May 25, 2012: Retro Night at the Planetarium

Friday, May 25, 6:30-7:30 and 8-9 p.m
ConocoPhillips Integrated Science Building, Room 220

This Friday, May 25, the planetarium will be dusting off the first two shows that graced their dome back in early 2010. With over a dozen shows on their current roster, plus all of the new shows they've premiered and special events they've hosted in the past year, it can take a while to fit these classics back in the rotation. Don't wait another six months-- get your tickets now at UAATix.com!

First, at 6:30 p.m., join two young students at a star party as they gain new perspectives on the Universe through "Two Small Pieces of Glass." Explore the Galilean Moons, Saturn's rings and the spiral structure of galaxies. During their conversation with an astronomer, the students also learn about the discoveries of Galileo, Huygens, Newton, Hubble and many others. Engaging and appealing to audiences of all ages, this full-dome show traces the history of the telescope from Galileo's modifications to a child's spyglass -- using two small pieces of glass -- to the launch of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and the future of astronomy. It explores the wonder and discovery made by astronomers through out the last 400 years.

Then, at 8:00 p.m., see our Sun as it has never been seen before in "The Heart of the Sun." From the Neolithic sky watchers of Europe to the solar observatories and blood sacrifice of Mesoamerica to the sun gods of the Egyptians and Greeks and the dawning of Aristotelian science, see how the development of our whole cosmology has been informed by our struggle with this oldest of mysteries. New space-based telescopes, along with a new generation of terrestrial instruments, are capturing both the fine surface detail of the Sun and the vast eruptions of its corona with unprecedented clarity. These breathtaking new high-resolution motion pictures take us inside a living star for the first time.

Both shows are one hour in length, featuring a 25-minute show followed by a live tour of the night sky and/or the Solar System. Ticket reservations are available online only at UAATix.com. Remaining tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis at the door on the day of the show. The planetarium will open for seating 30 minutes before the start of each show. You must be in the theater 10 minutes before the show starts. Reserved seats will be released after this time to stand-by customers. There is no entry after the show begins.

For more information or to learn how to become a UAA Planetarium member, please visit the Planetarium website.