdon Place Mueller Planetarium' Jon Elvert 57/3 Krasnoarrneiskaia P.O. Box 207 213 Monill Hall Lane ESD Planetarium Kiev 252 005. Ukraine Dickson ACT 2602 University of Nebraska-Lincoln 2300 Leo Hams (744) 227-51-66 Lincoln. NE 68588-0375 Eugene. Oregon (744) 227-51-43 fax British Assoc. of Planetariums (1) 402-472-2641 (1) 541-461-8227 [email protected] Paul England (1) 402-472-8899 fax 0) 541-687-6459 fax Fort Victoria Planetarium [email protected] [email protected]'.us Fort Victoria Country Park http://www.efn.org/ -esd_plt/ Westhill Lane. Norton. Yannouth Italian Plawetaria's Friends Assoc. Isle ofW!ght. P041 ORR. UK Loris Ramponl Mountain PI4!metlU'iwn +44 (0) 1983 761555 National Archive of Planetaria c/o Centro studl e ricerche Serafino Zan! Christine Shupla affiliate representatives. Canadian Council of Science Centres via Bosca 24. CP 104 Dorrance Planetarimn John Dickenson. Managing Director 25066 Lumezzane (Brescia). Italy Arizona Science Center Pacific Science Centre (39) 30 872164 600 East Washington 1100 Chestnut St. (39) 30 872545 fax Phoenix. AZ 85004 USA Vancouver. BC V6J 3.19 Canada http://\W.-w.cityl!ne.!t (1) 602-716-2078 604-738-7817 ex 234 [email protected] [email protected] 604-736-5665 fax [email protected] Japan Planetarium Society Russian Planetariums Association Solchi Itoh Zinaida P. Sitkova Council of German Planetariums Suglnaml Science Education Center NlZhny Novgorod Planetarium Prof.Dr. Dieter B. Herrmann 3-3-13 ShimizU. Suginami-ku. Pokhyallnsky SYezd 5-A Zeiss-Grossplanetarium Berlin Tokyo 167 Japan NlZhny Novgorod. 603001. Russia Prenzlauer Allee 80 (81) 3-3396-4391 (7) 8312-34-21-51 D-10405 Berlin. Gennany (81) 3-3396-4393 fax (7) 8312-36-20-61 fax +49-30-42184512 KHFI1056@n!fiyserve.or.jp [email protected] +49-30-4251252 fax
Produced at the Griffith California;
4 Planetarian the correct ratio of speeds and revolution the IPS membership. Also, I've times. It, again, is fabulous. much as possible to write about Morehead should be extremely proud to which I felt might be useful to more it r have two such wonderfully educational just one or two planetarians, but J do find exhibits. Although they may be complicat that the newer high-tech tecnnlOl()gles
ed in design and maintenance, they are quite as "accessible" to the average I-' .... u'-'...... Dear Editor extremely effective. Congratulations, Lee an as the more conventional areas of I have just returned from the Southeastern Shapiro, Richard McColman and Morehead effects construction and slide JJnJUIUUClUIl. Planetarium Association's annual meeting in staff in realizing the importance of creating Therefore, I think the time has come Winston-Salem, N.C. As a part of the confer simple, visually elegant exhibits which do a to step aside and allow someone else to ence activities, we visited the Morehead wonderful job of educating patrons. a crack at things for awhile. Planetarium in Chapel Hill, N.C. There I was - Jane Hastings I wish you the very best in able to see the "Phases of the Moon" exhibit Richmond, Virginia USA placement author for the nr/")rh,rt'iArl described by Richard McColman in the June nical column. Again, I've <:>"',A"O'" 2000 issue of the Planetarian. In the article, John, with you for the past several years and Richard gave a detailed explanation of how After many debates with myself over the that both you and the Planetarian will the Morehead staff prepared the exhibit; past couple of years, I've reluctantly decided tinue to grow and prosper. what he failed to mention is how effective it that the time has come for me to give up the Richard McColman is. It is fabulous; take it from someone who Planetechnica column. Morehead Planetarium has taught "Phases of the Moon" many, I've enjoyed working with you through Hill, North Carolina USA many times. out my tenure with the column, and I'll be While viewing the exhibit last week with forever grateful for your having given me Richard's letter expresses very well the Richard present, he mentioned that he and the opportunity to share my thoughts and cooperative spirit of giving that makes other staff members have observed patrons ideas with the IPS membership. I've been Planetarian what it is. I'm very sorry that looking at it for awhile, and a look of gen amazed by all of your leadership and hard Richard has the editorial staff and uine enlightenment appears over their head work as editor of the Planetarian. Therefore, thank him for his years of hard work. His col as they finally see why the moon has phases. my decision to relinquish authorship of the umn was one of the best, had great illustra Please don't miss seeing it if you possibly column is doubly painful. tions, and I always learned something. I will can; this exhibit should be in every museum However, for the past two to three years, definitely miss it, as will the readers. or school exhibit area. I've found it increasingly difficult to find Would one of the readers volunteer to On another note, Morehead has the largest topics about which I was familiar that I write a column on technical matters for the working orrery in the world right next door hadn't addressed in one way or another in Planetarian? It need not be named "Plane to the "Moon Phases" exhibit. It is mounted previous columns. To be sure, there are new technical! and it need not follow Richard's overhead, in the ceiling of a large room. The and advancing technologies and production format. We are all interested in special moon, planets, and several moons of planets techniques, but I need to learn more about and technical matters, and proposals are moved around the sun mechanically in these myself before writing about them for be most welcome. - Ed
Fran Biddy, 1948 - 2000
It is our sad duty to report the passing of our esteemed colleague, Fran Biddy. Fran had left the Strasenburgh Planetarium about 3 years ago on dis ability leave for a heart condition that simply worsened over time. He died of congestive heart failure at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester on July 18, 2000, at the age of 52. Fran started his planetarium career at the Gengras Planetarium in Hartford, Connecticut before coming to Strasenburgh as Producer in 1973. He pioneered many shows here, particularly for children, including "Teddy's Quest," "Starflight," and "The Case of the Disappearing Dinosaurs." Many of you will remember him from the Strasenburgh's Planetarium Techniques workshops. Beyond his planetarium career, one of Fran's major contributions-was his work as producer and technical director of the Shipping Dock Theater, which he and his wife Barbara founded in 1980. The Shipping Dock has remained on the cutting edge of theater in Rochester, presenting challeng ing works that more conservative theaters avoid. In particular, I will always remember a brilliant production of David Mamet's "Glengarry Glen Ross" as typical of the Shipping Dock's philosophy of artistic courage and independence. Barbara Biddy continues as Shipping Dock's artistic director. Fran was also a writer of mystery stories and a wood sculptor. Cards can be sent to the Shipping Dock Theater, 151 St. Paul Street, Rochester, NY 14604. - S. Fentress
Vol. 29, No.3, September 2000 Planetarian East and West. Colombo is the commercial Sri Lankan Skies and Sir capital and is an important port in the re gion. The coastal plains rise gradually to the mountainous region at the center of the Arthur: A 2001 Odyssey island. Climatically the southwestern and the hill country form a humid wet zone, with a dry zone covering the other areas. A number of rivers trace their origin to the T. C. Samaranayaka (SAM) central hills and become great rivers that Director, Sri Lanka Planetarium boost the agriculture and source the power generation of the country and finally Colombo, Sri Lanka disgorge to the surrounding Indian Ocean. planetsam2000 [email protected] The country has a tropical climate with little seasonal variation, as it is located just ten degrees north of the equator. This makes it an ideal location for clear effective sky obser Sri Lanka Planetarium is planning to greet tions of the key technologies, especially in vations. Sri Lanka has been known from the dawn of the new millennium with a communication. ancient times to several civilizations of the unique event in which astronomical obser Sri Lanka is a tropical island of 65,000 sq. world by a variety of names. The Greeks vations will be linked to a 25-centuries-old km. situated in the Indian Ocean. Although called her "Taprobane" and the Arabs named culture in widening the horizons of astro comparatively small in size, it can claim an her "Serendib" while the British, the last nomical education of children in a develop- undisputed history going back even to the colonial power to subjugate the country, called her Ceylon. Sri Lanka is an ancient The Sri Lanka Planetarium will sponsor a conference on the theme indigenous name, connoting a resplendent island. of "Teaching the Universe in 21st Century" ... from Monday, March Sir Arthur in his book "View from Seren 19 through Saturday, March 24, 2001. dib" talks about Sri Lanka and why he likes it as follows: " ... Another reason why I like Ceylon is that it is of right size. There is no ing country. Sri Lanka is the home of the prehistoric era. It is pregnant with meaning pOint, which cannot be reached from any acclaimed writer on astronomy Arthur C. for this country, Sri Lanka, to be known as other in a day's driving. Geography and cli Clarke, who has bestowed a signal honor on the "pearl of the Indian Ocean," for it is en mate do not make a country, though they this country by becoming one of its distin dowed with all the gifts of nature-scenic determine what kind of a country it will be. guished citizens and who now will take dele beauty, golden beaches, a varied and varying There are Islands in the Pacific, lovelier and gates from all over the world on a new odys climate, and gems of world renown, among more temperate than Ceylon, but they have sey of historical and astronomical explora others. The island occupies a strategic loca no culture, no sense of the past, nothing to tion. tion on the traditional trade routes linking engage the intellect. Ceylon offers far more The Sri Lanka Planetarium will sponsor a conference on the theme of "Teaching the Universe in 21st Century" with the assistance and coordination of the Ministry of Science and Technology of this country. The confer ence will be held from Monday, March 19 through Saturday, March 24, 2001. It will consist of presentation of papers on the main theme followed by panel discussions, plane tarium shows, and sky observations in vari ous parts of the country. Sir Arthur C. Clarke will address the main conference and the sky observations will be at locations close to archeological sites bearing testimony to the country's heritage. Sir Arthur C. Clarke, CBE, is universally acknowledged as the greatest living science fiction writer and is recognized as an out standing visionary of our times. He anticipat ed many technological developments that have transformed our age. His writings over the past 60 years covering more than 80 books and 500 articles and short stories have not only helped humanity find its way in times of bewilderingly rapid changes, but also discussed the social and cuI tural implica- Sri Lankan astronomy students and the IPS president.
6 Planetarian Vol. 29, No.3, .... or' ... .o...... 2000 than empty mindless beauty; it has twenty five hundred years of written history, and ruins of cities that were once among the greatest in the world ... " The Sri Lankan organizers of the confer ence are confiden t they will make ita unique experience for the participants by combining a remarkable history with the future of astronomical education. The cere monial opening of the conference will be in Colombo, the capital city. It will be followed by two days of presentations and panel dis cussions on the conference theme, com bined with planetarium shows. On the third day the delegates will travel to the dry zone, where the ancient civilizations flourished. Here the astronomers will be able to impart their knowledge to groups of children through night sky observations and explore wonders of the heavens together. On the fourth day delegates will travel to the hill country, which has unparalleled scenic beauty spots and other natural wonders such as waterfalls and the highest pOint, Ceremonial escort to the Sri Lanka Planetarium. Piduruthalagala, which is 2324 meters above sea level, all making the region's climate As a prelude to this event Prof. Dale Smith, curriculum of Sri Lanka and as a result there enchanting, salubrious, invigorating, and all President of the International Planetarium is a tremendous interest in the celestial phe inviting. On the fifth day delegates will trav SOCiety, visited Sri Lanka in February 2000 nomena displayed among school children, el back to Colombo, relax at the hotel, and and spent fiye days covering an extensive enhancing their commitment and enthusi leave for their scheduled flights. area of the country. His visit is described in asm to explore celestial intricacies and com As is clear from the programme, this will the previous issue of the Planetarian. He was plexities. The conference will give the dele be conference cum sightseeing and impart able to see for himself the activities connect gates an opportunity to see the status of ing knowledge and furthering education. ed with astronomical education and was the astronomical education in a developing The conference organizers will handle all guest of honor at a function held at the Sri country and to plan and innovate new arrangements in Sri Lanka and the delegates Lanka Planetarium, where the chief guest approaches of "teaching the universe in the will have only to participate and enjoy was Sir Arthur C. Clarke. Presently astrono 21st century". themselves. my is a subject incorporated into the school Although it is widely publicized that there is a war situation in Sri Lanka, there is hardly a shortfall in the number of international and regional conferences held in Col om bo every year. What is correct is that the coun try has a terrorist problem and that is con fined to the northernmost sector, which is not in the schedule of our itinerary of night sky observations and sightseeing tours. Last but not least I must say that I have been nominated to the IPS Education Com mittee and one of my recommendations would be to introduce new methods to pro mote astronomy in third world countries and surely this conference will be an exercise for all the IPS members who attend to see the status of astronomical education in a devel oping country and to suggest ways of inno vating new ideas to teach the Universe in the 21st century.
(See extensive further information in the Presi dent's Message in the previous issue of the Plan etarian. Registration materials will be available T. C. Samaranayaka (Director, Sri Lanka Planetarium), IPS President Dale W Smith, soon.) Sir Arthur C. Clarke, Fred Clarke
Vol. 29, No.3, September 2000 Planetarian 7 ra n and the Pia
A Planetarium Script by Margie alte outh ican Museum Planetarium
Eugenides Script Contest 1998 First Prize Award
Alan Davenport Maynard F. Jordan Planetarium Among mythical creatures, dragons seem to 5781 Wingate Hall hold a special place in the hearts of children today. Although this could be a creature University of Maine native to the unique and exotic environs of Orono Maine 04469-5781 South Africa, I'm more inclined to believe 207-581-1341 that the creative scriptwriter 207-581-1314 fax mythical critter together with adventure, and problem solving this [email protected] show. On behalf of IPS members, I would like to thank Margie for submitting the The results of the 1998 IPS Eugenides while the Mars Millennium Project is under and sharing it with us. Script Contest were announced at the 1998 way, but the script contest should return in I also want to apologize for such a Conference in London, England. I am pleased the next biennium leading to awards that delay in publishing Davy Dragon in the to once again congratulate our First Prize will be made at the conference in 2002. Planetarian. There was some difficulty in winner, Margie Walter, of the South African Davy Dragon is a charming public pro converting such a large document Museum Planetarium. Her script, Davy gram, focused towards younger skywatchers script column format into digital files. Dragon and the Planets, is reproduced here for in the audience, that can be produced for that hurdle was overcome, our editor the benefi t of all IPS mem bers, and to performance in any sized facility. The inno quickly attacked the monumental format encourage them to think ahead to the next cent young title character has a natural ting task to prepare for publication. time the script contest will be conducted. It appeal and is, to the best of my knowledge, thanks to John Mosley for handling that dif has been on hiatus during this biennium the first space-faring dragon under the dome. ficult task.
Fade red then blue cove to dark. 40 sec happy music
Title pas 1.
Fade up castle PAN. NARRA TOR: Once upon a time, in a land very far from here ...
Fade title POS 1. ... there lived a young dragon called Davy.
Dragon happy POS 1. (2 sec pause)
School bell rings. Now, he was a very happy and good dragon and always did all his dragon homework when he got home from Dragon School.
"Dreary School for Dragons" POS 2 (2 sec pause) - fade after while. But there was one subject that he was having a lot of trouble with.
Dragon unhappy- animated POS 1. (2 sec pause)
Flying! Yes, that's right. Flying! To pass Dragon School and become a successful dragon, he had to be able to fly! And fly well! But his feet were too big! They always got in the way and made him trip and fall flat on his face! Late one afternoon, because he had to do a test at school the next day, he practised even harder ...
8 Planetarian (2 sec pause) Fade dragon pas 1 and PAN. DA VY: Oh, I will fly!
Dragon running PAN 12, I will fly! running sound, then fade pic. I won'tgive up! Dragon flying PAN 11, flapping sound, then fade pic. (grunt) Dragon falls PAN 10 thud sound, then fade pic. I can do it! (pant-pant)
Dragon runs PAN 9 Think positive! (pant-pant) running sound, then fade pic. Dragon flying PAN 8 Try again! (pant-pant) flapping sound, then fade pic. (grunt) Dragon falls PAN 7 thud sound, then fade pic. I'll get it right now! (pant-pant)
Dragon runs PAN 6 That's better! (pant-pant) running sound, then fade pic. Dragon flying PAN 5 Won't give up! (pant-pant) flapping sound, then fade pic. (grunt)
Dragon falls PAN 4 ancemore! (pant-pant) thud sound, then fade pic. Hey, I can fly! Dragon runs PAN 3. Running sound, then fade pic I can fly! I can fly! This is fun! I'm high in the sky! I'm sure if I close my eyes and flap my dragon flying PAN 2. wings very, very hard, I can fly even higher! Flapping sound, then fade pic. Horiz. Moving Mirror R-L flying dragon, flapping sound continues. (2 sec pause) Fade up castle PAN. ah dear! Now I've gone and done it! Where am I? Magic tinkle sound VERT. MM flying dragon - moves up (6 sec pause) Fade pan. Stars on. Where's home? I can't see my home any more! I just see stars. Lots and lots of stars. Am I lost MM L-R flying dragon. then? ... I want to go home now ... I want my mommeeee! (cries) Turn stars ACW. (2 sec pause)
MISTER MERCURY: There, there. Don't cry little dragon. Stop stars turning. (2 sec pause)
DA VY: (sniff) Who's that? Is there someone else who's also lost then?
(2 sec pause) Cartoon Mercury POS 2. MERCURY: Oh no. I'm not lost. I'm the planet Mercury. I live up here with my family of Dragon POS 3. planets and we all travel around and around the Sun.
Orrery on. (2 sec pause)
DA VY: That sounds like fun. (Sing) Around and around the Sun you go ... By the way, I didn't know planets had families. What's your family called?
MERCURY: The Sun and its family of planets are called the solar system. Word "solar system" PAN 1. DA VY: So..lar sys .. tem.
MERCURY: The Sun is at the centre of our solar system and all the planets travel around and around the Sun in big circles.
DAVY: Don't you bump into one another? Fade "solar system" PAN 1.
Vol. 29, No.3, September 2000 Plane tar ian 9 Word "orbit" PAN 1- fade after a while. MERCURY: Oh no! Each planet has its own path around the Sun, called an But I've been talking so much, I've forgotten my manners... Fade orrery. So what's your name dragon?
DAVY: I'm Davy. Sorry sir (sniff) ... what, what's your name again?
"Mercury - first planet from the Sunil MERCURY: Mercury. The planet that is closest to the Sun. PQS 1- fade after a while. DA VY: Mer... cuMry.
(2 sec pause)
MERCURY: That's Davy Dragon. But do you sound so sad?
DAVY: (sniff) I was practising my flying, and I flew too home again. I'm lost! I think my teacher said home Fade dragon POS 3, Mercury POS 2 Mercury seem to find it. Please, Mister Mercury, will you my PAN. and I'm house-trained as well.
MERCURY: Oh no, Davy. I'm a planet that's too close to the Sun for you to live on. Hot visual POS I, ping sound are very, very hot ...
Add cold visual POS I, ping sound (2 sec pause)
... and my nights are very, very cold.
(2 sec pause)
DAVY: Oh dear. Planet Mercury doesn't sound like the place for me!
Add no water visual POS I, ping sound. MERCURY: There's no water ...
Add no air visual POS 1, ping sound. (2 sec pause)
... or air on Mercury either ....
(2 sec pause)
... so you wouldn't be able to live here, Davy. Dragons need water to drink and air to I..'H•• DAVY: Yes, we do. And we eat plants and There doesn't seem to be any to Add no plants visual POS I, ping sound on Mercury either. (2 sec pause) MERCURY: That's right, Davy. No plants or trees! grows here! DAVY: Mercury doesn't seem a very friendly place at all ... Fade composite POS 1. By the way, why are you so full of holes and dents, Mister r..A",rt'l'1'"r? "Craters" POS 3 - fade after a while. MERCURY: Oh, you mean my craters. (2 sec pause) DA VY: Cra ... cra ... MERCURY: Craters. DA VY: What are craters? MERCURY: Craters are huge holes made millions of years ago by big rocks from space that crashed into me. DAVY: Ouch! That must have been very sore! Was it sore, Mister Mercury? MERCURY: Not really. I think the crater holes give me character, actually. DAVY: Yes, they do, but I don't think I'd like any craters on me. I must go now, Mister Mercury. I must look for my home planet. It's almost supper-time and my mom will 10 Planetarian Vol. ried if I'm not home. Oh dear, oh dear, I hope I find Earth again. MERCURY: I hear there's another planet a bit further away from the Sun than I am. that will be your home planet. Why don't you try there? DAVY: Okay, that's a good idea. I'll do that. Thank you and bye, Mister Mercury. MERCURY: Good bye, Davy Dragon, and don't be sad. I'm sure you'll find your planet Earth Fade Mercury PAN. again. MMR-L flying dragon, tum stars CW (6 sec pause) - flapping sound. DAVY: I wonder if the next planet will be my home? MISS VENUS: (humming -"Venus in blue jeans") DAVY: Hey, that sounds like my mommy singing Mommy! It's me, Davy! I'm lost! Where are you? Cartoon Venus POS 1, dragon POS 2. "Venus - 2nd planet from the Sun" VENUS: I'm not your mother, child. My name is Venus. I'm the second planet from the Sun. POS 3 - fade after a while. (2 sec pause) DAVY: Oh dear. I thought you were my mommy. I'm lost and can't find my home planet, Earth. Can you help me please, Miss Venus? Will you be my home planet? VENUS: Oh, I can never be your home planet, child. DAVY: Why not, Miss Venus? You sing so beautifully and you seem like a friendly lady. I'm a very good dragon! Venus PAN. VENUS: Oh, I'm sure you are a good dragon, but the problem is it's much, much too hot on my surface! Hot visual POS 3, ping sound. (2 sec pause) DAVY: Oh, but when I'm big, I'll be a fire dragon, like my dad. I can't blow fire yet though. I'm still too small but I do try. (tries to blow) Add puff to dragon POS 2 - fade puff after a (2 sec pause) while. VENUS: That's very good, little dragon. With a bit more practice and some time, you'll be able to blow real fire. But I'm a lot hotter than that! Too hot even for fire dragons! Venus is the hottest planet in the whole solar system! DAVY: Why are you so hot then, Miss Venus? Did you eat some bumy food? Burny food always makes me hot. VENUS: Oh no, child! I'm so hot because my clouds keep the Sun's heat in. You would melt instantl y if you tried to Iive on Venus. DA VY: (intake of breath) VENUS: But that's not the whole problem. Even if my heat didn't melt you, the acid gas in my clouds would poison you! (2 sec pause) Add poison visual to POS 3 - ping sound. DAVY: Oh dear! Venus sounds like a terrible planet for dragons! VENUS: And the pressure of the gas in my clouds is so strong, it would crush you! Add pressure visual to POS 3 (2 sec pause) - ping sound. DAVY: And I thought you looked so pretty! - fade composite pic. VENUS: Oh, but I am! Would you like to fly over me and see for yourself? DA VY: Well ... I'm not sure ... Vol. 29, No.3, September 2000 Planetarian 11 VENUS: Oh come child, I'll protect you. DAVY: Well, if you say so, Miss Venus .. Fade Pan, Venus pas 1, dragon VENUS: Here we go ... pas 2. Move stars North to South. (10 sec pause) VIDEO/CD Venus flyby (60 sec) sounds to match DAVY: 0000 ... won't I crash? (4 sec pause) VENUS: Oh no ... I won't let you. no sec pause) DAVY: I don't think I like this very much, Miss Venus. (2 sec pause) I'm scared ... Please stop! (4 sec pause) Fade VIDEO/CD. Stop stars turning, VENUS: Okay then, child. If you say so. Fade up Venus pas 1. no sec pause) DAVY: 000 ... I don't want to live on Venus! Venus definitely doesn't look like a for dragons. I don't mean to be rude, but I think I had better continue looking for my home planet now. Bye, Miss Venus. VENUS: Off you go then, child. Good luck with your search and don't be sad. I'm you will find your mother again. Good bye. Fade Venus pas 1. DAVY: Bye. Stars CWo Fly Dragon MM R-L, flapping sound. (3 sec pause) DAVY: Good heavens. Planet Venus scared me a bit! (2 sec pause) I don't suppose the next planet is my home planet either, so I'll fly over it and try the Earth in MM L-R. one after that. fl (hums "oranges and lemons ) My mom always says I should hum to myself if I feel a bit scared. Let's see if it works. Stars stop. Wait! What's that? There's a little red dot over there. Maybe that's home. Yoo hoo! Planet! Zoom Cartoon Mars 6 steps pas 1. (2 sec pause) MISTER MARS: (angry) What do you want! Who do you think you are, disturbing like this? DAVY: Hello mister planet. I'm Davy Dragon, sir. My, but you're cross. Is that so red in the face? What's your name, sir;' MARS: Questions, questions, questions! I haven't got time for all these questions! Don't know who I am? I thought everyone did I'm the planet Mars, fourth planet from the (2 sec pause) "Mars - 4th planet from the Sun" pas 2 - fade after a while. DAVY: How, how do you do, Mister Mars. MARS: What I do is none of your business! But I'll tell you what I don't! I don't like to be 12 Planetarian Vol. annoyed by little dragons! DAVY: Well, I'm glad you're not my home planet, sir. I don't like being shouted at. MARS: Hmph! ... Mars PAN. Red cove slightly on. ... Well you can't live here anyway! There's not enough air for you to breathe! No air visual pas 3, ping sound. (2 sec pause) Add no water visual pas 3, And no water! ping sound - fade after a while. (2 sec pause) DAVY: My, even the sky on Mars looks cross! MARS: That's nothing! When I was younger, I made my volcanoes erupt! Those mountains you see are volcanoes. Point out volcanoes. DAVY: Volcanoes! Oh no! Not volcanoes! They make more fire than dragons can! MARS: Yes, but I don't do volcanoes these days. Now, when I'm really, really cross, I make Wind sound huge dust storms that last for weeks! I think I'll make one now, in fact! Flicker red cove light. DAVY: Oh no! Oh no! Please don't make a huge dust storm, Mister Mars! I'll get frightened! MARS: I will! Don't you tell me what I can do and what I can't do! I'll do what I want to! (4 sec pause) DAVY: Oh dear, oh dear! I had better get going before Mister Mars gets even crosser! VI/ho Fade PAN, Mars pas 1. knows what kind of storm he'll make then! And I thought my dad gets cross! Fly Dragon MM L-R, stars ACvV. Flapping sound. (6 sec pause) Pfew! That was close! Mars is definitely not a friendly planet! I'm glad I don't live there! I Cartoon Jupiter in All/Sky pos. wonder what planet I'll find next? Wait! There seems to be another planet up ahead! Seems Dragon (looking up) Vert MM at bottom. quite a big one too! "Jupiter - 5th planet from the Sun". (2 sec pause) pas 2 - fade after a while. 000 ... You're a big planet! What's your name? Jumbo? KING JUPITER: I'm Jupiter! Fifth planet from the Sun. (2 sec pause) I'm king of all the planets because I'm the biggest planet in the solar system! And who goes there? DAVY: D ... 0 ... Davy Dragon, your majesty. I didn't know I was speaking to a king! JUPITER: Dragon, dragon? I don't have any dragons in my kingdom that I know of. Have you come to serve me, dragon? You seem a bit small though. Can't think how a little dragon can serve me. DAVY: No, no, King Jupiter. I haven't come to serve you. I'm lost. I can't find my home plan et, Earth. JUPITER: Well, I'm not your home planet/little dragon. I am the largest of all the planets. That's why I'm king, you know. But I've told you that already. I can't be your home planet, though. DA VY: Why not, King Jupiter? JUPITER: Because I'm a giant planet made of gas and liquid. DAVY: I know what giant means. That means you/re very big and I can see you are, but what does the other bit mean, your majesty'? Fade stars. Vol. 29, No.3, September 2000 Planetarian 13 Jupiter swirling gas A/S (leave on JUPITER: It means that I am made of swirling gas and liquid. Jupiter pas 1 + dragon Vert. 11M). (2 sec pause) [ don't have any ground for you to walk on. There is no sand to play in, no stones to pick up, no mountains to climb. The strong winds that blow over me, twist and curl the gas douds, making all the beautiful patterns you see. DA VY: Well, I understand now why you can't my home planet. This definitely doesn't look like my home. There's not even any blue sky to look at! All these swirling gas patterns would make me dizzy! (2 sec pause) Fade Jupiter A/S. By the way, I hope you don't mind me asking, but is that red spot a pimple, your majesty? Fade up stars again. My older brother has red pimple spots on his face. My mommy says its because of girl ons. JUPITER: Ho, ho, ho! No, little dragon. It is a fierce swirling storm that has been raging on me for at least three hundred years and it's called my Great Red Spot. DA VY: A storm of three hundred years! A one day storm is bad enough! Storms frighten me, your majesty. I had better get going! JUPITER: Well, good bye, little dragon. Good luck with your quest! Fade]upiter POS 1. Vert MM dragon moves up. DAVY: Thank you. Bye, King]upiter, bye. Flapping sound. (6 sec pause) Turn stars South - North. Good heavens! Will I ever find my way home again? (sniff) Will I have to fly up here between the planets forever? (cries) Cartoon Saturn pas 3. (2 sec pause) MISTER SA TURN: Who's crying there? DA VY: Me. (sniff) SATURN: Who's me? DA VY: Me, Davy Dragon. I'm lost. (sniff) Who, who are you? "Saturn - 6th planet from the Sun" SATURN: I'm Saturn, a giant planet made of gas and liquid, and sixth planet from the Sun. pas 1- fade after a while. (2 sec pause) DAVY: Oh dear. Another one! I can't live on a planet made of gas and liquid! King Jupiter showed me why. There's no ground for me to stand on!]ust lots and lots of twisty, curly gas and liquid clouds. No ground visual pas I, ping sound. (2 sec pause) SATURN: I'm too cold as well, for you to live on me. Add cold visual pas 1, ping sound (2 sec pause). - fade composite after a while. DA VY: You've got pretty rings though, Mister Saturn. Are you married then? My dad wears a ring because he's married to my mom. Is there a Mrs Saturn out here too? Can Mrs Saturn be my home planet then? SATURN: Ha, ha, ha. No Davy. They're not wedding rings. My rings aren't solid at all. PAN Saturn's rings. Look ... (2 sec pause) DAVY:.Wow! Look at that! SATURN: My rings are made of millions and millions of pieces of rock and ice that float around me. A long time ago, when people first saw my rings, they didn't know what they 14 Planetarian Vol. 29, No.3, September 2000 were. They thought I had ears! Can you imagine that! A planet with ears! Planet with ears pas 2 - fade after a while. DA VY: Ha, ha, ha. SA TURN: There. That sounds better. Would you like to fl y along my rings? DAVY: Yes please, Mister Saturn. As long as no rocks and bits of ice bump into me. Fade Saturn rings PAN. SA TURN: Don't worry. I'll make sure you're safe. Come ... Fade Saturn pas 3. Keep stars on. (10 sec pause) VIDEO/CD Saturn's rings flyby (40 sec) music to match. DA VY: Oh, this is exciting! It's like I'm a racing driver on a race track! (2 sec pause) SA TURN: I knew you would like it. (6 sec pause) DAVY: And I can fly through your rings without bumping into any rocks and ice! (2 sec pause) SATURN: I told you I would keep you safe. Fade video/CD. DAVY:Weee ... Fade up Saturn POS 3. (10 sec pause) DAVY: Oh, thank you, Mister Saturn. I enjoyed that very much. SA TURN: I'm pleased you did. Now, how can I help you? DAVY: I don't know where Earth is, sir. It's my home planet and I must get back there. My mom will be really worried about me if I'm not home for supper soon. SATURN: Well, I know I'm one of a whole family of planets, but I'm not sure where your planet Earth is. Have you tried the planet next to me? DAVY: No. Not yet. I had better go and see. Maybe the next planet is Earth! Thank you, Mister Saturn. Bye-bye. SA TURN: Good bye. Fade Saturn POS 3. DA VY: I hope the next planet is Earth! I'm getting tired! Hey, there's something up ahead Turn stars N to S. now! Zoom Cartoon Uranus 6 steps POS 1 Dragon in PAN 1 (looking up). (6 sec pause) DA VY: Hey! A sideways planet with rings! Hello, mister sideways planet. I'm Davy Dragon and I'm looking for my home planet, Earth. What's your name? "Uranus - 7th planet from the Sunil POS 2. MISTER URANUS: I'm Uranus, seventh planet from the Sun. (2 sec pause) DA VY: Are you also a giant planet made of gas and liquid, Mister Uranus? URANUS: Yes, lam. No ground visual POS 3, ping sound. DA VY: Ohdear, so you won't do as a home planet for me either. You've got no ground for me to stand on ... so I'll fall right through you! King Jupiter told me. (2 sec pause) Add cold visual pas 3, ping sound URANUS: I'm also a very, very cold planet. - fade POS 2 + 3 after a while. (2 sec pause) Vol. 29, No.3, September 2000 Planetarian 15 DAVY: Oh dear! A sideways, cold planet, with no ground to stand on, won't do at all! I had better try the next planet. Pic Cartoon Neptune + "Neptune URANUS: I don't think my neighbouring planet will be of any use to you. -8th planet from the Sun" POS 2. (2 sec pause) DAVY: Why, Mister Uranus? URANUS: Well, Neptune is also a giant planet made of gas and liquid Pic Cartoon Pluto + "Pluto - 9th DAVY: Oh dear! Are there any more planets after that? planet from the Sun" POS 3. (2 sec pause) URANUS: Mmmm ... let me see now. What's its name again? Oh yes, then there's Pluto. Fade pic Neptune POS 2. DAVY: What! Pluto? Like Mickey Mouse's dog? Is Pluto also a giant planet made of gas and liquid? URANUS: No. From what I've heard, its a very, very tiny planet that's made of rocks and ice. DAVY: Sounds like a very cold planet to visit. URANUS: It is. And because it is so far from the Sun, Pluto is also quite a dark place as well. The Sun is so far away, that Pluto gets hardly any heat and light from it. DAVY: Oh dear. Not like my home at all! Oh, well. Thank you. You've been very helpful, but Fade Pluto pas 3. I had better get going again. Bye Mister Uranus. Fade Uranus POS 1. URANUS: Good bye, Davy Dragon. Fade dragon in PAN. DA VY: Oh dear! Where to now? Let's see ... first I met Mister Mercury ... Orrery on. The little planet, with all the craters, that's closest to the Sun. Pic Mercury + "Mercury" PAN 9. Point out Mercury on orrery. (2 sec pause) Pic Venus + "Venus" PAN 10. Then there was Miss Venus, the hottest planet with poisonous clouds .. Point out Venus on orrery. (2 sec pause) Question mark PAN 11. Then there was the planet that I missed ... (2 sec pause) Pic Mars + "Mars" PAN 12. And then came horrible Mister Mars. That cross, red planet! I didn't like him at all! Point out Mars on orrery. (2 sec pause) Pic jupiter + "jupiter" PAN 1. Then I met King jupiter, the biggest of all the planets and made of gas and liquid, with a Point out jupiter on orrery. Great Red Spot that's actually a storm... (2 sec pause) Pic Saturn + "Saturn" PAN 2. Who was next again? Oh yes, now I remember ... Mister Saturn, the giant planet made of gas Point out Saturn on orrery. and liquid, with the pretty rings made of rocks and ice ... (2 sec pause) Ptc Uranus + "Uranus" PAN 3. Then there was Mister Uranus, the sideways giant planet, made of gas and liqUid. He also had Point out Uranus on orrery. rings, but not as pretty as Mister Saturn's rings, though. (2 sec pause) Pic Neptune + "Neptune" PAN 4. And Mister Neptune, another giant planet, made of gas and liquid, with faint rings ... Point out Neptune on orrery. (2 sec pause) Pic Pluto + "Pluto" PAN 5. And then there was Pluto, the smallest planet in the solar system family. The one that's so Point out Pluto on orrery. cold and dark ... Brrr ... 16 Planetarian Vol. 29, No.3, September 2000 (2 sec pause) So, what must I do now? Oh dear, oh dear! (sniff) Wait a second! Maybe, maybe ... maybe that planet that I flew over, maybe that my home planet Earth? It must be? It can only be Earth! What am I waiting for? Let's Fade PAN planets and orrery. Tum stars CWo (2 sec pause) Flying Dragon MM R-L. If I hurry, maybe I'll still be home for supper? And my mom won't have to Zoom Earth 6 steps POS 1. Wait. I think that's planet Earth I see now... "Earth - 3rd planet from the Sun". POS 2 - fade after a while. (2 sec pause) Air visual POS 3, ping sound. ... and I know that my home planet Earth has air for me to breathe ... Add ground visual POS 3, ping sound. ... and ground to stand on ... Add water visual POS 3, ping sound ... and water to drink ... Add plants visual POS 3, ping sound. ... and plants ... Add dragon visual pas 3, ping sound ... and other dragons to talk to ... Fade Earth POS I and composite pic POS 3. ... and ... and Oh Earth is just perfect for me! And I'm so pleased to see it again! I tn()Uf:mt I was lost forever! Let me go home! (6 sec pause) Fade up Castle PAN. Mommy, Daddy! I can fly! I can fly! I flew as high as the planets! And I got lost! And I flew Flying Dragon Vert MM moves down head through Mister Saturn's rings and over Miss Venus. That was a bit scary ... I thought I was first, flapping sound, running sound. going to crash and melt! And I spoke to aU the other planets! King]upiter too! And then I worked out where our planet Earth was and then I flew home again! FATHER DRAGON: Slowly, slowly! Oh Davy! What an imagination you have! Flying to the planets and talking to them! That's the one I've heard so far! DAVY: But I did, Daddy. I did visit the planets! FATHER DRAGON: Oh Davy child, what ever will you come up with next! Come on then, we mustn't keep your mother waiting. Supper is ready. Heavy footsteps. DAVY: But really, Daddy ... I did talk to the planets! 3 credits, POS I, 2, 3. PAN still on. FA THER DRAGON: If you say so, dragon child. 1 min music. Star machine level 3. Point out and discuss where planets are at present date. END HOUSE LIGHTS Vol. 29, No.3, September 2000 Planetarian common? A spectacular a Shonandai Culture Center GSS-Helios The GSS-Helios (GSX) features 25,000 stars reproducing a sky seen only from space. Digital shutters mean ,,","'"'''''''Q"yy''' without stray stars twinkling through the image. Computer-assisted functions give manual mode the ease without replacing the lecturer. The list of special GO TO features goes on and on. Contact your nearest re])rese]ltathre find out what your planetarium could be like. The G 1014si offers Space Simulator functions GOTO's exclusive automatic lamp mechanism. No more shows lost to lamp burnout. With the your spare lamp leaps into action with a simple touch of a button at the console. fast and efficient. That's a GO TO Planetarium. OPTI 4-16 Yasaki-cho Fuchu-shi, 183 JAPAN TEL: IntI No. +81-423-62-5312 FAX: IntI No. +81-423-61-9571 Email: [email protected] GI014si ANSWER: That's easy. Everybody asks about our theme song which is the classic 'Arabesque # l' by Claude Debussy performed by Tomita on the still available "Snowflakes Are Dancing" album (RCA) At what and the week can Bsee 4STAR GAZER'l ANSWER: Most TV stations air 'STAR GAZER' just before nightly sign-off. However, due to 'STAR GAZER'S' enormous popularity a number of stations find the show's 5-minute format can fit any where during the broadcast day and air the show more fre quently. Local TV listings seldom include 5-minute shows, so it's best to call the station for the broadcast schedule. If I can't 'STAR GAZER' on PBS stalUOI'9 how can I see it ANSWER: 'STAR GAZER' is provided ~ of ~ by WPBT, Miami to all PBS stations. If you can't find it, write or call your local PBS station and ask if they will air it and remind them that it ~ available ~ of ~. Is it necessary to permission to use 'STAR GAZER' for astronomy meetings, teaching in the TV ClaSSI'OClm. science museum or planetarium use? on n~IKp.!l-F.~VP. 'ClOC"',"""""',",'I'Y>H ANSWER: No. In fact, many astronomy clubs, teachers, science museums and planetariums have been taping 'STAR GAZER' off the air and using it regularly as a way to reach their public. "... one of the few writers who can translate SOlJhl!')t/cate'd rlICr'lnI1f10C' Us there • can get 'STAR GAZER' other than popular language without my local PBS station? Dr. Nobel Laureate ANSWER: Yes. A month's worth of 'STAR GAZER' episodes are fed monthly to a satellite from which all PBS stations take it for their "... knows how to come down from local programming. Anyone with a satellite dish is welcome to the ivory tower and make ~C't ...n"""""n4I" the satellite feed. Again, no permission is required. For satellite accessible. " feed dates and times call Monday through Friday (Eastern time) Lovi, Astronomer 305-854-4244. Ask for Ms. Harper or Mr. Dishong. American IIIIUI:::;eUfIl/ni::iVllen I-'I",naY", .. " I am a iea.cncer pllanmn.~ would like several 4STAR "... 1 never miss it. As someone vance, but I do not have access involved in science I'm enthralled Is there way I can 4STAR GAZER'l with Jack Horkheimer's science fact. " John Nathan ANSWER: Any teacher anywhere around the world can obtain Executive 'STAR GAZER' episodes in advance through their NASA e.O.R.E. 'Dr. Teachers' Resource Center. For details write:NASA e.O.R.E.; Lorain County Joint Vocational School; 15181 Route 58 South; Oberlin, OH. 44074. Or visit our website: www.jackstargazer.com comet as a flying dump truck was not so rate, that cover more than a list of discover obvious as we now can see. ies and scientists, help children understand As interesting as the observing of meteors that the people who work in sciencE' an is its history of meteor photography. In interesting story to tell; while at the order to discern the height of the bright time encouraging curiosity and still to streaks, Ladislaus Wernik in 1885 set up two read? ...... Science Center cameras 7S miles apart. Although his experi This is not an easy task, but there ment was not a real success, he is credited books that accomplish the task. Roy ,--,'ULlCUJll. Drive NE with being the first to photograph a meteor. Director of the Southworth Planetarium at Georgia 30307 And, because of his efforts, the last half of the the University of South Maine, has written a book has beautiful shots from Single-shot series of such books. Published by Bench [email protected] fireballs to clock-driven images of dozens of mark Books, this series is named the of meteors radiating from the Sickle. Science. Covering the topics of geology, Here's a short column for the shortening evolution of humanity, physics, and astron days/nights (pick one to fit your equinoctal "Once again, the traditional omy, each book explores the topics from the myths of our ancient past to what we under season). With thanks to our clever reviewers, legends of the astronomical Francine jackson and john Schroer, who stand of the science today. have managed to fit six books into two community come into play in The Dance of the Continents covers how reviews. attempts to explain the the earth can be a dangerous place to live, whys ... " with examples of death dealing and fiery volcanoes demonstrating that the The Heavens on Fire: The Great earth is constantly changing. Packed with Leonid Meteor Shower, by Mark The only major problem with this book is information and colorful maps and illustra Littmann, Cambridge Univer that it was written in 1998. Therefore, I tions that bring the study of our to sity Press, 40 West 20th Street, found myself reading prophecies for the life for any student. New York, NY 10011-4211, 1998, already past '99 Leonid storm. Littmann pre Early Humans takes you on trip through ISBN 0-521-77979-0 (paperback, dicted a "promising Circumstance," but did our family tree from the Dawn Ape +h~.r."rrh also available in hard cover), not put a solid number on "promising." Neandertal and Cro-Magnon to rise of Homo $19.95. Likewise with 2000, but not as "promising," Sapiens, with lots of pictures, maps, and the results of which will reveal themselves other illustrations that easily guide you Reviewed by Francine jackson, URI Planetar soon after this reading. I would have pre through a lot of our ancient past. ium, Providence, RI, Bryant College, Smith ferred an analysis of the already concluded field, RI observation, with comparisons to the past "How is a parent to choose and apparent future of this infamous phe books that are scientifically At first, I had trouble believing that an nomenon. However, if you really enjoy read en tire book could be written on just one ing the human side of science, and appreci accurate, that cover more meteor shower - especially a book of over ate a good progressive format of a topiC, this than a list of discoveries book will really hold your interest. Your 300 pages. But, Mark Littmann did it - and scientists, help children quite well. annual freezing November nights' observing Much of this book recounts the human sessions will never be the same. u ndersta nd that the people side of the phenomenon: Denison Olmstead who work in science have an waking up in the middle of the night in interesting story to tell; November, 1833, to unbelievable brightness, The Story of Science Series by while at the same time en then jumping out of bed at his neighbor's Roy A. Gallant. Dance of the persistent banging; the 1202 shower describ Continents ISBN 0-7614-0962-9, couraging curiosity and still ed as celestial grasshoppers; joseph Henry's Early Humans ISBN 0-7614- fu n to read'?" description of a railroad trestle to explain 0960-2, The Ever-Changing Atom the radian t; and, of course, the normal ISBN 0-7614-0961-0, Earth's Place infighting among thinkers as to the origins, in Space ISBN 0-7614-0963-7 The Ever-changing Atom reveals how heights, and velocity of these shooting stars. Benchmark Books, Marshall humanity has learned about the basic build Once again, the traditional legends of the Ca vendish Corp. 99 White ing blocks of the universe, with a strong mes astronomical community come into play in Plains Road, Tarrytown, NY sage of concern about radioactive waste and attempts to explain the whys of showers, 10591-9001 its long term (10,000 to 100,000 years) from Aristotle's rising vapors to Halley's lem of safe storage. shocking reversal of his own observations. Reviewed by john Schroer, Schenectady Earth's Place in Space stars with our loca Also, all the famous names of Neptune's dis Museum, Schenectady, NY, U.S.A. tion in the center of the universe, and pro covery - Adams, Le Verrier, Galle, d'Arrest - gresses with astronomy as we move to a sun all had their hands in the computation of Science bookS for children are in a crowd centered solar system in just one of many the particles' orbits. And one of the brightest ed field, with many authors and titles to billions of galaxies. A great deal of material is stars in this meteor research? Mr. "Canali," choose from. A listing from amazon.com covered, from mythology of the heavens Giovanni Schiaparelli, who is credited with showed a list of dozens of kids' books about through the heliocentric revolution, to the creating the /lid" nomenclature for showers. space and astronomy alone. How is a parent And the comet as origin theory? Equating a to choose books that are scientifically accu- (Please see Reviews on page 29) Vol. No.3, September 2000 Planetarian Lasershow Designer The next-generation system for the new millennium f your planetarium is in terested in endings. This is perfect for depicting unconditi ona l 90-day money-back I laser shows, then you probably comets and other wispy phenomena. guarantee. know about our Lascrshow Designer. With more colors and faste r 50% off for LO clients It's the world's most popul demonstrations of navigational equipment sary). Price negotiable. This "-\.l'.UIJHH.. U\ with visitors. There was also a gallery exhibit be visited in Montreal (Cosmodome called Passports to the World on Arctic gear Lava}), Contact Jean-Pierre Pennsylvania and animals. In addition, Jeff Ward returned general of the Cosmodome, for on June 10 and did a gallery day showing off arrangements (tel. 450-978-3606). Inten~stE:d USA the results of his trip. buyers contact Felix c/o 412-237-3348 Loris Ramponi of the Italian Planetaria's LeVerrier Planetarium, Trois-Rivieres, Friends Association (c/o Serafino Zani Quebec, Canada. Phone 819-376-4602. 412-237-3395 fax Astronomical Observatory Via Bosca 24 - (Author's Note: I visited the Cosmodome [email protected] 25066 Lumezzane, Italy) wrote to report on and thought that this museum was of the web site called A Week In Northern Ital)! the best-kept secrets in the Greater Montreal I've just returned from the IPS conference in For An American Planetarian. Since 1995, Area! It had a Space Camp with a full size Montreal and it was a truly stellar experi Serafino Zani Astronomical Observatory Space Shuttle model including the "~a.ua'.uall ence! The staff and volunteers of the together with Learning Technology Inc. Robotic Arm. It also had a very nice exhibi Montreal Planetarium did a marvelous job have invited planetarians to spend a week tion hall with a really well done model of hosting this most important event of our doing what they love best in a planetarium the solar system which featured the terrain society. There was never a dull moment in in Italy. If you'd like to see the images of the or (fog machines in use the this weeklong celebration of all things plane previous "Weeks" on their web pages visit: gas giants) of each planet below each modeL tarium. I had an opportunity at the confer http://www.cityline.it/CULT/photog.htm. But my favorite feature was their multime ence to ask many of you to send me news, Previous participants include Susan dia theater. It contained a motion -r'ol.,H·,.,,~~ tips and personal anecdotes to make this col nolds Button, Jeanne Bishop, Jerry Vinski, with seating for about SO visitors inside umn as useful as possible. Today, I received Dee Wanger and April Whitt. Planetarians degree curved retractable screen the news that we have lost one of our own, from the U.S. and Canada interested in this revealed 3-dimensional sets under a so let us send ... initiative are invited to send notice before full of fiber optic stars, phew! ) next May to: Susan Reynolds Button (Inter Our national Planetarium Society, Portable Plan On Move etarium Committee, OCM BOCES Planetar ... to the family and friends of Fran Biddy ium, PO Box 4754, Syracuse, NY 13221 USA. (former producer at Strasenburgh Plane While listening to Neil deGrasse tarium, Rochester, New York) who died of ium (University of North "-'ClJlVl:Ul Vol. 29, No.3, September 2000 Plane tarian Marc Rouleau (formall y of the Buehler & Technology International. ",u~'r"thincr seems be Planetarium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida) is Mike (formerly the Assistant around him/her. Ask him/her to the new director of the Paulucci Space Director of the Taylor Planetarium at the head back about 45 Theater in Hibbing, Minnesota. Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Mon things still seem to be around Arnie Nelson (former Director of the tana) is now the Assistant Director for the in circles, but the circles are smaller. Planetarium at Wausau \Vest High School in NASA-funded Montana Space Grant Consor ask him/her to look at the marker Wausau, Wisconsin) has left to head up a tium. "Even though it's going to feel strange placed on the new Digistar fadIi ty. not going through the 'production hell peri 'star' seems to be moving. From here you After a dozen years and countless shows, ods' anymore", Mike assures us that he will launch into a traditional expla.natic.n Chuck Greenwood. (former producer at the continue to volunteer and consult for the the Earth's axis at the North William M. Staerkel Planetarium at Parkland Taylor Planetarium. Star, etc. A standard Earth College in Campaign, Illinois) is heading plemental prop. Good luck!" south to a new opportunity in Cocoa, Gene of Shaker Florida. to Rovy Branon (of Instructional Systems Planetarium (Shaker ...... "'f, •• LJ, After an exciting 4.5 years at Sudekum Technology at Indiana University) who with props and short demonstrations going under the dome. are 1',;>r,ril,ta,rl Planetarium in Nashville, Waylena M. Mc reports that his web site Planetarium.net was Cully has accepted the position of Planetar featured on the Discovery.com site as a Web here from Dome-L for your information. ium Production Designer at Staerkel Plane Pick for space sites on July 9, 2000. They par show that does exist in tarium in Champaign, Illinois. ticularly liked his "Cool Nite Sites" that have tween Earth and the Moon, I use the Jeffery S. Potter (formerly with the been hand picked over the last couple of and tennis ball as described earlier. Alexander Brest Planetarium in Jacksonville, years! Way to go Rovy! model of the Florida) is returning home to where he got to Martin Ratcliffe (Director of Theaters at his start in the business at the Ritter Plan Exploration Place in Wichita, Kansas) on the etarium at the University of Toledo in Ohio opening of the new Boeing Cyberdome as its Planetarium Education Specialist. Theater. The new theater was also featured Aase Roland Jacobsen is the new Curator on Discovery.com. The theater contains the for the Planetarium at the Steno Museum at second Star Rider installation from Evans (the astronauts) The Danish National Museum for the Sutherland, (Salt Lake City, Utah). slowed all the way until about History of Science and Medicine. She had Manning (Director of the Taylor here. Then up and were at previously worked for four years developing Planetarium at the Museum of the Rockies in miles/hr around the moon. educational materials on Geology in Canada. Bozeman, Montana) for using the exclama kids travel to the moon while others Suzy Chippindale (formerly the Plane tion "Lord, have mercy" and for pointing out the Moon and Earth this to be tarium Director at the Santa Fe Community on Dome-L that there is an official statement College in Santa Fe, New Mexico and former on the IPS web page concerning Star Hayden Planetarium staffer in New York Naming. It is at http://www.ips-planetarium City) is heading west again as she takes on a .org/i ps-starnaming.h tml. new position as an Astronomy Educator nature stores) and a 12mm with the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. hole in it. attach the ball to the Earth &: Jeff M Brindle (formerly with the Hatter but I add show apogee and Planetarium at Gettysburg College in Gettys Ken Wilson (Director of Astronomy and and the bead can slide in between the burg, Pennsylvania) is now working for Electronic Outreach, Science Museum of Vir Apogee is 9.93 earth circumferences Lockheed Martin in King of Prussia, Penn ginia, Richmond, Virginia) recently posted is 8.68 circumferences. sylvania. this idea on Dome-L and it is worth rerJeatinlg "handy" model because one person can After 28 years in the planetarium field, here. "I like this demo that I came up to it and show how much the moon varies in Ken Miller (formerly Planetarium Chairman demonstrate why the North Star doesn't its orbit. of the Kilolani Planetarium at the Bishop seem to move as the Earth rotates: First get a "A idea for constellations i:; to Museum in Honolulu, Hawaii) is shifting swivel chair that can easily spin contin up a pattern of stars such as a square gears in order to serve astronomy education uously and repeatedly through 360 degrees make up a story about what you see. Have a in another way. He recently accepted the job (e.g., a bar stool) and place it in an open area. variety of that the pattern of U.S.A. Liaison to the GOTO Optical Mfg. Then place a thumbtack, piece of tape, Post for them to see. I then show the stars Co. He'll be helping GOTO develop their It note cut-out in the shape of a star, or any with its V and let them tell me other such marker on the ceiling directly next great planetarium projector, this time see. Follow this with stuffed "'UUH"'!.) for 30-foot to 40-foot domes. above the center point of the chair's rotation Mike Shanahan (formerly of Seattle's to represent Polaris. [If you can't reach your or some beanie babies Pacific Science Center Planetarium) has ceiling, you can project a Polaris marker with make great constellations. moved up to the post of Planetarium a laser pOinter, narrow flashlight beam, etc., "A model of a shuttle Manager at Bishop Museum (Honolulu, attached to some sort of holder.] models can show what it takes to Hawaii) from the Producers position. "Now ask for a volunteer (if it's a small Earth. The enemy is I then use Michael Jones (formerly the Education & group, everyone can take a turn) to sit in the loons and use them as the combustion Evaluation Specialist for The Explorers chair and slowly spin around to their left chamber and let them Let one balloon Project at the Bishop Museum in Honolulu, (counter clockwise as seen from above) while without tying the nozzle. I use the Hawaii) is heading off to take a position as keeping his/her head still and eyes open. Ask loon, a normal type. are called Technical Programs Administrator for a sci him/her to observe the things in the room The second balloon I tie off with a little of ence think tank in Honolulu called Science around them. He/she should notice that the end not blown up. When you 24 Planetarian Vol. this end, it will slower and str'3.igjhte:r. It is and sun- and Pluto. The kit more controlled and can be to a for? a Solar rocket with a nozzle. This can lead to a vari discussion on the earth and its weather. Next ety of dome programs such as space get them to wonder about the weather 'out satellites or the principles of rocketry. there'. As I go to the planets under the dome, "For ancient cultures, I make a Rice Crispy we compare the weather to our earth. ·~t()m~ne'nge' and call it . This is liThe reason for the season is our in used to develop the reasons space. I use an earth globe and the sun. I looked up. What did look for and what show how no planet is tilted unless we com was I use this with "J'J''''.U"," pare it to its orbit in space. The tilt doesn't Ven us person try to ancient monuments and also nr.·t-H'l,n", change as the weather people on TV often Most often reason it out. movement of the sun on the horizon and say. Our place changes. I like using few ideas but have props for all the altitude. no matter how uH.·..... •...... 'A many paper "If you have a black board or easel with "I found a great kit for making the planets paper, draw a straight line. Talk about the to scale. The sun is a four foot diameter circle Earth not being flat. It is round but not flat. or use a weather balloon and papier-mache Ask students to contribute ideas to make the it. I used a weather balloon alone but it went world unflat (mountains, hills, supernova. The effect was great but I don't chasms, etc.). From here I look at surfaces of want it to happen again. I have the planets in other worlds such as Venus and Mars. For a box. I ask for the members of the solar sys older groups I would also add the third most tem. As they are named, the student comes important thing learned about the earth - forward to hold their or moon. We tectonic plates, and second are it is round then line up size. It is great to see them and it moves. notice there are moons bigger than age sent to FOR A BROCHURE AND COMPLETE SHOW SAMPLE CASSETTES. Vol. Planetarian SPITZ, INC. P.o. Box 198, Route 1 Chadds Ford, PA 19317 USA Tel 610.459,5200 Fax 610.459.3830 www.spitzinc.com Besides a certain inflection of the voice, or enough for them to dust off the perhaps a knack for weaving a story, or the ing room refractor, n""rh~.-nc I-''-<'''-''U-'''' genuine enthusiasm that often ac(:on!1pcmi~es own telescope at the plallletaI'iUlm the better talks about the there or even to try their skill at ""1'o.i-i-ir",. remains one device in the star lecturer's reflector of their own. on which one can For those pl2metal~iarls V\lithout this one device much of what the planetarian has to say would seem onl y spec ulation, only so much talk to take on faith. That one device, when properly deployed, allows the star lecturer's audience to see for themselves often exactly what the lecturer has to say. now every planetarian will be way Autumn/Spring greetings to one and all in ahead to guess that the one device I find the dome land. star lecturer could not do without is,. indeed, With the increasing variety of eql1ipm~~nt the telescope. If there were no star to be found in many planetaria I won to parade the constellations, no mechanical der sometimes where, in the eyes of each wizardry to display any effects, no arrow planetarian, they lie on the totem pole of pointer to show the way, the piece. strict need to present shows with true, last remains ever ready to the star lecturer For the planeitarian, I believe that ing impact. That thought prompts the ques who can set one up and operate it. Since scope remains our best apart tion for this issue's Forum subject, which is as astronomy is all about observation, the tele star as it lets our audiences look follows: scope is a mainstay to inspire a view to the ever into the and heavens, and seems the one instrument audi bled this vast realm, yet still lets If you could one of ences most readily with any scien retain a confidence about the Universe ment, inside or outside of the dome tific diScipline. around us, since from your star for its Beneath the canopy of night itself, a tele and can to c01nprerLend proven educational and/or imrpiJratiOllal scope in the hands of a competent lecturer among your which would can present the familiar wonders of the near Production Depalrtn1erlt it be sky and the elusive details found only in the Adler Planetarium & Ast:r01!10rny Mllsel1m deep sky. Of course, a working knowledge of 1300 South Lake Shore Roy Kaelin is on the hill to throw the first the night sky is essential for the planetarian pitch. to be successful not only in pointing out those flecks of light, but what they have * * * * * * most often inspired in the minds of others. And with their own eyes, an audience of a Of the sky shows I've been to few or of dozens can then step up to view for view and hear, each uses his own themsel ves. device of to make the talk hold Not does the to the the answer would be a slide interest for his audience. From some lectur audience the true power of observation, but tor with controls. I think ers I've heard that device in the inflection of also to dispel any of Dfcljector is dej'initely a voice, perhaps in the manner in which one what one may likely see in the able tool a pla,netarian can have. With it tells some tale, or in the way one infuses in the course of a clear a,,,,,,..,i ... ,,,.',, can open up an artificial in the same way their delivery with genuine enthusiasm. viewing, the star lecturer can put to rest any that and space have And when that lecturer has the added notion of the surfaces of close up the real heavens. With a slide attraction of a couple thousand watts of up as a spacecraft can allow. More you can visit up close in light pumped and filters, though, the can show his audi detail; see the latest wonders that the Hubble most any lecture can seem and ence a real close-up of the Moon's surface, or even But, without the benefit of help his audience the stars from a star projector under the darkened dome of the planets in the sky, or pOint out with ease a theater, one think the the effect of the on or planetarian beyond all means to an enthuse those at the eyepiece with the find audience in rapt attention about the won of a faint nebula or distant galaxy. ders of the night sky. Without ten thousand Even if the telescope never leaves the con flecks of light, made to twinkle by some fines of the planetarium theater, the lecturer mechanical craftiness, one may think the can regale his audiences with a history of its masked well, star lecturer bereft of all imagination to con de've!opme~nt, a of its manufac and in the dome, vey, say, the effects of the atnl0sph1ere ture, and a demonstration of its light path. hard to beat. The dimmer control is ...... "' .... True to tell, VVhile any of these alone could send port ant so overwhelm often use many devices, some many audience members to instant slumber, ence with that are too others often mechanical, to make their star in the words of an able lecturer a talk about makes transitions smoother; and it can lectures work for their audiences. the can excite audience members maintain dark eyes. Vol. Planetarian For the planetarian with monetary con all come a long way since then with our bells cerns (meaning most of us) when compared and whistles, dig a-this and diga-that, but the to video projection systems and computer 01' slide projector is still a key unit. After over projection systems, a good slide projector is thirty years and probably fifteen thousand inexpensive, relatively low tech, and easy to planetarium shows, I still use the slide projec maintain. With simple basic care a slide pro tor every day, especially for my astronomy jector can last years, and there is a huge labs and lectures. Even though we have over wealth of inexpensive slide images waiting 40 recorded shows always available and to be used. maybe 50 projectors, I consider myself a sci A star projector and a slide projector are ence teacher in a teaching planetarium. So two very essential pieces of the planetarium for its proven educational impact, my vote puzzle for me. They compliment each other goes to the slide projector. For its inspira to dot with the stars. Trace out in very natural ways. The star projector illus tional impact among the audience, you out Betelgeuse. You've got trates the sky that everyone can see from could choose various items for different age lar distances and color, size and their backyards, and the star projector levels. The kids love lasers. Once a third knows which unlocks the hidden mysteries of the myriad Bob Reilly tIe juice," he or she will remember stars and planets. Space Lab Planetarium red giant 50 far away that the John T. Meader Williamsville Central Schools now left the star when Columbus Northern Stars Planetarium 1595 Hopkins Road covering new lands across the ocean. P.O. Box 302 Williamsville, New York 14221 All we need are the stars Fairfield, Maine 04937 to one of * * other. Words and LHL"f'>'.LA", * from there. My colleague at the Ward Beecher That's a question requiring a lot of Planetarium, Richard Pirko, has this homey thought for a retired person! When thinking cross-stitched sampler in his office that reads: of the computer-coordinated banks of pro "You can take my slide projector when you jectors and special effects equipment in our pry it from my cold dead fingers." planetarium, I would have found the ques Personally, I'd not make the ultimate sacri tion difficult to answer when I was teaching. fice for our Ektaragraphics and Elmos. But, looking at the sky from my vantage Which piece of equipment, among the The choice here is easy and point here on the Outer Banks makes me man y special effects, mechanical wonders, would the and humble think I could teach tremendous lessons with teaching aids, and tools that we have at our slide nr,,,iArtrYr the star machine and the bank of carousels disposal? Sadly, the question specifies a piece In recent years we have been forming various panoramas. (May I count of equipment with proven and/or inspira ries about how slide nrr,iar'+Ar<, the "panorama makers" as one piece of tional impact among our audiences. This way out. equipment? - I think so.) The panoramas pro rules out the most valuable asset in our plan wave of the future" aD1Dar'entlv vided atmosphere for the stories, furnished etarium - it's the guy with the cross-stitched may indeed be the case, I reference points for teaching locations and sampler. many years wait for the direction, and provided "ooh" and "aah" Computers? The orrery? Laser disk particular wave into shore. moments, inspiring both kids and teachers ers? The video? The audio? No, they just When the compact disk was in1:roduce(j, to remember the planetarium experience. don't make the grade. By the way, I'm assuming the laser painter I think my cross-stitched sampler will is another appendage of the planetarium have to read, "You can take my pointer teacher, not a piece of equipment. I could when you pry it from my cold dead fingers." not teach without a pointer ... without a There have been many times when an microphone, probably - without a pointer, audience of excited third graders is all seated, never! quiet, and ready to be amazed by the stars Maril yn Pickard (Retired) and I've had to come to a screeching halt Formerly with H.B. Owens Science Center because my pointer has once again walked 9601 Greenbelt Road off in someone's pocket. Two astronomy Lanham-Seabrook, Maryland 20706 professors in particular are used to my forc ing them up against the wall and patting * * them down for my black pointer. When I don't have a pointer of some kind Interesting that you ask this question, - either my much battered but reliable laser Steve. In the past, there was a time when I pointer or the old arrow flashlight - I feel as if had only one piece of equipment in my I've lost a vital part of my body. My arms dome. Back in the sixties when I was a rookie end in stumps, my hearing has gone, my Planetarium Dude, the basic Spitz installa vision is impaired, I can't walk, I'm mute. I'm tion was a dome, star projector, console and literally handicapped without that little red one slide projector. You could get a Hansen dot. showkit for a hundred bucks and run the The stars are the heart of any planetarium, show with one or two slide projectors. We've but to a group of third graders (fourth as easy to 28 Planetarian Vol. slide can transport the viewer back in Hmmm, an all laser system could do without. You may '::>VJ.HClHJ,!C:C:> time, into the heart of a great nebula, or some of that, too. Oh, sorry, I was to of this, but we're next door to a supernova eXpIC)Sl(Jn. limit to I have. touch with our Of()tE~sSlon'S It is difficult to that another This is harder than I OK, let's Here is the of could ever exist that will be as assume that anyone can have a IJV'UH_ .... ~. flexible, easy to use, or as versatile as the that case I would choose the video r. ...~;~~{-/, .. A,.rlin .",." slide nn,iA,rtr,r Bob Martino one. Planetarium & Perkins rll-.<,O?·,,'>{-n.,.'u Oh, I just noticed that the Forum 3199 Columbus Pike said "inside or outside of the dome." In that Delaware, Ohio 43015 case, the choice is easy. I would choose the tellescope. 1'.1r.{-lhi-r.,,- can beat the real The * * all we know about the Universe in modern times. With it This is a very question. The answer I need no and I can be my own tells as much about ourselves as it does about sound system. "Gosh, just look at that nebu our facility. Some planetaria have different la, the birthplace of new stars, planets, and eqllipment, and some have dif even life!" Still, it would be nice if I ferent skills and definitely different things in the telescope forward or about the whole operation. reverse, in slow- or fast motion. Oh well, I I could say what I would very much like tried. to have in my theater. I think an all laser David Maness system would be very nice to have, and after Hamr)ton Schools Planetarium the IPS conference in Montreal, the new 1819 Nickerson Boulevard InI!;VI<&"", continued ZUUP device would revolutionize my Hampton, 23663 operation. But if I limit my to things I already have, the decision gets a lit universe to tle I have a video projector that I use quasars. daily, but I also use the slide projectors, all The one of plametarimn '-'-lUl~Hl'-l.lL These books are more than a skies, sound system, house and that to me is the most useful is the one that the progress among others. stays in my purse at all times. It is my laser Indeed, the "r~'''T Vol. Planetarian 2001: A Space Odyssey-style space station, a (such as NASA), software ae'velODers lunar module, Hubble-style space imagery, SGI), and show the ISS, abstract forms, artwork from an sive experiences based on the galrgantll1-tlyt,es Egyptian tomb, and a variety of other ob of data we're collecting these jects, all in crystal clarity and brilliant colors information on this, its collaborations and all choreographed to a clever and self planetarium vendors, and its effacing john Stoke script. In addition, the ters" for providing immersive system displayed some very nice solar sys experiences, contact Jennifer tem and planetary imagery from the 3D ani Weber Group, telephone 1-415-616-6258, mation library of a company called AVP. mail im,an:)les;@ca.v\leb'er~;rolup'.c()m, Claims for the system included the ability Pistacchio, telephone 1-650-933-5683, to achieve a true black background, but I did pistacchio@sgLcom. see the gray frame format, mostly when AVI Moebius GmbH, Industrial images were zoomed to smaller size. Given Sa ale park, Loebstedter Str. 93, 07749 Jean, The universe gets curiouser and curiouser the obvious capabilities of the system, I won Germany, 49-3641-40870, all the time. Mars seeps. Somebody found der if this was an adjustment issue rather 3641-408720, e-mail sugar in a nebula. And recently the presence than a technological one. The demonstra of a half-dozen more jupiters and Saturns tion was quite remarkable, and it certainly some of whose have been divined from the gravitational smelled like the future of projection to me - projection demonstration, offers more than nudges they give their parent stars. at least when it becomes more affordable by a 3D animation (available on Every day, it seems, we learn something more people. Stay tuned. DV, or SVHS and supplied in PAL NSTC new about just how lively is the cosmos in Zeiss distributed flyers on the system formats, as "lessons" such as which we live. So it seems fitting that some including basic technical information, as rotations, costing from 320 to 440 Euros or of those who interpret that cosmos should well as information on its planetarium prod a similar number of U.S. dollars, I believe have a lively international gathering of their uct line from the Skymaster ZKP 3 for small depending on medium). They also market a own in Montreal, not a week past as I write. planetariums and the Starmaster for medi product called the Blackout Generator SBG The IPS conference, ably hosted by Pierre um-sized facilities to its fiber-optics Univer 12 for smooth fade-in and fade-out of Lacombe and his excellent crew at the Plan sarium Model IX for the big funs including tions, and the model SNS 100 slew/tilt device etarium de Montreal, once again revealed the recently-opened Rose Center for Earth for large screen projectors. for more informa how much is going on in our lively, diverse and Space in New York. tion about these products, contact as give profession. And it's always fertile ground for For more information on all of these Zeiss just above. someone snooping around for what's new. items, contact Volkmar Schorcht, Carl Zeiss So read on, and sample a smorgasbord of jena GmbH, Planetarium Division, D-07740 I is jena, Germany, telephone 49-36-41-64-24-06, new and evolving and interesting bits out of We all know what the "I" in IPS for, Montreal .... e-mail [email protected]. To learn more but after "1<"A11I"-'fT the remarkable ueITIOnStTa- about Schneider Laser Technologies AG, con tions in the Planetarium de Montreal, 1..... nl.c:~"..T tact Katharina Klein, at 49-82-45-51-288, e Laser is Here one could to make mail [email protected]. Carl Zeiss jena, Schneider Laser Technol- to stand for "Immersion," of SGI also had a wide-screen and Silicon Inc. (SGn we had several in addition tial-pan" sort of screen format three announced of a new "alliance" in which the ones above. projectors) in the vendor area at the confer three will collaborate to market laser-based, 51 Lake Street, Nashua, New ence in which they presented a wide high-resolution, real-time 3D graphics in Hampshire 03060 USA, 1-800-880- of real-time computer visualizations, includ planetariums. A Zeiss-designed all-dome pro 8500 or 1-603-880-8500, fax 1--603-882-6522, ing an ISS model, Vatican artwork, Earth jection system based on Schneider laser tech imagery, and a rather grizzly sliCing-up of a nology will be able to project images gener another bn~ath-(:at~:::hilng pel:iolrman(:e human being (but great for a medical con ated by SGI Onyx2 and next-generation system, vention). Especially interesting was a data Onyx visualization systems on domes from experience for the those "immers base of satellite imagery which allowed 10 to 60 feet (3 to 18 meters) in diameter. In a ed" below in the planetarium seats. It includ zoom-ins from Earth orbit to almost press release, the trio of firms also announced ed sequences demonstrated in level, showing increasing levels of detail the intention of the Denver Museum of London in 1998 or Phoenix in 1999, but it down to buildings and houses. It sounds as Nature and Science to install the system in gave me an opportunity to enjoy once though soon, virtually any place on Earth its new planetarium faCility, currently under some of my favorite bits: the will be able to be so imaged - so better development. the dramatic collision of Earth and Pseudo start being careful about what you do in Zeiss/Schneider/SGI demonstrated the Mars, the grinding, crashing asteroid bel t, the your back yard. new technology before an enthusiastic worm hole plunge, the moon lander, the In addition to its partnership with Zeiss crowd at the Planetarium de Montreal dur Tyrannosaurus rex roaring over our heads, Schneider, I gathered that SGI, 1600 Amphi ing the conference (the first group to see this and the stunning of the International theater Parkway, Mountain View, California laser display technology outside of the Zeiss Space Station twirling above us. 94043 USA, telephone 1-650-960-1980, web offices in jena), running a single laser-based Carolyn Sumners and her crew from the site www.sgLcom.isinvolved in a so-called projector (called "Zeiss Universal Laser Image Houston Museum of Natural Science "scientific visualization consortium" design Projector," or ZULIP), through its paces on a the system another workout later in the con- ed to bring together institutions such as tilt/pan head. The result was quite stunning. ference when she nr'~''':''ntt:1,rl irnOl,rror'u museums (and planetariums), data providers We saw zooming and slewing images of a for her facility's Vol. .... or\To.-nn,o .. 2000 Plane tar ian impressive flyovers of alien landscapes. In which opened earlier this year. to learn Japan. The company also '-V""U.U'-",.J addition, Minolta Planetarium Company, more, contact one of the three offices above, tionship with Evans & ..." ...... uu..HU which now markets the system in Japan, or Bruce Ricketts of the Canadian office at keting the "Gemini" co:mtHn.atlon showed a delightful presentation devised by 203 Colonnade Road, Unit 4, Nepean, which includes a Minolta mrmllum ''''''rr"ori-r;r students featuring flowers and butterflies Ontario K2E 7K3, Canada, telephone 1-613- and an E&S system. and constellation figures drifting through a 723-5199, fax 1-613-723-6048, e-mail U.S. Planetarium Office is at 101 starry And Jack White of Sky-Skan [email protected], web site Drive, New 07 446, tel~2prlOrle Australia demonstrated some abstract pieces. www.trimension-inc.com 1-201-934-5347, fax 1-201-818-0498. Sharper video projection continues to Inc., P.O. Box 198, Route improve the imagery, and again, it's all quite Don't Ford, 19317 USA, rQ'c.nn ...... no amazing. Of course, we mustn't forget the first and 610-459-5200, fax 1-610-459-3830, Sky-Skan also continues its other product long-standing immersive technology which lines - the video disks, the spicey control sys we all use, and planetarium vendors not .com, is also on the immersive h",·r.r!·UT::lOiAn tem, aU-skies, special effect devices, its image already mentioned above were also present with its visualization formatting software package (Digidome) and with their diversifying product lines and ments and ImmersaVision- so on. Check the 1999-2000 catalog, and con interesting bits to relate during the confer ital video system which tact the "Skanners" as given above for more ence. modate 2D and 3D video, computer graphICS, information. still and other formats. Goto MaIIUfa,ctwrmg COnlparly' 4- Evans &: Sutherland, 600 Komas Drive, Salt 16, Yazaki-Sho, Fuchu-Shi, Tokyo, 183 Japan, ucts, nrr")rll1ri-u Lake City, Utah 84108 USA, telephone 1-801- telephone 81-0423-62-5311, fax 81-0423-66- 588-7405, fax 1-801-588-4520, web site 8616, web site www.goto.co.jp. has a new course, pICl,netarlurn www.es.com/dt. also presented a brand-new, Goto USA liaison in the person of Ken Miller, instrumen t is the full-dome, real-time visualization with its formerly of the Bishop Planetarium in 1024, with the StarRider system, featuring a trip through a Honolulu, Hawaii. He hasn't moved far, and domes. variety of celestial objects (barred and regu can be reached at 1525 Bernice Street, lar spiral galaxies, the Eagle Nebula with its Honolulu, Hawaii 96817 USA, telephone 1- gassy pillars, Eta Carinae) accompanied by a 888-847-5800, fax 1-808-847-5850, e-mail mat panoramas, all-skies, and other lrr1::lU''''nl lively musical score. It all looked crisp and [email protected], to answer your to one's dome, and a new program first-rate and quite dazzling on the Planetar questions. "Oasis in about the search ium de Montreal dome. Goto continues its diverse product line the cosmos; the "Oasis" trailer I've scr,eerled E&S's second installed StarRider system including the Virtuarium, it's own full- or shows array has opened at Exploration Place in Wichita, partial-dome video projection technology sequences U'-"'F>"'-u. Kansas USA, and the third and fourth instal nicely seen at IPS in Osaka in 1996, and E-5 Vision format. lations for the Shenzhen Children's Palace for small domes, and the Super-Helios which For additional information line of nrr,r!l1Pt<;, and Shanghai Scienceland in China have probably still holds the record for putting Towne I-Inrrrri ..... " been announced. E&S offers the system in a the most stars on the dome. (Goto also has a variety of forms to meet a variety of budgets, marvelous artwork library from the shows it above. from a single video projection to full-dome. develops.) E&S continues to sell its Digistar system, of I was intrigued with the little classroom course, and has recently converted the sys model, the E-3, on display at the Goto ven tem's old "button box" (for initiating pre dor booth. This cute "desktop" model fea the newer programmed sequences) into a svelte palm tures 500 stars plus basic coordinates, the offers a wide range of star pf()ie<:tors sized version based on Palm Pilot technology ability to add sun, moon, and planets, motor from little to (if I've used the correct term). It will be a ized diurnal motion and manual latitudinal I find I;;JI-'I;;L,ICUI boon to Digistar facilities wanted more oper change, and has a constellation picture pro ator mobility for their presentations. For jector as an accessory. It comes with a lO-foot more information on the full line of E&S dig (3-meter) vinyl projection screen that can be ital products, contact Jeri Panek at the num hung from the ceiling. In the exciting world bers above or through e-mail at jpanek@ of full-dome immersion, it's still nice to see es.com. all needs and aU sizes being accommodated. Trlmension with offices in the Goto was also demonstrating its lower end UK (Whittle House, Marchants Way, Burgess immersive technology called DigiCanvas, a projector is black and attractive and inc:lwjes Hill, West Sussex RH15 8QY, UK, telephone multiple projector playback system that was a remarkable number of features 44-1444-250-777), Australia (P.O. Box 643, panoramic rather than full-dome; it looked in larger instruments, inc:lwjinlg Burpengary, QLD 4505, Australia), and the good. To learn more about the latest from Milky The sun, moon, and U.S. (303 Potrero St., #50, Santa Cruz, CA Goto, contact Ken if you're in the U.S., or projector by separate 95060, USA), is another of the virtual reality Goto headquarters instruments which can be inducing firms who've found their way into Minolta Planetarium just by aiming them. It has a planetariums. The company creates virtual Operations, Esaka CTS Center, 2-30 Toyotsu neered control and comes environments ranging from workbench-size Cho, Suita-Shi, Osaka, 564, Japan, telephone and fixed versions. to "reality rooms" to domes. The company 81-06-386··2050, fax 81-06-386-2027, as men For additional information designed and integrated the projection dis tioned earlier, has gotten into the full-dome play and show automation system for the business as a SkyVision representative for Rose Center for Earth and Space in New York 32 Planetarian USA, telephone 1-800-537-8703 or 1-617-628- Janosik's widow, and its version preserves and both are sets 1459, fax, 1-617-628-8606, e-mail starlab@ the basic design in sturdier form. The trian text for the fall sky, then launches starlab.com, web site www.starlab.com. had gle shape is thicker and heavier and made of ing of the fabled fable - the "m;agH::al" Starlabs aplenty in evidence in Montreal. attractive layers of solid wood, and my quick a euphemism to make the story The portable system in the inflatable dome once-over suggested the lens in the device is kids, if you remember the story) has as one of its strengths an arsenal of pro of a more substantial quality, and may give Perseus, his adventures (short-lived) with jection cylinders which not only include you a little bigger image. It also sits in a Medusa, the addition of and standard starfields, deep sky objects, line con curved wooden cradle which I really like; it whole vainglorious drama of stellations, and coordinates, but a variety of makes the Sunspotter easier to aim at the sun and her foolish parents and the hllno'1"U constellation figure cylinders (including and maintain altitude (while I must prop up Cetus. Greek, African, Native American, Egyptian, my original version as best I can). It's made of It's a clever and excellent use of the Chinese, Lapp or Sami, and Hindu), some of sturdy, high-quality materials, which may scan technology, which works beautiful which are new to me and quite welcome. LT explain the eek factor in the price; it's my this sort of story and this sort of cartoon now also has an "urban" starfield showing understanding that LT will sell the Sun mation on the dome. The first A.U,'Cal.UH'c.;uC 600 rather than the standard 3,000 stars, an spotter for about $300 u.s. due out this fall; an eye out. excellent idea for beginners and urban Nonetheless, its a clever device, an easy I'm always amazed at what Joanne dwellers. and extremely portable way to view the sun, and her people can get out of a black The cylinder set also includes Earth sci and it's virtually impossible to get your eye ing ball on a stick - and it demonstrates ence and biology topiCS, ranging from a rep into the light path unless you have a very far laser technology has come since the resentation of a cell to a terrestrial globe small head - which makes it a pretty safe and days of laser shows. I've depiction and cylinders on plate tectonics, student-friendly tool, though it should still Omniscan any number of times ocean currents, and weather. The newest require supervision for student/kid use, since now, and it seemed particularly cylinder of all shows a scaled representation students/kids are enterprising at finding hued. The Omniscan system was also of the sun and planets and a depiction of the "nontraditional" uses for traditional tools. used to visualize the Big in the Rose Milky Way Galaxy. And there's the ubiqui Through regular use, it's a great way to Center's rendition of the event in their new tous transparent cylinder with colored pens demonstrate (just as Galileo found out) that facility. For additional information, contact to allow you to create your own uses for the the sun rotates (and let the kids confirm the AVI. Starlab environment. rate), that sunspots change, and that the Laser International, 8411 154th Learning Technologies has other products number of sunspots changes over the solar avenue NE, Redmond, 98052 as well, among them the Precession of the cycle. USA, telephone 1-425-885-7161 or 1-800-347- Equinoxes Historical Planisphere created by I'm sold on them. But you may have to 7525, fax 1-425-883-7169, web site www.laser Dr. Milton D. Heifetz, which allows you to save up your milk money for a while to fantasy.com was the other laser company to precess the planisphere to view the sky as it afford one. toss stimulated photons around the Montre would have appeared thousands of years in For more data on these and other LT prod al dome really, really fast, in a demonstration the past or will appear thousands of years in ucts, contact the company as above. of their newest laser technology \""'"1-""''-' the future (and which was reviewed very more like a black coffee can on a stick, favorably in a past "What's New" column Laser Treats recall) called Its demo featured and costs $12.95 U.S.), and a new and im No modern-day planetarium conference constellation underwater proved version of the Sunspotter originally would be complete without a few demon imagery, assorted abstract some in created by Daniel Janosik of Hawley, Penn strations of those stimulated radiation emis soft and soft-edge form. Again, it's amlazimg sylvania. sions, and two companies obliged with lasers what lasers can be made to do these I have one of the original Sunspotters, on the Montreal dome: contact Scott at the company for obtained back in 1989 (when Janosik was AudioVisual Imagineering, 10801 Cosmo further bits. selling them for about $35 U. S. apiece), and naut Boulevard, Orlando, Florida 32824, tele I'm quite fond of it, especially with the sun phone 1-407-859-8166 extension 316, fax 1- Assortment at its sunspot peak this summer. The simple, 407-859-8254, using its Omniscan system, Vendors were in strong atten- triangular device allows a beam of sunlight presented a series of laser-drawn astronomi dance in Montreal, it seemed to me, and to enter through a small window and let's it cal images from its image library, from con these in addition come to mind as a bounce off of mirrors inside until the beam stellation figures to wormholes and soft neb of the variety: passes through a simple lens to produce a ula effects. That was followed by a bit of Astro-Tec Inc., 550 Elm three-inch image of the sun on a white laser show featuring laser animation, and Ridge Avenue, P.O. Box 608, Canal Fulton, screen. The image quality is quite reasonable that was followed in turn by a preview of a Ohio 44614-0608 USA, telephone 1·330-854- (if the focus a bit soft) for the basic nature delightful new program series called 2209, fax 1-330-854-5376, continues to build and simplicity of the device. It's great for "Legends of the Night Sky." quality domes for planetariums, simulators, observing and following sunspots, and can The four-part series features light-hearted film theaters and special needs, and can even show hints of faculae near the limbs and clever retellings of classical myths asso spruce them up if they've gone when they (the faculae) are particularly ciated with constellations, one story for each you. Contact Clayton or Stephanie bright. I've been using mine faithfully this season. The first of the series is the fall install Commercial Electronics, 1335 Burrard spring and summer as the sun works off mag ment, telling the famous story of Perseus and Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6Z lZ7, netic entanglements with the resulting solar Andromeda through cartoon animation. An telephone 1-604-669-5525, fax 1-604-669-6347, "acne." owl named Aesop is the storyteller, a mouse e-mail [email protected]. web site Learning Technologies has obtained the named Socrates his faithful listener; I've seen www.comiectron.com .• offers its Gmni Q rights to build and market the device from the script as well as the audiovisual "trailer" SMART (Synchronized Modular Automation Vol. No.3, September 2000 Planetarian Response Technology) system to planetari going on, and isn't shy about telling you. If report, and it's filled with "",,,-,,,,,,,"'H'~ ums and other venues, and has video con you need help, give him a ring. sort we space buffs can .,-n,~"'~~'~'"- trollers, slide projector controllers, mini we're seeking reference information show controllers and other items in its prod Pot reli ving those momen ts uct line. Among its clients was our host plan IPS '00 was a rich melange (to use a French "older folks" still remember etarium in Montreal. contact Gregg Gillis. term) of Sights, sounds, opinions (always) - ROM included some 1,400 still """r+,·,,..~r Thorburn Associates, wi th offices in and products. Here's soupcon of the delights the mission, two movies of the HU';hH'JH. Castro Valley, California (telephone 1-510- to be sampled or anticipated ... three panoramic of 886-7826), Burbank, California (telephone 1- The Science Institute Volume Two's CD-ROM includes 818-569-0234), and Raleigh-Durham, North 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, Maryland view with Buzz Aldrin and get - Carolina (1-919-493-6027), is another of the 21218 USA, has John Stoke in the Office of entire unedited television broadcast firms making new initiatives with the plane Public Outreach looking out for us planetari Tranquillity Base! Wow! I also reviewed a lust-n~leasE~d ".~",~. tarium industry. A full-service acoustical um types, and in Montreal he described a consulting and audiovisual design company, new product he proto typed last year for the Mars missions, and it includes it all: Thorburn has retained our profession's own Phoenix conference: an on-line free service and mission reports from the !YJ,';'UllllC1.,), Jim Horn, recently retired from Morehead called ViewSPACE which provides down Vikings, Mars Global Planetarium, on its staff to help spearhead a loadable loops of "media modules" combin finder, and includes new planetarium design initiative to offer in,g high-resolution images, digital movie fated Mars Observer, Climate Orbiter i~dependent consulting and engineering ser clIps, spare text, and space music. The mod Polar Lander press kits and post-mor~ems VIces from planning through construction ules require a multimedia PC (to the insti where available at time. and training for planetarium building and tute's specifications) with a live internet con ROM in this volume includes of renovation. nection, a method of projection, sound, 3rd Mars and movies. Thorburn doesn't manufacture or sell party multimedia playback software, and an On the outside, these volumes have equipment, so it can offer unbiased advice to appropriate space. The modules John has cre reminiscent of national lJeogJrar;lhilc. clients based on client needs and mission, ated are wonderful little bits of cutting-edge quite reasonably for between $14 and ~an serve a liaison role between engi astronomy and definitely worth accessing if U.S., $21 and $24 Canadian, and 10 to English A portion of the 1"\l"r,ra,nrl" neerIng and design teams and equipment you have or can get the setup needed. He's vendors. And for those of us who've been in presently looking for partners for testing the from any of the volumes goes to support the pressure-cooker situation of having to concept; talk to him at 1-410-338-4394, fax 1- project called The Watch, which "'1'I""n"'~""" develop and open - or redo - planetariums, 410-338-4579, or e-mail [email protected] if efforts related to the detection of near-Earth tha,t's really nice. They're also expanding you'd like to be involved. objects. This, in turn, is a project of the theIr consulting services to include nuts-and John is also working on providing a means Frontier Foundation, 8391 Boulevard bolts items such as electrical and HV AC sys 1 for planetariums to get early access to embar #493, Los Angeles, California USA telep11orle tems, plumbing, and space allocation. If you goed Hubble press releases so we're prepared 1-800-78-SPACE or 1-630-637-6296, fax ne'ed help, consider Thorburn; with Jim when the press knocks on our doors when 637 -8396, e-mail W 'ltcl1@~;pace-frontief.()r£. Horn, they know what they're doing when it discoveries hit the news (write a letter of web site comes to planetariums. Check the company interest to John if you['re interested in this), The Frontier Foundation out at its web site at www.TA-Inc.com. and nay number of other potential services proceeds from the sale of these books Kinoton GmbH, Industriestrasse 20a, D- to informal educators such as we are. Good port astronomers and their research 82110 Germering, Germany, telephone 49- work, John the world. The Foundation was also (0)89/89-44-46-0, fax 49-(0)89/8-40-20-02, is a Books, an imprint of Collectors lyst in the agreement between company specializing in cinema products - Guide Inc., 2289 Fairview Street t?e Russian space program to space notably film projectors, rewind and non Suite #318, Burlington, Ontario L7R 2E3: hon Mir "afloat," as it were, so its a rewind systems, amplifiers, and automation Canada, telephone 1-905-637-5737, fax 1-905- organization. systems for several of the most common film 637-2631, e-mail [email protected]. web While these books rna y suit the space formats. You can learn more about the com enthusiast more than the average person si~e www.cgpublishing.com. was present pany at its web site: www.kinoton.com. WIth a fascinating series of publications you may find a market for them amon~ MEGASystems, Inc., 435 Devon Park Drive your visitors; they'd make items call~d NASA Missions Reports which reprint a The 500 Building, Wayne, Pennsylvani~ varIety of NASA archival material on the U.S. for your gift shop. You can even get a rotat- 19087, telephone 1-610-225-7200, fax 1-610- manned space program. Ultimately to book display in which to exhibit them. 225-7258, web site www.megasystem.com. inclu?e,reports on everyone of the Mercury, For additional information, contact ~ontinues to install 8/70 proiection systems GemmI, Apollo, and Skylab missions, the Connors the contact information m planetariums, one of the most recent at volumes are a treasure trove of facts, figures, vided, or talk to Richard Godwin for the Science Museum of Western Virginia in Books at 955 Amberwood Circle a~d nostalgia for space buffs, reprinting press Roanoke. Browse its web site for more infor Illinois 60563 USA, 1-630-953-8410, fax kIts, pr~-flight mission operations reports, mation. post-fhght director's mission operation 953-8396, e-mail [email protected]. Helping Planetariums 619 Orange reports, post-flight crew press conferences, Hubbard along with Street, Macon, Georgia 31201, telephone 1- Resources and National as~ronaut interviews, and the like replete 912-750-7870, fax 1-912-750-7826, e-mail WIth drawings, diagrams, charts, photos, and division of American Educational Products [email protected] is back up and consulting Inc., 401 Hickory St., P.O. Box ' e~~h volume with CD-ROM playable on agam now that Phil Groce, still a design con W mdows platforms which offer still piC Collins, Colorado 80522 USA sultant with MEGASystems, has brought it tures, Quicktime movies, and other visuals. 800-289-9299 or 1-970-484-7~4S, fax back from hiatus. Phil, like Jim Horn, has I examined Volume One of the Apollo 11 484-1198, web site www.hubbardscientific been around for a long time, knows what's .com, displayed several 34 Planetarian Vol. 15 seconds to make an orbit, four hours. Seasonal Star Chart booklet with a in the cover and more detailed sonal charts inside with on each constellation, of pn·irni'pr! Hubbard's astronomy overhead your at a reasonable cost (about which illustrated and Contact Rob for more data. demonstrated such concepts as the seasons and moon Hubbard also sells trans- Box 207 Hills 3127, Victoria, Australia, parent celestial books, videos, posters, telE'pn~::me 663-9898-1361, fax 663-9888-5662, a $395 U.S. scale model of the International Station, and a host of science and lab site i terns for all Call or marvelous recreations of master mechanic Brian some of the Nessies also have a of mechanical astronomical models of past slides, a of music, and lots of other eras. The orreries and other devices dis- useful check them out at their web were indeed works of art, all site, or call. varnished or wood, and when you MMI P.O. Box 19907, turned the cranks, went the Baltimore, 21211 USA, 1- Southern Skies and 410-366-1222, fax 1-401-366-6311, e-mail mmi tions of orreries, astrolabes, sundials, [email protected], web site members.aoLcom/ "1-".''-''-'', and a whole series mITIi(:orp, also has a new 2000/2001 astrono lunarium/telludums, satellariums, my out that is chock-full of cometariums, which show how these astronomy items - slide sets, videos, laser move about their parent disks, models, posters, computer software, The sundial costs $150 U.S.; other and even small and observato start at about and go up from ry domes. The company also has a useful cat Not but wonderfuL Contact as alog for and Earth science with simi above for more details methods of lar types of items. It's another resource; and payment be sure to get the company catalog con P.O. Box 948, Narberth, Penn- above. 19072, 1-610-664-0308, Chandler P.O. Box 999, California 93265, 1- 559-539-0900, fax 1-559-539-7033, e-mail [email protected], www.DavidChandler.com. has known for its distinctive which divide the to minimize constella tion pattern distortion (small 5-inch (Bern) versions sell for $6 U.S., $2.75 wholesale, 8-inch (20cm) versions for $10, $4.75 whole than one set, and 12-section sale, latitude zones of 20-30 30-40 range from $300 to $350 per set. 40-50 and one for the south- LM has also formed an ...... "v'"-,.... uvu ern At the conference, I came Planet Earth Films to offer video upon yet another of which I'd not been aware: the Small Telescopes and Binoculars. This tion is described as a be~~inne:rs tel«~sO::>PE~S, and includes star maps with HHf.la'~ L", and so on, located, lists of the over time. The have a start- constellation brief aeSCI'lpltlOnS, of $25 U.S. per second for a basic advice for mum of ten seconds, discounts for bulk attractive and useful reference, and orders. Contact Laura at LM to learn choice for your Check it out. more. Waltrecll1t PlOO11cti4:lIlS, P.o. Vol. distribution of 100 show kits or so to U.S. with English-language and Spanish-language the Melbourne Planetarium, planetariums will already have been deter versions. A slide set accompanies the pack Museum, 2 Booker Street, mined, so contact Mike Shanahan at Bishop age. If you'd like to check it out, contact Victoria 3015, Australia, for information on any subsequent distribu Barry Hayes at the museum. 9392-4800, fax 61-03-9391-0100, tion possibilities. The Melbourne Planetarium distributed The Science Museum as of this information packets on its children's pro writing, still has some copies of its program gram "Tycho to the Moon," an exploration "StarDate: Ancient Horizons," available for of the characteristics and environments of free distribution to interested parties. The 20- the sun and moon through the antics of dog minute program, fashioned after the popular named Tycho. The program has solid educa format of the StarDate radio program, is a tional goals and an extensive and good-look joint production of the museum and the ing series of astronomy-based activities to go McDonald Observatory of the University of along. Funny though; I didn't notice any ref borhood." Texas at Austin, where the StarDate program erences to the fact that the moon is upside originates. It focuses on ancient Egyptian down from down there ... culture and astronomy, and features the If you're interested in what the Aussies are writing of Damond Benningfield and the doing in astronomy education - and it looks Have a voices of Sandy Wood and Teresa de la Cruz, good - contact Martin George and crew at "what's new?" I I Many of you, in planetariums worldwide, already know how easy it is to incorporate a STARLAB into your existing plan etarium programs. Because of its versatility, portability, ease of-use, and cost-effectiveness, the STARLAB is considered an invaluable and exciting multicultural tool for education. STARLAB can be used in conjunction with a fixed plan etarium for: • school outreach ill community outreach ill training programs ill education • multicultural education ill public relations ill workshops ill teacher training ill special events • fundraising Visit our Website at 36 Planetarian Vol. Sciences), we can see the irn'nr,l't:H1rp of the rumor has it, there's small planeitaria. his boat. Greenwood has With a hundred of small and itinerant part of the Staerkel Planet:arium planetaria, France is, and dozen years and he the Scandinavian countries, in Because of his ';Pln!U'tl1rp LU,.LVIJ\.-. A network covers all the country, especi,lliy for scholars (around 3/4 from this first global study for small planetaria statis tics). Mexican ium was dosed this summer to With renovated interest among AMPAC disassembled and pamtea. member pianetarians and current President, Jose de la Herran (from the still in planning stage Universum Planetarium), it was decid ed to in Mexico's 7th National Science & Technology Week 23-29 October 2000. The Luis E. Eno Planetarium Director Gil Guzman has been officially Infrared streams over me from a radi- amJotntE!d as host to the ceremony, ator above the in the little ticket in Mexico institutions house at the entrance of Teknoland where I will provide exhibits, work- sit and sell entrance tickets and shops and related activities in a edit the International News column. I feel bitton, with the purpose of luckier than my visitors, since the weather is youth's interest in science & tec:nnlOH)gy and a constant drizzle makes outside Among other topics, IPS 2002 Conference the many classes he unpIE~as,mt. At least up to now, the Swedish Chairman Gabriel Munoz updated the IPS will still be involved summer has been miserable. At the same membership in Montreal about the program pl,m€~tariu,mJ but in a more administrative time many and friends and pre/post outings, promising very inter manner. He is on a grant nr,"\nr,,,~1 in IPS'2000 I am sure you have a nice time esting visits to pre-Columbian archeoastron DUlThase a new star for the in Montreal and better weather than Falun! omy sites in Mexico. tarium and been named a The International News column UL'U'-LnA", Since it was not possible to hold the annu spE~arJ1eala efforts to raise on contributions that I receive from al AMP AC Conference this year during the build IPS Affiliate Associations all over the world. summer at the designated site area. thanks to Bart U\-Hj 38 Planetarian December. She participated in many events, upgrade to Digistar II. designs. Bob Sledz treated the audience and rubbed shoulders with Buzz Aldrin, Sally The Kalamazoo Valley Planetarium com space adventure as told by his extensive Ride, Bill Nye, and other astronauts. pleted programs for 250 brownie scouts to iection of trading cards. The Muncie Community Schools Plane get their Space Explorer badge, and they are David Klapholtz talked about how tarium was selected to represent the state of designing a similar program for the Bear Cub spacecraft's speed varies an Indiana this year in the student Signature in Scout astronomy badge this fall. The Peter F. Moon flight. Cl yde Simpson shed Space project. Funding for this is provided by Hurst Planetarium in Jackson participated in many aspects of sunspots. Jeff Bowen pre Lockheed Martin. This is the first time on free showings of JHE's Daughter of the Stars as sented a helpful video editing wOlrKShop. entire school district has been selected to part of an area event held in conjunction Ryan reported on recent efforts with represent a state. Each student in the twelve with the Jackson Convention & Tourist instructive astronomical cartoons. elementary schools may sign one of the Bureau on 2 June. Other than that one event, Wasiluk described her new posters, one poster per school. The Signatures the planetarium was on summer break and elementary programs. Chuck Bueter round- will be flown aboard the S3 shuttle (space will resume its primary mission of working ed out more uses of paper to station assembly mission STS-92) on 12 Sept with school groups in the fall. astronomy. David Hurd and ~~ .. ,-,,,,, .... ,-~ ember 2000. After the Signatures are flown in The Longway Planetarium in Flint contin up and demonstrated an innovative dome, space, the poster is returned to the elemen ued construction on their new addition. which "shows" the sky to the blind with tac tary school with an official certificate signed Scheduled to be completed in October, the tile forms for the stars, their names, the by the STS-92 crew. The poster and certifi expansion will include a new classroom/ tic, and even the Milky Way. After lunch, cates will be framed and hung in each exhibit area, new offices, new production several outside displays including a small school. area and new bathrooms. In addition, the radio telescope buH t by 8th grader Sarah Michigan planetarians have this summer planetarium was closed for four weeks in Cannon were presented. Much good conver been busy with a variety of projects that June and July to replace seats, install new car sation and camaraderie rounded ot:t a great include theater renovations, projector peting and repaint the planetarium dome. meeting. upgrades, special events, and of course a mul The Cranbrook Institute of Science Plane Wisconsin/Minnesota The spring me1etiruz; titude of interesting and educational pro tarium in Bloomfield Hills continued during of WIMPS in Stevens Point was a great suc grams. the summer months the work on their new cess. Dr. Randy Olson showed off his new The Delta College Planetarium in Bay City in-house astronomy show on the subject of Spitz 1024 and presented some great shows. now has a library of over twenty-five shows the solar maximum, entitled The Secrets of Marc Rouleau is the new director of the and presented a variety of them this sum the Sun and Stars, which will debut in Paulucci Space Theatre in Hibbing, Minne mer. Weekday public shows varied to September. In addition, Cranbrook's observa sota. He comes from the Buehler Planetari accommodate summer camps and other tory was open every clear Friday and Satur um in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The of groups. A hybrid of the video and slides from day night. Minneapolis has received one million US$ in HST was presented as a pre-show for all of The new Wayne State University Plane state money for planning a new after their weekend shows. A new solar telescope tarium in Detroit is three years old. The heart a tough wrestling match with the governor. with a rear projection screen is now in opera of the planetarium is a Spitz 512, supported However, a new Central Library has to tion on their rooftop observation deck. They by an ATM3 automation system, with video, major hurdles before the dream of new also hosted a very successful 4th of July slide and special effects projectors. The plane planetarium is realized. fundraiser. Ticket purchasers received a tarium provides a variety of night sky and Other great news over in eastern Cheese show, dinner, and a seat on their observation space science shows for K-12, college and land includes Dave DeRemer's valiant efforts deck complete with popcorn and beverages community groups as well as specialized to keep the stars shining in Waukesha. for the best view of one of Michigan's best instructional programs in astronomy for Threatened by "administration" folks, Dave fireworks displays. In September, they will these same groups. Also provided are cross and friends let them know the value of the close for their annual maintenance. discipline programs in collaboration with Horwitz Planetarium. Over on the west The Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium in other academic units at Wayne State Univer coast, Bob Allen in LaCrosse got the cool East Grand Rapids is hoping for significant atten sity. Last but not least, the Abrams Plane Control lighting system installed this sum dance at their Museum's Dinosaur Families: tarium in East Lansing was closed during the mer. He also taught some young scholars in a The Story of Egg Mountain exhibit. They also summer so that their lobby and main office rocket class. have a delightful family dinosaur program could be remodeled. (with songs!) that they purchased from the Ohio. Greater Ohio planetarians convened Manitoba Museum of Man and Nature, for their annual spring meeting on 29 April which ran through the summer. For people at the Shaker Heights Planetarium. Gene On 15 October the Association celebrates who want a real planetarium show, they are Zajac was the meeting host, and was assisted its fifteenth meeting in Ravenna where its running a current sky show. The major by Kelly Jons and Joe Marencik. Nearly 40 first yearly conference was held in 1985. The north-south freeway (the one that runs just a people attended, making this one of the Meeting will be devoted particular:iy to the block from the Museum) has been closed largest Ohio meetings in many years. The theme Astronomy and Poetry the since January and will remain closed until many interesting papers reflected the wide pages of Dante's well-known Divina Com December 2000, making it difficult to travel range of creative interests of the delegates as media, as well as Leopardi's and other famous through town. Staff members had visions of planetarians and astronomy educators. Joe Italians' masterpieces where astronomical an empty museum, but they just had record Marencik and Gene Zajac described the con concepts are described. attendance with their Egypt exhibit and struction and use of the wonderful new In Ravenna some new Italian """1",'\;<>("+": hope to have record attendance again when Shaker Space Bus and the many activities it also be discussed, like the ones in Milan and they open the Star Trek exhibit. After the offers. Kelly Jons demonstrated another in Rome. The first one in Milan resumes all the dinosaur show closes this fall, they will his continuing series of creative telescope necessary knowledge about the pro- Vol. 29, No.3, September 2000 Planetarian technical solutions from )h'·"'... ·!Tol"l-r. .. " invites from other tours made to different in countries to this Planetarium Center in and From 2001. Jim will take a deci busy for our arrival. sion about the star that will be ference hotel will be the installed under the 20 meters diameter and Towers in downtown PHtstlUrllh. dome. The Rome will create a 15 rates will be $95 per Shawn Laatsch, Lawson, and aU of meters diameter inside the the volunteers from the Arthur Storer Plane IJ<.-<- SHOW KITS AVAILABLE FROM THE 20 minutes / 108 slides / interactive the sky! this is an ideal first show for primary this program live interaction Distribution, Davis Planetarium Maryland Science Center 601 Light Street Baltimore, Maryland 21230 31 minutes / 368 slides / $350 POSSIIOlllrv of life elsewhere in our galaxy and throughout the universe. FUTURE IN SPACE 38 minutes / 321 slides / into the future from a space station out to the stars. Indicate preferred noise reduction: Dolby B, Dolby 25 minutes / 314 slides / $350 discoveries made about the worlds in our Solar System. Planetarian (Edited version of a poster presented at The Joint European and National Astronomical Meeting JENAM-2000, 29 May to 3 June 2000 education but also has to in Moscow, Russia.) The aria from an orchestral suite of]. S. Bach sounds especially solemn when the sun is setting on the dome of the planetarium. Soon the first bright stars will appear. Only light clouds hide from us the depth of the dark night abyss. And just now it opens full of stars .... Our meetings here, in the planetarium, continue: with schoolchil dren, students, teachers, scientists, artists, journalists, poets, bards, and wide sections of the population. But a planetarium .... At first: what is it? Planetariums are well known as the institutions simulating the night starry sky visible with the naked eye. This is achieved by using a complex opto-mechanical (or electronic) instrument, an apparatus Here, scientific and ohllo~wI)hlcal "'''U''"HU.:> called the planetarium projector. The first such apparatus in the world was invented in Jena, Germany in 1923. Very quickly it occupied a unique place in the sphere of education and culture and won the hearts and minds of variety of the population all over the world. Today there are about 3000 planetariums in the whole world, but there are only 30 of them in Russia. The Nizhny Novgorod Planetarium was opened in 1948 in the for mer church of the Blagoveschensky monastery. It was the second planetarium in Russia after the Moscow planetarium. Now it keeps the key position among Russian planetariums: since 1994 the board of Russian Planetarium Association and editorial staff of the Bulletin of Russia and Ukraine Planetariums Association work here. The planetarium projector is the third generation of the Karl Zeiss' SKYMASTER ZKP-2 installed in the Starry Hall of the Planetarium. It projects the images of 5800 stars, planets, the Milky Way, star dusters, galaxies, and gas and dust nebulae on the 8 m diameter dome. The planetarium projector shows the sky as it seen not only from the latitude of Nizhny Novgorod but from all over the Earth (from north to south pole)in any hour and at any date between a thousand years ago and a thousand years into the future. So the opportunity of trips even to the distant past or future, and to different places on the surface of the Earth gives an advantage over the real sky for study and understanding the science about our Universe. How do we try to use this advantage? Through using a humanity perspective of astron omy. The lecture remains the main activity from a wide spectrum of planetarium. But it is not just a simple popular science lecture about life on planets, stars, galaxies and so on. Instead, it.is a lecture under des' work which the starry dome with a variety of specific effects such as music, slides, a) Junior section (lecturer: the simulation of the flights of space-crafts, flying planets, meteors, Methods: from games, ril'c:llArl1nac bolides, northern lights, sunsets and sunrises, panoramas of cities and pIe astronomical tasks. some other places of the Earth or other planets. In other words - it is a b) Humanitarian lecture in the starry theatre. And the lecturer is not only a well edu Methods: learllllllil cated popularizer of astronomy, but he or she is also a little of an keeping the names of constellations, actor or actress. ers are about some Astronomy is the science with a specific structure that gives the of one or another and have opportunity to form an integral structure of the whole world in the first steps towards the methods minds of children. Astronomy turns out to play the role of leading scientific work. science in the forming of the Earth's and is tightly connect ed with the of culture. But now the situation in the Russian school education is such that astronomy practically has dis Methods: visual and photc)metric a~;tr(mC~milcal ,,,n.oo,""'''-''--'''''' appeared as a subject of study. So the does not have Vol. Planetarian Planetarium r'I.~~V'l..la Ms. Cox gave a paSSionate talk on her in office of President and George Fleenor volvement with the Galileo mission to become Past-president effective In Nizhny Novgorod, the conference of Jupiter and her transition into the Mars mis new year. veterans of the Cosmodrom Baikonur was sions. It was one of the best talks ever experi The 2001 SEP A Conference will be a held on 2 June (there are about 100 veterans enced by John Hare in over 35 years of plane conference with GLP A. The site is the in Nizhny Novgorod). This day was a double tarium conferences. He strongly recom mel Planetarium in Richmond, holiday: Both the 45-year jubilee of the mends her as a speaker! Conference dates are 26-30 June. Cosmodrom Baikonur and laying the foun Elected or reelected officers include Mike Rouge, Louisiana was chosen as the dation stone of the city's new planetarium. Sandras, President-elect; Duncan Teague, the 2002 Conference. The conference The path in the park (50 birches) where the Secretary /Treasurer; and John Hare, IPS in June with specific dates yet to be planetarium will be built was founded (this Representative. Dave Maness will assume the mined. j~( path as its planned has to lead to the plane tarium). The foundation stone and the cap sule with earth were taken from first cosmo naut Gagarin's start, and passed to veterans by the Mayor of Baikonur. The Mayor pre sented to the planetarium the pennant and badge of Baikonur (which will be the dis plays of the future planetarium cosmic museum). Memory badges devoted to the ------Baikonur Cosmodrom jubilee, the Nizhny Novgorod veterans of Cosmodrom, and the uld beginning of the building of the new plane tarium have been made. , The first foundation stone was laid by the n chairman of the Nizhny Novgorod Soviet of Baikonur veterans Roman Syglobov and I Valery Andronov. Syglobov is the engineer tester of Baikonur; he worked under the pro gram Proton. Andronov was the participant of the launching of Yuri Gagarin and many other projects. Now the correction of the project of the new planetarium is coming to the finish. We plan to have, besides Starry Hall with the dome of 15 m, museum and observatory, an astro class with using the old apparatus "ST ARM ASTER ZKP-2" for projec tion on the dome of 8 m. The building per haps will be started 1 September - in the Day of Knowledge. On 22-28 June the Conference of RPA was held in Barnaul devoted to 50-year jubilee of the Barnaul planetarium. Former cosmonaut Gregory Grechko participated of this meet ing. The Joint European and National Astro nomical MeetingJENAM-2000 took place on 29 May to 3 June in Moscow. Irina Bakunina, Zinaida Sitkova's deputy on scientific work, participated in this very large conference and presented a poster, The Nizhny Novgorod Planetarium as the center of humanitarian astronomical education [printed on the previ ous page]. Southeastern Planetarium Associ ation The 2000 SEP A conference concluded 24 June. As always it was a tremendously worth while gathering. Almost 100 pianetarians ------from the southeastern United States as well as guests from other regions were in atten dance along with IPS President Dale Smith. The banquet speaker was Nagin Cox of JPL. 42 Planetarian Vol. Creating a new planetarium for the next century was easy. It only took the best of the world's most advanced multimedia Whether it is the drama of space exploration, the mysteries of quasars and black holes or the magic of the night sky, Minolta planetariums have the greatest audience impact. Long recognized for its advanced optical and mechanical craftsmanship, Minolta is now the world leader in integrating the ~ latest imaging and presentation technologies. Today, Minolta offers full-dome laser projected w • graphics, all-sky computer imagery, giant-screen motion pictures, and the most accurate and - realistic recreation of the night sky. By pioneering the integration of these "cyber-dome" ~ technologies, Minolta has redefined the planetarium for the 21 st Century. If you are planning a new MINOLTA space theatre or updating an existing facility, please contact your nearest Minolta representative North America: MEGAsystems, Inc. 435 Devon Park Drive, The 500 Building,Wayne, PA 19087, U.S.A.Tel: +1-610-225-7200 Fax:+1-610-225-7258 Web site< http://www.870.com> Minolta Planetarium U.S.Office101 Williams Drive Ramsey, NJ 07446, U.S.A. Tel:+1-201-934-5347 Fax:+1-201-818-0498 Southeast Asia: Minolta Malaysia Sdn. Bhd./ Planetarium Division No.12, Jalan SS 8/2, Sungai Way, 47300, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia, Tel:+60-3-7761133, 7756541 Fax: +60.-3-7761767 Minolta Planetarium Co., ltd. 2-30, Toyotsu cho, Suita, Osaka 564-0051, Japan Tel: +81-6-6386-2050 Fax: +81-6-6386-2027 ONLY FROM THE MIND OF MINOLTA tectonics an of that you were fortunate in rare super will remember all this first-hand. their star to be If you weren't able to attend, well You will be able to read about "UU;>;';.,:>HIJl" instead. Moreover, and ours is an acci maintain a stable tilt all members are able to attend every ence, and with the multitude of sions, even those who do attend With the institution of Lu,;lUl"UJ.):; circum a permanent ec()lc~gi~:::al niches as the conference and will be the other hand, I've known co fits more available. The Prnlcet'diJl1q~ since my Seattle will InClUCle in the 1970s and respect thc)ull:htful and articulate scientist. that we've seen no of the en:girleerinlJ2: that our more advanced <'r""r1+""''''''''''+<' should have constructed think you can expect it before the calendar year. our SETI endeavors it saw an microbes macrobes or silence? Are we one dor demonstrations in the pl,m€~tanum, among many, are we many left the planetamum carry the of in a universe that we had the future of immer- filled with otherwise unaware life? As we lend themselves to a ...... ii ...d·.orl "''''''''''''A<.U prc)(e~e(lin$l:s, be sure to read Jim gence, concealed. conferences occasions. up among these international is the special conference "Sri Lankan Skies Looking ahead: 2004 and Sir Arthur: a 2001 Odyssey" that will Looking even farther meet in Sri Lanka next March 19-24 under ahead, we have also have the theme "Teaching the Universe in the three excellent proposals 21st century." You'll recall that I introduced to host the IPS 2004 con this conference in some detail in my June ference. In alphabetical president's message and the article in this order by country, they issue by conference host T. C. Samaranayaka are from the Melbourne provides further information. The confer Planetarium, Melbourne, ence will open in Colombo with a keynote Australia; L'Hemisferic, address by Sir Arthur C. Clarke and two days Valencia, Spain; and the of paper sessions, panel discussions, and plan Chabot Planetarium, etarium shows and lessons, followed by Oakland, California, USA. three days in Sri Lanka's interior featuring All three sites have sub school visits, night sky observing, historical mitted formal written excursions, and an introduction to the proposals to the IPS nation's landscape and culture. Most of all, Council as required; these the conference will provide a unique oppor documents include a tunity for planetarians from diverse circum description of the pro stances to meet in a developing country and posed conference, dates share their ideas and inSights. (all in July), estimated You should already have received the for costs, associated tours, mal announcement and registration package and other information. by the time you read this message. In case Representatives from all they haven't arrived, you can check the IPS three sites attended the web site www.ips-planetarium.org which Montreal conference to will contain a clear link to the Sri Lanka con answer questions from ference web site, where you can find detailed Council and to make pre conference information, costs, and registra sentations to the general tion and paper forms. If you need conference membership at the materials, but do not have web access, you Business Meeting. I have can contact either me or conference host T. also asked the proposers C. Samaranayaka (email planetsam2000 to place the visuals from [email protected], fax +94 1 864198). The their business meeting Are the)! always this happy in Australia at midnight? Darren conference language is English. presentations on-line, Peacock, Jack l;Vhite, and Dr. Tanya Hill at the MellJourne Final local costs are being determined as I and we will install links Planetarium. write this in mid-July, but are expected to be about US$550 inclusive of all major costs in Sri Lanka (including six nights' accommoda tion, all meals, transportation and guiding, and registration fees). Anticipated round-trip airfare on Air Lanka from European gate ways (Frankfurt, Paris, Stockholm, and Zurich, among others) to Colombo is about US$750. Check the web site or registration materials for the final figures. Looking ahead: 2002 Even as we arrive back home from IPS 2000 in Montreal, we can begin looking for ward to the IPS 2002 conference in Morelia, Mexico. Host Gabriel Munoz has already pre pared a preliminary agenda that includes an exciting mix of professional sessions, a taste of modern Mexico, and post-tours to historic and archaeological sites. Conference dates are July 14 to 18, 2002. Now I must say that I don't envy Gabriel having to follow the out standing conference in Montreal, but all of us who know Gabriel know that he will be up to the challenge. So reserve those dates, start saving those pesos, and get ready for Starry smiles in Oakland. Kevin Medlock, Denni Medlock, and Jose Olivarez at the Chabot another great conference. Space and Science Center. Vol. 29, No.3, September 2000 Planetarian 45 to them from the IPS web site. all three sites are .., ... t'n~lrlrH1 Planetarian articles ...... , ...... ,'uuAI-J their look for these arti- des in the December issue. The 2004 conference site will be selected by the IPS Council at its 2001 Council is of the elected IPS offi- cers and of from each of the ...... ,..• ~".~. affiliates. If you are member of a reg:lonaI affiliate, contact your affiliate rel)feSeIltatl\'e to express any you may have among the sites. Yes, there is a suffix -pode, which is a varia- tion of which in turn means "foot" (that is, the we walk on, not the archaic unit of measurement that Americans can't seem to abandon to and to suc cessful sp.aice~::::ratt navi.gatlOr:l). During recent months, I have had the National Planetarium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ilege of all three sites proposing to host the 2004 IPS conference and can assure Oakland, California. Still, you that are three very excellent facili under construction when ties indeed. I encourage you to visit their I visited, the facility is set respective web sites and see what each facili on a rural hillside high ty has to offer its community. You can find above Oakland and the them as follows: Chabot at www.cosc.org, San Francisco Bay area. It Melbourne at www.mov.vic.gov.au! is anchored at one end by plalnetarlUITI, and Valencia at www.cac.es. a 21-m planetarium with In message, I reported on my visit a Zeiss Universarium VIII to Valencia and the annual of star projector with its ish Valencia's L'Hemisferic awesome starfield and plall1etarlUITI has now been joined by a mas Milky Way. A trio of ob sive new science museum which was still servatory domes anchors under construction when I visited in April. the other end, and one of In May, the break between my spring and those domes houses a 20- summer semester classes gave me time to inch (half-meter) refract make a hop (the third in four ing telescope. A galaxy of months) almost to the antipode, to Mel exhibit areas and learning bourne, to trade spring for fali, and to visit at rooms, including a Chal the Planetarium at Scienceworks. The lenger Center and amphi show that I saw to a full house on a theatre, leads between the Thursday evening and combined innovative anchors to explain the video sequences with Digistar graphics and a uni verse to inquiring variety of still and moving images. An out minds. door session the program, Whichever site should and after the show, a live star talk treated the win the competition to seven-score australs and the lone visiting host the conference, we boreal to an indoor look at the best of the shall have much to see southern sky. Nearby, an exhibit hall still both on-site and in the under construction served up a variety of various pre- and post-con engaging and interactive displays, some fea ference tours and activi turing the impressive work of Australian ties that you can read school students, and across town, the new about in the December Museum of Victoria parent institution was articles. So start saving still under construction. those Oz dollars or green In early June, I made the somewhat short backs or pesetas and get er trip to the US west coast to take a look at ready for 2004. Observatory minaret at Malaysia's National Planetarium. the new Chabot and Science Center in 46 Planetarian Vol. abandon hope all ye who enter here, aban don too your dignity and slide feet first and blind down the spiral gravity tube that dumps you back to the real world where ver ticals do stand upright, even if you cannot. The other eye-catching exhibit takes you to a black hole - an innovative set of gridlines shows how you are funneled and com pressed as you fall sideways toward the event horizon, not that I ever want to test that model first-hand. Both planetarium programs and Omni max films are on the public show schedule, some in English and some in Malay, and it was a nice touch to see a Kuala Lumpur panorama opening a US-bought show that had been adapted to a Malaysian setting. Mustafa, Zamri, their colleagues, and I spent part of the day talking about educational trends in planetariums, a topiC important to us all and to our dedicated colleagues in Kuala Lumpur. If you are ever in town, call or email ahead and arrange a visit-you will Dr. Mustafa Din Subari (seated, Director) and Dr. Mohd Zamri Mastor (standing, Astronomer) find gracious hosts and a facility well worth ofMalaysia's National Planetarium. seeing. En route to KL, you are likely, as I did, to pass through Singapore, whose airport (bare in Kuala Lumpur replicas (Stonehenge, a Jai Singh sundial, and ly ahead of KL which checks in at #3) is En route to Oz, I decided to take the long a Chinese star temple) show how ancient ranked #1 in the world and features a small way around and spent a couple very pleas cultures kept track of the sky. but very nice science museum next to the ant days in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, time Inside, a very modern exhibit area sur supermarket in terminal two. In town, the highlighted by a pair of visits to the National rounds the planetarium itself. Captioned in Singapore Science Centre has some nice out Planetarium. This fine facility is now under both English and Malay, the displays tell the door exhibits for those who can take the the able direction of Dr. Mustafa Din Subari, story of spaceflight, of light, of starlife, and of equatorial heat and a busy indoor schedule following Dr. Mazlan Othman, who moved the tools we use to study the cosmos. Two shows science films in air-conditioned com to Vienna last October to head the Office of exhibits in particular caught my eye. One fort. Outer Space Affairs at the United Nations' was the tilted gravity room, where all the Vienna International Centre. Among the verticals were slanted, and where to exit - astronomers on board in KL is Dr. Mohd Zamri Mastor, whose ready smile has repre sented KL's planetarium at the Osaka and Montreal IPS conferences. Set on a hill west of downtown KL, Ma laysia's National Planetarium is a stunning Sight. When you visit it, and you must, go in the late afternoon and stand at the foot of the grand stairway that climbs up to the entrance. The ascending steps span a gentle cascade of water rippling down a central channel. But the steps and the waterway focus your eye to the top, and there, with the low sun behind you, the planetarium sits before you, bathed as it were in Allah's own light, for this planetarium is designed to resemble a mosque. Indeed, the central white structure is square, and above it floats the dark blue dome. To the left, a veritable minaret towers above the trees, but here the mullah's voice calls the faithful to the stars, for this minaret is crowned with an observa tory dome whose telescope brings the light of the stars to earthly eyes. Elsewhere on the planetarium grounds, a set of sundials dis plays the solar time and an eclectic set of When gravity isn't vertical. Exhibit at Malaysia's National Planetarium. Vol. 29, No.3, September 2000 Planetarian 47 Jane's best Speaking of #1, have you seen lithe best planetarium in the world"? You may recall that in her March 2000 edition of jane's Comer, long-time Planetarian columnist jane Hastings bestowed this unique honor on the small Holt planetarium directed by Alan Gould at the Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley, California. So I took advantage of my june visit to Chabot to slip over to LHS and see for myself. In the basement level, I found a gem that has little to do with the point of this section, but it bears a mention anyway. The map area features a replica of the globe produced in 1492 by one Martin Behaim. As you would expect, this globe is America-less, and if you turn it just right, so that Asia is on the far side, you confront the Ocean Sea before you, bounded on the east by Spain and on the west by japan. We all know about a passion ate idea-driven mariner who may have stud ied this globe, or at least the world-view it encoded, and though we all know this mariner had the numbers wrong, very Holt Planetarium at the Lawrence Hall ofSdence, Berkeley, California, USA. wrong, the globe does make it easy to see how he thought he could sail safely across colors and spectra to ferret out secrets from ence. those well-bounded waters. starlight. Which filters we used to study the So what led jane to call this small, low Upstairs, the LHS planetarium is a small starfield are long gone from my mind, but tech, modestly equipped planetarium "the facility tucked away on the far side of the what remains in their place is the delight in best in the world"? It was the power of an Hall from the en trance. It is surrounded by a the voice of a child who had discovered and idea, the idea of engaging the audience in variety of hands-on discovery stations where understood that color tells temperature in hands-on discovery, an ideal that Alan and I saw adults and children learning together. stars. Participation, and then discovery. If his colleagues at LHS have themselves fol The planetarium program too was highly you attended Alan's engaging presentation lowed consistently and have shared with the interactive, and an engaging series of mod at the Montreal conference, you too were rest of us through the renowned PASS series ules showed us how astronomers can decode part of this LHS style of involving the audi- and other presentations. It is the same idea Holt Planetarium Director Alan Gould Martin Behaim globe (replica of1492 original) at the Lawrence Hall ofScience. and Dr. Diane Tokunaga 48 Planetarian Vol. 29, No.3, September 2000 that we saw brought to life in Dr. Julieta we can be sure, will continue to rise, Thanks to Jeanne Fierro's memorable address at the and the two newest rec:ipients of the Service Chair) efforts in organ:izirlg Montreal conference inJuly. Award, like the peers will continue So what gives our their in their faithful service to IPS. power? It is not they Council also elevated more mem- possess, whether modest or state-of-the-art, bers to the rank of Fellow of IPS in reommll for we operate in such a diversity of circum tion of their own contributions to our stances. Rather, the power of our planetari Society. The new Fellows include Can- ums lies in our ideas, in the VlSlon ter, Pierre John Dickenson, each of us brings to our own facility, in how Fairall, Steve Fentress, Teresa Grafton, James we use our resources, in all the diverse ways Hughes, Jim Manning, Tony Morris, Marie we seek to touch and to engage our audi Radbo, Timo Rahunen, ences and classes and indeed oursel ves. Asuncion Sanchez, Kevin Scott, Zina Sitkova, Driven by ideas, we can each be "the best in Piet Smolders, Joyce Towne-Huggins, and the world./I Bob Victor. Well-earned congratulations to all. Two in IPS to use distinctive IPS is a society of volunteers. In all of the Our avoid confusion.) three decades since IPS was founded, the As part of the Mars Millen- India is home to about steadfast work of volunteers has the basis for nium Project to a Martian for midsize fixed !-HUU'-...,,,.'''' our objective and our the year 2030, IPS conducted a contest for This robust pla,netarimTI c()mml:mil:y human self-image. IPS offers few to its IPS members to reward the entry whose stu the world's members for their service to the Society and dents designed the best such with an tive educational For some time now, the profession, for the true reward lies in the international aspect As you'll recan, the con have been in contact with Prof. satisfaction of having contributed to our test was first announced in June 1999 and work as one among many. But among the entries were due on the date Mars crossed its few prizes we do offer, the one car asomo.mg node in March 2000. ries the modest and fitting title of "Service I am delighted to report here that the win Award./I This award has been given sparing~ ning entry was submitted by the students of apJ)1l(:atlon were r,,,,<,co;n+c,r! ly, only about a dozen times in the history of Lee Ann Hennig, Planetarium Director at the request that IPS the Society, for the criteria require that the Jefferson High School in Alexandria, accept the Indian Planetarium recipient shall have been "through the years, Virginia. What Lee Ann's students wrote in (which we shall caU PSI) as affiliate an inspiration to the profession and its mem their preface can serve as an inspiration to us ation. All is in order, and I expect that bers" and shall have had a I'a broad, deep, and all: time you read this message, concrete effect in the profession and its have the We development." "The village colony of Shambala is come India as the twentieth IPS At its Flagstaff last October, the founded on the of humanism affiliate and second in Asia. IPS Council accepted the recommendation and ... Justice and compas- too is home to a ",,,,rHATi'Y"T plametari- of the Awards Committee to recognize the sion become more than mere catch- I l' t:n""yr 1" "', r! three decades of such contributions two phrases in Shambala. become the of our charter members. John Hare and Jane foundation of Shambala is also Hastings have been with IPS since One. founded on the of unce,lsirlg Officers and other editors have come and inquiry into the lATr,rl.rirHYC of the Uni gone, but every issue of the Planetarian since verse and the w(lrkimrs cussions in Valencia in Volume I, Number 1 has been graced with mind.... Both the ullichamging SOlllaaJ~lty now been resolved, and we expect to Jane's Comer, that quiet column that of Mars and the dynamiC nature of the formal papers us firmly anchored to the human side of our humanity are revered in Shambala. T>l'lrY'lO,rU ge()grapJnlC area will be profession. And three pages before the inau Science takes on a aspect As mE~mlJershllp will also be open to pl,mE~tar gural jane's Comer on page 14 of I-I, there is John Winthrop intended the Massa I am assured a picture of John Hare at work, then as a chusetts Bay Colony to do, Shambala is Iberian Planetarium technician at Abrams Planetarium. Since intended to serve as a upon a Hill" choice of name!) then, we've known him as a director, vendor, I t is in tended to serve as a beacon of veteran member of Council, IPS Historian, hope for aU where not advisor, and friend. societal and progress with IPS and will report on Jane and John, this award is but a small are encouraged, for the benefit of all my December message. expression of our for your faithful hllrn~~nilt~, With this mission and this service that stands as a model to us all. The mandate, Shambala is a where the rest of us can get a feel for what three hopes and dreams of all may It's election time decades of service means else- see fruit. Shambala is a testament to the where in Planetarian 1-1, and the selects its officer corps for the nrl.crH'rtj~,rp. costs for the then upcoming Election ballots will be mailed in ~e!)tem[)er: 1972 ISPE conference: registration fee of $30 yours may and hotel room rates of $14-20. Of two the same be said of us and our work! Vol. Planetarian not, look for it soon. You will be choosing tion just a handful of items from the Council near people to fill three offices. meeting and will report on others in my First, President-elect. The winner will serve December message. as an officer for six years: as president-elect in Officer'S Job Description. Besides the pro Europlanetarium in Genk, 2001-2002, as president in 2003-2004, and as posed By-Laws revisions mentioned above, the care of Chris Janssen plametar@sJI Eugene, Oregon, USA; Martin George, Direc myself, with input from the other officers. at the UUU""_AH.I\.UJ",'A tor of the Launceston Planetarium, in Laun The decision to stand for IPS office is not one ter, New York, USA under the ceston, Tasmania, Australia; and Patrick to be taken lightly, and this packet is a prac of Charlene Oukes. A list of .., .... v." ...... 'UJ McQuillan, Director of the Alexander Brest tical guide to the various offices that can available from the re"j:>ositm'ies Planetarium in Jacksonville, Florida, USA. All help prospective nominees understand the on the IPS web site. three candidates have made a major commit duties, responsibilities, and rewards of the IPS is also served ment in agreeing to stand for office. Please offices they may seek. mittees that carry out many aspects of read their statements and biographical mate Membership guide. We also have decided to ",,,,,-,c"-u'<, work. Several of these cOlmrnitte~~s rials carefully and cast a thoughtful vote. revive and revise the service of new member (Education, Web, Lasers, Second and third, Executive Secretary and packets so ably provided by Donna Pierce for Portables) met the Montreal Treasurer/Membership Chair. Incumbents many years. In examining this service, we ence and charted future work and ~H~.JI"-'_L':>. Lee Ann Hennig and Shawn Laatsch have realized that IPS has no membership guide, will report on some of these committees agreed to run again and are unopposed If re and that such a document could be useful to and on others in my December message, elected, they will continue their service in veterans as well as new members. Veteran 2001-2002. member John Dickenson (Vancouver, Publications Thanks to Steve Mitch (Chair) and his co Canada) has agreed to draft a membership Publi:shing activities are a core turlCtilon workers on the Elections Committee for guide, which will then be reviewed by newer IPS and include both directories and their fine efforts in the nominations process. member Lars Petersen Gels, Denmark). When ready, this guide will be given to new mem You have received your copy of By-laws, bers as they join and can be available to con the 1999/2000 IPS f);ror-tnY1J the The IPS By-Laws are our Society's constitu tiIlUing members as well. Planetariums. This edition represents tion, and like most such documents, they Corporate membership. In reviewing the siderable enhancement from the 1997/1998 need occasional attention, though most peo Laws we discovered two dormant categories edition. We have eX1parlOE~a ple don't consider them very exciting read of membership. One is patron, which we are faciE ties listed, made ing. Most likely you've never read them, and proposing to eliminate. The other is corpo the number of email addresses and that's okay. But during the past few months, rate membership, which we have decided to listed, hundreds of IJ"'J~H.IAU'",- your Officers and Council have been reading retain and activate. I've asked Thomas bers and US area codes, and listed them, and we have identified a number of Kraupe (Past-president) and Martin Ratcliffe pe:rso1nnlel, among other enhancements areas in which they need some common (President-elect) to draft proposed benefits verifications, Of course, these fields a sense fine-tuning. By-Laws changes require and dues of a corporate membership. We constant state of flux as contact information approval by both Council and the member expect that the Officers and Council will '-lA,eUA,,,,,-':> and people move, Please check your ship. At its Montreal meeting, Council unani consider this proposal and will implement a facility's entry and let us know mously adopted these proposed changes, and corporate membership in due course. changes it needs now, and also be sure to now we are submitting them to you the Translation of conferences. Council dis inform us of other cnan~~es membership for consideration and hopeful cussed the need for translation services to the future. You can use the ly your approval. A document detailing and make IPS conferences more accessible to vided in the Uil,ectorv explaining the recommended changes is planetarians who are not fluent in LBO"':>U. included as part of your election mailing, Marc Moutin (Toulouse, France) to or and a line to vote on the proposed changes is lead a small group that will examine transla '-"'-A'UHt'> the link found on the IPS web provided on ballot form. tion practices and costs at other conferences site's welcome page. Thanks for to and will report back by January 1 with rec this-it keep your entry accurate and ommendations for future IPS conferences. saves your editors a lot of time in the future. IPS at Work Publication of affiliate reports in conference PrE~palration of the year 2000 edition of the Coundl proceedings. Council adopted a recommenda lin>rh1Y1Jisnow and While the officers serve as a kind of execu tion by Loris Ramponi (Lumezzane, Italy) our target date is to it by the end of tive committee, the IPS Council is the gov that reports of the regional affiliates be pub the calendar year. This will be erning body of our Society. Council meets lished in the conference proceedings. This distributed to all IPS members as a benefit of once annually and this year's Council meet will complement the material published in ing was held in Montreal just before the IPS the International News column so ably edit Plans for future editions, in 2000 conference opened. The work of Coun ed by Lars Broman (Falun, Sweden) and will 2001 or 2002, call for these directories be cil will be reported in full in the Minutes keep us all better informed of the activities volume with both "white" being prepared by Executive Lee of IPS regional affiliates around the world "u~>lln.U7" pages and to be available Ann Hennig; they will appear in the Decem Asian repository. A third repository of IPS tronically as well as in will ber Planetarian and will also include the back publications is being set up in japan more on these steps in my 1JeICernD~:I main elements of the financial report from under the care of Shoichi Itoh KHFll056@ Treasurer Shawn Laatsch. So here I will men- at the dU~51L,alJ.H Science Center 50 P/anetarian [email protected] is hard at work resource, but coordinating two special now our favorite lesson in progress and both slated for release by the initial target is to have end of the calendar year. One, being pre line by the end of December. pared in with Jon Bell, is a book Third is to let of songs appropriate for our young visi educational web sites tors. The other is a multilingual booklet of ago by Jon Elvert. We have celestial mythology and poetry. lists of links, but often Ken Wilson [email protected] and his the content of each link. team of authors and reviewers are hard at work on the forthcoming book IPS Guide to Building or Renovating a Planetarium. date for release is sometime in 2001. Education Education lies at the heart of all we do and it is with that I announce the for mation of the new IPS Education Com- mittee. I have the com- mittee to serve the needs of members who use the fJ"UCi.l ..... l (Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada) the IJ .... ,J • .-.... has agreed to become the new Focus on Education editor. He will be assisted by Francine Jackson and Kathy Michaels from the US and Marie Radbo in Europe. Second is to create an on-line lesson bank. Brock Schroeder (Strickler Planetarium, Olivet Nazarene Univ., Illinois, USA) [email protected] has to coordi nate this effort with the assistance of other committee members. So many of us have developed live lessons or pre- or post-visit activities for use with our school classes, and if we each contribute one or two of them, IPS will have a marvelous resource bank for its members to use. Watch future this committee. issues of the Planetarian for details on how to contribute, or check on the soon-to-be creat Web ed Education page on the IPS web site, or To the increasing of simply contact Brock for instructions. Please the IPS web site, I have elevated the web contribute to this site. It can be a great group to a full committee from its former Vol. Planetarian second and one at 24 frames a second. simply unavailable. This is an immense h,,,"ri,nrr for creation of the show was pro lenge for which there is no vided Magnaray International, a lighting answer, but we have taken some first IPS members in the IPS company based in Sarasota, Florida (IDA One step is the creation of a The contest will be resumed in the 2001- member) and Meade Instruments Corpora group. Led by Carole 2002 biennium a hiatus in 1999- tion (IDA member), a manufacturer of astro aol.com of the Mark Smith Planetarium in 2000 while the rules were revised. The nomical telescopes. Macon, Georgia, USA, this group at the od for entering will run from June IPS members can now order this show kit, Montreal conference and considered through December of 2001, with to which is priced (for members) at only the ways in which planetariums could exc:h;:m.Q~e follow and prizes to be awarded at the IPS cost of reproduction. These costs are being materials in one-on-one partnlecmlp 2002 conference in Morelia, Mexico. Look determined as I write this message, but are clearinghouse arrangements. A full for the formal announcement in the March eXIJected to be about $60. from this group will appear in the December 2001 Planetarian. An order form will be available on the IPS Planetarian. When you read it, web site and will also be included in your er getting involved. election ballot mailing, or can be obtained A second step is the creation of Star rA,n1-,;),r1-"nIT IPS Treasurer Shawn Laatsch. Partners fund to IPS member- We aU understand the threat of Note the ordering deadline on the form (ten ships and services to in the most lution and the November 1). Orders will be collect challenging circumstances. We have ob dark skies. We all want to educate our audi- ed until that date, and then the ordered tained some initial contributions to ences about this and now there is a number of show kits will be duplicated and fund and it has year 2000 planetarium program to do distributed. IPS membership to several in that. The Southeastern Planetarium Associ I have seen this show and can assure you NCe countries. When you next receive your ation (SEPA), led by that it is a product and encourage membership renewal form, you will duced Saving the you to take advantage of this opportunity. new line where you can make donations to own members, and has now generously the Star Partners fund. We are still r""'::l-l-i!nrr made the program available to IPS for wider Partners the mechanisms to manage this fund, but distribution. all of us dream of having more please join those who have given Saving the is an ll-minute program money for our planetariums (and for our and contribute can. that educates the public on the selves!). Even if we live in developed coun Other steps are in progress and I to of light pollution, and is to be tries, as most readers of these words do, we report more on them in my Decem ber mes added to the or the end of any star feel the pressure of limited operating budgets sage. show. It was written and narrated and the demands of professional societies orner/author David artist like IPS asking for our membership dues. We Jonn Serrie produced the soundtrack. The also know that planetarians around the show features 29 of artwork, world labor under a variety of challenging jJaJ~a~mr,ast:~u from the first Jane's 5 pans, Edwin circumstances, and that these circumstances can spot a I-'UUH_'''''A''AJ William Faughn can be severe for our colleagues in he/she may seem to stumble upon further visuals were the r1 (Janes, continued ed. He solved the problem: he turned tarium. At the beginning of the lesson, one the projector upside down! of the two planetarians present in the room graph on settled on a Eric Melenbrink and John Hare of Ash uses a camera to take two AU""''''''-''_ poster up from the corner, one that do planetarium maintenance, each is one-half of the audience. He tens the promoted one of their pla,netar'iulm piane'tari,unls and install students to act as weird as want as The poster was titled "UFO call themselves "Fixers of the Stars"; pose for the pictures. No explanation is their logo shows a pipe wrench among some as to the pictures are being taken. showed a scene of "aliens". When n ... """"n-l-",,11 stars. It's easy to deal with them: they adver The lesson begins. At the end of the lesson, with the poster, Dr. Drake ""AU" ... '-'.UH tise that when they come to your facility, an oral quiz is on the ideas pn~Sel[1tE~d and did not flinch when pl,mE~tajnan lena gushed: "When I was younger, thrive on four hours sleep. A potential in the lesson. The presenter suggests a customer once asked, liDo you have to buy competition be waged: one side of the room I used to use the Drake Ar11'o:I1-'An - Charles Collins, Planetarian at the Dis all the at once, or can you buy one a against the other. (During the lesson, covery Place in Charlotte, North Carolina, Their answer: "We'll talk!" digital images taken earlier have been was unable to out how to reverse an Theodor Habel, Planetarian of the Adven- loaded to a computer hooked to a data down video from a ture Center in Nassau, in the jector). When a winning side of the room for Pf4Jiectc)r for which no documentation exist- Bahamas, a very creative way of the quiz is determined, a of the win students in a lesson at the plane- ning team is shown on the dome! 52 Planetarian Vol. says: "We haven't those lice . Heads pop up, away chairs, and they ever doze off! - George also admitted that at his planetar - Arny Nelson, at ium in Bradenton, Florida, they changed the West High School in Wisconsin, ... ",r\Ar·torl light flooding the dome from a green color a project at his A4 The to fluorescent. "But that's not because of jector was down in the "".e,,,,,""" light pollution. Because of the wet and company hired do humid conditions here, people thought behind the dome cut there was algae growing on the dome!" the dome to the - Jack Dunn, planetarian in Lincoln, University of Nebraska, adding to the discus the dome, the removal sion of inappropriate arrangements for night ny dome to an automobile jhast [email protected] sky viewing, said, "Well, how about this? to the dents. "When it Someone at our university donated a student from the it still looked George Fleenor, planetarian from Braden observatory. It's right next to the football accordion", ton, Florida and president of the South field, where they keep the lights on every ny had to eastern Planetarium Association (SEPA), has night, even when there's no game. And, you urn!" been very busy spearheading a SEPA-spon can imagine how useful the observatory is if - Mike Sandras, from n.<::ULLC1, sored project: the completion of a short plan I tell you that it's on the top of a parking Louisiana, (near New Orleans), etarium show called Saving the Night, written garage, next to a railroad track and interstate question in his "Who and narrated by David Levy, noted astrono highway!" first man on the moon?" A: my personality. The program is in response -Jack also admitted that he was having a strong!" to the idea that unshielded lights are aimed hard time coming up with a name of a show - Edwin toward the night sky instead of down in-progress about black holes and quasars. toward the ground, which makes it impossi They have eliminated such titles as "Quasars ble to see many celestial objects in the night Are Your Friends" and "Black Holes Suck". sky. The program receives the blessing of the - Allen Wells, representative of Spitz, Inc., he said. International Dark Sky Association as it said, of one of their products, an audience - On the of how the offers some alternatives to the atrocious response system: "Many people have in of Directors selects hosts for future lighting decisions of urban (and rural) com stalled them and are trying to figure out how ences, Fleenor, in his role munities which create excessive "light pollu to use them. We're trying to figure out how President, said, "We don't go out tion", thereby making observing the night to use them!" to host a conference. We sky difficult for amateur and professional - Several SEP A speakers told of a popular to push them off the We want astronomers. One of the premises of the pro service offered at their facility: "Rent-A go over on their own!" gram is that concerned educated citizens can Scope" or "What To Do With Telescopes - Patrick McQuillen, at Brest YialnetarlUlll have a great impact in their communities as That People Donate to the Museum Because in Jacksonville, Florida remembers they seek to work with city planners in pro The Owner Can't Figure Out How To Use was when he first started out in the fJ":'cu\C:u:u viding "correct" lighting. At the recent SEPA Them". A question was asked of planetarian ium business. He was the one conference, June 20-24, in Winston-Salem, Paul Trembly of the Orlando Science Center home and ran the shows while the dil'ector North Carolina, George gave evidence of his in Florida. Q:" Do you rent them by the and assistant director went to the success in his City of Bradenton, Florida as he week-end, or what?" Paul's answer: "No, we ences! related that some lighting changes he sug rent them by the night. We charge $5.00 a Duncan gested, have happened! ''It takes dedicated night, and we're not sure what sort of heav mont Planetarium in nHC.U1IJH!:I people working intelligently with city plan enly bodies they're looking at!" understands many at ners to produce results. After working on this - Carole Helper and Jeff Greenhouse of the conferences like SEP A don't make it project for so long", said George, "I have Mark Smith Planetarium in Macon, 'U .... v~JO:'la, (International Planetarium about driven my wife crazy. As we ride in have experimented with live pre-kinder conferences: "There is a limit to how many the car at night, she is so tired of hearing me garten shows. They discovered that meetings my spouse can take!" say only one of two things as I look out the needed to address four concerns: 1) Are the - At Sudekum Planetarium in Nashville window: 'good light' or 'bad light"'. At this children afraid of the dark? 2) Can they sit Tennessee, planetarian Kris McCall was told conference, SEPA members received a copy for thirty minutes?, 3) Will they understand that a group from the movie of the show, designed to be shown before or what we are saying?, and 4) Are they potty Men in Black (which has a science after regular shows, to educate the public trained? comedy theme) was in the of the about "good light", "bad light". Alternative - Carole and Jeff were surprised at the museum. She was not involved with this presentation venues (other than planetari answer given by pre-Kers to this question: project and was not interested ums) are provided in the CD that comes with "vVhat color is the sky?" They almost always until someone mentioned that one the program, so presentations can be made answered, "Yellow!" group was astronomer Frank Drake. Sud to civic groups and interested parties, such as - Carole also reports on a remedy that she denly everyone on the plc:mE~taI'iUlm amateur astronomy groups. The devised to solve a problem. Volunteers and falling all over themselves to meet International Planetarium Society is being part-time staff often sit in on planetarium now ned ge11tl~=man. urged to offer the program, at cost, for its shows. They lean back in the comfortable members. high-backed chairs and almost always fall asleep! So Carole just walks up to them and 54 Planetarian Vol. We Take You There E&S StarRider' price points so you can c~ system IS fight tor you. Evans & Sutherland's StarRlder products let you create programs the that And, StarRlder can grow With your theater- To see more of what StarRider can do, VISit our web site E&S offer5 a complete hne of Sta rRider systems at a vanety of at www.es.com. III EVANS &. SUTHERLAND the power behind the scenes