PLANETARIAN Journal of the International Planetarium Society Vol. 31, No.1, March 2002
Articles 4 Identification of Meteor-Wrongs ...... Robert Martino 10 Bibliography of Armand Spitz ...... Jordan D. Marche II
Features 14 What's New ...... Jim Manning
21 Forum: II disseminate information" ...... Steve Tidey 24 NASA Space Science News ...... Anita Sohus 25 International News ...... Lars Broman 31 President's Message ...... Martin Ratcliffe 33 Minutes of the Council Meeting ...... Lee Ann A. Hennig 39 Reviews ...... April S. Whitt 42 Mobile News Network ...... •...... Susan Button 51 Gibbous Gazette ...... James Hughes 53 Focus on Education ...... Kathy Michaels & Francine Jackson 56 Last Light ...... April Whitt This is lNhat counts:
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ZKP 3 560 "'"gos, " Seeing is Believing! ZMP-TO Kenner, USA In the U.S. & Canada 561 contact Pearl Reilly ,r,' ; ( • " ,"A, N, Phone: 800-726- 8805 ZKP 3 Ta oj oo, SK fax 985-76j-~396 562 {-Mdll: plle,fi, ",am.com
ZKP 3 563 Kreuzllngen. CH Carl Zeiss Planetarium Division 564 07745 lend, Germany Phone: -t-49· 3641·642406 Fax +49-3641-643023 £ Mall: piane!dllum(:: zel~~.de W\VI'V zel~s.delplan('taf1ums The Planetarian (ISN 0090-3213) is published quarterly by the International Planetarium ©2002, International Planetarium Society, Inc., all rights reserved. Opinions expressed by authors e personal opinions and are not necessarily the opinions of the International Planetarium officers, or agents. Acceptance of advertisements, announcements, or other material does not Vol. 31, No.1 endorsement by the International Planetarium Society, its officers or agents. The Editor welcomes items for consideration for publication. Please consult "Guidelines for Contributors" March 2 02 http://www.GriffithObs.org/IPSGuidelines.html.TheEditorreservestherighttoeditanymanm.crilPt to suit this publication's needs.
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Produced at the Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles, California; sphere, those of us on the see I ntifi f streak of light (provided it is dark where we are located). This streak of t 9 ide for Planetari
Robert Martino meteors are caused by sand-sized or Assistant Director sized particles which came from inside a Perkins Observatory comet. These will burn up COlmp'letelY in the upper atmosphere, Delaware, Ohio 43015 USA only microscopic stony or metallic dnJplets [email protected] (called "micrometeorites") which then drift to the earth's surface. The rare meteoroid large enough to survive entry If one works in an institution with any the intent of helping the average planetarian will create a very bright meteor, sort of public visibility, one should be famil disprove the extraterrestrial nature of sus called a "bolide" or a "fireball" (for Ahuir"'" iar with "The Phone Call." It goes something pect rocks (hence the title). reasons). like, "Hi, I've found a meteorite. I don't have Meteorites are far more rare than any experience with astronomy, geology, or Background Most are also hundreds of millions of years chemistry, but I know it's a meteorite. Will Meteorites are chips broken off of aster older than any rock on Earth. The scientific you please look at it and confirm for me oids during collisions. When in space they value of a rare or unusual meteorite what I already know?" are known as "meteoroids." As they orbit the men cannot be overstated. Without mete OK, so it's not usually as bad as this. But Sun, the gravitational influence of the planet orites, we would know little or those of us who work in astronomy educa Jupiter increases the eccentricity of the mete about the formation of the solar system tion should be prepared to answer questions oroids' orbits. Eventually these orbits be planets. That's not bad for objects which about alleged meteorites as much as we are come Earth-crossing. Given enough time the were believed by scientists as as 200 able to answer questions about strange lights meteoroid will impact the Earth, Moon, years ago to be just figments of overactive in the sky. Just as those strange lights are Mars, Venus, or even Mercury. Most mete peasant imaginations. almost never actual alien spacecraft, so too oroids spend a few million years in space In recent years many more those odd-looking rocks are almost never after breaking away from their parent bod become interested in finding, "''-'~H_'-UHF.I really meteorites. While one might get lucky ies. The average speed of a meteoroid enter dealing in meteorites. This has Inc:re;ase'Q some day, the odds of anyone planetarian ing the Earth's atmosphere exceeds 48,000 their value (and cost) because of m(:re;ase~Q ever being handed a true meteorite by a kph (30,000 mph for those using antiquated demand. It has also led to a great many more member of the general public is extremely measuring systems). people going out to look for them, incTe2lSirLg smalL Therefore, this article is written with Whenever a meteoroid enters the atmo- supply as well. Aside from the scientific searches currently being carried out researchers in Antarctica, the vast lTIOI,lrvrit",{T of meteorites are recovered by amateurs and private dealers. Prices range from as $0.30 per gram for common desert stones to tens of thousands of dollars per gram for rare Lunar and Martian specimens. Given that a good size find can payoff a home mortgage, it's no wonder that many ordinary are keeping their eyes peeled for unusual rocks. Meteorites fall into three broad categ()ri~2S for classification: Stony, Iron, and ,rrWHr_u·n.n Each classification has sub-categories as well. Stony meteorites, as their name suggests, are mostly made of stone. That is to say, are made of minerals containing silicon. Iron meteorites, of course, are made of iron. The metal nickel is also present in all iron meteorites. In fact, a chemical test for nickel is the standard way of identi Figure 1: Imilac, Chile. This is a slice ofa stony iron "Pallasite" meteorite. Note the olivine crys fying any meteorite. Stony-iron meteorites tals embedded in the gray iron matrix. Very rare. Very beautiful. Very expensive. Photo by are a mixture of stone and iron. This is the Matteo Chinellato. rarest type of ordinary meteorite and the most distinctive (figure 1). In addition to these three basic types there are a few exotics believed to be fragments of the Moon, the planet Mars, and even the asteroid Vesta. A good web site that breaks down the three classifications of meteorites for you is www.meteorlab.com/METEORLAB2001 dev / clsschrt. This is a commercial site for a business that sells meteorites, but it also pro vides some general information free of charge. A more in-depth and thorough anal ysis of all meteorite types is "A Systematic Classification of Meteorites" at www.geoci ties.com/CapeCanaveral/9278/systemat.htm. To do a good job identifying meteor wrongs, one will find three items to be very useful. They are a strong magnet tied to a string, a metal file, and a lOx magnifying loupe (like geologists use) (figure 2). Of the three, the magnet is the most essential. Small "toy" magnets and refrigerator magnets are certainly not strong enough. Edmund Scien tific sells a number of small, red horseshoe Figure 2: The meteorite identifier'S kit. Keep it handy. Photo by Jay BIkes. magnets (some with holes already drilled) that are very good for this use. Insanely strong rare earth magnets can even detect the very minute iron content in LL mete orites. An online source for these is www. wondermagnet.com. If one works with slide images (and what planetarian doesn't?) then one should already have a serviceable loupe. The six characteristics of true meteorites are: • Presence of Iron • Magnetism • High Density • Fusion Crust • Regmaglypts (also called "thumb-prints") • Presence of Chondrules Not all meteorites will display all of these characteristics, but all true meteorites must show some of them. Presence of Iron and Magnetism Even stony meteorites will contain some iron. There are exceptions to this rule, but they are very rare. The best, fastest, and easi est way to test samples brought into your institution is the tried and true "magnet on a string" method. Get a nice, powerful magnet and tie a string to it. When the suspect rock is brought close to the magnet, the magnet should either stick to it or at least be deflect ed toward it slightly (figure 3). If this doesn't happen, the sample is almost certainly not a meteorite. If it does attract the magnet, it still might not be a meteorite. Many terrestrial materials will do the same, but magnet-on-a string should rule out 95% of the samples you see. Always try this first. The specimen must contain iron, not just any metal. Recently a woman brought to me Figure 3: The author "tests" a stony meteorite. Note how the magnet is attracted to the a largish black lump that was clearly metal men. It will not stick to the stone, but it is deflected. Photo by Jay Bikes. lic. However, my magnet was totally unin-
Vol. 31, No.1, March 2002 Planetarian 5 teres ted in it. After filing off a corner I could Iron meteorites are the easiest to locate gests, is HAve",,,\- u,-. see that it was a nearly pure lump of whatev because they are so different from ordinary fool even an expert. Other terrestrial er it was (probably aluminum). The black rocks. But please keep in mind that the pres ores will also attract magnets. coating was not fusion crust either. It was ence of iron is not definitive proof of extra however, the greatest source of iron some sort of oily, greasy schmutz. terrestrial origin. Magnetite, as its name sug- comes from human activity. of an If the sample is stony iron, look for chondrites. Also, look qualifying minerals like quartz (see If iron has been found in a slJE~ciInen, next step is a chemical test for the pH:sellCe of the metal nickel. If this strong (almost conclusive) evidence has a meteorite. How to conduct is the scope of this article. point it's time to pass it to a full (more on this later).
High in meteorites is a of their iron content as well. Rocks are ly but
iron flakes measure the rock's Figure 4: Allende, Mexico. This carbonaceous chondrite shows a classic fusion crust which is merging it in water to find its volume. cracked and broken in places revealing the lighter interior of the stone. Photo by Matteo meteorites do not like water very Chinellato. especially water chlorine water often does). hold it hand and try to get a feel for whether it is heavier than it should be.
en for meteorites is furnace strange to the average holes and often But fails the
tion, count on type of hardened lava, is often _~~."~~~._~~, identified as extraterrestrial material.
can be and is many meteorites will not have it. If one will often see a gray (or at lighter rock underneath crust has broken off A person with an interest Figure 5: Henbury, Australia. A good example ofa weathered iron meteorite. Magnets will easi might bring in a dark river stone tllmlGTIlg ly stick to this specimen even though the exterior is covered with iron oxide. Photo by Matteo that the smooth surface is the result of Chinellato. ablation rather than "'H~~;;~~ Regmaglypts Regmaglypts are often called "thumb prints" (figure 6). They resemble the shape one might see if one's thumb is pressed into wet clay. They are the result of the atmo spheric ablation process. The fluid flow dynamics of the air around the meteoroid are influenced by the size of the meteoroid involved. Thus, larger meteorites will show larger thumb-prints than smaller specimens. Regmaglypts are useful for two reasons. First, if present on the surface of a lump of iron, they indicate a probable meteorite. Second, just pronouncing the word will make one look like a real expert. "Well sir, I'm sorry to say that I don't see any 'regmaglypts' on this specimen. Let's test it with the magnet ... " Presence of Chondrules A "chondrule" is a tiny sphere of stone. They are typically a millimeter or so across (figure 7). Stony meteorites usually contain chondrules while iron meteorites do not. Figure 6: Sikhote-Alin Russia. On Feb. 12th 194~ almost 100 tons of iron meteorites rained Some stony meteorites do not have chon down upon a remote part of the Sikhote-Alin mountains ofeastern Siberia. Many individual druies (the "achondrites"). Chondrules are specimens from this fall show classic regmaglypts as seen here. Because this is a fairly recent some of the most primitive and least differ fall, the meteorites show little weathering. Photo by Dave Harris. entiated material left over from the earliest days of the solar system. Astronomers and astrophysicists are still arguing over how they formed. All you care about is, "Are they there?" This is why your detection kit has a metal file. File off a corner of the suspect stone and examine the interior with the loupe. Look for small circular features. One may also see bright metallic flakes (figure 8). If one sees chondrules in a stone with a dark crust, lighter interior, and which has already passed the magnet-on-a-string test, then you've probably won the meteorite sweep stakes. Disqualification Another way to spot meteor-wrongs is to become familiar with common minerals that are never found in space. Quartz is the classic example. It is a "hydrous" mineral, meaning that water is part of its formation process. While water has been found in meteorites, it is extremely rare. Quartz mete orites are simply nonexistent. Fortunately, it is the most common solid mineral on Earth and therefore will give away a large number of meteor-wrongs. Mica is another distinc tive mineral that has never been found in meteorites. The same is true of garnet. If you see any of these minerals in a rock, you Figure 7: Allende, Mexico. This slice through the meteorite shows many excellent examples of immediately know you have just another chondrules. Photo by Matteo Chinellato. rock. Should I mention fossils? Any rock containing a fossil is not a meteorite (hypo Perform a magnet-on-a-string test and file off Iron meteorites often lack a fusion crust. thetical Martian microfossils notwithstand a bit of the surface with the metal file. If it's Over time terrestrial weathering will coat ing). One might think that this would be not magnetic and the interior is the same the exterior with a layer of rust (figure 5).]ust obvious to the general public. One would be color as the outside, throw it back in the keep in mind that a rusty stone like this is mistaken. river. not necessarily a meteorite. I once had a gentleman bring me a piece of
Vol. 31, No.1, March 2002 Planetarian 7 Field Museum expert identified the ~HJ_H'-_U:U mica in the rock. Clearly it was terrestrial. where did these come While I cannot say for sure, I suspect borhood pranksters. woman refused to accept the expert. She was quoted as believe it came from space." Another problem one what I call the "Expert cation. Sometimes the meteorite will not believe a negative test result he was told by an "expert" that it is in a meteorite. The expert (often a "friend") might be a geologist, chemist, amateur astronomer, or even (as once was claimed) an auto mechanic. While I cannot to qualifications of anyone's friends, I can say confidently that every single I've ever seen that came with such a stamp of Figure 8: Plainview, Texas. This meteorite slice shows many bright metallic flakes embedded in approval has turned out to be very obvious its stony matrix. Photo by Matteo Chinellato. ly terrestrial. The moral: Never take such rock which contained many metallic flakes. home, I noticed two houses with large con claims into account. One has no idea the He knew just enough about meteorites to cretions sitting next to their driveways! It "friend" even exists. know that they contain iron. Yes, it attracted was then that I instituted my firm policy of to a IVllflrC:lInrl the magnet, but there was no fusion crust at never traveling to a "meteorite's" location Beware of the story about a meteorite used all. Most telling, it was full of quartz. I told myself. I now insist that suspect specimens as a headstone. This is probably an urban him, "It's not a meteorite because there is no be brought to me. While this has been incon end. I was once told of a meteorite fusion crust and I can see quartz./I Unfortu venient for some hopeful space rock headstone in a cemetery not far to the north nately, not being a geologist I couldn't iden prospectors, it has saved me quite a bit of gas of Perkins Observatory. I took careful notes tify exactly what type of rock it was. So money. and drove out to visit the site (just don't ask when I said (repeatedly), "I'm positive it isn't Understand that people have a tendency what I planned to do if the story had a meteorite, but I'm not exactly sure what it to link unrelated events in their minds. Thus, true). The cemetery was easy to find, is," he heard, "I don't know what it is, it if someone finds a rock in their yard on the only big rock used as a headstone was might be a meteorite./I He later took the rock day after hearing about a meteor shower, conglomerate. Conglomerate is like to the OSU Geology Department which they might link these two things together concrete, with a jumble of assorted promptly identified it as granite. and be convinced that they've found a mete different types set firmly in a orite. Someone might also find a strange rock Moderately interesting, but not extraterres shortly after watching a television show trial. I've also received reports of For the average person, any unusual rock about meteorites and make the same con orite headstones in Iowa, Indiana, and Mich is likely to be a meteorite. It doesn't even nection. Sometimes beliefs created this way igan. This rumor is probably wide have to be a particularly rare sort of rock, just are very difficult to dispel. Count on being spread. as long as it looks odd to the finder. confidently told from time to time that you There is even a book that relates a similar Once, a very nice elderly lady had me have no idea what you're talking about. This meteorite-headstone story, Meteor by Patricia drive out to visit her home and look at her has happened to me and it always makes me Polacco (ISBN 0-399-23384-9). She sets her "meteorite." It had been passed down in her wonder why they ever asked my opinion in children's tale (which she claims to be true) family from her grandfather who had found the first place. in Michigan. In the story a meteor (sic) lands it years before and "knew" what it was. A recent example of this phenomena is on her grandfather's farm early in the 20th Before gOing, I made absolutely certain that the case of the Indiana woman who was century. It spawns all sorts of small-town it was magnetic. "You're sure that a magnet watching the 2001 Leonid meteor shower hoopla like marching band concerts, will stick to it?/I I asked over the phone. "Oh, with her son. Meteor showers, it should be balloon rides, and a carnival atlTIolsphere yes. I have a refrigerator magnet stuck on it noted, are caused by the dusty debris from a However, some of the details seem rather right now," she replied. When I arrived, she comet entering the atmosphere. As noted improbable (like the scientists wearing full and her sister conducted me to the kitchen. previously, this material burns up high in body protective suits who examine the There on the table lay a small concretion (a the upper atmosphere. No meteorite has ever meteorite with buzzing and concretion is a limestone ball, very com been recovered which was identified as part machines). In the end, the rock becomes her monly found in shale deposits and seen near of a meteor shower stream. The Illinois grandmother's headstone in a cemetery ly everywhere in central Ohio). The magnet woman claims that several rocks fell next to overlooking the St. Joseph River where it did indeed "stick" to the rock when it was her in the yard that night. Since she was remains to this This detail is least placed on top of the concretion. When I watching a meteor shower and a rock fell likely of all - that a valuable meteorite moved the magnet to the side, it promptly next to her, it obviously was a meteorite! would sit unmolested in a cemetery for more fell to the floor. Ironically, as I drove through Unfortunately, it lacked a fusion crust and than half a century. In fact, several meteorite the streets of her neighborhood on my way contained no iron. Most telling, a Chicago experts and dealers have visited the
8 tery in recent years and identified the rock as were no chondrules, but that didn't rule it include return postage if you ordinary pink grani teo The exhaustive out as an achondrite. The gentleman who back. Ship a sample to: Catalog ofMeteorites has no listing of this fall brought it in was qUite excited and so was I. either. How much of the rest of the story is In fact, after mailing a piece of it off to a lab I National Museum of Natural true I cannot say. When contacted for addi remarked to my wife that I should have Department of Mineral Sciences tional information, the author responded made an offer to buy it outright from its Smithsonian Institution only with hostility. owner (for the going "field rate" of $100 per aShmg1ton, DC 20560 pound for an unidentified meteorite). Un Buyer Beware fortunately, laboratory analysis showed it to Please Note: Since "n,n"",~""", Online auction sites like eBay are filled be an industrial byproduct. Thank God I'm Smithsonian is refusing pa<:kages with bogus meteorites these days. Some of too cheap to shell out $1,800 for an untested nounced. One will need to call ahead them are so obvious that one can simply rock. mailing any samples. The number (202) look at the picture of the specimen and see If you think the meteorite is genuine, send 633-7352. that it fails one or more of the preceding the specimen or a small sample of it off to If someone refuses to accept your tests. Many meteorite experts and dealers the real experts. Even if it turns out to be ter of that old river stone, feel free to keep an eye on eBay auctions and will restrial material, the person who brought it the Smithsonian address and inform the hopeful but misinformed sellers in should be happy for the attention and for them to mail it off themselves. of their mistake via e-mail. However, a large the chance to see how science is done. If the percentage of these sellers respond with rock is a real meteorite, laboratory identifica rudeness and even profanity, refusing to can tion can tell the owner exactly what type of cel the auction or have the rocks tested first. meteori te it is. Certain rare types are far more The stones usually don't sell for very much valuable than ordinary chondrites or irons. because serious collectors never bid on them. In addition, the meteorite will not be assign Still, many unsuspecting buyers place bids ed an official name until it is lab tested and which they are then required to honor. One properly classified. Finally, if genuine one should never buy a meteorite from anyone should strongly encourage the owner to unless he is a known reputable dealer. Many donate part of the find (say, 10-20%) to the good dealers do sell on eBay. It's up to you to Smithsonian. Meteorites give scientists very know the difference. important clues about the early days of the book which delves more solar system and the formation of the plan meteorite-asteroid relationship is Meteorites So What If ... ets. Every new meteorite discovered means and Their Parent Planets (second edition) So what does one do if a suspect sample one more important piece in the puzzle, pro Harry Y. McSween, Jr. Beware, however, passes all (or most) of the above tests? First vided they are accessible to science and are these books may infect the reader and foremost, be very cautious of ever say not just gobbled up by collectors. dreaded Meteorite Fever! If, three ing, "I think this is a meteorite." Once I was The Smithsonian Institution has a mete years from now, your house is positive I'd bagged one. It was stony, dense, orite lab which will accept any samples for asteroid your bank account attracted a magnet, and had a nice dark free analysis. It may take a few months to and your spouse has left you, don't fusion crust with a lighter interior. There hear back from them, however. Be sure to weren't warned.
the journal on my PowerBook laptop com pages, the number ae1peIIOlng From the itor puter as before, but now accept photographs, total page count, which are paid for illustrations, and advertisements as digital advertisers.) There are changes to this issue, the first files which I incorporate into the QuarkX surprisingly, the cost of 2002. The most important are, at first Press page layout file. I send this rather large of going all-digital is slightly greater the glance, invisible. file to the printer on CD-ROM, and he prints old-fashioned - but very efficient - way. The greatest change is in the way the the large negatives on a high-resolution film However, advertisers will save money the journal is produced. Since 1987, when I took printer. The following steps are the same. preparation of their ads, and we will on editorial and production responsibilities, (In practice, advertisements that were re see more ads and more ads in color (and I've edited the journal on my home comput ceived for earlier issues as camera-ready art more advertising revenue). er and laid it out as a page layout document, work have simply been stripped in and re This is extra work for me, but I'm printed the file on a laser printer, and hand used for this issue. New ads will be digital.) with the results. Onward! ed the paper pages (along with photographs This change produces sharper text and Please see the Authors Guidelines at and advertisements, all of which were cam line drawings by bypassing the paper stage. It www.GriffithObs.org/IPSPlanetarian.html if era-ready prints and color separations) to gives me more control over the layout. It you contemplate contributing to Albert Smith of Victory Printing. He shot the makes it easier (and cheaper) for people to nal. printed pages, stripped in photographs and send photos. More importantly, it means Apparently a committee was formed ads, and created large negatives that were that b/w photos are now free to print (we early last year to guide the put on the press. After printing it went to the used to pay per photo), so I am strongly cosmetic changes, and we can look forward binder and finally to the mailing house. By encouraging the submission of many more to a new visual appearance one 2001 this was old-fashioned - although in photos. Spot color and duotones may be pos -John 1987 it was the way everyone did it! sible at a modest extra cost in the future. This is the first all-digital issue. I prepare (Each issue has a fixed number of 4-color Franklin Institute." Journal Institute 238 (1944): 345-368. ibliog "Kite, Apple, and Tea-Kettle, 1946." Magazine and Historical Chronicle sity of Pennsylvania Alumni Malga;...:mej Ar and N. Spit (1 -1 (spring 1946): 174-184. Review of A Text Book Jordan D. Marche II omy, by Ernest 5 (July 1946): 15. 130 N. Burr Oak Avenue "Hall of Earth, Air, and Oregon, Wisconsin nic Institute of Puerto Rico." scope 6 (Apr. 1947): 3-5. Review of Causes of Catastrophe, Introduction Florida, 1994) has been valuable to my own Leet. Weatherwise 1 (June 1948): 65. Philadelphia entrepreneur Armand N. research interests in the history of American Review of Fire, by George R. Stewart. Weath Spitz (1904-1971) is remembered chiefly for planetaria. It is hoped that this bibliography erwise 1 (Aug. 1948): 88-89. his invention of the pinhole-style planetari will assist and encourage further studies of A Candid Statement About Planetariums. um projector that bore his name, sold from Spitz's influence upon the teaching of lyn, DE: Spitz Laboratories, Aug. 26, 1955. 1947 onwards. As Brent P. Abbatantuono has astronomy, meteorology, and kindred sci "A Note From the Coordinator." Bulletin argued, Spitz's Model A projector "revolu ences during the twentieth century. Visual Observers of Satellites, no. 1 [Smith tionized the availability of artificial skies just sonian Astrophysical as Henry Ford's Model T had done for the Works by Armand N. 1956): 1-2. automobile." Spitz also undertook to orga The Pinpoint Planetarium. New York: Henry "MOONWATCH PreparatiOns into nize the first association of planetarium Holt and Co., 1940. Reviewed by Marian High Gear." Bulletin for Visual Observers The Sky directors under the aegis of the American Lockwood, 4 (June 1940): 11. Satellites, no. 3 [Smithsonian AstroluhlvslcaJ Association of Museums. Its "planetariums "Open Your Eyes Tonight." Good Housekeep Observatory] (Nov. 1956): 1. section" met on a yearly basis from 1951 ing110 (June, 1940): 61. IiA Hundred MOONWATCH Stations through the 1960s. In 1956, Spitz was chosen "American Astronomical SOCiety Holds 64th for December 8th Alert." Bulletin for Visual Meeting." The Sky 5 (Nov. 1940): 6-7. national coordinator of visual satellite obser Observers of Satellites, no. 4 [Smithsonian vations for Project Moonwatch, a program "American Astronomical SOCiety Meets in Astrophysical Observatory] (Dec. 1956): assisting the Smithsonian Astrophysical Philadelphia." The Sky 5 (Feb. 1941): 9, 19. "Professional Cooperation with the Visual Observatory in tracking artificial satellites Review of 6 Unitexts by Bertha Morris Park Satellite Observing Program." Abstract The Sky launched during the International Geo er. 5 (Sept. 1941): 18-19. The Astronomical Journal 62 (1957): 33. The Stars in Myth and Fact, physical Year (IGY). Review of by Oral "A Satellite Simulator." Bulletin for Visual Yet, Spitz's contributions were not restrict E. Scott. Sky and Telescope 1 (May 1942): 21. Observers of Satellites, no. 8 [Smithsonian ed exclusively to astronomy and space-sci A Start in Meteorology: An Introduction to the AstrophYSical Observatory] (Mar. 1958): Science of the Weather ence education. He was equally enthusiastic (New York: Norman The Longway Planetarium and its toward the popularization of meteorology, W. Henley Publishing Co., 1942). 2nd edi Astronomy. Yorklyn, DE: Labs, 1958. authoring two textbooks and several articles tion, 1943. "Planetarium: An Analysis of in that diScipline. Along with David M. Lud "Exhibition of Stephens Paintings." Sky and and Obligations." Griffith Observer 23 (June lum (b. 1910), Spitz was co-founder of the Telescope 3 (Jan. 1944): 14. 1959): 78-87. Amateur Weathermen of America (1946) and "Meteorology in the Franklin Institute." "What is a Planetarium?" In its journal, Weatherwise (1948), originally Journal of the Franklin Institute 237 (1944): A Fundamental of Modern Education. York produced at the Franklin Institute and edited 271-287; 331-357. lyn, DE: Spitz Laboratories, Inc., circa 1960. by Charles A. Federer Jr. "Report on the Educational Activities of the "Pre-School Children in the Planetarium." The following bibliography is by no Planetariums and Their Use for Education, means exhaustive of all of Spitz's publica vol. 2, edited by Richard H. Roche, 180-185. tions. This list does not include any of the Cleveland: Cleveland Museum of Natural pieces, signed or unsigned, that appeared in History, n.d. the suburban Philadelphia Haverford Town [with Frank Gaynor] Dictionary ship News, with which Spitz was associated and Astronautics (New York: Philosophical between 1928 and 1936 (in part as editor and Library, 1959). 2nd edition, Paterson, NJ: publisher). Nor does it include numerous Littlefield, Adams, 1960. unsigned articles that were penned by Spitz "The Eclipse that Changed the Course of during his tenure as editor of The [Franklin] Astronomy." The Monthly Evening Institute News (1936-1943). Spitz almost cer Map, Nov.-Dec. 1960,11-13. tainly furnished much of the text for adver "Broadening the Horizons of Man." Museum tising copy produced by Science Associates Service [Bulletin of the Rochester Museum of (1947 -1951), and by Spitz Laboratories, Inc. Arts and Sciences] 35, no. 1 (Jan. 1962): 12-13. (1949- ), during his marketing of the Model A "What Have We Learned About the Moon?" and later planetarium projectors. Finally, Review of Popular Astronomy, Oct.-Nov. Spitz authored a pamphlet, "The Meaning of 1964,6-7. Quaker Meeting," ca. 1940, no copy of which "The Philosopher's Point of View." MLlSel'1m has been located. News 43, no. 4 (Dec. 1964): 22. For a number of these citations, I am in Weather (New York: Basic Books, 1967). debted to Brent P. Abbatantuono, whose "Armand Spitz at CAPE." Planetarian 1, no. 1 master's thesis on Spitz (University of (June 1972): 7. U Kris Abraham,James H. McColman, '",,-'-,_.1.-'-.... .1- Adams, Kenneth McGregor, Ian Robert Friedman, Meader,John Amaral, Bess Gallant, Roy Melenbrink, Eric Arai, Tatsuyuki Gan, Hiromichi Menke, David Baber, Barbara Gijsenberg, Johan Mitch, Steven Back, Mariana Gielow, Arthur Monda, Richard Baker, Lonny Grafton, Teresa Moore, Glen Ballantyne, Robert]. Grice, Noreen Morris, Tony Bassett, Irvin Goering, Keith Mosley, John E. Bassett, N el Lo Gonzales, Val Munoz, Gabriel Batch, David Gould,Alan Murtagh, Terence Becker, Gary Groce, Philip R. Negley, Scott Becker, Katherine Gutsch, William Oliverez, Jose Bell,John Hagar, Charles F. Pabon, Tony Biddy, Fran Hall, Donald S. (R) Panek,Jeri Bishop, Jeanne E. Hamilton, George (R) Pasachoff, Jay Blain, Auray (R) Harber, Hubert Pedas, Ted Bowen, Jeff Hare,John Peery, Richard A. Broman, Lars Hart,James Perkins, Ken Broman,Per Hastings, Jane Peters, William T. Brunello, Christine Helper, Carol Petersen, Buchalter, Terry Hostetter, David Petersen, Webster, Dennis Calvird, H. Rich (R) Hughes,James Callen, Thomas Geohegan,Jane (R) Pettersen, Campbell, Paul B. Hemann, Charles Pierce, Donna Canter, Rosy Hennig, Lee Ann Pitluga, Phyllis Carlson, Gary A. Horn,James Pogue, John A. Carr, Claire Hicks,John Pohl, Scott Winslow, Thomas Carr, Everett Q (D) Hocking, Thomas Puriton, Wollman, Robert Castro, Ignacio Hoffman, David (R) Radbo, Marie Wayne Chamberlain,Joe (R) Holmes, Charles Rahunen, Timo Chamberlain, Von Del Hooks,James A. Ramponi, Loris Chapman, Stu Hutton, Michael Ratcliffe, Martin Chastenay, Pierre Irby, Linda Reed, '--'''-''--'.L .... L Chronister, William Itoh, Shoichi Reede, Clamann, York Jackson, Francine Reynolds, Clarke, Thomas Jameson, Edward Reilly, Robert Concannon, Undine Johnson, Keith Roehrs, Volker Conners, Peter Kraupe, Thomas Russo, Steven Bauersfeld, 1988 Cotton, John King, Henry C. (R) Ryan, Michael Jeanne Bishop, 1990 Kinsella, William Sampson, Davenport, Alan Von Del 'LJ...... Qualifications are: Continuous active membership in good standing in IPS for at least five years, and substantial contributions in at least two of the following respects: a) Serving IPS in elective office, diligent and devoted committee work, and the organization of con ferences and meetings. b) Relevant and significant publications and/or conference presentations. c) Cooperation with professional societies, organizations, and groups that bring attention to the importance of planetariums' existence. d) The development of new methods in the planetarium field. Nrune: ______ Planetarium Nrune and Address: Years of IPS membership: individual lorl institutional Substantial Contributions: Awards will be made at the next biennial IPS meeting. Please send your nominations to: Phyllis PitIuga, Awards Chairperson, Astronomer Emerita, Adler Planetarium Box 662 Antioch, Illinois 60002 ppi tl [email protected] 12 Planetarian Vol. 31, No.1, March 2002 Spark the imagination af audiences with dazzling astronamical effects and shows. An animation from the An animation from a astronomical library. constellation show. Omniscan works perfedly with all forms of starfield and special effects proiedion systems. For more informotion coil 1-800-952-7374 or 407 -859-8166 You can also visit our website at www.av-imagineering.com John Sefick (pn:sid.ent of the C01TIPanv) Freish, Monte Wilson, John Gleason, Brookwell, and John Shobbrook, and feature COlmrJanV's new nirl-ff'9'i<,tprpri most of the usual deep-sky suspects in module. quality digital from 1.5 to 9 I have no cost inj'onTIation m<'rr" huh'" in size, most in color and some in black-and-white, in a mixture of tif and jpg more formats. Muller-Hein as listed above. The Northern disk includes such standards as the Orion, Horsehead, and Veil nebu las, the Pleiades, the Andromeda and a particularly fetching view of M33. The Southern disk features such of the southern as the Eta Carinae Nebula As I write, the plucky orbiting Mars space (featured in the June 2001 issue of Sky & Tele craft named for last year has completed its scope), the Lagoon and Trifid nebulas, the aerobraking and will soon settle down to the Centaurus A and an image of the business of probing the planet in earnest, Centauri globular cluster that I found sending us back, if all continues to go well, beautiful. scads of data scientists can and digi I've had a chance to browse both CDs in tized pictures we can share with our prototype, and find the imagery to be of It's all part of the big, wild universe that very fine quality. Included on the CDs are continues to greet us in our indexes which identify the and the this second year of the new millennium. And equipment used to take the pictures. Each while you revel in new Mars you disk holds about 45 and the disks sell might also consider looking a little farther separately for $50 U.S., $90 for the set. afield into that universe - to the digitized This is good stuff, for a of plane1tar- deep sky that constitutes this column's first ium and classroom applications. For a review item up for notice. disk, to order, or to get more information, contact John Sefick as above - and enjoy. Astronomical Digital Images, Inc., 9802 Bonner Lane, Spring Grove, Illinois 60081 a ...... ,'"".., • .n .. on Film USA, telephone 1-505-275-1447, e-mail enjoying digital images of boxes ror.;rd-,,;.,...;~~ [email protected], is offering a pair of CDs Mars or of the deep CCG GMbH, Lors blown featuring some of the most photogenic cos bacher Strasse 56a, 65719 Hofheim, Germlanv mic characters lurking beyond the solar sys telephone 49-6192-92-90-0, fax 49-6192-92-90- contain tem in the universe at large. These CCD 29, e-mail web site located images are the work of astrophotographers www.ccg-germanY.com. can offer you a way tion. Omega Centauri, Inc. yellow in standard adult sizes and features craft projects, running the astronomical physics, chemistry, biology, Earth and the familiar sundial hour lines on the front, gamut. science, and engineering using the marked for both standard and daylight sav Martha Stewart has nothing on these life beyond Earth as its unifying theme. ings time, with a small analemma where the paper plate guys! Using little more than the Jeff writes that the publisher It's gnomon fits which indicates where to locate aforementioned picnicware and a marker, a Time will publish the text materials the base of the gnomon in relation to the scissors, a ruler, a protractor, a compass, some curriculum later this year, and that the hour lines for each month - to adjust for paper fasteners and the occasional bit of endar, designed to be an educational monthly variations in the position of the string, they create wonderfully clever and uct, offers in pictures and brief commentary sun. At the bottom of the shirt are the simple simple devices to track the changing posi an overview of the story of astrotnolOg;y four-step instructions; read them before you tion of sunrise and sunset along the horizon, calendar is a handsome piece indeed, don the shirt unless you can read upside plot the predicted passes of satellites, mea current and relevant photos and down. sure the altitude of celestial objects, deter ranging from the Hubble The gnomon you provide yourself, using mine the positions of northern circumpolar alleged seepage channels on Mars, either your finger (making this another sort stars for any date and time, illustrate how jumbled surface of Europa, to a of digital astronomy) or a pen or thin stick. naVigators used the North Star to determine view of Grand Prismatic Spring in When the sun is out, face due south for your their north-south position, demonstrate the Yellowstone Park which contains org~anisnls location (in mid-northern latitudes for range of the sun's altitude during the year for adapted to extreme (in this case, very which the shirt is deSigned), stab yourself a given location, create a model to determine environments, to Lynette Cook's palllltllllg horizontally in the chest with one of the and then predict the position and phase of a planetary transit of another star. aforementioned appendages at the deSignat the moon, show where on the Earth one The curriculum and approach itself look ed spot for the month, and read the time could see the sun located overhead in real very intriguing. If you'd like more informa from the shadow cast upon your stomach. time, and where to look for planets in the tion, be sure to visit the following web sites: While a little more flamboyant than wear sky. www.astrobio.terc.edu, or www.active ing a wristwatch, it's a clever novelty item Additional paper plate activities, plus physics. com. Or contact TERC/CESSE direct and conversation piece, as well as a bit of a background and other information, can be ly, at 2067 Massachusetts Avenue, Cam demonstration of the beginnings of time found at the Paper Plate Education web site, bridge, Massachusetts 02140 USA, tel12prlOfle keeping. All you need is the ability to wear www.analyzer.depaul.edu/paperplate. 1-617-547-0430, fax 1-617-349-3535. yellow and a functioning finger or the capa Further, the videotape may be duplicated bility to grasp a stick - and a sunny day, of and distributed in its entirety for non-profit NASA on CD course. Just ask before you try to be a education purposes, so long as any cost only Last year, I received a set of six CDs from gnomon for somebody else's shirt. recovers reasonable expenses. NASA containing a variety of video I'm a bit confused by the price, since the If you're looking for some clever ways to chronicling the agency's space flight mailing says the shirt retails for $19.95 U.S. engage your students in hands-on activities research programs. Each disk covers a broad and the web site says it costs $10.95. I'd go that teach astronomy, you'll want this tape. theme covering the space shuttle program, with the web site. Contact Larry Krumen Alas, since giving me my copy, Chuck has the International Space Station, UH.Hu,gH::al aker for wholesale pricing information, and moved to Indiana without leaving me for and technological research and benefits, start telling time the old-fashioned way. warding contact information, but he did say physical science research, developing space that he has provided a copy to the president for business and commercial use, and visions Plate of each regional planetarium association in of a future in space. The clips are nice While you've got those digits limbered up, the U.S. I suspect those outside the U.S. could tures of vintage and contemporary .LV\./U!.I<.'-. you might consider applying them to the check with GLP A representatives to find out stills, and computer animations accompa astronomy crafts found on the videotape how they, too, can acquire a copy. So check nied by music-backed narratives. "Paper Plate Astronomy," provided to me last with these people, go buy some paper plates This stuff is good resource material, year by Chuck Bueter who produced the and some scissors, and enjoy astronomy by would make fine fodder for menu-driven video (and created many of the products the plateful! exhibit kiosks and such. The CDs are both demonstrated therein) for the Great Lakes Mac- and PC-compatible, but seem to Planetarium Association (GLPA). The tape Astrobiology Ascendant fairly hefty capability to run vHL~~'LLL offers many ingenious ways of using simple I've just received, as I write, an excellent Since the set came quite unsolicited, I can tell picnic items (paper and foam plates, plastic calendar from Jeff Lockwood, project direc you only generally how you might try to get cups, etc.) to cleverly illustrate and support tor of TERC's Center for Earth Science and one of your own. Mine came from NASA, the teaching of a wealth of astronomical Space Science (CESSE) Astrobiology Curri Code UP, 300 E Street SW, Washington, D.C. concepts and activities. culum, as an entree to TERC/CESSE's innova 20546. The notion derives from historical uses of tive astrobiology efforts. TERC is a non-prof round paper instruments dating back to the it education research and development orga so-called "volvelles" of the 14th century, nization whose mission is to improve math Last year was not only Clarke's famous which, I gather from the tape, were often ematics, science, and technology teaching Odyssey year, but also the 20th "'nni~r<>l'''''t'·u included in astronomy books of the day. The and learning. CESSE is its center for pre-col year of the maiden voyage of the U.S. space modern-day dO-it-yourself method illustrat lege Earth and space science education shuttle. Blair Art Publishing, 621 Meadow ed here and developed by Chuck (Paper Plate whose mission is to help transform science Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29205 USA, Education Coordinator) and GLP A was sup education from "reading" to "doing." And telephone 1-866-647-7725 or 803-647-7722, ported in part by the Office of Space Science the Astrobiology Curriculum Project is a spe fax 1-866-647-7726 or 803-647-7733, observed and the Center for Education and Public cific effort to introduce an interdisciplinary, the milestone by issuing a 20th Outreach at DePaul University in Chicago, inquiry-based, year-long curriculum for mid and the resulting Videotape covers nine such dle and high school students that teaches (Please see 18) ON THE HORIZON AT GOTO: A New Projector for 8·12 Meter Domes! For perhaps the first time in planetarium history. a projector is being designed by and for the person who will actually use it.. . the planetarium professional! In planetarium conference focus groups throughout 2000, participants suggested hundreds of innovative features for our new 8 ·12 meter (26·40 foot) dome projector. ? • • For Dome Diameter : 8-12 meters (26 -40 feet) • Typical Seating : 50-160 • Small projector body length: 1 meter • Precision lens, optically projected sky, 8500 stars to magnitude 6.5. ' Independently controllable Sun, Moon, and Planets bring unprecedented flexibility to school and university sized domes for the first time. · More than 24 individual constellation outline projectors, aI/linked with diurnal, heading and latitude motions, • All lamps are long life, commonly available, inexpensive, halogen lamps, • VERY competitive pricing! Delivery Begins March 2002! Order Now! *These specl11catlons are subject to change. In Ihe USA: GOlD OPTICAL MFG. CO Mr. Ken Miller 4·16. YAZAKI·CHO. FUCHU·SHI.TOKYO 183·8530. Goto USA Li.lson JAPAN 1525 BeI""Ce Street. ~ HI96817 TEL : (81) 42·362·5312 FAX· (81142 · 361 · 9571 T". ~"" Ir<>m ItIR USA 8M • .... 7· seoo URL http I/ www g010 cO_IP FAX 908·f\47· S850 E·mall ' lnlo2 0 golo. cO.I P E ...... !,IOIOUI-IOONrll'irl (What's Newj continued from page 15) poster featuring the striking "Cape Winds" painting by Attila Heija, who, in 1981, was commissioned by NASA to chronicle the his tory of the shuttle through the NASA Art Program. The well-known painting shows a shuttle launch configuration on a crawler approaching its launch pad on a partly cloudy and blustery-looking Florida day - and it makes a fine anniversary poster indeed. This image and the equally striking Heija painting "The Light Ship," which offers a dra matic bird's-eye view of a bright shuttle launch on a gloomy afternoon or early evening (or so I fancy), are also featured in sets of note cards perfect for jotting down those "sweet nothings" to space-minded friends and acquaintances. The original paintings are on permanent display at Kennedy Space Center, and it's nice to see them available in these useful forms. The poster wholesales for about $6 U.S., and a set of 12 note cards for about $6.50. These are excellent choices for your gift shop "Cape Winds" by Attila Heija. - especially the note cards, which are not dated by any 20th anniversary proclama its stores. its laser programs available tions as is the poster. For more information The thumbnail views I've seen of this 41 Standard (ISP) laser show J.VJ.HH- .-...... ''U' ...... Poster not an opportunity to read the technical $1,100 U.S.), "Laser 101" (a five-minute Some 22 years before the shuttle, it was information. It seems a good poster for the show how lasers work), the Apollo spacecraft that was being cele space buff or for exhibits or displays which Floyd The Walll! in 2000 brated in the first manned moon landing, deal with the Apollo program or manned 20th 'lru,"uo"","',,"u and now, Internet Marketing Alliance, LLC, space flight. Because the poster can be indi 882 Davis Acres Road, Alpine, Alabama 35014 vidually and digitally printed, it can be var USA, telephone 1-256-268-9000, fax 1-256- ied in size and can be reproduced on a vari 268-9895, e-mail [email protected]. web site ety of media, ranging from paper to www.skywebsite.com/moonshooters.is film (for backlighting) to banner cloth (for offering a pictorial summary of the Apollo hanging). The standard size sells for $29.95 lunar landing mission profile in poster form. U.S. with $2.50 for shipping within the U.S. mail scoltt~~la~;erf:antas'y.«)m. The poster, sporting the formidable title and Canada, $5 for shipping without. You U.S. Education/Public Uutre.:lch ~ur)Dort "Manned Lunar Landing via the Saturn V can request a sample copy for review. Network Apollo Lunar Orbital Rendezvous Mode," If you're an Apollo or manned space Last fall, NASA's Office of features a small diagram depicting the typi junkie, this poster will appeal. Consider it for (aSS) announced its new and ,-,-/",u"aU-"'U6 cal Earth-to-moon-and-back concept. An your gift shop. of organi:z:ations expanded view - from blast-off to lunar a support network in the U.S. to landing, and lunar take-off to Earth splash News Notes coordinate education and down shows the vehicle configuration at Bowen Productions: Jeff Bowen writes that efforts. The two flavors of each stage of the journey, with numbers ref Bowen Productions' AstroFXCommander the four "forums" which cOl:re~;pond erencing brief descriptive statements indicat show control systems are now available with four ass science themes, and seven ing key moments and actions. Along the bot 38 cm or 46 cm (15-inch or 18-inch) flat kers/facilitators" which work within tom of the poster is included additional tech touchscreens, eliminating the need for regions to iri'::'ntitu nical information. The poster is designed by switches, buttons, and analog sliders. The grams and resources, try to lrle,ni-li-n former NASA engineer B. E. (Bud) Abbott, new configuration will be shown at regional areas where resources are still "''-'-'-'''-'-', who worked at Marshal Space Flight Center conferences this year as well as at the IPS work to match up educators and in Huntsville, Alabama, with Werner von conference in Wichita, Kansas, USA, so be on The forum contacts are as follows: Solar Braun and associates in the heyday of the the lookout. For an earlier check out FYfl In 1"17 finn" contact Ellis manned space program. According to the in the new screens at web site www.bowen pro phone 1-818-354-4450, e-mail ellis.d.miner@ formation I received, the Kennedy Space ductions.com/planetarium/commander.html. jpl.nasa.gov, website Center is planning to incorporate versions of Laser Fantasy International: Scott Huggins .nasa.gov; Sun-Earth Connection West this poster in its exhibit areas, and sells it in has announced that the company is now Isabel Hawkins, telepnone 18 mail [email protected], web site maps, globes, posters, prints, calendars, www.sunearth.ssl.berkeley.edu; Sun-Earth almanacs, clothes, games, and accessories. Connection East. contact Richard Vondrak, Depending upon your choices, you can read telephone 1-301-286-8112, e-mail vondrak@ about the glories of the cosmos, or gsfc.nasa.gov; web site www.sunearth up in a & Telescope logo blanket and site at .gsfc.nasa.gov; Search for Origins: contact the astronomy edition of Monopoly. For a learn how. Terry Teays, telephone 1-410-338-4733, e-mail copy of the catalog, contact Publishing McREL is also classroom tea.chmg [email protected], web site www.origins.stsci Corp., 49 Bay State Road, Cambridge, Massa materials related to the lll.SSl,on. .edu; Structure and Evolution of the Universe. chusetts 02138 USA, telephone 800-253-0245 contact Roy Gould, telephone 1617 496 7689, or 1-617-864-7360, fax 1-617-864-6117, e-mail e-mail [email protected], web site cfa [email protected], web site www.harvard.edu/seuforum. andTelescope.com. The seven broker/facilitators are: North Genesis west. University of Washington, contact Julie The spacecraft named for the Beginning H. Lutz, telephone 1-206-543-0214, e-mail spread its wings in early December of last That's it this time. Next [email protected]; West: Space year and is now basking in a halo orbit what I learned at the NASA Science Institute, contact Cheri Morrow, around the sunward L1 point of the Earth, Institute at the Museum telephone 1-303-492-7321, e-mail camor row collecting solar particles. As the spacecraft nesota last November. And in @colorado.edu, web site www.spacescience. collects its treasure over the next two years, enjoy org/; South and Lower Midwest. Lunar and McREL Mid-continent Research for Educa tates, and as Planetary Institute, contact Kathleen John tion and Learning - is offering subscriptions know what's new! son, telephone 1-281-244-2014, e-mail [email protected], web site www.lpLusra .edu/lpLhtml; Upper Midwest DePaul Univer- contact Lynn Narasimhan, telephone 1- 773-325-1854, e-mail cnarasim@condor .depaul.edu, web site www.analyzer.depaul .edu/NASABroker; Southeast: Southeast Regional Clearing House, contact Cassandra Runyon, telephone 1-843-953-5437, e-mail [email protected], web site www.serch .cofc.edu/serch; Mid Atlantic. Center for Edu cational Technologies, contact Nitin Naik, telephone 1-304-243-2388, e-mail nitin@cet .edu; Northeast New England Space Science Initiative in Education, contact Cary I. Sneider, telephone 1-617-589 0359, e-mail [email protected]. These organizations and people are there to serve, so do make use of them if you have a need or a desire. And if there are analogs to this network in other countries, please let me know and I'll share the information. L'eChn.ol()gH~S: the company sells a lot more than Starlabs, and has a nice, new, compact catalog out which illustrates that fact. Included are a wide spectrum of Project Star hands-on science kits demonstrating a wide variety of astronomy concepts, plus books, curriculum materials, Heifetz plani spheres (including my favorite the one that allows for precession of the equinoxes) and the celebrated Sunspotter for safely viewing the sun. Good stuff all. For a copy of the catalog, contact Learning Technologies, 40 Cameron Avenue, Somerville, Massachu setts 02144 USA, telephone 1-800-537-8703 or 607 -628-1459, fax 1-617-628-8606, e-mail star [email protected], web site www.starlab.com. Sky Publishing: the 2002 catalog is out and characteristically filled with all sorts of fasci nating astronomy books plus atlases, 2002 sorry, must be looking at the bear from out moons in the solar system, to the side of the universe, just a moment, we'll of anyone foolish enough to remove have it turned right-side round in no time ... helmet on Pluto or plunge ne,aaJOnlg and there we go, ladies and gentlemen, I give hungry black hole. you Ursa Major.' Best star show I ever saw. No This holds true for other areas of video, no special effects, no panoramas or all edge as well; I bet there are a lot of kids skys, just Harry. can identify more dinosaurs than their par The areas we planetarium professionals are ents. Do these kids truly understand the sub concerned with entail the research, writing, ject? Hey, c'mon, they're second production, installation and presentation of 'em some slack! Learning the names of programs; the teaching of astronomy, the is the first order of business when cU\..n.u.ui", a interpretation of astronomy for the media, new subject; it's the coin of the realm when public and the schools, and, yes, answering discussing the fate of the stars and the people's questions about astronomy and the verse, or understanding the be- Spring/ Autumnal greetings to everybody planetarium. In the course of following this tween force and matter. in domeland. mission, we give out a lot of information - Is it possible to write a dull, information I apologize for the absence of this column it's our stock in trade. People want to know, laden show? Of course! The information is from the last issue of Planetarian. "What's that bright star I saw in the west last important because it helps us to understand The subject for discussion this time night?" "How come the Moon's out in the what's out there; it's not the be-all, end-all of around is a quote taken from George Reed's daytime?" "Is this rock I found a meteorite?" the process. If you're putting together a show article "Who in the Hell Needs A Planetari "The TV weather guy said there was going to about the latest discoveries coming from a um?" which appeared in the volume 23, no. be an eclipse of the Moon. How can I see it?" planetary probe, it isn't necessary to 1, issue of the Planetarian. in March 1994. It Or, "I can't find anything with the telescope so much technical information about the reads: I got. Can you help?" And, of course, "Where spacecraft that audience members will be are the good seats?" able to go home and build one in their base IIIf the planetarium is used simply and only In the old days, facilities like New York's ments. If they want to build spacecraft, well to disseminate information, then it will ulti Hayden Planetarium not only provided a fine, there are books for that. The show has mately fail." Do you agree or disagree with first-rate information service, they often to use the facts to "build a fire," so go George's comment? alerted folks to new discoveries in outer out, eager to learn more. Walt Whitman's space. Nowadays, with rapid communica "Learned Astronomer" doesn't have to be a J on Bell is walking over to the micro tion at everyone's fingertips, it's almost bore, you know. We want to work the phone, so let's hear what he has to say. impossible to scoop the media. But we still affective as well as the cognitive V.V'.UAUCUA, playa vital role in interpreting that informa and get our audiences excited about astrono *** tion, and helping everyone understand why my. But that doesn't mean we have pro these discoveries are important and worthy duce some kind of fact-sparse, I'm tempted to just flat out call George of support. pablum experience, expecting that every and say, "What the heck did you mean by I think I know George's position on plane body will "just get it." Use the facts to nail that?" I'm not sure of the context of the tarium education, and I don't believe he is down all your spicy descriptive passages, and quote from his original article, but set up as advocating the dropping of cognitive data your shows will have gravitas as well as gee it is, it's pretty much impossible to disagree. from planetarium shows. But from time to whiz. The question is, are there actually planetari time, I have seen some of my colleagues look Jon Bell ums out there where all they do is just give down their noses at traditional planetarium Director, Hallstrom p13llletarimll out dry information? Most planetarium edu programming. I do, for instance, know a few Indian River Community cators I know are dynamic and exciting peo people who avoid the dome at all costs when 3209 avenue ple, who can't wait for the chance to offer up the Constellation Shootout is underway at Fort Pierce, Florida 34981 a few interesting facts about the universe, conferences. And, after seeing /I A Trip then use their trusty laser pointers to high Through Space," one of my school programs *** light some intriguing deep sky objects on a for second and third graders, another astron dark starfield; and their enthusiasm spills omy educator opined, "Too many concepts." I am in complete agreement with over onto the audience and gets them excit But this same show is wildly popular with Reed's view. People can utilize many other ed too. both teachers and students. There is so little sources which just give them astronomical I sat through a star talk that Harry Ford astronomy content in most public school information, including use of astronomy gave some years ago at the Greenwich Obser curricula that in the course of a 4S-minute and space computer websites, special astron vatory planetarium. The talk was an hour field trip program, it's possible to squeeze in omy software, and many good books. But I long, and all Harry had going for him was all of the school system's stated objectives, think that planetariums of all sizes and tech the Spitz starfield, a pOinter, and a hand-held plus all the neat stuff that was left out of the nical capabilities can and should be used in slide projector - plus his own voice and infec curriculum, and leave another ten minutes ways that transmit more than information. tious enthusiasm. In the course of the show for questions from the kids. And" A Trip Used appropriately (and they are not he would change out the slides in the dark. Through Space" generates a lot of questions. they can teach basic space concepts that are They consisted of telescopiC images of the Maybe grownups disparage cognitive facts, difficult to learn elsewhere. Used ap1prc)pr'i planets and deep sky objects, plus a few con but children at this age love to memorize ately, music, poetry, technical effects, and stellations. The first time he put up Ursa information about astronomy, from star and skill of the speaker/programmer can Major, Harry got it backwards. 'Oops, so constellation names, to the numbers of creating in children a thirst for about the cosmos, helping people of all ages our audiences we will see a steady decline in of our institution. make sense of a universe burdened with our show attendance. tragedies like the September 11 World Trade On the other hand, if we only use the Director, Robeson Planetarimn Center attacks. planetariums to dazzle our audience we are P.O. Drawer In October a segment used in a program at wasting a wonderful teaching tool - a tool Lumberton, North Carolina 28359 USA the Grand Rapids Museum planetarium, that can show things that most patrons which we who attended a GLP A state meet would never witness throughout their lives. *** ing requested to have repeated, was pure aes In a world of light pollution and increasingly thetics - "Music of the Night" from Phantom poor visibility, the planetarium provides the I cannot totally agree with Mr. of the Opera, set to a Digistar multi-effect pre only place where many can still see the assessment of the success or failure of sentation. That creative short segment gave Milky Way, the faint glow of the Orion tariums, based on the dissemination me shivers that I did not experience when I Nebula, the Andromeda Galaxy, and a place mati on. By their very nature, pl,mE~talriums saw the musical Phantom of the Opera two where they can be awed and dazzled at the disseminate information. Whether a different times. Providing peak moments is beauty of the night sky. After seven years of tarium is nothing more than a star ball something that today's planetariums can do teaching college classes in a planetarium, I few slide projectors, or a modern multimedia well, in ways they could not do many years would never want to go back to a regular facility that puts on full-dome or video ago. classroom. oramic "canned" astronomical peJrtormlan Yesterday I attended the dedication cere As planetarium directors we must find a ces, laser programs, and/or, in our case, mony of the wonderful new Shafran Plane balance between education and entertain definition movie documentaries, plcme~tal~l tarium, a small Zeiss projector in a 12-meter ment. A balance that will still awe the audi ums are all about getting information (40-foot) dome, at the Cleveland Museum of ences with the wonder of new discoveries the public. Natural History. The main benefactor, and beautiful pictures, but will also provide Obviously, in their basic mode, dissemi Joseph Shafran, spoke of how his mother the interpretation and explanations that will nating astronomy-related information, took him to the first CMNH Planetarium (a increase the knowledge and inspire those etariums do that job as well as many televi Spitz A-2 facility), where his impressions of who attend. Though the public still wishes sion documentaries. They have the to astronomy were molded by now-deceased to be educated, they want it sugar-coated. immerse the audience in the environment of Planetarium Director Dan Snow. It was the They want their education to be buried in an interest. In the case of the simple star ball/ nature of Dan's thoughtful, live presenta entertaining format. However, if we only slide projection venues, live pertclrnlal1cE;s tions and the stars of that small planetarium entertain then we are using only a small part allow for the presenter to get the latest astro that he remembers, not particular informa of what planetariums are designed for. They nomical discoveries out as well as share tion or any special effect. It is Shafran's posi are the most wonderful teaching tools imag the audience the mystery that is the tive memory of these that led him, many inable. The challenge today is to balance the sky, regaling them with stories as years later, to give money and initiate fund amount of information disseminated with humanity itself. raising for the new facility, assisting current how much we entertain. Add a few more projection devices - Planetarium Director, Joe DeRocher, in his Kent Montgomery PhD., cial effects projectors, simple video vision for the new planetarium. Rollins Planetarium tion - and the message is still the same, New and current planetarium facilities of Young Harris College perhaps, with a bit more flash. But, all sizes and capabilities need supporters who Young Harris, Georgia USA end, it is still information being to the have had positive experiences in planetari audience in attendance. With the addition of ums true conceptual learning, inspiration, *** laser programs and high-definition movies, and peak experiences. This condition rarely all one does is change the type of messages is achieved with informational lectures It is impossible for me to agree or disagree delivered. A richer variety of information is which emphasize slides instead of stars and with George's comment, without first available to the audience. But, what these ho-hum lectures, instead of enthusiastic and answering what it means for planetaria to venues have in flash can sometimes hide the interactive teaching. succeed. If information is the sole objective information rather than enhance the experi Jeanne E, Bishop for dissemination, then the planetarium may ence. I think it really comes down to Director, Westlake Schools planetarium fail to entertain the masses, and thus poten out one's niche. Figure out what information Parkside Middle School tially fail as a financial enterprise. These pos you want to disseminate, and then concen 24525 Hilliard Road sible failures do not necessarily mean that trate on delivering that information to the Westlake, Ohio 44145 USA the planetarium will fail to sow knowledge audience in the best means available. As I and in turn, inspire others towards further have been reminded by some of my patrons *** investigation of astronomy. Knowledge is to our new facility it is not the flash often its own inspiration. Nevertheless, I do will bring them back, it is the message What is the role of a planetarium? Should believe that the planetarium is enriched delivered. we be merely educators or should we be through its efforts to compliment and aug J. Scott Miller, Program Coordinator spending our time, talents and funds being ment the dissemination of information by Gheens Science Hall and Rauch Planetarium entertainers? Most of us have a science edu utilizing the varied technologies, subjects, University of Louisville cation, and have a great love of knowledge and styles of presentation available. I do not Belknap ~"UHIJ'''''-' and the pursuit thereof. However, not all suspect that the 21st century planetarium Louisville, Kentucky 40292 USA those who come to our planetarium shows may continue with the sole purpose of dis have that same thirst for knowledge. If we semination, for ignoring the demands of the *** only use the planetarium to educate without consumer/student in our evolving society trying to also entertain, encourage, and thrill leaves open the possibility of the extinction I agree with George Reed for the most part. in Orlando. It's not just the Mouse but all of gramming in our quest for att:ra1cttng However, there are occasionally some rare the major theme parks. Combine these ences. exceptions just as there are two sides to every "thrills a second" venues with intensified Clear, dark Skies, coin. For the last 21 years I have been fortu visuals of Game Boys and Play Stations, and W.Fleenor nate to work in the planetarium communi you have a difficult time offering young stu Jetsonl959@aoLcom ty, and the last 18 of those years at the Bishop dents, as well as adults, a program that main in Bradenton, Florida. I began my planetari tains their interest when the interest might *** um career at the Bays Mountain Park plane not really be there in the first place. tarium, located in Kingsport, Tennessee in I believe that for modern planetariums/ [Dr. George Reed's very thoughtful article 1980. planetarians to survive, we must use today's purpose of a planetarium is posted at I believe that, depending upon where the available technology as tools to help us tell www.GriffithObs.org/lPSWhoNeedsPlan.html. planetarium is located and what the techno the story in a way that is not only education -John Mosley, Editor] logical level of that community is, will aid in al but exciting as well. Yes, I have taught in determining what approach works best. This some of those areas that might not be privy *** was a lot more noticeable in the past than in to the stimulators of modern times, but I can recent years. In the past, social, economical tell you that those gaps have closed consider Here is the subject for the next column: and technological differences from commu ably. nity to community varied greatly. However, Disseminating information solely won't If you could your own recently the gap has been closed consider work. There is a time and a place for every tarium how would its ~~~'n"",';",".;~~ ably by the development of new, lower cost type of programming. I just feel that the gap differ from the current For eXclffi]ple, technology. This availability heightens a vis is closing faster each day, and that we need what features would you add or remove, and itor's perception and desire for more stimula to armor ourselves with the skills to be effi why? tion. In Florida I have often stated that we cient educators and storytellers. We need to were in competition with liThe Mouse." Of strive for uniqueness, and try to "think out I'll be delighted to receive your considered course, I am referring to Walt Disney World side of the box" on various levels of pro- responses by the deadline 18. Vol. No.1, March 2002 Planetarian Lincoln Memorial! For those of you with scale model solar systems or contemplating environment eX1Pel'imlen doing one, wouldn't it be fun to include the enced some difficulties locations of the Voyagers and the helio pause! Check out http://vraptor.jpl.nas.gov ue to troubleshoot the instrument's for the current range, velocity and round lems. trip light times for the intrepid Voyagers. For up-to-date news and images Space Day 2002 will focus on Mars, and ssey, check Anita Sohus robotic Mars exploration will be well-repre With an ever sented during events on May 2. JPL's Solar understanding the small bodies of NASA/jet System Ambassadors Program is now a part system, NASA is readying the Comet Laboratory ner in Space Day. Tour (CONTOUR) mission for 4800 Oak Grove By the time you read this, Mars Odyssey July 1, 2002. CONTOUR will will have reached its final mapping orbit and and detailed looks in the hearts of Pasadena, the thermal emission imaging system two very different comets: Comet USA (THEMIS) will be returning both infrared November 2003 and Schwassmann-Wach and visible images: mann 3 in June 2006. CONTOUR 818-354-6613 * To determine the mineralogy and close as 160 kilometers (100 miles) 818-354-7 586 fax petrology (rock types) of localized de comet nuclei to take hi2:h-lles()lution posits associated with hydrothermal map the types of rocks and ice, and [email protected] (e.g., sites like Yellowstone National the composition of gas Park in Wyoming, USA) or sub-aqueous dust. For more info, check environments (e.g., dry lake beds), and contour2002.org. In 2002 we celebrate two major anniver to identify possible sample return sites Other space science launches saries in planetary exploration: the 40th likely to represent these environments. include the Solar SDlectros:copic anniversary of the launch of Mariner 2 to * To provide a direct link to the global, Imager (HESS!) (see Venus, which began the age of planetary hyperspectral mineral mapping from .nasa.gov /hessi/index.h tmI). HESSI will exploration, on August 27, 1962, and the 25th the Mars Global Surveyor Thermal explore the basic physics of anniversary of the launches of the two Voy Emission Spectrometer (TES) by utiliz tion and energy release in solar flares. ager spacecraft on August 20 and September ing the same infrared spectral region at The third mission for the 5, 1977. One has only to look back at the high (100 meters) spatial resolution. ble Hubble will r.,.,,,h·~hl"7 amazing accomplishments and discoveries * To study small-scale geologic processes of the past 40 years to appreciate the signifi and landing site characteristics using cance of these missions. A brief pictorial morphologic and thermophysical prop overview is online at http://sse.jpl.nasa.gov erties (e.g., the shape of the landscape /fea tures/histfea t.h tml. and its characteristics in terms of rocks, In October, a scale model of our solar sys dust, sand, and "soil"). tem was dedicated on the National Mall, * To search for temperature anomalies stretching from the National Air and Space associated with active subsurface Museum to the Smithsonian castle. Dr. Jeff hydrothermal systems heat Goldstein of the Challenger Center in Alex from active volcanic areas, if present). andria, Virginia, spearheaded this effort. Dr. In addition to its basic scientific goals, properties of local and how these Jeff Rosendhal of NASA's Office of Space THEM IS infrared and visible images will be relate to star formation rate extinction, Science championed the cause and support used to support landing site selection for the and burst history. It will also ed it, too, as did the Smithsonian. The model Mars Surveyor 2003 lander/rover and others imTf'sti!!.ate the star formation and metal pro- uses the same scale for diameters and dis beyond 2003. See the THEM IS home page for duction of galaxies over the tance. I'm told the Sun is the size of an more information: http://themis.asu.edu. range 0 Sky in January. active sun through the solar scope on the illustrations of the planets, fO., .... "'"'U'-'-" In Dearborn Heights, the renaming of the observation deck, the day served as a great other stellar objects complete with Braille Crestwood School District Planetarium to PR vehicle to get people in and interested in descriptions. They even have the Deep Field the Richard EnSign Planetarium last Septem future shows. The Delta College Planetarium North tactilely! Joann Ballbach writes from ber marked the retirement after 32 years of celebrated its fifth anniversary in February The Wilderness Center that their Sundial is Planetarium Director Richard Ensign. New with a spectacular new show, The Greatest complete! It's a 2-meter (6-foot) tall gnomon Director Carrie Meyers would like to Wonders of the Universe, written by Bill that tells time on a 4-meter (13-foot) diame announce that the planetarium will contin Gutsch with a soundtrack by Mark Mercury. ter flagstone dial. ue and grow its mission of reaching the chil The week-long anniversary celebration in Gene Zajac has been busy hosting meet dren and community of Dearborn Heights cluded an astronaut visit and teacher work ings in Shaker Heights. In November, he and the surrounding area. The planetarium shop, open house and special presentations hosted a Board of Education meeting in the currently serves schools in the wider Detroit for donors and other special friends, and a planetarium. He showed how the I_HUH'-"".'" Metropolitan area as well as civic and private contest and other "specials" for visiting urn is an educational tool that can demon groups. The 66-seat room houses the beauti school groups and Delta students. The plane strate astronomical concepts more effective fully kept Spitz A3P projector. Upcoming tarium also received a large donation for the ly than in the classroom. In early November, additions will include a projector gallery and construction of a sundial, which may be Zajac hosted 30 elementary teachers needing special effects, with automation and new installed in the spring. to learn about weather and astronomy. His lighting also on the list. The Cranbrook Institute of Science Plane colleague Rod MacLeod demonstrated As part of Dinomaniaf, the Robert T. Long tarium in Bloomfield Hills debuted a brand cal and chemical aspects of weather with way Planetarium in Flint had a new hands new laser light show in November entitled many experiments. on activity for classes on fossil formation Sonic Laserosity which features music by Pink Jeanne Bishop has broken a record. and continued their ever popular Family Floyd, Jimi Hendrix and others. In addition two days in early November she taught her Science activities, including How to Use Your to producing quality astronomy program high school classes and coached Science New Telescope workshop and Dinoscience. ming, the staff at Cranbrook is also kept busy Olympiad after school both days and pre Dinomaniafruns from 19 January through 28 outside of the planetarium. On 7 January, sented six different planetarium programs April 2002. In addition, they'd like to wel they hosted a Telescope Users Workshop. At for elementary, intermediate, high school, come to the fold their new staff person, the Henry Ford Community College Plane and public groups. Busy as it was, Jennifer Easton. tarium in Dearborn, Director Mike Lopresto reports, "I had a very enjoyable two The new Digital Dome Planetarium in has been given three hours (rather than just love what I do." There's a new face in San Detroit is now open. For those who haven't one) of his load to devote to the planetarium. dusky. Lois Wolf has come on board at the Sidney Frohman Planetarium following Dick Speir's retirement in June. She is already familiar with this facility - in years past, she worked as an assistant there and has also done Sunday public programs. Lois is now part-time in Sandusky and part-time Collec tions Registrar at the Historical Museum in Milan, the birthplace of Thomas Edison. Jeff Potter reported that the Ritter Plane tarium-Brooks Observatory opened a suc cessful new in-house production this fall on SET I called Is There Anybody Out There? Gavin Hoffman at Roper Mountain Science Center supplied the narration. The Ritter "elves" added some fresh sparkle to their tra ditional holiday programs. "Santa's Secret Star" has a whole new look and sound thanks to the staff at Staerkel Planetarium in Illinois, with special thanks to Pam Friese for the great original artwork Santa now boasts. Down the road, Gene Zajac showed up one night at the Bowling Green Planetarium, where "Lunar Odyssey" was the fall show. Please take off your shoes before entering Kepler's dance floor! Three visitors can each walk an Clad in his spacesuit, Zajac wowed the audi orbit around the sun in pace with the folk tune Ganglat fran Appelbo: the almost circular orbit ence with a post-show astronaut imperson ofplanet earth the slightly oval orbit ofplanet Mars, and the rather longish orbit ation. Encke. In the model, one step equals 2 weeks in reality. The lengths of the steps vary with the Wisconsin/Minnesota: In Wausau, GLPA's size of the orbit and with the distance to the sun in accordance with Johannes Kepler's laws membership chair, Chris Janssen, obtained a from the first part of the 17th century. Usually everything works fine, but the cosmic catastro new telescope by way of a grant. Soft drink phe -a collision between you who are the earth and you who are Encke, may really happen (but giants Coke and Pepsi provided funds for a only in the model and not in reality since the orbits are in slightly different planes). Photo renovation of their Space Program, which Lars Broman. includes a space shuttle school bus and solar powered space station. The Minneapolis land in Falun, Sweden, has closed down for Conference at www.ccsn.nevada.edu/ Planetarium runs its new production Space good. While lack of communal support was planetarium/PPA/); and (3) the tried true Dreams. Minneapolis will close its doors on 1 the main reason, the decision of Sweden's Constellations Tonight show, Volume 5 the November 2002 in preparation for the fund Supreme Administrative Court to more-than PASS series, Pacific Northwest, and a series of major win tems described which are capable of real are still a few major !-,U',-"U,HHh '-''-'-J,",''.JU,", ter storms have dumped several feet of snow time, interactive, programs to simulate war that have not yet been made, but on Pine Mountain Observatory even before gaming, mission review, and engineering tell you the simple details. It will be a formal "winter" has set in. Access is only via problems, and other academic research. meter (55-foot) diameter theatre, 12 snowmobile now. You can view the latest Finally, the project group has asked for tilt, 200+ unidirectional seats, affiliated conditions live during daytime from our what they hope are sufficient funds for a a 3-D IMAX(R) and they will quickcam at http://pmo-sun.uoregon.edu high performance system, but if full funding their visitors parking! The last round rpmo. Even though data acquisition will be should not occur they may select a more major decisions will be made within minimal the next few months, we still have modest system. Commanders would like next month, so the update in the next issue data from last summer to analyze, including data from all vendors of full dome systems. will be filled with details. several comparison fields to search for aster Some news about the upcoming Western oids. You can FTP the data (FITS files), per Alliance Conference down at Houston's info at the site. Burke Baker Planetarium: We are very excit ed about the conference here in Houston, The Bishop Planetarium in Bradenton Rocky Mountain Planetarium Texas, and the details are finally coming dismissed their remaining staff in the Association together nicely! Donna Pierce, Carol Sum of the fire that occurred this past surnrrler. The Arizona Science Center in Phoenix, ners' mentor and friend from way back, has Director, Fleenor was Arizona, has had a busy year, with their agreed to work with the vendors, coordinate that his was to be terminated show Supernovaflast spring and Black Holes: A with the SW APers (who conference organiz diately in November. Fleenor's dismissal Space-Ripping, Time-Warping Adventure dur er Sumners will really need for logistics), give lows the termination notices issued ing the winter. Additionally, they have put Sumners lots of motherly advice, and other staff in September. The future together a mini-show for the duration of the her on the yellow-brick road. planetarium remains questionable as Titanic exhibit, called Steering by Starlight, Here are the details as of the winter sol related to its reopening continue to be which focuses on the ways that voyagers stice. There are several meeting rooms at the ignored by the board of directors. have both used the sky and been misled by Museum as well as one very large room for SEPA has decided to make additional what they've seen. vendors and the planetarium for afternoon copies of the Night, the plcme'taI"lUJm Mike George returned as ASC's Planetar demos to relieve pressure on an evening pro show that deals with the issue of ium Producer last year, Brian Kerley has con gram. We will already have the following tion, available to members and non-mem tinued to improve his skills as an animator full-dome programs loaded: Wonders of the bers. A limited number of copies of the show and has been kept very busy, and Elizabeth Universe, Alien Oceans, Force Five. New Hori will be available on a limited basis on Harris-Morgan has been hitting the astrono zons, Night of the Titanic, and maybe Micro come, first-served basis. my books to improve her background cosm. They already know how to convert The next SEP A conference will be knowledge of astronomy. Christine Shupla Spitz imagery with pretty good resolution new planetarium in Baton Louisiana, continues as the Planetarium Director, and and they can start loading the shows of oth 26-30 June. Planetarium consultant Phil will be offering a few informal adult astrono ers early since the projectors are already in Groce, who was instrumental in the my courses in the coming months. place. Unfortunately they will also have a of the new facility, n1"r"\rn'ic",,,, Each of their public shows now has a Digistar I, but Sumners thinks it looks as attendees will experience a chance for the audience to gain a better good as it ever has and they can import files design. That, along with the UW~~L.L'V~"U~ understanding of how big something is, as without too much confusion. They will novative nature of SEPA r"nt">1"""nr'~" they use their interactive buttons to increase have to work with DUG to do the best possi mises a conference of tremendous or decrease its size, relative to something else. ble presentations. As for lasers, they.still have the planetarium community. For the For instance, in the new Black Holes show, a tiny system in place and they still have the information on SEPA and the upcomIng they make a black hole's event horizon larg power and water to show a larger system. conference, visit their web site at www. er and smaller relative to a map of the USA sepadomes.org. • tion to a larger organizations, have under educators from within the IPS cOJmrnunity I gone similar studies, and the way is begin will provide an opportunity to nt ning to open for IPS to do the same. I hope to together and share ideas and attend work be able to report more news in the next issue. shops prepared by experienced leaders. Check the conference website for IPS 2002 details. The deadline for early registration for this Vendors at IPS year's IPS conference will be close or just past Although it is self-evident to most of you, Martin Ratcliffe by the time you receive this issue in the mail. a conference cannot exist without the ven I encourage you to send in your registration Director, Theaters & Media dors. Our IPS community is Ut~InelliUUU~l for what promises to be a fantastic confer lucky to have vendors who are VU•• I..IU.L'-U Services ence. The theme is "New Explorations" and support the conference in Significant ways, Exploration Place the conference runs from July 28 to August I, not least of which is financial. Without their 2002 in Wichita, Kansas, U.S.A. support the conference would be consider 300 N Mclean Blvd We have lined up some wonderful speak ably more expensive. In addition to their Wichita, KS 67203 ers and excellent conference sessions. You support, the vendors bring Significant new can check the current agenda of the confer products for us to see, and it is at IPS where (1) 316-263-3373 ence at the special web site, http://www. get to compare some of these products side (1) 316-263-4545 fax exploration.org/ips2002. By the way, if you by side. If you think your planetarium needs have registration questions please email some influx of new eqUipment and [email protected] [email protected]. If you are a finding it hard to convince your of vendor and have questions, please email that need, then ensure that they come to the Last year I wrote about how IPS is at a [email protected]. conference, even for a day. An IPS confer point to evaluate its ability to expand. The NASA at IPS ence is a place where many deals are done, past ten years has seen little movement in In particular, we have arranged for a many new products are shown, and reflects membership aside from the seasonal varia strong NASA presence at the conference, the way the industry is going. I am to tions brought about by conference years. since it's the last IPS conference before the say that our industry is particularly vibrant Also the work of IPS remains essentially vol very active year of solar system exploration, at present, and its exciting to look forward to untary. Each volunteer who works for IPS, in 2004. In addition to the Cassini mission to seeing so much 21 st century technology particular our hard working Executive Sec Saturn, spacecraft to Mars and also small coming along to amaze and educate our visi retary and our Treasurer/Membership Sec bodies in the solar system will be underway. tors to our domes. retary, probably would not like to envisage If you attend the conference you will leave You at IPS taking on Significantly more work. well prepared for the build up of educational A conference cannot function without It is clear to me and most others who take opportunities being offered by NASA over you, so if you haven't made your to a cursory look at our Society that we are at the next two years, and planetariums around attend, I'd encourage you to think about it. our natural limit for membership and for the the world can be a local focus for your com Bring your family - there is plenty to do in amount of work our Officers can do in their munities and regional populations during town. There are numerous treats in store, spare time. The effort to generate higher this phase of solar system exploration. such as a Chuck Wagon barbeque on a membership reqUires such a large commit Following on from last year's meeting with ranch, a visit to see the Apollo 13 ment of effort that our present structure the JPL Education and Public Outreach located at the Kansas Cosmosphere, and an inherently doesn't allow. The question is, office that involved Jon Elvert and me, I inside peak at how aircraft are built. should we try and change this and how? have continued to promote the role of IPS at John Dickenson, Managing Director of the additional meetings throughout 2001 as H.R. McMillan Space Center in Vancouver, NASA thinks through their policies for Each year your council meets somewhere Canada, is chair of a committee charged with developing their Education and Public in the world. With such a geographically looking at our structure. John has developed Outreach programs for the next five years. spread out council, choosing a site for such a a plan to begin to find out what structure NASA's E/PO offices around the country are meeting is challenging. The past few years options there are for us. Essentially this is a open to active partiCipation with many have seen a number of meetings on the strategic planning initiative. IPS should have groups, and many of you already have close North American continent, and it was time a strategic plan to set forth goals for the next relationships with some of these fine centers. to share in the hospitality of Europe. We met five to ten years. Since all of the volunteers Come to the 2002 conference and you will in October at the Vatican Observatory,locat who work so hard on your behalf, your Presi find many more opportunities for you and ed in the beautiful small town of Castel Gan dent included, are so close to everything, it's your planetarium. dolfo, 30 miles south of the Italian of hard to see the wood for the trees, so to speak Although the conference does not open Rome. Our host was Guy Consolmagno who (I hope this saying translates to other lan officially until the Sunday evening, many of is well-known to many of you for his books guages with the same meaning!). It is logical, you will take advantage of Saturday night Turn left at Orion and Brother Astronomer. therefore, to ask for outside help. By the time stopover flights, and so to occupy you fruit One of my favorite memories of the brief you read this I hope your council will have fully on Sunday some pre-conference ses two days in the observatory was the tour of had the opportunity to vote on this plan sions will take place. the library. Housed here were the original that would allow a consultant to work for us Educators at IPS texts by Galileo, Copernicus, Kepler, to make speed of the work. The work assess At the time of this writing (January 2002), Brahe,]. Bode, and dozens of others. Combin ing our options for the future will take an I am hopeful that we will host a teacher's ed with the spectacular setting of the obser experienced person. A comparison with day at the Hyatt Hotel on Sunday July 28. vatory, high on the lip of an extinct volcanic other societies who have managed a transi- This will cater for both local teachers and caldera, and looking down onto a lake 150 meters (500 feet) deep, the setting was perfect There are two items I would like to high council meeting I showed some of for our two-day meeting. light from our discussions since they relate for a front cover, and the response was ex Elsewhere in this issue you'll find details to the kind of services IPS can bring you. The tremely positive from council H~'_~HU'-~". of our discussions from our Executive Secre first was discussed in my opening paragraph. To continue the process, have amJointe'd tary, Lee Ann Hennig. I would encourage Secondly, some time ago I wrote in the col Jon Elvert to lead the Planetarian H'-u'-,nr:,.u you to read those minutes. There may be umn that we were planning changes to the Committee. I am hopeful that his items that are important to you. If you have Journal. I am very grateful for the services of be able to have a new look to the PIf1npl~f1r]if1n any comments or thoughts about our meet Evan Perry who, through the good offices of before too long. ing I encourage you to send them to your Terence Murtagh at Evans and Sutherland, See you in Wichita this summer regional IPS representative. developed some ideas for the Journal. At the 2002. (NASA, continued from page 24) reaching implications for the nature of mat wasn't able to go). Christine ter and the structure of the universe. Martin Ratcliffe were instrumental in over the poles. So free are the gyroscopes IPS was well-represented at the American all this together, as were Leslie Lowes from disturbance that they will provide an Astronomical Society's Division for Planetary Ellis Miner of JPL, the co-directors of NASA's almost perfect space-time reference system. Sciences meeting in New Orleans in late Office of Space Science Education and They will measure how space and time are November. Peggy Motes, Kris McCall, George Outreach Forum. The Forum and warped by the presence of the Earth, and, Fleenor, Kelly Quinn, Dave Hostetter, Phil plunging ahead to formulate a more profoundly, how the Earth's rotation Groce, and Michael Sandras attended, and future collaborations. * drags space-time around with it. These helped present a poster paper I had submitted effects, though small for the Earth, have far- on IPS/NASA Collaborations (unfortunately I IPS Elections Committee gible to run as a candidate for office and Wayne Wyrick then send the list of nominees to the IPS Kirkpatrick Planetarium Announces Call for Executive Council. The Elections Omniplex Science Museum Nominations Committee will formally submit them to 2100 N.E. 52nd Street the IPS membership during the business Oklahoma City, OK 73111 U.S.A. meeting of the IPS conference in Wichita, fax (405) 602-3768 Greetings IPS Colleagues: Kansas, U.S.A. At that time, additional nomi e-mail The time has come to begin the process of nations will be accepted from the floor. selecting candidates to run for the offices of Ballots and candidate biographies and Tatsuyuki Arai the International Planetarium Society. These statements will be mailed in mid-September. Planetarium offices are President-elect, Treasurer/Mem The returned ballots will be counted and Katsushika Museum bership Chairperson, and Executive Secre audited and the results will be announced in 3-25-1, Shiratori tary. The terms of office are 2003-2004. Re December. Katsushika-ku, 125-0063 member, for the office of President-elect, the Please think carefully about this very im fax +813 5680 successful candidate will then become IPS portant process as it directly shapes the e-mail [email protected] President for 2005-2006 and then serve as future of your organization. Please submit Past-President for 2007-2008. the name of your nominee (and office) to Jon Bell The IPS Elections Committee has been any of the following individuals who have Hallstrom Planetarium activated and is ready to officially begin agreed to serve on the IPS Elections Commit Indian River Community accepting nominations for these offices from tee no later than Friday, May 3, 2002. 3209 Virginia Avenue any current IPS member. We would like to Fort Pierce, Fl 34981 U.S.A. have more than one person nominated for Steven Mitch, Chairman fax (561) 462-4796 each office. Shawn Laatsch, current IPS Benedum Planetarium [email protected] Treasurer/Membership Chair, and Lee Ann Oglebay Resort Hennig, current IPS Executive Secretary, Wheeling, WV 26003 U.S.A. Professor Tony Fairall have affirmed their intentions to run again fax (304) 243-4110 Planetarium for those offices. Other nominees for these [email protected] South African Museum offices are encouraged. The office of Presi P.O. Box 61 dent-elect is still wide open at this time. Johan Gijsenbergs 8000 Capetown South Africa Please remember, anyone nominated for the Artis Planetarium fax +27 21650 3352 office of President-elect must be a member of Plantage Kerklaan 38-40 e-mail [email protected] IPS for a minimum of five years. 1018 CZ Amsterdam, Netherlands The deadline for accepting nominations fax +31 020 5233 518 Thank you for your cooperation in this very from the general IPS membership is Friday, e-mail ... [email protected] important matter. May 3, 2002. Please mark your calendar. or [email protected] Steven Mitch, The Elections Committee will review the 0849 IPS Elections Committee list of nominees and verify that they are eli- Planetarium Society of India (PSI) est at this point-to address the problem. Russian Planetarium Association (RP A) t Ukrainian Planetarium Association (UP A) 3. Reviewing and enhancing IPS documents and directories. Guests: This goal has been met, except for the Con Brother Guy Consolmagno, SJ, PhD. ference Guidelines which is The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. 4. Creating and supporting regionals while by President Martin Ratcliffe. Martin wel keeping the global view of IPS. comed Council to the Vatican Observatory Three new regional affiliates have been added and introduced Brother Guy Consolmagno, to our organization since 1999 and work con Vatican Astronomer and our host for the tinuing on other fronts. Council Meeting. Brother Consolmagno spoke of plans for touring the observatory s. Working on the structure of our or~~arLiz,l * grounds and emphasized the rich history of tion and keeping member services on task: the Vatican astronomers' support for science slide and video services, directories, and education. President Martin Ratcliffe projects and conferences. In attendance: expressed gratitude for the commitments of Improvements have been instituted in several President Martin Ratcliffe Council members to travel and carryon the of the projects and focus has been maintained President-Elect Jon Elvert work of IPS in light of the September 11 on providing quality member services. Dale Past President Dale Smith events. believes that we are well ahead of where we Treasurer Shawn Laatsch were six or seven years ago as a result Secretary Lee Ann Hennig The Secretary's Report on the Minutes of the ing on the good foundation set by hr.c;,"1r11/C Montreal Meeting had been previously pub administrations. Affiliate Ei1>resentatives: lished in the December 2000 Planetarian. Association of French Speaking Planetariums Christine Shupla moved to accept the 6. Remembering our roots as planetarimTI (APLF)- Agnes Acker Minutes, seconded by Shawn Laatsch, and astronomy educators- the creation of the IPS Association of Mexican Planetariums approved by Council. Education Committee goes to the heart of (AMPAC)- Gabriel R. Munoz for Ignacio what IPS is about. Castro Pinal John Dickenson requested that a Past The IPS Education Committee is an active Australasian Planetarium Society (APS) President's Report be added to the agenda. tioning committee with results now Martin George for Glen Moore This would be useful in providing continu achieved and more to be accomplished as will British Association of Planetaria (BAP) ity between changes in administration and be reported in the Committee Reports portion of Teresa Grafton serve as a guide in terms of goals and visions the agenda. Canadian Council of Science Centres (CCSC) of IPS. '# Christine Shupla suggested that the John Dickenson Past President's Report become an official 7. Transitioning from print media to elec Council of German Planetariums (RDP) agenda item at Council Meetings. Council tronic formats. Wolfgang Wacker agreed to this additional report and Past This issue will be addressed in the Publications European/Mediterranean Planetarium Asso President Dale Smith addressed the seven Committee Report. ciation (EMPA)- Jon Elvert for Dionysios issues documented in the Montreal Minutes Simopoulos under the President's Report. Each of the Past President Dale Smith said that from his Great Lakes Planetarium Association (GLPA) goals set forth by Dale were addressed and viewpoint, IPS has made significant progress Susan Reynolds Button met with success in varying degrees. in meeting the goals, but there is much still Great Plains Planetarium Association (GPPA) to be done. -John Hare for Jack Dunn 1. Making IPS seem less distant to its mem Italian Planetaria's Friends Association bers. The President, at his own expense, has Shawn Laatsch presented the Treasurer's (IPF A)- Loris Ramponi attended all U.S. affiliate conferences, many Council reviewed and discussed Japan Planetarium Society (JPS)- Shoichi Itoh international affiliate conferences and plane specifics of the 2000 Financial Report and Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society (MAPS) taria, and visited each of the potential IPS the mid-year 2001 Budget. A suggestion was Peter Connors 2004 Conference host facilities. By the end of made to list as separate line items the adver Nordic Planetarium Association (NPA)- Lars the year he will have visited planetaria on 6 tisement revenues from the Planetarian and Broman continents. the Directory. Questions regarding wire trans Pacific Planetarium Association (PPA)- Jon Dale and other IPS Officers and Council fer charges were addressed by Shawn as were Elvert Members (at their own expense) have attended questions related to payment of dues by Rocky Mountain Planetarium Association conferences/meetings to promote the goals of charge card and wire transfers. Planetarian (RMP A)- Christine Shupla IPS to planetariums, astronomy, education, and printing and mailing form the bulk of mem Southeastern Planetarium Association (SEP A) related organizations. bership expenses. John Dickenson suggested -John Hare that we carefully consider the that Southwestern Association of Planetariums 2. ProViding support and visibility to our col converting to electronic media would have (SW AP)- Christine Shupla for Mark leagues in economically challenged facilities. on advertising revenues. Further discussion Sonntag The institution of the Star Partners! Fund has of print media and costs would be held dur raised awareness of this issue and has provided ing the Publications Committee Mfiliat~nQll:rL(lj:tendance: a framework for financial support-albeit mod- Dickenson moved to approve the report, sec- Association of Spanish Planetariums onded by Peter Connors, and approved by cant portion of planetarians' salaries. Presi were representatives at the SEPA/GLPA Council. dent Martin Ratcliffe suggested that this is a ference in June 2001, while Martin was Shawn Laatsch presented the Membership point that should be considered in our dis conference in Lucerne. Report. As is normal during a non-confer cussions on how to meet membership needs ence year, the annual membership was and expectations. 3. Addressing the issues which face IPS as reported down from 655 to 608 members. John Dickenson moved that Council recog evolving SOCiety. While services have Shawn reported on the global representation nize the efforts of Treasurer Shawn Laatsch panded, IPS membership is static. Focus on of membership and emphasized that some and Secretary Lee Ann Hennig in their duties improving services and the workload affiliates are very close to the minimum for the Society, seconded by Lars Broman, the structure of the organization. membership for representation on IPS Coun and approved by CounciL question of whether there should be cnanJ~es cil. Lars Broman and John Dickenson suggest or mechanisms for irnnr,n,H,arro ed that Shawn remind Affiliates of IPS mem The President's Report was delivered by structure of our organization. This may bership within the regionals. * It was agreed President Martin Ratcliffe. Martin thanked best accomplished by having someone to place the membership list on the IPS Past President Dale Smith for his outstanding the outside look at the organization. Website (updated quarterly) with access for leadership and his work on many initiatives Affiliate Representatives. * The Membership that have strengthened the organization and 4. Redesigning the Planetarian to take into Chair (Treasurer) will also provide a list of IPS left the society in good shape for the transi account expenses and updated tecnn01C)1!V members sorted by Country to be induded tion. Martin's goals for IPS will focus on the The journal is the visible symbol of the orga in the Council Packet as part of the Mem bigger picture items of the Society as a whole nization and should reflect that irY'lnr\l'i-"~~rQ bership Committee Report. The proposed and on improving IPS' visibility outside the 2002 Budget was reviewed and updates on planetarium profession. Some of the issues 5. Instituting the IPS News Service. Christine special projects were discussed. Shawn and he hopes to address are: Shupla, Chair of the Outreach Committee, Martin suggested that Council Represen with the help of Dale Smith and Shawn tatives remind their membership about the 1. Enhancing the image of IPS with profes Laatsch has set up the service to nr/"!1I1'''' services and availability, especially noting sional SOCieties/organizations and build important astronomical news and IPS news that the Slide Service must be renewed at the bridges of cooperation to those entities (such to the membership. Council it time of membership renewal. All of this as the American Astronomical Society, the gratitude to Christine for organizing and information is available on the IPS Website. Association of Science and Technology Cen establishing the IPS News Service. John Dickenson moved to approve the ters, and NASA). Martin attended the Divi report, seconded by Peter Connors, and sion of Planetary Sciences Meeting (AAS) 6. Holding a successful IPS 2002 Conference: approved by CounciL along with Christine Shupla where they Martin assured Council that the IPS 2002 Further discussion of membership matters organized a lunch session with scientists in Conference in Wichita is on schedule and included the following topics: which a dialogue was initiated to familiarize that the details relating to the Mexico can a. provision for an IPS booth at regional and the scientists with IPS and the planetarium cellation and subsequent call for a rpy-"c>,'1"_ related conferences industry. At the DPS meeting, Martin was ment site would be discussed b. IPS membership represents less that one able to work with the Press Office to allow Conference Committee Report. quarter of all the world's planetariums planetarians free access to the conference c. The IPS membership in the United States and press conference. President Martin Ratcliffe turned the discus represents one quarter of American plane Jon Elvert and Martin attended a meeting at sion over to John Dickenson for pn~sel1.tatioln tariums JPL in April. The Office of Space Science, has of a proposal addressing the issue of a restruc d. The U.S. is the largest IPS affiliate (about an Education and Public Outreach Office turing of IPS. President Martin Ratcliffe sum 400 members), followed by Japan, Ger that invited Jon and Martin to educate the marized the challenges faced by IPS as: many, France, and the United Kingdom. Office of what IPS is and the role of planetari e. What are the reasons for low membership ums in society. Jon and Martin spoke to the IPS has expanded its role significantly into near f. How can IPS make its benefits of member diversity and interests of the planetarium ly all corners of the globe. We are ship/services better known field with representatives of the EPa. One of society in high standing... but in actual the results of the meeting was a suggestion have very meager resources. '" we to The Star Partners' Fund and Armand Spitz that EPa have a page in the Planetarian to a point that we need to face just how this soci Planetarium Education Fund are listed as inform planetarians of the resources avail ety supports its international commitments contribution options on the Membership able from their office and eventually from and operations. Renewal Form. Treasurer Shawn Laatsch space agencies around the world. In August, In business, a company grows until it reaches a expressed concern that funding was not as Martin attended a computer graphics confer certain size and then has to make hard deci robust as expected. Christine Shupla suggest ence in which planetariums had a full day sions whether to expand further. }!'xf}a,rlsion ed that a column in the Planetarian be devot session to inform conferees of what is hap results in significant changes in the manage ed to a report on the Star Partner's Fund pening in the planetarium field with respect ment and structure of the company. Alterna related to how it is being implemented in to graphics and computer related issues. tively, it can decide to remain small. IPS has general terms and numbers. Lars Broman reached such a point. expressed the opinion that membership dues 2. Attending as many Affiliate Conferences at a reduced rate is the preferred method as possible: Western Alliance Conference According to the proposal, the fundamental over donations to provide IPS membership (Oct. 2000), MAPS Conference (May 2001), question is: "Where are pl,m~~taJriurns to facilities unable to afford the dues. Lars Western· Alliance (October 2001), the Digistar long term? How can IPS keep in front of the underscored his point that the cost of IPS Users' Group in Calgary, ASTEC Conference trends so that it maintains its relevance?" membership in some countries is a signifi- in Phoenix. Dale Smith and Shawn Laatsch The proposal contained the following major APLF Representative Agnes Acker updated seconded Pete ,"-,V'AUAV'A points: the membership numbers in the written approved Council. 1. Hire a consultant or consultants with expe report and spoke of the upcoming Confer rience in the planetarium field who are ences and workshops. prepared to donate some time to the pro RMP A Representative Christine Shupla men ject, in addition to paid time. Suggested tioned that a few regionals were considering Standing Committee were nrl'"""nt".rl budget- US $10,000.00 consolidating regional newsletters. reviewed and discussed. 2. Establish a small 3-4 person committee AADP Representative Loris Ramponi which would support and facilitate the announced the annual "Day of Planetaria" consultant's work. This committee should on March 17, 2002. This initiative provides include at least one of President, Past an opportunity to diffuse knowledge of President and President Elect. Committee planetaria to the public at large. A special ini would need a budget for conference call tiative this year will be the "Junior" section Awards ComIni ttee meetings, etc. Suggested budget- $1,500.00 of the Internet site devoted to the of reports that the President 3. Report to IPS Council and Membership at Planetaria" containing an on-line exhibit of Plaque will be to 2002 Conference. astronomical drawings by children of differ Dale Smith at the 2002 IPS 4. Implement any agreed upon restructuring ent countries (www.cityline.it/CULT/ZANI Three Service Awards will be nl'/',no/",,::,.rl by no later than the 2003 Council Meet /disegnLhtm). Loris invites all planetarians to Council and chosen in time for ing. join in this effort. MAPS Representative Peter Connors The proposal also included Terms of Refer announced that the 2001 MAPS Dis to the Awards Chair IJV~'-"U"U ence for discussion which detailed how the tinguished Service Award was to consultant and committee would pursue the Lee Ann Hennig for her contributions to the study and meet the goals of the proposal. planetarium field. Considerable discussion regarding the pro APS Representative Martin George reported posal's timeline for study and implementa that there are currently 18 members of the tion, budget, committee composition, Australasian Planetarium SOciety. method of assessing the restructure, input NPA Representative Lars Broman ... "'r'r. ... t-Drl status from the membership either by surveyor in that the Nordic Planetarium Association has would focus on innovation and tec:nrlOl.o11V the Planetarian, or IPS NEWS SERVICE, and the distinction of including three Baltic in the field is still short/long term goals of the restructuring. * States and their first director from Estonia. progress. John Dickenson moved that the IPS Presi The next NP A Conference will be in Tartu, dent set up a planning committee to review Estonia, in September 2003. Elections Committee the structure of the organization. The Com AMPAC Representative Gabriel Munoz mittee will develop terms of reference for reported that all AMPAC planetarians regret the process, time the unfortunate decision taken the gov Revisions on Dec. 18, 2000 line and budget by no later than December 7, ernment office which economically sup were in the Planel"arian 2001, seconded by Christine Shupla and ports the planetarium to pull out from host For the office of President Elect, approved by Council. President Martin Rat ing the 2002 IPS Conference. Gabriel will was declared the winner. cliffe appointed John Dickenson as Chair of report further on the issue during the confer For the office of <";t:>I'''''''~''"'U the Committee. The Committee's report will encereport. was declared the winner. then be passed to Council. For the office of * President Martin Ratcliffe and the Officers have been reviewing the Affiliate KeSp()flS.l winner. bilities Document and that should be Revisions were '* John Dickenson suggested that a list of IPS for review by Council in 2002. members be available for Affiliate Repre Discussion centered on final revisions to the 'I;;: ..... HJ.C.I.,J·.U. .lLl Committee member John sentatives for their reports (either on-line as Affiliate Form. * Suggestions included: Dickenson has the framework for suggested earlier, or hard copy). * John also 1. Line 7 to include "Representative/Affilia the revised IPS Information Packet suggested that on the renewal tion" designation. move it forward 1, 2002. iJl'<="',rlAr,j- form, a line be added requesting information 2. Add the IPS Logo to the Form Martin Ratcliffe and Past President re$l:atciin:g "job title or (the nature 3. Add comments line to the Form TATlYI',",""'''' on a redefinition of of the work the member does). This informa ''''l'nn,1',>j-Q IV.I.\....UULLJ"HIU. Several <:'HlfITA'Oj-H'onc tion would be useful in terms of conference Past President Dale Smith reviewed the con organization or articles for the Planetarian. cept of the Benefits of Docu Christine Shupla suggested that the Mem ment that was designed to be included in the to attend conference at a reduced rate, have a bership Committee develop a survey to go mem bershi p forms. * Presiden t Martin corporate news column in the Plt:nu·ta;rian on the membership renewal form and tabu Ratcliffe proposed that we revise the structure to >AHA/AU'--, late the data. and send it out to Affiliate RelpreseIltativ·es have different levels of corporate HH.• AHU\...A Written Affiliate were reviewed. In and that it on the IPS Website. and different levels of ad1vertis~~ments, Affiliate News from the floor: etc.. Lars Broman reminded '-JU'U.U'-_H Martin George moved to accept all Affiliate Conference Guidelines should include sions for supporting planetarium partici translations. The motion was seconded by Christine pants from non-convertible currency coun Dale reported that IPS keeps three reposito Shupla and approved by Council. The tries at conferences, also. Martin hopes to ries of back publications: the Central Repos Affiliate Report Form will include a line for have this proposal ready for Council by itory is in the Strasenburgh Planetarium in acknowledging the extra copies. January 2002. Rochester, New York; the European RepOSi tory is in Ghenk, Belgium; the Asian Reposi :rr_QPosal 2: The Publications Committee Chair is vacant. tory is in Tokyo, Japan. Alan Gould will be To create an IPS Publication Archive (old and President Martin Ratcliffe called on Dale Chair of the IPS 2002 Proceedings. IPS con new issues of the Planetarian, IPS Proceedings: Smith to give the Report. The IPS Directory of tinues to exchange articles with the APLF for other IPS publications) in the site the World's Planetariums is being produced as the fourth year and with Japan's Twilight. Affiliate or in one of the Planetaria refJresenl'ed. a PDF Searchable File and will be available on The Career Guide has had problems that That means also to increase the role CD-ROM and on-line. Dale urged Affiliate were not able to be overcome. There is a ates like reference points of IPS in the countries Representatives to help update the Direc redesign of the Membership Brochure in represented. This is also the occasion to create 21 tory-to keep a careful eye on their regions. progress. Loris suggested that we use the small libraries specialized in the field Representatives should have a copy of the same cover on the Brochure that is chosen taria, for example with the contribution Directory at regional conferences so that for the Journal. The proposal for an Eloquent Affiliate that accepts the exchange ofpublica updates could be made there or there is an Rationale for Planetarians is in progress with tions. This exchange can be of mutual interest on-line update form on the IPS Website. contributions solicited from Jim Manning between Affiliates. The addresses of these small Copies of the delegate lists from regional and John Stoke. Gary Sampson is working on libraries can be published in the yearly Affiliate conferences and listings on the Affiliate the proposal and will be forwarding it to Report. membership rosters are also helpful in updat Dale soon. Lars suggested that there is a need ing information. The Montreal Proceedings for a college level book in planetarium edu Discussion centered on the logistics and were distributed on CD-ROM with a few cation- how to become a planetarian, what is tracking of the publications. Christine printed copies as requested. 2002 will mark involved in the job in terms of training, ete. Shupla suggested that the Publications Com the first year of the combined Directory/ This would be something to consider as a mittee study Loris' proposal and report to Resource publication and it will be on CD special publication. Council in Wichita on how to implement ROM format. The publication will be avail President Martin Ratcliffe reviewed the pro the proposal. * A line will be included on the able to members in either format. An on-line posal for redesign of the Planetarian and dis Affiliate Report Form acknowledging partici version for members only will be available cussion followed. Council suggested going pation in a publication exchange program. on the website. Other publications in forward with the proposal for redesign, but progress include: to leave the details to the Editor and his AdHocCo~n~~~orts a. Astronomical Songbook- 85 songs com committee. piled by Jon Bell will contain some The IPS Consumer Affairs/ Astrology Com voice sound tracks and will be distribut Ethics Committee: vacant mittee Report was submitted by Chair ed on CD-ROM as well as available on Jeanne Bishop. Although Barbara Baber has the IPS Web Site for members only The Finance Committee Report was includ retired she continues to work on ... ""TlATAT1r. 36 Planetarian Vol. 31, No.1, March 2002 tors are Kathy Michaels and Francine Jack IPS members. Thanks go out to George password will also be jJ ULlH,~H"'.U son from the U.S. and Marie Radbo from Fleenor and SEPA for allowing us to partici News Service. As mentioned Sweden as the European correspondent. The pate in this venture. George Fleenor is also cations Report, the educational On-line Lessons project under the leadership serving on a committee regarding light pol Jobs listings, and data base of of Brock Schroeder with assistance from lution. * It was suggested that IPS consider a Planetaria are available the Geoff Holt is working hard to have lessons joint strategy with the International Dark Gould continues to maintain ready for placement this year. Skies Association and other organizations in endar of Events. Chair Jon Elvert and assistant Chris Janssen have the production of a brochure or document of the Job Information Service added 200 web sites to Jon's original list. addressing the light pollution issue. John the on-line service on the There is still a need for quality international Hare will contact George about this venture. working fine. Please submit UH.V.UlHU links. regarding to Steve. Outreach Committee Chair Christine Shupla that the IPS Jobs The IPS Committee Report was reported on the IPS News Service status. The delivered by Historian John Hare. The orga News Service Guidelines are: nization and documentation of IPS archival 1. Current news that affects planetariums, announcing material continue. There was discussion of specifically astronomy news or news in additions and irnnrnu,prrH'n the need to move ahead on the process of the planetarium field. Website. digitizing photos for archival purposes and 2. IPS News in particular. also digitally scanning some of the articles Christine will try to send out the Service The IPS for preservation. John suggested that perhaps twice a month. vacant. we could get a grant for a student to take on Other Outreach Committee programs focus this task. John Dickenson also raised the pos on cooperative ventures with other organi sibility of a proposal for a special publication zations as outlined by Martin in the Presi or articles to celebrate an upcoming anniver dent's Report, securing a grant for an IPS dis President Martin Ratcliffe gave a sary. The Historian requests that anyone play booth/exhibit, focusing on better con the IPS 2002 Conference having IPS materials that may be of histori nections with scientists and educators, mak expressed gratitude for Council's '-v,.u ...... ""''''- cal interest to please forward them to him. ing presentations to various groups, and in the ability for Place This also applies to Affiliate archival infor reaching out to teachers. John Dickenson the conference on such short mation, some of which is involved in the suggested that Christine include an identity history of IPS as well as that of the Affiliate. line at the end of the IPS News Service indi tions," and the dates of the COlt1tererlCe John will prepare a request and plan for a cating the nature of the Service. Council July I, with the Council ME~etJlllg budget to accomplish these goals. '* Loris expressed its gratitude to Christine for the set for 27. The Conference Ramponi suggested that a line be added to tremendous amount of work involved in set Hyatt "'<> DVD format. Shawn Laatsch and Dale Smith Committee Report. Planetarians John Gabriel Munoz, Director of the ""'J''-UU addressed the changes put in place for the Schroer and Rovy Branon have joined the etarium, on the events Slide Service to improve that service to Web Committee. The private members-only to the cancellation of IPS membership. John Hare reported that SEPA area is now available and the password is the Centro de Conven<:10ltleS shipped 75 of the Dark Skies Program sets to printed periodically in the Planetarian. The Based on Gabriel's information, a variety of Samaranayaka for a grand experience of between meetings. This will be facilitated factors contributed to the decision to cancel teaching, learning, and life. The enduring with the e-mail service most of us now have. the conference: political posturing, changes memory of the experience was of the chil Perhaps quarterly memos to Council mem in personnel, economics, and disputes dren and how the planetarians interacted bers would be beneficial. between various departments within the with them. John Hare spoke of how the chil Convention Complex. Gabriel offered his dren were motivated and inspired and of President Martin Ratcliffe related that after sincere apologies and expressed concern over how that thirst for knowledge and enthusi the Sept. 11, 2001 events, IPS received a num the situation. President Martin Ratcliffe asm was shared with the planetarians. Sri ber of messages expressing concern and sup expressed relief that Gabriel was able to Lanka is an example of many of the coun port from our international members. The make it to the Council Meeting and thanked tries that need help in their endeavors. The United States acknowledges those expres him for trying to explain the issues leading spirit that has come out of the conference is sions and extends it gratitude to our interna up to the conference cancellation. Council what is important and it is what motivates tional colleagues. agreed that a potential host must understand us to improve their plight. that the Conference must be self-supporting, With business completed, John Dickenson and that the host institution must honor PROJECT REPORTS moved to adjourn the Council Meeting, sec commitments to IPS regardless of the reasons onded by Martin George and approved for cancellation. Communication between Steve Tidey, Chair of the Eugenides Script Council. the host and IPS is essential and meeting of Contest, published the Contest Rules in the deadlines relating to the conference must be March 2001 Planetarian. Respectfully Submitted, met with full commitment. Lee Ann A. Hennig IPS 2000 Montreal Conference finance IPS Secretary report was delivered by Treasurer Shawn The Conference Guidelines are still being re November 25, 2001 Laatsch. The conference had a less than vised and will be ready for presentation to $2000.00 loss, but as per IPS Guidelines the Council in Wichita. host had to bear that loss. For future confer The remainder of the ence hosts, IPS needs the financial report by items under Old Bus- the end of the year that the conference is iness were dealt with held. in Committee Re John Dickenson brought up the point that ports. for some conference hosts, an audited report would take until March or April, however, and an unaudited report could be provided by December. Treasurer Shawn Laatsch Council welcomed responded that the IPS Conference Account Charles Nobles, should be set up as a separate account (as Chief Operating Of defined in the Standing Rules) and should ficer of the Planetary not be held within the host's organization. Society, for a discus President Martin Ratcliffe posed the question sion of exploring to the Treasurer should IPS handle the methods of coopera Conference Account? The Finance Commit tion and partnership tee was charged with the directive to study between the two the issue of moneys/accounting of confer organizations. The ences and report back to Council as part of Officers will work on the Financial and Strategic Planning process. a follow-up discus sion with Mr. Nobles IPS 2004 Valencia Conference Report could and then present a not be presented because Antonio Camarasa proposal to Council. was in a car accident just days before the Council Meeting. Antonio is recovering nice Council expressed ly and plans for the conference are proceed sadness at the devas ing on schedule. tation caused by the fire at George Fle IPS 2006 Conference Bids must be submitted nor's planetarium in 2002. Vienna has turned in a bid and sev and voiced the hope eral others are expected before Council tha t the facility meets in Wichita in 2002. would be rebuilt. Past President Dale Smith gave a report on It was suggested by the March 2001 conference "Sri Lankan Skies several Council and Sir Arthur: a 2001 Odyssey" that was members that we do held in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Several IPS more to communi- members joined Dale and their host Mr. T.e. cate with each other 38 Planetarian Vol. 31, No.1, March 2002 sition of asteroids, the conditions during the of meteorite types I've seen. Take that on formation of the solar system, and the dust page 61 under Collisions and Breccia Forma Reviews from stars that died long before our star tion: "The numerous collisions between formed" (from the cover). asteroids or fragments which happened espe In this brilliant translation from the cially nearer the formation of the solar sys April S. Whitt French, Cambridge University Press offers tem have left their mark at every level in the public, and those unfamiliar with basic meteorites. Many rocks have a brecciated Fernbank Science Center astronomy, an outstanding introduction to structure, which is to say they are the result 156 Heaton Park Drive NE nearly everything currently known about of a reaccumulation of fragments from one meteorites. Remarkably, this astonishing or many rocks after impacts." The excellent Atlanta, Georgia 30307 wealth of information is found in a mere 128 color images of meteorites, sliced and whole, april. [email protected] pages. Any literate adult (or bright ten-year make this abundantly clear. old) will be fascinated. Because the material The book includes a useful, but unusual, is so diverse and generally unfamiliar, a indexed glossary at the end. Under the term knowledge of astronomy will not defer one's "eucrite" for example one can read: "*differ Richard Dreiser is our lone loyal reviewer enjoyment. entiated meteorite of *basaltic nature. 59, 67, for this equinox edition of Reviews. Both Here you will learn about the earliest evi VI." The asterisks (*) mean "differentiates" books are ones you'll want to read for those dence that stones fall out of the sky, and the and "basaltic" are elsewhere defined in the upcoming planetarium programs about gradual acceptance of the idea. You'll read indexed glossary; that specific explanations "near misses" and double sunspot peaks. about evidence pOinting to the absolutely are found on pages 59 and 67; and that chap astonishing revelation that the impact of an ter VI covers the term "eucrite" in a signifi asteroid during the Upper Cretaceous almost cant manner. certainly caused the extinction of the dino For some reason, in the indexed glossary, saurs and many other forms of life on Earth, "chapters" are referred to as "one" through something that scientists began to realize less "twelve," but the beginnings of each chapter than twenty-five years ago. You'll see how are not so labeled. Perhaps this is the French important meteorites are in understanding style of writing. There is no index except for the origins of our solar system, and perhaps an indexed glossary, and Americans may life on Earth. find this unusual, but one catches on very One can open the book at random and dis quickly. cover something new. Those unfamiliar This is one lovely book. It is an excellent with tektites and shatter cones will begin to companion to Richard O. Norton's Rocks understand their Significance. There are hun from Space: Meteorites and Meteorite Hunters, dreds of drawings, charts, and photographs, but it is certainly more attractive and per most in color, that will no doubt draw in the haps an easier read. Cambridge University beginner. Dozens of "sidebars" cover in well Press can rightfully pat themselves on the written, neatly digested paragraphs every back (if that's what the English do). thing from "Shocked quartz" to "Could an asteroid run into Earth?" In this brilliant translation Meteorites: Their Impact on Science and His from the French, Cambridge tory, Edited by Brigitte Zanda and Monica Rotaru, Cambridge University Press, 40 West University Press offers the 20th Street, New York, NY 10011-4211, public, and those unfamiliar English edition copyright 2001, translated with basic astronomy, an from the French Les Meteorites (Bordas, Paris 1996) by Roger Hewins, ISBN 0 521 79940 6, outstanding introduction to trade paperback with flaps, about $18.95. nearly everything currently known about meteorites. "What are these strange rocks that fall from the sky? Where do they come from? Are they a threat? What are they made of? The book is divided into are twelve "chap How common are they? Throughout histo ters" each written by one to four experts in ry, we have been fascinated by meteorites the field. Examples of chapter titles include and their significance. As time has passed, we "The harder they fall," "Stones which fell have learned more and more about these from the sky," "Impact craters," and "Cre extraterrestrial objects and today the scien taceous park." tific study of meteorites provides a wealth of There is plenty of detailed information Nearest Star: The Surprising Science of Our Sun, information about the solar system. They that will appeal to the more serious reader. Leon Golub and Jay M. Pasachoff, Harvard reveal clues to some of the greatest scientific The section entitled "Like no rock on Earth University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts enigmas: the origin of life on Earth, the mass ... " for instance provides the best definitions /London, England, 2001, 267-pages including extinction of species, the nature and compo- Vol. 31, No.1, March 2002 Planetarian 39 index, ISBN 0 674004671, hardcover, $29.95. the 1600s was the first to record sunspots in includes not only basic information of detail. Tracking sunspot numbers quickly est to the public and interested UUJlULI_UL With its attractive color modern cover thereafter became a popular activity. An astronomers but it puts into DelrSDl~ctive image of solar eruptions (beneath which a apparent lack of sunspots appears to have modern observations, aided small blue planet Earth floats), many will be coincided with a seventy-year "mini ice agel! contribute to our underst;mciing drawn into this concise, well-written survey that ended early in the Eighteenth Century. Chapter Six ought to be of what we know (and don't know) about We note that similar "minor" spells of less for anyone interested in learnllng Earth's closest star. ened solar output could have profound and tance of space missions, Those who study the inside of the dust catastrophic effects on Earth, from violent importance of current and future solar jacket may be intrigued: "Unlike the myriad weather patterns to interrupted crop growth. sions. Government cost-cutters take pOints of light we gaze at in the night sky, At least four space satellites continue to what we don't know about the Sun can our nearest star allows us to study the won study the solar constant more accurately us. ders of stellar workings at blindingly close than we could do from the planet: we at least Chapter Seven range - from a mere 93 million miles away. have now the technology to measure, if not our "Goldilocks" And what do we see? In this book, two of the predict, what is going on with the Sun. too hot for life), u,.~~ L".UUF. world's leading solar scientists unfold all that Chapter Three does a terrific job describ history and science from the first cursory ing in detail what we see, covering "limb observations to the measurements obtained darkening," or why the edges of the Sun by the latest state-of-the-art instruments on appear darker than the rest of the solar disk, the ground and in space - have revealed and the "solar spectrum." The recent and about the Sun. excellent black and white photographs that over many decades, so scientists must "Following the path of science from the accompany the chapter show an astonishing op (and test) various models; these very center of the 380,000,000,000,000,000, amount of solar detail, from close-ups of the must also include variables such as volcanic OOO-megawatt furnace to its explosive sur solar atmosphere and granulation to coronal dust in the atmosphere. This cnauter face, Nearest Star invites readers into an images made by the Transient Region and vides a fascinating look at scientific open-ended narrative of discovery about Coronal Explorer (TRACE) spacecraft. TRACE ods. what we know about the Sun and how we provides continuous high-resolution images Chapter Eight covers what happens have learned it." of the solar limb, and, within the sixteen magnetized solar wind interacts with Earth's In Chapter One, Nearest Star begins with a color plates, Plates VIII and XIII are among magnetosphere. Enormous coronal lovely, humble sentence: "About 15 billion the finest TRACE images ever made. ejections (easily detected from "n,~rt='rr"1"1" years ago, for reasons we do not yet under Chapter Four covers what we don't see (or but not so easily from Earth) are the ... wirYl,~r"u stand the Universe came into existence." The understand) from "invisible" light to the cause of geomagnetic storms. This sort text plunges immediately into what we do mystery of why the corona is so hot, models "space weather," often violent, can understand and how we understand such of solar flares, and how (and why) scientists profound effects. (In more innocent things. We discover the basic characteristics continue to search for neutrinos from the non-technological times, nelgtltened of the Sun, including distance and luminosi Sun. By chapter's end one will be quite con ty merely provided auroral ty and the tools and techniques that have vinced the Sun is by no means the quiet hot shows. Today, such activity can enabled us to learn as much as we have. Tele sphere with drifting sunspots as recorded for communication, affect television reCeDl[lOll1, scopes are important, but so are spectro the last four hundred years, but a complex damage satellites, and knock out power graphs and coronagraphs. Spectrographs tions!) record sunlight (and starlight) as "cosmic bar Nearest Star begins with a Nearest Star: The Surprising Science codes" revealing the precise chemical make Sun is not intended for the average reader. up of burning elements within the solar lovely, humble sentence: will be fascinating reading for a middle- or atmosphere, and below. Only in the last fifty "About 15 billion years ago, high school student interested in the science years or so have coronagraphs enabled scien for reasons we do not yet of the Sun. It could serve as a book tists to routinely study the corona, the solar understand, the Universe on its own for anyone taking an earth sci atmosphere, in detail. Before the perfection ence course or an introduction to astrono of the coronagraph, the corona was only came into existence." my, and it will no doubt be used astrono fleetingly visible at the height of a total solar mers in undergraduate courses. With eclipse. excellent draWings, black and white In Chapter Two, the important Hertz three-dimensional system of flares and spo tographs, and color plates, it is destined to sprung-Russell diagram is nicely explained. radic outbursts, oscillating and "ringing like become a classic text on the Sun, how we This relationship between a star's color and a gong." know what we know, and the llnnn,r1"<1,nr't:> brightness applies to all known stars, and, of All good astronomy books ought to have spacecraft observations. course, the Sun. We learn about how the sections devoted to total solar eclipses. While problem of the Sun's age was addressed, how not necessarily all that rare, total eclipses do the Sun formed, how it "burns." tend to occur at far-flung places, such as the To a person uninstructed in natural We are introduced to solar activity as re center of an ocean or the middle of an inac country or seaside stroll is a walk f"h'''''''lTVl vealed by the appearance (or lack), of sun cessible continent. gallery filled with wonderful works spots, typically Earth-sized magnetic storms. There are seven total eclipses between 4 tenths of which have their turned to Sunspot activity is high for months at a time, December 2002 and 11 July 2010, and Jay wall. then drops off, in roughly eleven-year cycles, Pasachoff will almost certainly attend as for reasons we do not understand. Galileo in many as he can. Chapter Five of Nearest Star JOIN THE GROWING FAMILY OF SPITZ DIGITAL THEATERS CUSTOMER-DRIVEN PRODUCT DEVELOPMEN T · lD ELECTRICSKY THEATERS · PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE TO HUNDREDS OF SITES ANNUALLY · THEATER DESIGN SERV ICES · BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT STUDIES BRIS L NATItmAL SPAC E CENTRE . Le iCESTER. UK BIRMIN GLASGOW SCIENCE CENTRE. SCOlLAHO c A DRI PHIL DE THE FRA-NKLIN INSTITUTE , PHILADELPHIA. USA www.spilzinc.comP.O.BoxI98.ChaddsFord. PAI9317 USA 610.459.5200 weeks with a lot of work, ofcourse, but also two other planets (all to scale in both distance days free. When I sat on the flight to Cape size) traveling through Minnesota towns Town I started to feel that it was not so easy to cities. (The working name for this leave the Starlab after 19 years! It is about as old interim plan is Solar Trek Minnesota). as my youngest son - who is 21. More or less like We've also talked about a third child. So the agreement is that S-A has planetarium and it part 'adopted my child' and I will be informed about reach effort, but there's some commotion what happens to it and not just informed - I whether this will really give us a viable income Susan Reynolds have also promised to help them in the future if stream making it worth I'm they need. The person in charge has also con ion that this is something we should do, oeM tacted Jane so now she knows where it is. But as need some hard numbers to make a case you see I have more or less left the planetarium So what I'd like to get, is a list field but in my heart I will always be a plane with: tarian. I have been asked to write something in 1) People who are the Planetarian about 'my child' and I will try dently (as a business 315-433-2671 to do something later during wintertime. At the selves) or moment I am busy teaching. Apart from all 2) People who are running portables 315-432-4523 fax work in S.A. I also got the possibility to go on tutions such as museums, schools, or other [email protected] safari for one day and the other day I spent informal learning centers. swimming in the Indian Ocean together with My goal would be to get answers to the penguins! Not too bad! Take care! Marie. [owing questions (most relate to annual cost Meteors, meteors, meteors What a trip and such a service to the com /income): YES, YES, YES!!! This year's Leonids were munity in South Africa! I am sure they will 1) Portable planetarium expenses (mainte well worth getting up to see! After a late treasure your "babyl" Congratulations Marie, nance and other incidental costs), night of dancing we were tempted to just I know you will stay in touch. 2) Transportation for the portable nlf11vlOt,C}ri_ stay up all night but we were exhausted! We um and any ancillary gear managed to get up at 4:30 AM. My husband Other Colleagues Heard From vehicle required, maintenance, insurance and I dragged ourselves out of bed, put on all Rodney M. Nerdahl (Program Coordinator, and any other incidental costs), the warm clothes we could find and went Minneapolis Planetarium, 300 Nicollet Mall, 3) Staffing needs & cost, out to lie in the grass of our back yard ... awe Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401-1904; Tele 4) Revenue, some is the word! We saw about 800 to 1000 phone: 612-630-6152, Fax: 612-630-6180 E 5) Fees charged & hours ofoperation, meteors as we listened to our neighborhood Mail: [email protected]; Web Site: 6) Benefits and headaches associated children and adults venture out. The view www.mplanetarium.org) wrote, operating portables, and was especially wonderful due to dark skies in Hello Sue! Although it's been some years since 7) Any other mt,ornwtlOnlaetallrs/(:om'mt'nts our neighborhood. The shouts of "Wow!", we've seen each other at GLPA Conferences, I individuals wish to provide, "Oh look at that one!" and "There's another hope you'll remember me. I'm Rod Nerdahl, the I've been told that the proposal must and another!" came from the yards of sur Program Coordinator for the Minneapolis Plan hand in two weeks, so my request is an urgent rounding houses. At 5:30 we took out the etarium. (l've been attending the Western one! (Sorry there isn't a lead-time this telescope to look at Jupiter and Saturn and Alliance Conferences for the past four years, in ... ) enjoyed that too. What pristine skies; we order to expand awareness of the show kits we Thanks for whatever assistance you couldn't have asked for better. We took a are now selling) vide/-Rod walk around the block as it approached 6:30 As you probably already know, the Minnea I referred Rod to the GLP A Tips #18 Book let AM and talked to the neighbors, one of them polis Planetarium i~ scheduled to close a year for Portables for information and sent a man who was just leaving for bow hunting from now to make way for the new Planetar names of people for him to contact (for deer). He said he was glad he was getting ium & Space Discovery Center. (Like the existing John Meader, Paul John up anyway and saw the beautiful sight. It facility hopefully!) The plan is to include this run a business with Starlab. Lindarae Bauer pays to get up and look up! new complex in the new downtown Minnea and I run an outreach program from a Math, polis Public Library (which Minneapolis voters Science and Technology center. Marie's South African okayed during an election last fall). The new This year, at my site, we are $465 You may remember me writing about my planetarium won't be funded out of those refer per I teach a maximum of 6 classes each dear friend Marie RAdbo (Astronomer and endum dollars, but we're confident that the day with a maximum of 30 students in each Assistant Professor, Experimental Physics, state legislature, corporate Minnesota, and oth class. I travel to schools in 21 districts. Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 ers will provide for its inclusion in the new of our schools get a percentage of the cost 96 GOTEBORG, Sweden Tel: 46-31-772-31-40; Library! reimbursed from New York State uelDerlUing Fax 46-31-81-20-89; Email: [email protected] At present, we're trying to work out details on their tax base (lower tax base = .se; Homepage: http://fy.chalmers.serradbo) for operations during the two-and-a-halfyear to state aid). I am booked for about 120 in the December column. On Thursday, 15 three-yearperiod when construction will be tak the 186 days in our 2001-2002 school year. Nov 2001, Marie wrote to tell me a bit more ing place (we expect opening to occur in late We have lots of repeat business. I use my about her adventure. I can imagine that it 2005 or early 2006). During this time, we won't own car for transportation and am given was a very emotional trip for Marie. She have a planetarium! One part of our plans for expenses for mileage (about 32-34 cents a wrote, Dear Susan, I will just send you a note interim operations calls for the construction of mile). I travel with Starlab, one slide and say that lam home again. Thanks for your a large solar system model with the Sun situat tor and a CD/tape help! My visit was great. A little more than two ed at the site of the new planetarium, and the Comments? What do you do at your site? Perhaps, if you give me a brief description of "Susan, I'm the museum educator at Disco cylinder and I use the slides to iHL to handle and can be set up in a few min utes. Projection Modules: * Constellations Dome: Flame-proofed PVC Ml) Diameter: 5 m overall ,",,""rlTA1'''''' Small and Height: 2.8 m overall Weight: 35 kg (projector + dome + fan) * Moon Phases The celestial Fan: High velocity inflation and ventilation fan, variable speed Power: 220 V of those the Minolta Company, Ltd., Planetarium Opera Capacity:20 adults/30 children naked eye. tions, Esaka CTS Center, 2-30 Toyotsu-Cho, Protection System: Modules can show the constellations, Suita-Shi, Osaka 504,]apan; Telephone: 06 Lamp: Glow lamp zodiac etc. 386 2050; Fax: 06 386 2027 Settings: Any month of year and any The dome of the r'or~l"+.,.hIQ plam€tal'iUlm hour of day/night; platform diurnal made of light scn~ening R.S. Automation Industrie - B.P. 40 - Rue des rotation automatic (24 H = x min) A silent, fan inflates it at Mineurs - Z.1. de la Vaure, 42290 Sorbiers, Latitude: 0 to 90 deg. Nand 90 deg. S and provides proper ventilation France; Telephone: 77 53 3048; FAX: 77 53 inside the dome. 3861 Starfield Deflation takes 4 minutes. When * 800 stars + Milky Way folded, the dome fits into a pouch. Cosmodyssee II Portable Planetarium * Large and Small Magellanic Clouds The projector is fitted with a * Andromeda in the event of a power cut, an emergency Basic Statistics: * Orion Nebula lighting system is switched The Cosmodyssee II is comprised of two * M13 on. Should the fan cease to operate, a main units: a projector and an Coordinates Projectors: is to alert the operator. inflatable dome. Housed in a convenient * Local Meridian dome can be evacuated within a few travel case, the projector is light, sturdy, easy 2002 onds: the inflatable skirt can be lifted up to lapsible, hangs from ceiling, etc. Weighs Fan: High velocity inflation fan; provide immediate exit. only 7 kg (15 lbs.). Easy to partially disas variable speed 110 The inflatable dome is not available in semble by removing horizontal hoops Power: 15 vac; 2.7 amps the USA. and folding up like a large umbrella. May be track mounted. Standard Dome: 2. GOTOEX-3 • Projects 3 sets of celestial coordinates: Diameter 4.8 meters (16 ft.) a. Meridian N-S through Zenith Height 3.2 meters (10.5 ft.) Goto Optical Mfg. Co., 4-16 Yazakicho, b. Celestial Equator Weight 19.1 kilos (45 Ibs.) Fuchu-shi, Tokio 183,Japan; Telephone c. EcliptiC Giant Dome: 0423 62 5312; FAX 0423 61 9671; TLX 28 32 • Manual of operation contains easy set-up Diameter 6.71 meters (22 ft.) 421COTOPTJ instructions Height 4.2 meters (13.5 ft.) • Planetarium Educators' Workshop Guide Weight 43 kilos (95 Ibs.) Representatives of this model: contains ideas and programs for use with Capacity 60 adults the planetarium USA: MMI Corporation, PO Box 19907, • Educators' Resource Guide provides a Projection System: Baltimore, MD 21211, USA; Telephone: 410- wealth of astronomy resources for use in 366-1222; Fax: 410-366-6311 astronomy program Lamp: Halogen Cycle High T cO;: y • Stand: Special wide-stance projection variable intensity France: Medas - B.P. 2658 - 03203 Vichy stand with cast metal top, adjustable Settings: Any month of year and any hour Cedex; Telephone: 70 98 28 50; Fax: 70 3169 height legs and accessory shelf makes of day/night; platform diurnal automatic 31 upset virtually impossible rotation .. Minimum room size 3.7 x 3.7 meters (12 x (10 seconds =1 hour) or manual Italy: Auriga srl, via Quintiliano 30, 20138 12 ft.) with 2.4 meter (8 ft.) high ceiling. Latitude: 0 to 90 degrees North or 90 South Milano; Telephone: 02 50 64 874; Telex: 31 Although a completely dark room is best, 11 30 Gianni I - 31 30 62 Gianni I the planetarium will operate satisfactori Projection Cylinders: removable; computer ly in a room that is not completely dark. generated; currently 22 different Lylmdel:'> GO TO EX-3 Portable Planetarium available The GOTO Model EX-3 Portable Planetari 3. Starlab (* currently also available for Southern um System is used in over 60,000 class Hemisphere): rooms worldwide! It is easy to use and oper USA: Learning Technologies, Inc., 40 Cam l. * Starfield: 3,000 stars accurate to within ates on 100 volt, 60 cycle current (220 volt eron Ave., Somerville, MA 02144, USA; Tele l' RA, 6' Dec; limiting magnitude of 5.5; 15 model available). It projects onto a 3-meter phone: 800-537-8703 or 617-628-1459; Fax: brightest stars 5.5; 15 brightest stars indi (10 ft.) diameter vinyl dome, weighing only 617-628-8606; e-mail: [email protected] vidually lensed; 5 adjustable 7 kg (15 pounds), which hangs from the ceil locations for accurate positioning of sun, ing and may be erected or disassembled in Europe: Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH, Zeiss Gruppe, moon phases and planets minutes. The two most outstanding Astronomische Gerate, 07740 Jena, GER 2.* Urban Starfield attributes to the system are its rugged con MANY; Telephone: 49364642568; FAX: 49 3.* Celestial Coordinates struction it will last for many years - and 3641643023 4.* H.A. Rey Constellation its wonderful portability. It compares with 5.* Deep Object other systems costing more than double its Starlab Portable Planetarium 6.* Greek Mythology cost. The Starlab Planetarium is noted for its sim 7.* Ancient Egyptian Culture ple mechanical precision and the accuracy 8. Native American Mythology Specifications of its beautiful starfield. It can be used as a 9.* Ancient Chinese Seasons 110 Projects 500 stars down to the 4th magni laboratory for study of an unlimited num 10.* Ancient Chinese Legends tude; shows the heavens from any point ber of topics. The unique system of replace 11.* African Mythology on earth or any season ment cylinders allows for enormous versa 12.* Earth (Land & Ocean Masses) II Sun projection tility. It is a true interdisciplinary teaching 13.* Geocentric Earth II Moon - with easy to use phasing device tool. Topics that can be addressed in the 14.* Plate Tectonics makes it easy to position and phase the dark chamber of the Starlab include: astron 15. Weather moon omy, mythology, poetry, art, music, litera 16. Ocean Currents .. Planets: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, ture, history, biology, geography, plate tec 17. Biological Cell Saturn are projected tonics, oceanography, meteorology, sound 18. Transparent • Milky Way projected against the field of and light. The transparent cylinder allows 19.* Hindu Mythology fixed stars for creative program development in all 20. Lapp (SarnO Mythology • Motor driven diurnal motion areas of interest to students as well as teach 21. Solar System & Galaxy • Adjustable for any latitude on earth ers. Little care and maintenance of equip 22. Lewis and Clark • Projects the ecliptic, path of the sun ment and cylinders is required. Projector is • Hand-held constellation projector with simple, sturdy and highly reliable. 16 slides shows the mythological figures [See the advertisement for the new CUBE X and may be superimposed over the star Basic Statistics: portable planetarium from Argentina else field Dome: Industrial Grade 6 mil polymer where in this issue.] II 3 meter (10 ft.) diameter vinyl dome, col- fabric; flame retardant (Mobile, continued from page 43) dards. The instrument gives readings in units of shares my deep interest in Native u W. Actually I use one thousandth of that as a sky stories. The book is called Star cylinder) we talk about major characteristics unit. I reject any fabric which gives a reading of Among the American Indians Clark and the rotation and revolution of each of say 0.010 u W By comparison, I should say that and has nine legends that were IldlTdl:eu the planets. the typical Starlab fabric shows about 0.030 in 1903 to the writer Wolf-head, a Ray Worthy (Stargazer Planetariums UK u W of transmission. The stuff I used ... shows foot Indian. It was in 1947 Ltd., 5 Elmwood Place, Hartlepool TS26 OLE; zero. American Museum of Natural Hj,~tr,-r" Telephone: 01429-268086. Website: http:// Work is also going on developing the princi New York City! I sent a book to her in www.stargazer-planetariums.co.uk, Mobile ple of the negative pressure dome. You may It is a book written in 1998 and domes built to order. E-mail: raymond@ have read some of my remarks in the Dome-l Legends of the Iroquois Tehanetorens stargazr.demon.co.uk) listserve. I shall send you a series of jpgs which Fadden) of the Mohawk tribe. The Ray has been quite busy and wrote to will be separate. It is my experience that they in this book are illustrated with Six "renew contact after a long silence." He told travel best that way. pictographs and a to the picto~~ral)hS me of expanding his business to a factory Check Ray's website to see some pictures included. Although not all of the that will handle production for his Stargazer and find out more about his domes! sky stories, they give into the planetarium domes. He writes that the facto Since we were so near to Venice, ry is located: Italy 2001: advantage of the chance to '" in a small North Yorkshire town called Yes we did fly on planes and ride on trains beautiful city. The next we both Thirsk which is decided rural and is really a in Europe shortly after September 11th and eled to Venice for farmer's market town. I wonder if you have yes it felt risky and strange! All through the overnight stay. That read any books by a vet called James Herriot. trip we felt a bit like the leaning tower that cious dinner and visit with They were very successful and films and a tele we visited in Pisa '" very sturdy but a little Talamoni and his lively and wonderful vision series were produced. (All Creatures off center. This made us extra cautious and His mother is the best of cooks! We Great and Small). The vet's practice was in observant. As a consequence this trip will traveled by train to Pisa and then Rome Thirsk. It is about forty minutes drive from our forever remain extra-vivid in our minds see a bit more of historic Italy! So much to home. If you have a look at my web site, you even though we took very few photos. The see and so little time! can see a shot of the factory interior, especially emotions of the time were also magnified Over the weekend of 20/210ctober, the one where a dome is being pulled over .... buy the heartfelt expressions of sympathy attended the IPS Council at the his One interesting diversion is the use of our we received and observed from the Italian toric Vatican Observatory in Castel Gandol- domes for theatrical use. We even sold two people. Friends and new acquaintances, of fo, Italy. The beauty of the and the domes to a theatrical company in Leeds which course, spoke directly to us and in the cities hospitality of our hosts, Brother Consol- were intended to be attached together by a tun and villages there were memorials every magno and his colleagues, surrounded us. nel. This did not happen, but an air tight vesti where expressing empathy with our coun Discussions involved general business bule was made which acted both as an air lock try's grieving. There were fundraising events, then new ideas for improving the and a quick change dressing room. Ideas are museum exhibits, and most touching to us all services of IPS. Our vibrant new nr<>drior,t even now being exchanged to split a dome into was a place in the center of Rome. A display Martin Radcliff, stoutly addressed two parts and insert a semi-cylindrical centre was set up in the middle of a courtyard with some challenges that inspired piece to create an acting environment for a the photographs of the tragedy in New York cers to make Significant contributions atre in Inverness. The great advantage is the City. Near this display there was a bench and is obvious that this presidency absolute control of the lighting, something you on it a mannequin holding United States prove fruitful. The IPS will be better flags and writing a letter. In front of this cannot normally get in a school hall. lighted as a professional 'VLI", ..UHL ..... LU'U I am still striving after the perfect dome. I bench there was a blanket with writing and members can expect significant benefits as will not accept that wrinkles are inevitable in a drawing materials provided for people to use. services improve and collaborations fabric dome. Experiments are going on all the Letters and drawings, from children and other related professional are time to eliminate these wrinkles. Because there adults alike, were tacked all over the display built. The 2002 conference will be held from was some difficulty in providing fabric which beside the photographs. The most pOignant 28 July to 1 August at the Exploration Place was dependably opaque, I had to find some sys simply said,"We are with you." in Wichita, Kansas. The theme, "New Ex tem by which I could give a numerical value to This and other expressions that were writ plorations", appropriately signifies the light transmission. Others at the other side of ten from the heart conveyed the oneness of of council members and their commitment the country had to know what values I was sane mankind's desire to stand together in to new ways to make the communi talking about. Subjective assessment is not good grief and in determination to promote peace ty of our members strong and innovative. enough. With this in mind, I invested in a light and cooperation around the entire world. The next week was spent in Brescia. As in photometer which was sensitive to the lowest Tom, my husband, and I left from Syracu credible as it seems, there were no aPlJlic:ants levels. You have experienced using the Starlab se, New York, and flew to Milan on 13 Octo for the contest "A Week in in 20m! in a sunlit hall and finding the stars fading ber and then took a train to Rovigo. While Given this situation, and the fact that I because the background is becoming lighter there I attended the National Meeting of would be in Italy already, Loris instead of remaining completely black. You can Italian Planetaria. I renewed friendships and invited me to return for a visit so see the shadows ofpeople passing between the met many new interesting planetarians. I that I could experience the changes in the light and the outside wall of the dome. Well gave a paper about my OCM BOCES Center program over the years and work with him that is now behind me. The fabric I now use is and then about my research of Iroquois Sky on an extension of the program ele- absolutely opaque. To be more specific; I should Stories. I am grateful to have received since mentary students. I took this to say that I use it when necessary. The theatrical then a wonderful book (ironically published reevaluate this exchange program to applications do not need such exacting stan- in the United States) from Maddalena de better understand what participants would Bavier who lives in Verona, Italy. Maddalena be expected to do while in Brescia. excited when they entered the II I words and some were even able to On Monday, 22 October from 9:30-12.00 played the part of the American astronaut me a little about other AM we visited an elementary school and and commander of the I spoke in fun worked with two classes (1 hour each). This English, while Loris translated, as we lifted sp{~n(lmlg time was an experimental program and was the off in our space shuttle we looked around to perfecting this program. This lesson first experience with primary level students. see objects floating about our living quarters! of the wonderful pre- and DOSt-2lCtlVltV The program was called the "Starlab Program As I pOinted to each object and asked, "What he and the teachers are on on Astronautics and Cosmic Exploration" is this?", students told me both the English presented at an IPS Conference 2002 (SP ACE). Before the "Starlab week", Loris pre and Italian name (they had practiced!). shop. In the afternoon Tom and pared a new homemade cylinder about com We then imagined a trip through the solar with Loris to Lake Garda and eX1JlOrea mon objects that could be found in a space system, using the Starlab Solar System cylin in the hills. Later in shuttle and used in microgravity conditions. der. On the return trip we visited student-cre noon Loris rl"'~rn"\Drl The students did research about space sci ated alien worlds that were projected from of the lake and we wandered -I-h"~"' The students were very surprised and dents worked very hard to learn the '-AIJ'--'~'-"'-~.. "" some hands-on science labs in 1 Vol. No.1, March 2002 Planetarian another room of the building. We then starfield) and Native American mythology. Fax: 315-432-4523 switched groups and repeated the lessons. The high school students expressed their e-mail: [email protected] (Look below for the lesson.) appreciation for the time spent together and On Wednesday we traveled to a high said that they understood the English well. It or school in Brescia where I taught three classes helped that I spoke slowly and that I had and in the afternoon Tom and I explored the sent my lesson and related stories to the Loris Ramponi city of Romeo and Juliet, Verona. teachers ahead of time. Osservatorio Astronomico Serafino Thursday was a very busy day. I taught During our free time, my husband and I clo Centro studi e ricerche Serafino three classes at the high school again and were able to visit Verona, Lake Garda, and we Via Bosca 24 -C.P.104 then we traveled to Lumezzane Planetarium even went to an exhibit of Impressionist's 25066 Lumezzane (BS), Italy where I had a meeting with teachers. I pre paintings in one of Brescia's art museums. Fax: 30-87-25-45 sented a slide program about OCM BOCES We also got to enjoy some time with Loris's e-mail: info@serafinozanLit and the teachers were impressed by the level beautiful family. We took the train to Milan and variety of quality services that we are on Saturday and explored the Duomo, the "Sun A Lesson for able to offer to our schools, students and the largest Gothic cathedral in Italy, and other School Students in public. Then I demonstrated the versatility famous sites before flying home on Sunday. [See box below and on next of Starlab and we discussed possibilities for This "Week in Italy" program is extremely using the various cylinders with students. worthwhile - a chance of a lifetime. Don't let Source of Native American Publications: I presented three more lessons to high this experience pass you by! I wish others If you would like to do some research school classes on Friday morning and that would take the initiative and form similar about North American Indians, a re evening shared some time with people from partnerships between countries. We need source list to obtain is: The North American the general public at the Lumezzane Plane this kind of sharing to learn from each other. Native Authors Catalog, Greenfield Review tarium. Again I discussed the OCM BOCES For other information andlor to receive Press, 2 Middle Grove Road, PO Box 308, and then spent some time-sharing Iroquois the reports about other American Lessons Greenfield Center, NY 12833; Phone: 518-583- stories under the Starlab stars. with Italian Students, written by previous 1440, Fax: 518-583-9741, website: All in all I was delighted to see how this winners, write to: nativeauthors.com. experience of a week in Brescia has evolved. The time spent with students, teachers and Susan Reynolds Button That's For the public was energizing and I gained so IPS Portable Planetarium Committee Keep in touch! Remember, whatever you many ideas through working with Loris. OCM BOCES Planetarium can share with me will help thousands of Everyone was very interested and excited to 6820 Thompson Road mobile dome planetarians around the share time with me and to have a chance to POBox 4754 ... so let me hear what you are doing or if learn something new. Specifically, people Syracuse, New York 13221, USA need help. were fascinated with the night sky (basic Phone: 315-433-2671 ll I'l~etatlum Presentation: "Sun Cycles Dah-joh! (Welcome!) name is Mrs. Button and I am here to share an experience with you in the Starlab planetarium. I we Susan Button will have a good time together learning and sharing. I know that as OeM BOCES Planetarium part of this visit you are practicing your skills of understanding and Syracuse, New York 13221 speaking English. If I do not speak slowly or clearly enough, 315-433-2671 remind me to slow down or repeat what I said clearly! If at any time [email protected] you have a question, please be sure to ask that question and I will try to answer it. Estimated Grade Level(s): Grades 6-12 Now, let us remove our shoes and enter the door tunnel of Starlab slowly. Please sit on the floor in a circle around the machine, InguirySkills: Observing, Observing Systematically, careful not to lean against the walls of the dome. Visualizing, Comparing, Measuring, Calculating, Collecting Datal Recording, Where I come from, in New York State, the people of the Generalizing, Interpreting Data, Nation live and work. In the past, the Iroquois lived in Longhouses Reasoning that were made of bark. In the late fall and wintertime they would have evening storytelling time. Although Iroquois of today do not Key Ideas: live in Longhouses, they still have a community building that is • The rising and setting pOints of the Sun, as well as its daily path used as their Longhouse. Ceremonies and special events, like story through the sky, change throughout the year. These observa telling, are held in this building. We can imagine that Starlab is the tions can explain seasons from the Earth point of view. Longhouse. I would like to share a story with you today. This story is from the Onondaga tribe, a member of the Iroquois Nation. As you • Iroquois stories are told to teach the laws of nature and cultural listen to this story, see if you can understand the ask values as well as to entertain the listener their children to, "Use a Good Mind./I 'IReturn ofthe Sun"- An Iroquois Story from the Onondaga tribe: You should be able to state a pattern or cycle. What gerlerilliz.ati1ons might you give about the relationship between the sun's apparent Long ago, in the time before time, the People of the Longhouse path and the temperature of the dates? Think about how you say, the Sky Woman fell to the earth through a hole in the Sky use this information in your life as you planned your horne build Land made by the uprooting of the Great Tree ... (see the rest of ing, hunting and planting activities? (For example, the peo the story on the pages 2-8 in the book called Return of the Sun ple built their long houses with one door to the east and the other by Joseph Bruchac) door to the west. Why do you think they did that?) You can record some ideas on the back of your data sheet. After hearing this story, why do you think the Iroquois today ask their children, and everyone else for that matter, to IIUse a Good Hanio (Let's have another Story.) Mind?" IIChipmunk and Bear" The way of life of the Iroquois revolved around a strong knowledge of their environment and how to survive. Their stories reflect and Long ago when animals could talk, a bear was walking help pass on that knowledge to their children. In this case the pat ... (see the rest of the story on the pages 37-39 in the book tern is even though there is good and evil in the world, the sun rises Heroes and Heroines Monsters & Magic_by Joseph Bruchac) every day to bring us light and heat. For Indians, knowing where and when the sun passed across the sky was a matter of survival. For Joseph Bruchac, a famous Indian storyteller, once said, "Stories are us it may be a matter of survival too at times or just a method of teachers bearing lessons of the right ways to live in balance on this attending to the soul and finding comfort in being in tune with nat earth." What do you think are the lessons of this story? ural cycles that we can observe every day. What is a pattern or a cycle? Have you noticed any in your life? I like it when I can count Do you have some questions for me at this moment? on something happening over and over again. For instance, the sun rising every day and every Spring I can see the beautiful tulips begin (Here's one from me, for you to ponder later: When and why do you to grow in my garden. think measures of time were invented and how did it happen?) Today we will use the Starlab as a "time machine;" we can go back to Thank you for sharing this time with me. I hope that you have days passed and forward to days in the future. We will be traveling enjoyed learning and sharing your thoughts during this eX1PerierLce. back to a time before time. Just as the ancients did, we need to col I would like to know what you think of this presentation so, I lect some data to understand natures' patterns and cycles. We will encourage you to write a brief note to me about your feelings and especially concentrate our attention on the sun. What do you how you can use the things you discovered today in your life. already know about our Sun? For instance: What shape is it? How large is it in the sky? Where does the sun rise and set? Where can the Skanoh! (Peace!) sun be found at Noon? We will look for these things in the sky of the Starlab. We will be collecting data about the sun's apparent path How can you use the knowledge through the sky and record our observations on a data sheet. life? (I pass out data sheets, flashlights, writing boards and pencils.) Please record your name at the top of the data sheet. Let's look at this data sheet. We will have to estimate and record the sunrise and sunset directions (azimuth) by looking at the North, East, South, and West markers on the horizon. In addition, we will need to estimate the sun's position at noon by observing its altitude between the zenith and the horizon. ------~---.------ I will use two controls and one variable during the lesson. I will always begin before sunrise and we will find familiar star patterns in the sky. I will also keep the machine set at your home latitude. For the variable, I will change to a date in the future for each consecu tive observation. Often you will be asked to predict where sunrise, noon or sunset should occur before actually seeing the entire sun's path. As the sun traverses the sky on each date, you will mark its positions at sunrise, noon and sunset on your data sheet using meth ods and standards primitive people might have used. We will talk about possible ways to do this. On each date, student volunteers will mark the positions of sunrise and sunset on the horizon of the dome. As each of the dates is completed, you will draw the sun's path for that date from sunrise to sunset on the data sheet. The path for each should include a smooth, curved line through the sunrise pOint, noon position and the sunset point. After all the dates are completed, I will ask you to study your work sheet and the horizon markers. Can you see any pattern or cycle? Please use the back if you have more ideas. su s • convenient and safer than other telescopes for solar observation .. ideal for small groups .. useful for viewing the sun, eclipses, tracking the position of sunspots, and for daily record keeping STARLAB Portable Planetarium Use STARLAB in conjunction with your fixed planetarium for: • school & community outreach • training programs • hands-on education • multicultural education • workshops II public relations • special events • fundraising Also available from Minneapolis Planetarium Show Productions AMAZING STARGAZING JOURNEY TO THE STARS Running time - 30 minutes Running time - 29 minutes # of slides 172 # of slides - 101 AURORA! ONCE IN A BLUE MOON Running time - 35 minutes Running time - 35 minutes iff of slides - 302 iff of slides - 270 HERCULES SUPERSTARS THE X TRA TERRESTRIAL FILES Running time - 37 minutes Running time - 34 minutes # of slides - 219 # of slides· 122 HONEY, I SHRUNK THE SOLAR SYSTEM 3-2-1.. . BLAST OFF Running time - 36 minutes Running time - 32 minutes #0 of slides 336 :#: of slides - 152 J\.LL HOW S4~S.OO HONEY I SHRUNK THE UNIVERSE WINTER WONDERS Running time - 37 minutes Running time - 35 minutes # of slides - 172 # of slides - 172 Call 612-630-61 for more information and sample cassettes. 300 Minneapolis 1 www.mplanetarium .. org her wonderful voice. The is ... to the family and friends of Tom Geh- ated just to the north west of Stockton who passed away peacefully on the River Tees at about latitude 54 January 13, 2002, following his lengthy bat north, and just a Ii ttle to the west of the tle with cancer. Tom has been known as an Greenwich meridian. The funds have outstanding teacher of astronomy at the from many sources, but the Burke High School Planetarium in Omaha planetarium has been funded the Nebraska. He was much beloved by his stu~ Council of Stockton-on Tees. The I dents and respected by his colleagues. See the am involved, apart from being a member of appreciation of Tom on page 55 in this issue. the Cleveland and Darlington Astronomical Society, is that we have installed a -n~.~~";T7~ pressure fabric dome built yours ... to Garland Stem, Computer Scientist at which cost something like one tenth of that Spitz, Inc., was recently notified that he will of a solid aluminum dome. It is a +.,,,~;~,.,-I-;~~ receive a Technical Achievement Award experience to walk around the during an upcoming Academy of Motion the 'sucked up' fabric dome and see it take its Picture Arts and Sciences Awards dinner in shape." Beverly Hills, California, on March 2nd, ... to Joe DeRocher and his staff at the new 2002. The work that led to his Academy Nathan and Fannye Shafran Planetarium at nomination and award of the certificate was the Cleveland Museum of Natural in done about 25 years ago at New York Insti Cleveland, Ohio. The Shafran Planetarium tute of Technology. Garland developed a sys replaces the Mueller Planetarium first built tem for scanning animators' pencil drawings in 1959. Their new facility features into a computer, processing the images, and Vision all-dome video system. having the drawings then with a ... to the creators of the highest observato computer paint program. Most of the 2D ry in the world now open in HanIe, India. (cartoon) animation these days is done this Situated on a remote mountain top at 14,763 way. Following his work at NY IT, Garland feet (4,500 meters), astronomers to use It seems that every time I turn around I'm went on to the University of Delaware and this 78-inch (2-meter) telescope for infrared reminded of what a great community we are DuPont Hospital for Children, and began and optical studies of gamma-ray bursts, star and what an exciting time it is to be a plane work at Spitz Inc. in 1997. As Computer formation, galactic evolution, and super tarian. It doesn't matter if I'm home watch Scientist for Spitz, he has developed ATM-4 novae remnants. ing TV or out doing my holiday shopping, theater control software, PolyDome image everywhere I look I find the evidence. Just processing software, and related software for before Christmas, I took my family for a visit displaying immersive video imagery. Many Derrick H. Pitts (Chief Astronomer/Plane to the mall. As I watched my kids climb on of you may remember meeting Garland dur tarium Director, Fels Planetarium the giant soft sculpture play area, I heard ing the Montreal IPS conference. A big plane The Franklin Institute Science Museum, Phil~ someone behind me talking about a prob taria round of applause to Garland on his adelphia, Pennsylvania) writes that for lem they were having with their star projec achievement in the field of digital anima their major renovation are underway, "Yes tor. It turns out that a teacher at a local tion. folks, the rumor is true! After 68 years of stel school planetarium was having trouble with oo. to Ray Worthy for his contributions for lar performances, the venerable Fels Plane his Spitz A-I after a nasty power surge. I a new planetarium in the Northeast of tarium in Philadelphia is closing down for 10 quickly jumped up and gave him some land. Ray sent this message to the months this year to completely revamp the names of a few people who I thought could whole story. I/(Dome-L) Readers of a "i-~~"'-'~~ theater. The Fels officially closed at the end help him overcome his dilemma. I naturally of more than three years may remember me of the last show of the year, 5 p.m. ~/'f'~f'~T7 sent him to the IPS website to track down telling you of a project in which I brought December 31st. Our last laser rock show was their contact information. over from Belgium, a nineteen-fifty's Saturday Dec. 29th at midnight and As the year wound down in the last hours Al found hiding in a cupboard underneath a featured Pink Floyd's liThe Wall". That show of 2001, I turned on the TV to see how net telescope at the in Genk. I marked the end Laser successful 10 work television would portray the events of told of fund-raising by a beautiful and talent year run at Fels. The theater is scheduled to this most challenging revolution around the ed opera Singer. It seems such a long time re-open in late October of this new year, sun. And what to my wondering eyes did ago. Last summer, I told you all how we had 2002. During the ten-month close-down appear, but a huge cube of glass and a shiny been held up by the dreaded foot and mouth we'll do all the usual cosmetic like silver sphere. It was a real thrill to see the disease preventing access, because we had new carpeting and seating. But the Hayden Planetarium as the backdrop for a built the planetarium in a rural setting next exciting news is that we will remove and three hour New Years Eve Special Edition of to our observatory. The building itself was replace our 19.8-meter (65-ft.) diame ABC News with Peter Jennings. I hope that opened last month by Professor Alan ter perforated steel dome (the nation's first) viewers around our country -and any others man of Oxford University. Well, to cut a with a 18.3-meter (60-ft.) alu- around the world - were inspired to go out long story short, there is to be a grand open minum dome, replace our old shelf and visit their local planetarium. As you read ing on February the 26th, which features a system with a walk-around and some of the stories below, I hope you are musical presentation of high quality in install a 110 by 220 degree 4-channel inspired to send me your news for a future which our kind friend, Suzannah Clarke of Electric video projection system edition of this column. Until then, we send The English National Opera will sing with with new cove lighting and sound system. our ... The new theater was de~;iglled Skan, Inc. The theater outfitting contract, in John Mosley (Program Supervisor at the high above the 11,000 square-meter '-!....L.l.U"" cluding the dome manufacture, was awarded Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles, California) square-foot) Casino of the and to Spitz, Inc. of Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, reports that Griffith Observatory closed its only be viewed from the "'~HHH'" the hometown crew. We are very excited doors to the public in January to begin a visitors 21 years of age and older. The about these steps we are taking in the direc three-year renovation and expansion project. was provided by Inc. and is IJVIVU>UL'-,U tion of a new planetarium paradigm. We See a short description of the project under with fiber-optic stars and various begin the formidable task of prepping the Pacific Planetarium Association in Inter lighting effects created animated theater for demolition this week by remov national News earlier in this issue. lights. Nearby sits Wombi Rock, HVueJ1U" ing all the slide, spfx, and video projectors. The Einstein Planetarium at the National lounge and a dance floor on three Having chosen not to abandon the use of Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. Resembling a massive rock outcroDoirl!T slide panorama and all-sky capability, we'll will also shut down, albeit for a shorter peri translucent onyx and alabaster, it take great care in their removal since we will od of time, to install a SkyVision all-dome the night with an array of effects clean up and re-use these projectors when we video system from Sky-Skan, Inc. of Nashua, ble throughout the casino. A new re-open. Speaking of cleaning and re-using, New Hampshire. The theater will be closed provides in-bar gaming our Evans and Sutherland Digistar I projector to the public from March 9 -April 6, 2002 for plenty of viewing with a (now 12 years old) will be removed this week the installation of a new feature show for video tower made of multicolored for storage and refurbishment. We'll set it up their new 12 projector high-definition video it Roll! off-line for program development since we system. will continue to use this starfield and graph Great ics projection technology for the foreseeable *People On Move* (Planetarium Director future. Seating and carpeting, the star projec John French (formerly with the Cook the Hamburg Planetarium, -L1UU1LJ<,U,;;;. tor pit surround and the stage all come out Science, Art and Technology Center in Cor many) recently opened a new multimedia over the next 2-3 weeks. In February, dome sicana, Texas) is on his way to a new position show based on the music and videos demolition work will begin and by late at the Abrams Planetarium in East Lansing, popular international recording artists, March, the room will look like a four and a Michigan. Enigma. The program entitled Enigma - Love, half story-tall empty box. Horror of horrors, Patrick Murphy (Founder and former Sensuality, Devotion - die Multimedia-Musik this means we also have to clean out all the President of Pangolin Laser Systems of show, can be purchased from the shows' co stuff that has been squirreled away back Orlando, Florida) has been named president producers Gmbh for 18,000 behind the dome over these past 70 years! I of Audio Visual Imagineering also of Orlan Euros. The laser effects for the show think the remains of a few past directors are do. Patrick will be in charge of the compa done by the premiere German laser program up there somewhere - at least their spirits! ny's daily operations and strategic planning. mers at LOBO electronic GmbH of Aalen, Last Monday's last show really does mark the Also joining the AVI crew is Doug Strawn Germany. For more information contact end of an era of us. The Fels is one of the last (former Director of Entertainment for Walt Siebert Project Manager - big theaters that held on to their legacy of Disney Co.) staring in the role of New Kapellenstr. 22 82008 UnterJl1achirlg homebrew equipment and a large staff dedi Projects Development Director. phone at 49-89-61-09-86-66, by fax at cated to show production up until just Laura Misajet (Owner of LM Images in 61-09-86-67 or mobile at 49-175-405-69-04. recently. Looking around behind the dome Narberth, Pennsylvania) will be the new is like an archeological 'dig' in which the Sales Manager, Planetarium Division, for next deadline is 21,2002. observer can spot the evidence of the devel Seiler Instrument in St. Louis, Missouri. Seiler to send any news to my address above. opment of the planetarium show as we is the North American sales rep for Zeiss Inc. forward to hearing from know it today. The artifacts are amazing: of Jena, Germany. Laura takes over for Pearl multiple-sky and spfx projectors designed Reilly of Destrehan, Louisiana. Pearl will be and built by planetarium spfx magician missed at the various planetarium confer Oskars Veisbergs, lamps from the old Zeiss ences. Drop Pearl a note of congratulations There will certainly be no lack MkIV projector, scenographics painted on on her retirement at [email protected]. neers when we have mastered the art the walls behind the dome for the still Karen Drogosz is the new Show Kit Sales ... Let us create vessels and sails UU,rUJU:-U remembered 'Trip To The Moon' show of Manager at the Adler Planetarium in Chi nrY,I1JP,Vl /11 either, and there will the '40s by legendary lecturer I. M. Levitt, cago, Illinois. Her direct phone number is pIe unafraid of the empty wastes. In the John Stoke's 'suncans', ingenious sound sys 312-322-0510 and her email address is: time, we shall prepare, for the brave tem and wiring solutions by longtime artist/ [email protected]. ers, maps of the celestial bodies - I shall do producer/spfxguru Val Gonzales, and a maze Drew Foster (formerly with East Coast the moon, you Galileo, for Jupiter. of wiring for a homebrew pre-computer age Control Systems in Bigler, Pennsylvania) has Johannes automation theater control system first joined the Gheens Science Hall & Rauch Conversations with installed in the late sixties by the pioneer of Planetarium in Louisville, Kentucky, as their the taped planetarium program at Fels, H. Technical Coordinator and will be responsi George Hamilton. Well, the stories can go on ble for keeping their dome operating at peak forever but I'd like to invite any planetarian performance. Our candid opinion is that all talk traveling near or through Philadelphia to the Moon, and all talk of signals stop in and see what we're doing. The place Moon, is sheer balderdash - in will be a wreck for 10 months and we'll be up The World's Largest Planetarium Dome is shine. to our eyeballs in alligators but we'll still inside the Mohegan Sun Resort in Uncasville, want to show off. So please come - and bring Connecticut. Operated by the Mohegan some aspirin!" Tribe of Indians, the planetarium dome sits to the needs of individual schools, commu Finally, learning goals used in solutions nities, and students. The book also pays spe won't help students achieve science cial attention to professional development For example, research suggests that the con of teachers, which is essential to implement cepts of a spherical earth, space, and new designs. This book includes chapters in should be taught in close connection to each curriculum design and specifications, design other. Students cannot accept that is by assemble, curriculum blocks, building cen ter-directed if they do not know the professional capability, unburdening the earth is round. Nor can they believe curricul urn, and increasing curriculum spherical earth without some IT~~H,d~rl~~ coherence. gravity to account for why people on the Maryvale Middle School Key to the Project 2061 reform philosophy bottom don't fall off. To make the best use of Planetarium is the belief that serious efforts to reform the learning goals, educators need to see the con 1050 Maryvale Drive K-12 curriculum require an understanding of nections among them. Atlas of Science the whole of education. To gain this kind of Literacy shows the connections among the Cheektowaga, New York perspective, Project 2061 commissioned ex learning goals in Benchmarks through a col USA perts to prepare reports on a dozen areas of lection of nearly 50 "strand maps," that the educational system that would have graphically depict how students' under [email protected] implications for the implementation of the standing might grow from grades K-12. Each reforms defined in their earlier volumes: map displays the ideas, skills and the connec Science for All Americans and Benchmarks. tions among them that are part of .,,-.f,ic'ni..-,,, Blueprints for Reform is a summation of those literacy in a particular topic, showing where reports, offering teachers, parents, policy each step along the way comes from and makers, business leaders and others a starting where it leads. Educators can study the maps Planetarium point for the exploration of the education to see how the ideas and skills that students P.O. Box system and its response to reform. learn in different grades and topiCS and Blueprints for Reform offers a wide-ranging even in diSCiplines - depend on and support Providence, Rhode examination of the current system to deter one another. Atlas does not prescribe a par 02901 mine what changes are desirable and possi ticular curriculum or instructional strategYi [email protected] ble in science education, and how to ensure instead, it presents a framework meant to our children are prepared for life in the 21st inspire a variety of different ways to century. It includes sections on foundation and organize learning experiences. Each map for Science literacy (equity, policy, finance, and research), the is clustered to related topics and is accompa Last time, we had discussed the use in the context (school organization, curriculum nied by a general discussion of the at classroom of the book by the American connections, materials and technology, and hand, a brief summary of the content of the Association for the Advancement of Science, assessment), and the support structure map and its major strands, and remarks on Science for All Americans, used by many as (teacher education, higher education, family related themes and historical episodes. Notes the finished product for school curricula. But and community, business and industry, and on interesting aspects of the maps, and rele there are some who feel that the content of resources). vant cognitive research from Benchmarks, that curriculum is not appropriate for the Resources for Science Literacy, a two-part are also included. modern world, that it has become "over CD-ROM tool, offers educators the opportu Although these books are available and stuffed" with poorly coordinated topics, nity to enhance their understanding of sci are used by many districts and states for the resulting in students who do not have ence literacy, make sound decisions about basis of their science and mathematics cur enough time to learn any part of it well. For curriculum materials, classroom instruction, ricula, few states have tied the benchmarks those thinkers, there is Designs for Science and assessments, and make better use of to staff development, curriculum and assess Literacy, (Designs), which calls for more fun SFAA and Benchmarks. Created to meet the ment, and student preconceptions. In the damental and extensive curriculum reform needs of today's teachers, Resources for Science next issue, a brief discussion of the status of than the quick-fix solutions in ineffectual Literacy offers help in overcoming obstacles implementation of the benchmarks in the tinkering with courses and subjects that has to better teaching and learning. It provides a United States and reform in textbook writ characterized past efforts. It addresses the carefully selected collection of references, ing and evaluation will complete this discus critical issues involved in assembling sound workshop activities, research, analysis, and sion. We invite anyone throughout the IPS instructional materials into a new, coherent course plans that illustrate many aspects of organization to submit overviews of their K-12 whole. science literacy and its application to K-12 curriculum and staff development processes Taking a goals-based approach to reshap science education. Links throughout the text for science and astronomy for their coun ing curricula, Designs draws on general allow users to search for resources relating to tries. specific topiCS presented in Science for All design principles, suggesting how to apply Sri those to specific curriculum reform efforts. Americans, placing a veritable storehouse of Very often it becomes hard to determine Designs deals with assembling sound instruc developmental tools and strategies at the whether an endeavor of ours is ever utilized. tional materials into a new, coherent K-12 user's fingertips. For teachers planning their In the case of the IPS web site, those of us whole - including links from science-orient own professional growth, individuals, and who were in Sri Lanka learned firsthand that ed studies to the arts and humanities. While higher education institutions involved in it not only is a tool for planetarians, but that upholding ambitious learning goals nation planning preservice and in-service educa it is read by interested persons outside the wide, Designs encourages seeking those com tion, and school districts designing staff field. The proof of that was among the par mon goals through diverse curricula, suited development programs, this is an invaluable asset. ticipants was a volunteer from the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Jim sented delegate Joanne Young. We heard Williams, who had previously been to Sri papers on the astronomy programs in many Lanka, but the thought of going with a places including the Slovak Republic and group of planetarium people seemed inter Chennai, India. We heard about a program in esting. Here is his report: South Africa to present indigenous sky legends There was a science I attended the International Planetarium and stories in the planetarium, and saw some we spent three riiTTOr,"rlT Society's conference in Sri Lanka, entitled "Sri terrific astronomy educational materials from (wen haze) with kids Lankan Skies and Sir Arthur, a 2001 Odyssey. Hong Kong. And, oh yeah, some guy gave a slide questions. I did see the Southern Cross There were 34 conference delegates from the show about the Astronomical Unit in Santa Centauri! United States, Australia, South Africa, India, Barbara. We saw and YVlr'¥lVOll(, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Italy, After the Colombo proceedings were finished, have 57 kinds Spain, China, and Japan. we spent four days and three nights touring the Our Sri Lankan host was T. C. Samaranaya hill country, visiting the Sigiriya Rock Fortress ke, the director of the SSO-seat planetarium in (500 A.D.!), the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy Colombo. Sam (as he allowed us to abbreviate (a UNESCO World Heritage site where the tooth 'Look, I can see the Cm11f).anZ011! his name) and Dr. Dale Smith ofBowling Green of the Buddha is kept), tea plantations, and gem State University had planned a busy schedule mines. The is about 26 hours air from Monday noon to Saturday morning. The real highlight for most of us was visiting way; I recommend the - a cool accessory The conference started on a terrific high: We schools in the upcountrYi most of these visits Mlflifl1,IClfl and Sri Lankan Airlines is were welcomed by a keynote address from Sir were not on the schedule - we were pleasantly - where you get a Arthur Clarke, who makes his home in Sri hijacked into several schools ('We'll just stop on the color screen on Lanka. Sir Arthur was witty and pointed, and here for 15 minutes or so ... '), only to be met by Saves lots answered a lot of questions from students pre- 200 or so smiling uniformed children lining the the stewardesses! tee will formally submit them to the IPS Jmlmplex Science Museum membership during the business of Street the IPS conference in Wichita, Kansas, U.S.A. Oklahoma OK 73111 U.S.A. Nominations At that time, additional nominations will be fax (405) 602-3768 accepted from the floor. e-mail Greetings IPS Colleagues: Ballots and candidate biographies and The time has corne to begin the process of statements will be mailed in mid-September. Arai selecting candidates to run for the offices of The returned ballots will be counted and Planetarium the International Planetarium Society. These audited and the results will be announced in Katsushika Museum offices are President-elect, Treasurer/Mem December. 3-25-1, Shiratori bership Chairperson, and Executive Secre Please think carefully about this very Katsushika-ku, 125-0063 important process as it tary. The terms of office are 2003-2004. Re fax +813 5680 member, for the office of President-elect, the future of your organization. Please submit e-mail- arati@ph:lm ..ifI1let.(JI.1P successful candidate will then become IPS the name of your nominee (and office) to President for 2005-2006 and then serve as any of the following individuals who have Jon Bell Past-President for 2007-2008. agreed to serve on the IPS Elections Commit Hallstrom Planetariun The IPS Elections Committee has been tee no later than Friday, May 3, 2002. activated and is ready to officially begin Avenue accepting nominations for these offices from Steven Mitch, Chairman Fort Pierce, FI 34981 U.S.A. any current IPS member. We would like to Benedum Planetarium fax (561) 462-4796 have more than one person nominated for Oglebay Resort e-mail-ibE~Hi.Q~if(:c.(:c.tl.us each office. Shawn Laatsch, current IPS Wheeling, WV 26003 U.S.A. fax (304) 243-4110 Treasurer/Membership Chair, and Lee Ann Professor Fairall [email protected] Hennig, current IPS Executive Secretary, Planetarium have affirmed their intentions to run again African Museum for those offices. Other nominees for these Johan Gijsenbergs P.O. Box 61 offices are encouraged. The office of Presi Artis Planetarium 8000 South dent-elect is still wide open at this time. Plantage Kerklaan 38-40 fax +27 21650 3352 The deadline for accepting nominations 1018 CZ Amsterdam Netherlands e-mail- ralralL(gJ1Jh'ySCl.w:::ulc.2~a from the general IPS membership is Friday, fax +31 020 5233 518 [email protected] May 3, 2002. Please mark your calendar. The Elections Committee will review the or - [email protected] Thank you for your coc)peratilon very 1m·nr\,'1-", ...,1- matter. list of nominees and verify that they are eli gible to run as a candidate for office and Wayne Wyrick then send the list of nominees to the IPS Kirkpatrick Planetarium Steven Mitch, Chairperson Executive Council. The Elections Commit- 0849 IPS Elections Comrnittee Tom Gehringer Our friend, and Great Plains Planetarium Association member Tom Gehringer passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 12, following his lengthy battle with cancer. An Omaha native, Tom had been interested in space since hearing Sputnik on his dad's Ham radio. He brought his first telescope while in the seventh grade. Tom received his B.S. in Architectural Studies, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, in 1977. Later he found the way to com bine his love of astronomy with an interest in teaching as he received his B.S. Secondary Education University of Nebraska, Omaha, in 1992. He began teaching in the Omaha Public Schools and took over the planetarium at Burke High School to make it nationally recognized. An active member of the Omaha Astronomical Society, he was currently the vice-president of the club. As an avid amateur astronomer, he observed the night sky whenever he could, often taking his wife and boys out to see something spectacular in the heavens. Seeking to further challenge his students, Tom participated in the first Research Based Science Education program, a program sponsored by the National Optical Astronomy Observatories and the National Science Foundation. The project allows students to use real astronomical data on active galactic nuclei and novae to do research, leading his students to national recognition and a trip to the annual meeting of the American Astronomical Society. Tom also created an honors astronomy program at Burke High and was most recently engaged in upgrad ing the school's planetarium facilities and planning for an observatory. Tom leaves behind wife Pat and his two sons Eric and Brian. Memorials to St. Bernards Renovation Campaign or Burke High Scholarship Fund. We have been notified by sources at the International Astronomical Union that amateur astronomer and NSO/GONG engineer Roy Tucker has donated an asteroid from his discovery list and the IAU Committee is unanimous in voting to have the asteroid named for Tom. Tom is pictured with a group of his students in the spring of 2001 (photo taken at Strategic Air and Space Museum by Jack Dunn). It was as an inspiration to young people, for his character and his love of the stars, that we remember his contributions. He will be missed. Jack Dunn President of GPPA Vol. 31, No.1, March 2002 Planetarian 55 At the end of the program, Dave gave the stairs outside the theater). usual end-of-show speech, and apologized to As I was collecting forms at the L the 75 or so people in the audience, describ 11:00 AM program, I overheard a teacher ing what had happened. Our late technician ing at a student. "The disc told Ray Holmes was still in the back, so on a tie your shoes back then. Didn't you April S. Whitt whim, Dave invited anyone who was inter Now that's a new job title. ested to stay after the program and watch Out of the mouths of babes: A week Fernbank Science Center the lamp change-out. Halloween, some second rrr'Olrl,pr<: 156 Heaton Park Drive Two couples elected to stay, and were fas attending our Moon Face plame'taI'lUlm cinated with the process. Dave described gram, part of which is a short video Atlanta, Georgia 30307 how the projector worked as Ray re-illumi Apollo era astronauts [email protected] nated the universe, pointed out "how it moon's surface. As the video aPlJeared makes the stars," and thanked them for stay head, I heard one student gasp, ing. When Ray handed him the expired Mummy!" To which his classmate Only one vote on the title for this column, lamp, Dave looked at the two couples and next seat replied scornfully, "That my fellow Calandrans. What should the said, "Give me a number between one and mummy. That's a space boy!/I prize be? ten./I Dave Dundee described an interesting "The older couple guessed closest," Dave From Eric Schulman, National Sunday afternoon at Fernbank Science Cen says, and he gave them the dead star lamp. Astronomy Observatory, comes The ter this past August. Part way through the They were delighted, and the other couple of the Universe in 200 Words or Less: last program of the day the northern star seemed so downcast that Ray asked them to Quantum fluctuation. Inflation. lamp in the Zeiss star projector burned out. wait a minute and disappeared into the tech sion. Strong nuclear interaction. "Fortunately," Dave says, "it was after the area. He came back with another dead star antiparticle annihilation. Deuterium star ID portion of the program, when we lamp, and presented it to couple number helium production. Density point out the current night sky objects. But it two. Recombination. Blackbody radiation. Local was before the "upcoming winter stars" sec "Everyone went home happy," says Dave. contraction. Cluster formation. Reioniza tion. While the taped narration was describ "What a great promotion for making visitors tion? Violent relaxation. Virialization. Biased ing Orion, there were stars missing. Lots of feel speciaL" galaxy formation? Turbulent fragrrlenlta1tion. stars." A few days before the winter holiday Contraction. Ionization. break, when teach Opaque hydrogen. Massive star formation. ers are wearing Deuterium ignition. thin and students Hydrogen depletion. Core contraction. seem to have Envelope expansion. Helium fusion. 'LA'" '''" .. lookih~ for a breakfasted on oxygen, and silicon fusion. Iron iJH,IUUL~UVll. pure sucrose, I Implosion. Supernova explosion. popular; taught groups of injection. Star formation Suoe]'nC)v3 kindergarteners sions. Star formation. Condensation. Plane and first-graders in tesimal accretion. Planetary differentiation. the planetarium. Crust solidification. Volatile gas L.t1LUU""'"" At the end of Water condensation. Water dissociation. shows for younger Ozone production. Ultraviolet children, I lead a Photosynthetic unicell ular game of "Simon Oxidation. Mutation. Natural selection and Says" to focus their evolution. Respiration. Cell differentiation. attention while Sexual reproduction. Fossilization. Land their teachers and exploration. Dinosaur extinction. Mammal group leaders com expansion. Homo sapiens manifestation. plete an evaluation Animal domestication. Food surplus form. Simon Says tion. Civilization! Innovation. Explclra1:io]1l. both arms up (they Religion. Warring nations. creation can't clap their and destruction. Exploration Colonization. hands with their Taxation without representation. Emanci arms in the air), pation Proclamation. Invention. Mass pro Simon says hands duction. Urbanization. Immigration. World on your chin (they conflagration. League of Nations. ,,"r..-rCHTD can't talk with extension. Depression World cO]llfLagration. their hands over Fission explosions. United Nations. their mouths), Si exploration. Assassinations. Lunar excur mon says look at sions. Resignation. Computerization. World your shoes (and tie Trade Organization. Terrorism. Internet any shoelaces that pansion. Reunification. Dissolution. World need it, before wide Web creation. Composition. LJALllUIJV ascending the lation? Just like a A planetanum grown-up on the road