PROCEEDINGS OF SRI LANKAN SKIES & SIR ARTHUR A 2001 ODYSSEY: "TEACHING THE UNIVERSE IN THE 21 sT CENTURY" An international planetarium and astronomy conference hosted by the Sri Lanka Planetarium Colombo, Sri Lanka March 19-20, 2001 Proceedings of SRI LANKAN SKIES & SIR ARTHUR: A 2001 ODYSSEY: "TEACHING THE UNIVERSE IN THE 21ST CENTURY" Colombo, Sri Lanka March 19-20, 2001 Welcome Session Papers WELCOME ADDRESS Mr. C. H. Tissera ................................................................................................................................... 1 ADDRESS FROM IPS Prof. Dale W. Smith .............................................................................................................................. 2 KEYNOTE ADDRESS Sir Arthur C. Clarke, C.B .E .................................................................................................................. 3 ADDRESS BY GUEST OF HONOR Hon. Prof. Leslie Gunawardana ........................................................................................................... 6 ADDRESS BY CHIEF GUEST Hon. Ratnasiri Wickremanayake .......................................................................................................... 8 VOTE OF THANKS Mr. T. C. Samaranayaka ....................................................................................................................... 9 Presentations by the Conference Host WELCOME TO PLANETARIUM T. C. Samaranayaka ............................................................................................................................ 10 ACTIVITIES OF THE SRI LANKA PLANETARIUM T. C. Samaranayaka ............................................................................................................................ 11 PANEL PRESENTATION: PROMOTING ASTRONOMY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES T. C. Samaranayaka ............................................................................................................................ 12 Contributed Papers IGNEOUS AND VOLCANIC ORIGIN OF LUNAR AND PLANETARY CRATERS Prof. P. Devadas, F.R.A.S ................................................ :.................................................................. 13 A NEW PLANETARIUM FOR THE 21ST CENTURY Ronald Drimmel, Attilio Ferrari, & Paola Rossi ................................................................................ 17 BUILDING A DIGITAL GALAXY Ronald Drimmel and Neil deGrasse Tyson ........................................................................................ 18 FIRE IN THE SKY Anthony Fairall, Elsabe Uys, and Temba Matamela .......................................................................... 25 PLANETARIUM MAINTENANCE: PROTECTING YOUR INVESTMENT John Hare ............................................................................................................................................ 27 USING POWERPOINT PRESENTATION SOFTWARE TO TEACH 21ST CENTURY ASTRONOMY George Hastings ................................................................................................................................. 30 PLANETARIUM FOR SOCIETY Dr. P. Iyamperumal ............................................................................................................................. 35 A MODEL KIT TO EXPLAIN THE APPARENT MOTIONS OF THE SUN, THE MOON, AND THE PLANETS J. Kyoji Saito ...................................................................................................................................... 37 STARVID-NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR LEARNING ABOUT THE UNIVERSE Ing. Jan Sifner ..................................................................................................................................... 43 EYES ON THE SKY Dale W. Smith ..................................................................................................................................... 45 WORKING TOGETHER IN IPS Dr. Dale W. Smith ............................................................................................................................... 50 INTEGRATION OF FORMAL AND NON-FORMAL EDUCATION UNDER THE PLANETARIUM Prof. R. Subramanian ......................................................................................................................... 53 PLANETARIA AND OBSERVATORIES IN THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC Marian Vidovenec ............................................................................................................................... 55 THE PLANETARIUM AND ITS CONNECTION WITH PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS AS IT WORKS IN THE SLOVAK CENTRAL OBSERVATORY IN HURBANOVO Marian Vidovenec ............................................................................................................................... 57 ii PAPER PLATE EDUCATION: ACTIVITY: COMMUNICATING WITH ISS April Whitt .......................................................................................................................................... 59 USING AMATEUR ASTRONOMERS AS VOLUNTEERS TO PROMOTE AN ASTRONOMY EDUCATION OUTREACH PROGRAM Jim Williams ....................................................................................................................................... 60 ASTRONOMY TEACHING PACKAGE OF HONG KONG SPACE MUSEUM Mr Yip, Chee-kuen and Sit, Karen Man ............................................................................................. 63 iii Editor: Dale W. Smith Transcri pti ons: Diana Tussing Text Preparation: Wade Kemp Printing: Printing Services, Bowling Green State University ©2001 by the International Planetarium Society; all rights reserved Edi tor's Notes: We thank the many authors whose cooperation made possible the preparation of these Proceedings. The keynote paper by Clarke is based on a transcript of the spoken paper edited by the author and editor to retain the conversational approach and spirit of the original presentation. The welcome session papers by Tissera, Gunawardana, and Wickremanayake are based on transcripts of the paper as read from text. All other papers are based on texts provided by the authors. The ideas and opinions expressed by the authors are not necessarily those of the conference organizers, the International Planetarium Society, its officers or membership, or the editor. Photo Credits: All figures were supplied by the respective authors. iv WELCOME ADDRESS Mr. C. H. Tissera Additional Secretary to the Minister of Science and Technology, Sri Lanka Sir Arthur, Professor Arethanayaka, Prof. Tissa We also have with us 33 visiting delegates from 11 coun­ Vitharana, Prof. Dale Smith, Mr. Samaranayaka, distin­ tries participating in this conference. Your participation and guished delegates from the participating countries, special your contribution during the technical sessions of this con­ invitees, ladies and gentlemen. On behalf of the Ministry of ference will enrich the proceedings both technically and in­ Science and Technology, it is my privilege to extend a very tellectually. I wish to extend to all of you a very special warm welcome to everyone of you to this inauguration cer­ welcome and I hope your visit to Sri Lanka and participating emony of the International Planetarium and Astronomy Con­ in this conference will be a great experience for you. ference titled "Sri Lankan Skies and Sir Arthur: 200 1: A Space Odyssey." Conference organizers will have an unenviable task of limiting the local participation in this important conference, It was indeed a privilege and a great source of inspira­ judging from responses we received. Given the circum­ tion for all of us to have had the consent of the Honorable stances, the conference organizers were constrained to in­ Prime Minister to be the chief guest on this occasion. But vite only 25 of the eminent local scientists from the many just at this moment, a very important matter relating to the others to grace this occasion. I welcome all of them and 2001 budget is being debated in Parliament, and the Honor­ take this opportunity to place our deep regret that we were able Prime Minister, as the head of the government group, unable to make this list larger. Invited to this meeting also has to be there. He regrets his inability to be present here, are about 100 representatives from relevant government sec­ but he has sent his good wishes, and we will have the privi­ tors and private institutions. I thank them all for their pres­ lege and benefit of listening to his address delivered on his ence this afternoon and extend them also a very warm wel­ behalf. come. Due to the same compelling reason the Honorable Min­ One of the objectives of the conference is to expose the ister of Science and Technology, Prof. Leslie Gunawardana, Sri Lankan school children to an opportunity to meet emi­ is also held up, and we hope that he will be able to make it nent national and international astronomers of the present somehow during the inauguration ceremony. day. Invited to the inauguration therefore, though limited in number, are the staff and students from some selected schools. I know our Honorable Minister was very keen that this I welcome them all, and hope that this will give you an op­ conference takes place and is successful. He took upon him­ portunity to meet your idols, shake their hands, and receive self to take this matter to the Cabinet and get the concur­ some useful information which otherwise would not have rence of the government to hold this conference in Sri Lanka. been possible for you. I am sure he looks forward to the outcome of this conference and to our recommendations that might come
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