HSU announces 2017-18 planetarium show schedule
ARKADELPHIA — The planetarium at Henderson State University’s Reynolds Science Center has scheduled
13 public shows during the
2017 fall and 2018 spring semesters.
From black holes and secrets of the sun to the mystery of the Christmas star, visitors will learn about the solar system on the planetarium’s
360-degree panoramic screen. Numerous projectors are used to display video and slides, which are combined with a modern sound system.
The shows are open to the public. There is an admission charge of $3 per person, or
$1 with student ID. Extreme darkness is important to the effects of the shows, therefore, late arrivals will not be admitted. Call 870-230-5162 for more information.
The following shows are scheduled:
• Thursday — The Cowboy Astronomer (37 minutes), 7 p.m.
The Cowboy Astronomer is a skillfully woven tapestry of star tales and Native American legends, combined with constellation identification, star-hopping, and astronomy tidbits, all told from the unique viewpoint of a cowboy astronomer who has traveled the world plying his trade and learning the sky along the way.
• Sept. 21 — Black Holes: The other side of infinity (24 minutes), 7 p.m.
Be dazzled by the visualizations of the formation of the early universe, star birth, and death, the collision of giant galaxies and a simulated flight to a super massive black hole lurking at the center of our own Milky Way galaxy.
• Oct. 5 — Dawn of the Space Age (36 minutes), 7 p.m.
From the launch of the first artificial satellite Sputnik, to the magnificent lunar landings, be immersed and overwhelmed with this most accurate historical reconstruction of man’s first steps into space.
• Oct. 19 — Mars Quest (41 minutes), 7 p.m.
Developed in conjunction with research scientists involved with NASA’s current and future Mars missions, this show discusses the Mars of the past, present and future.
• Nov. 9 — Secrets of the Sun (21 minutes), 7 p.m.
Secrets of the Sun allows audiences to experience an intimate look at the role the sun plays in the life of the solar system. From the nuclear forces churning at the heart of the sun to the mass ejections of solar material into the surrounding space, experience the power of the sun and its impact on the planets and ultimately life on Earth.
• Nov. 16 — Nine Planets and Counting (35 minutes),
7 p.m.
A Sudekum Planetarium production about the International Astronomical Union’s struggle to define a planet and how that definition might affect how scientists perceive and count the planets in the solar system.
• Nov. 30 — Mystery of the Christmas Star (31 minutes),
7 p.m.
• Dec. 7 — Mystery of the Christmas Star (31 minutes),
6 p.m.
Journey back over 2,000 years to Bethlehem to discover a scientific explanation for the star the wise men followed to find the baby Jesus.
• Jan. 25, 2018 — Super Volcanoes (24 minutes), 7 p.m.
Super Volcanoes explores rare types of volcanic eruptions and marshal the energy that lurks, like a sleeping dragon, beneath the surface of the planet Earth. The story of these big blow outs is a tale of havoc and mayhem: mass extinctions, climate collapses, and violence beyond anything humans have ever witnessed. In this unique immersive experience, audiences will explore the impact of volcanism on Earth and other worlds in our solar system. Can a super volcano erupt in our time? The answer is surprisingly close to home.
• Feb. 8, 2018 — Saturn: The Jewel of the Heavens (36 minutes), 7 p.m.
The Cassini space craft has lifted the veil on this once mysterious giant of the solar system. Data has been collected, not only on the giant itself, but also on the many moons orbiting Saturn and the countless particles encircling the planet known to all as the rings of Saturn. The data will be studied for years to come.
• Feb. 22, 2018 — 3000 Years Stargazing (34 minutes),
7 p.m. Throughout time, the sky has piqued our curiosity. Eclipses, the regular cycle of the seasons, the rising and setting of the moon, sun and planets, the motion of the stars — all have fascinated mankind since our earliest ancestors first looked up to the nighttime sky. Monuments constructed across our home planet, from Stonehenge to Machu Picchu, bear witness to humanity’s ancient fascination with the stars.
• March 8, 2018 — Dawn of the Space Age (36 minutes),
7 p.m.
From the launch of the first artificial satellite Sputnik, to the magnificent lunar landings, be immersed and overwhelmed with this most accurate historical reconstruction of man’s first steps into space.
• March 29, 2018 — Two Small Pieces of Glass (25 minutes), 7 p.m.
How the telescope has changed humans’ view of the heavens from its inception, development, improvement and what is in store for the future of watching the stars.
• April 12, 2018 — Stars of the Pharaohs (36 minutes),
7 p.m.
Travel to ancient Egypt to see how science was used to tell time, make a workable calendar, and align huge buildings. Learn about the connection the ancient Egyptians felt with the stars and various astronomical phenomena, and experience some of the most spectacular temples and tombs of the ancient world in its original splendor.
• April 19, 2018 — Exoplanets (26 minutes), 7 p.m.
Join mankind’s first space probe as it journeys outside the solar system to the many new worlds astronomers are discovering beyond. Audiences will visit gas giants caught in a deadly dance with their host stars, frozen rogue planets hurling through space, molten rocky worlds now known to science and new planets drifting comfortably within the Goldilocks Zone, the area around a star where Earthlike worlds may exist. Audiences will also learn new insight about the Earth, moon, sun, and the solar system.