Dupont Planetarium Opens 1997-1998
Season
This year, the Dupont Planetarium will add two new shows to its
repertoire to enhance the learning experiences of people in the CSRA.
The new shows are: "Journey Into the Living Cell" and "The Voyager
Encounters". The popular shows, "Through the Eyes of Hubble" and
"'Tis the Season" (our Christmas show) are also still available.
<http://rpsec.usca.sc.edu/DupontPlanetarium.html>
School groups visiting the planetarium will be able to view
"Journey Into the Living Cell" and "Through the Eyes of Hubble" from
September to December and from April to June. "The Voyager
Encounters" will be available from January to March.
The general public is also invited to experience the planetarium
shows. The planetarium will be open every Friday at 6:00 PM and 7:00
PM. "Journey Into the Living Cell" will be shown in the 6:00 time
slot and "Through the Eyes of Hubble" will be shown in the 7:00 time
slot from September to November and from April to June. "The Voyager
Encounters" will be shown at both the 6:00 and 7:00 time slots from
January to March.
During the Christmas Season, the show "'Tis the Season" will be
available to the general public. The show runs Monday through
Saturday at 6:00 and 7:00 each evening from November 29 - January 3.
Fees for the general public shows are $4 for adults, $3 for senior
citizens, and $2 for K-12 students.
We are very excited about "Journey into the
Living Cell". With this show we extend our planetarium
presentations from the vastness of outer space to the wonder of inner
space - the living cell. "Journey Into the Living Cell" provides a
stimulating encounter with the amazing structure and function of the
cell. You will be impressed with the quality of the video images that
appear on the dome and a presentation that takes you inside the
living cell.
"The Voyager En-counters" chronicles the
outstanding success of the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 space craft, which
were launched in 1977. They passed through our solar system and flew
by Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. The show discusses the
functions of Voyager's instrument packages and provides highlights of
each flyby. Additionally, the show compares and contrasts each of the
planet's atmospheres, magnetic fields, moons and ring systems.
In "Through the Eyes of Hubble" there is
a history of telescopes and examples of images from early astronomers
that set the scene for the magnificent accomplishments of the Hubble
Space Telescope. A description of the contributions of Edwin Hubble,
after whom the Space Telescope was named, are discussed. Viewers will
take a ride on the Space Shuttle Endeavor as it travels to the Hubble
Space Telescope for a repair mission. Finally, guests will view some
of the spectacular images taken by the telescope and probe distant
galaxies.
"'Tis the Season" is about a season
which holds some of the warmest and brightest celebrations of the
year. It traces the development of many of the world's endearing
holiday customs, and how they involve lighting up the winter season.
The show also recounts the historical religious and cultural customs
practiced during the time of winter solstice. We catch a few Northern
winter constellations. We illustrate why we even have seasons by
demonstrating the Sun's path across the sky throughout the year, and
the Earth's tilt and orbit around the Sun. And, of course, we explore
the possible astronomical explanations for a "Star over Bethlehem".
Ruth Patrick Science Education Center
- University of South Carolina Aiken
- Copyright © 1997-98 by the Board of Trustees of
the University of South Carolina.
-
- URL:
http://rpsec.usca.sc.edu/newsletter/Oct97/Planetarium.html(October,
1997)
