The Planetarium Education Connection

'Tis the season for spring? ...

by Nathalie Martimbeau

If the snow has finally gone (what a wish!), and warmer weather closer, we might be enticed to spend more time outside looking up. But again, when indoors, weather is not really a problem... Here is what's going on in our Canadian planetaria this spring.

MacMillan Space Science Centre (Vancouver)

 Much of the new programming at the H R MacMillan Space Centre is focussed on the 100th Anniversary of Flight. In the planetarium "Flying into the Future: 100 years of Flight and Beyond" opened March 14th. The show looks at some of the unique contributions Canada has made to the history of flight, from the "Silver Dart" to bush planes, the Avro Arrow and more, and ends with a review of all the latest developments in the field of rocketry.

In the GroundStation Canada theatre "Space: A Dangerous Place" looks at the pro's and con's of manned versus robotic space missions. "Wings: The Ride" is playing on the Virtual Voyages Simulator.

The H R MacMillan Space Centre has also recently received funding to undertake a major technical upgrade of systems and equipment. A particular emphasis will be on increasing the capacity for distance learning delivery of programs, including video conferencing and web based programs. The Space Centre is looking to play a larger national role in the development and delivery of astronomy and space programs to Canada's rural, aboriginal and northern communities.

Calgary Science Center (Calgary)

The Calgary Science Centre enjoyed record attendance in 2002, with a total of 225,000 people taking in our exhibits, school shows, and public programs. This is up about 25% from the previous year, itself a record year. Attendance continues to be high so far in 2003. Current projects include co-production of a federally-funded exhibit called One World, about the issue of climate change and energy conservation. Also in production, a new family-oriented planetarium show called "Far Out Man!" will feature the first fully animated character who serves as host for a tour of the wonders of space. Later this spring a new large format film, "Jane Goodall's Wild Chimpanzees", complemented by an extensive exhibit on chimpanzees later this summer.

Astronomy courses also have done record "box office," with a full house of 200 people attending a post-Xmas Telescope User's Course, and 90 parents and children attending a "family edition" of an introductory Explore the Sky course. Though poor winter weather has clouded out most nights, when skies cooperated the public turned out in droves to look through telescopes on Friday Night Stargazing sessions. On one ideal Friday night in January, several hundred people lined up for half an hour for a glimpse of Saturn at its best for a generation (at maximum altitude and with its rings wide open). Later this year Mars will be the main attraction, as it reaches its closest opposition in recorded history. During the prime Mars viewing season in late August and early September, nightly live lectures will be offered in the Discovery Dome theatre followed by telescope viewing on the rooftop Observing Deck.

Ontario Science Center (Toronto)

 The STARLAB at the Ontario Science Centre (OSC) is Toronto's only public planetarium. The OSC continues to present daily public shows 7 days a week, as well as curriculum-related school programming for Grades K-9. Planetarium shows schedule will be increased during Astronomy Week (May 5-11) to include public demonstrations and displays. The week's festivities culminates in a star party on Saturday May 10th, where visitors can attend a public lecture on the night sky and then stay for an evening of star-gazing with members of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. Check the OSC's website for further planetarium connections to Mars' August opposition:

http://www.OntarioScienceCentre.com

Planétarium de Montréal

A new afternoon planetarium show entitled "Mysteries of Jupiter" will start on Mach 20th. It will feature the Galileo spacecraft's main discoveries, which its mission is nearing its end.

The production of an evening show is also in progress, to be presented Fridays through Sundays starting May 16th. This show, entitled "Night Sky!" , will be presented entirely live by the lecturer whom will feature the night's sky during the coming weeks. The constellation of the month will be highlighted with current astronomical news. This show is a good venue to enable regular modifications. This particular show is geared towards the sky savy audience and those wanting to learn more about the sky. PowerPoint presentations via video technology will be used to offer flexiblility and rapid daily update.

A vast programme of on-going training for the lecturing staff is under way to allow audience interaction with the lecturer and participation during the show. This is a trend that is coming back in the planetarium world. In the last 20 years, planetaria around the world have gone from a live lecturing style to a part- or all taped-presentations. As the live lecturing style is coming back, lecturers are using an interactive style to enhance the public' learning of astronomy by participating to the shows.

Elsewhere...

Canadian Science Museums/Centers reciprocity

 A new reciprocal admission agreement has been implemented for 2003, giving members complementary or reduced admission fees to other facilities within the Canadian Association of Science Centers. Check with your local science museum or planetarium.

National Dark-Sky Week Set for April 1-8, 2003

(excerpt from the March 2003 issue of Planetarian, Journal of the International Planetarium Society)

 The International Dark-Sky Association encourages all to use the evenings of April 1st to April 8th 2003, from 10 pm to 12 am (ET & CT) and 9 pm to 11 pm (RT & PT) to attend public star parties, visit their local planetarium or public observatory, or simply go outside to a safe, dark location to enjoy the wonde of the night sky. Learning the constellations, observing the planets, wondering about the stars and the Milky Way are some of the most basic of human experiences and should be enjoyed by all. For more information on National Dark-Sky Week is available at:

http://www.nationaldarkskyweek.htmlplanet.com/

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank the following people for their contribution to this issue's column: Pierre Chastenay (Planétarium de Montréal), John Dickenson (MacMillian Space Science Center ), Alan Dyer (Calgary Science Center), Joseph Wilson (Ontario Science Center) and the Planetarian (March, 2003, vol 32, no. 1 issue) by permission John Mosley, editor.

 

Nathalie is a member of the CASCA Education Committee. She is currently at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and formerly from the Planétarium de Montréal.