Saturday matinee at the planetarium, Oct. 13

Introducing the new "Saturday Matinee" series at the planetarium: shorter, but cheaper! All shows in the series will be 25-30 minutes long, with no time for additional live presentations or audience questions. The show length will be shorter, but the cost will also be 40 percent less! If you are looking for live interaction with expert presenters, we encourage you to attend one of our one-hour Friday night shows. The series kicks off this Saturday with showings of "Search for Life," "Black Holes" and "Dynamic Earth."

"Search for Life"
Saturday, Oct. 13, 2-2:30 p.m.
UAA Planetarium (ConocoPhillips Integrated Science Building, Room 220)

For as long as humans have contemplated the cosmos, we have wondered if we are alone. Narrated by Harrison Ford and created in collaboration with NASA, the American Museum of Natural History's "The Search for Life: Are We Alone?" explores this intriguing question, taking visitors on a fascinating journey through time and space. Breathtaking visualizations based on cutting-edge scientific data will transform your view of the universe to reveal countless worlds that may harbor life. From the depths of the oceans to the outer reaches of the cosmos, "The Search for Life" explores the links between life on Earth and the potential for life on other planets. This presentation will be 25 minutes long.

"Black Holes"
Saturday, Oct. 13, 3-3:30 p.m.
UAA Planetarium (ConocoPhillips Integrated Science Building, Room 220)

"Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity" is a fulldome show from Thomas Lucas Productions, developed in collaboration with Denver Museum of Nature & Science, NOVA and the National Center for Supercomputing Applications. Narrated by Academy Award-nominated actor Liam Neeson, this cutting-edge production features high-resolution visualizations to bring the current science of black holes onto the dome. Audiences will be dazzled with striking, immersive animations of the formation of the early universe, star birth and death, the collision of giant galaxies and a simulated flight into the super-massive black hole lurking at the center of our galaxy. This presentation will be 25 minutes long.

"Dynamic Earth"
Saturday, Oct. 13, 4-4:30 p.m.
UAA Planetarium (ConocoPhillips Integrated Science Building, Room 220)

"Dynamic Earth" is an immersive fulldome program that explores the inner workings of Earth's climate engine. With visualizations based on satellite monitoring data and advanced supercomputer simulations, this cutting-edge production follows a trail of energy that flows from the sun into the interlocking systems that shape our climate: the atmosphere, oceans and the biosphere. Audiences will ride along on swirling ocean and wind currents, dive into the heart of a monster hurricane, come face-to-face with sharks and gigantic whales and fly into roiling volcanoes. This presentation will be 25 minutes long. Brought to you by the creators of "Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity."

About tickets:
Ticket reservations for all shows 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.