Spring 2014: Planetarium shows explore bears, earthquakes, black holes and more

Located in ConocoPhillips Integrated Science Building, Room 220, the UAA Planetarium and Visualization Theater hosts two shows every Friday night (except holidays) during the fall and spring semesters. The full-dome theater offers viewers an immersive experience, with each show delving into a scientific topic. Most shows are under 30 minutes and followed by a live lecture from distinguished faculty. Tickets for all planetarium shows, including the spring showings listed below, are available at UAATix.com.

Friday, March 14 6:30 p.m. - "River of Bears" with Drew Hamilton, Alaska Department of Fish & Game Come to Alaska to see the largest gathering of bears in the world! Shot in stunning 4K full-dome video, "River of Bears" takes you to the legendary McNeil River State Game Sanctuary, where more than 100 brown bears congregate each summer to fish, mate and prepare for the harsh Alaska winter. Immerse yourself in this wild setting while learning from experts how the bears navigate one another with remarkable intelligence in order to survive. You will never see these iconic animals the same way again.

8 p.m. - "Dynamic Earth" with Omega Smith "Dynamic Earth" is an immersive full-dome 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.

Thursday, March 20 6:30 p.m. - "River of Bears" with Robin Dublin, Alaska Department of Fish & Game Come to Alaska to see the largest gathering of bears in the world! Shot in stunning 4K full-dome video, "River of Bears" takes you to the legendary McNeil River State Game Sanctuary, where more than 100 brown bears congregate each summer to fish, mate and prepare for the harsh Alaska winter. Immerse yourself in this wild setting while learning from experts how the bears navigate one another with remarkable intelligence in order to survive. You will never see these iconic animals the same way again.

Friday, March 21 6:30 p.m. - "Earthquake" with UAA Geological Sciences Professor Kris Crossen, Ph.D. A sweeping geological journey, "Earthquake" explores the forces that transform the surface of our planet. After a stunning flight over the San Andreas Fault, audiences travel back in time to experience San Francisco's infamous 1906 earthquake. Data-driven visualizations illustrate Earth's story, revealing how subtle motions and sudden ruptures have shaped our planet over eons and how geological activity influences the course of human history. Finally, see how scientists and engineers help society prepare for a safer future.

8 p.m. - AudioDome with Charles Rowell St. Patrick's show featuring a mash-up of music and images by KRUA DJs.

Friday, March 28 6:30 p.m. - "Earthquake" with Peter Haeussler of United States Geological Survey A sweeping geological journey, "Earthquake" explores the forces that transform the surface of our planet. After a stunning flight over the San Andreas Fault, audiences travel back in time to experience San Francisco's infamous 1906 earthquake. Data-driven visualizations illustrate Earth's story, revealing how subtle motions and sudden ruptures have shaped our planet over eons and how geological activity influences the course of human history. Finally, see how scientists and engineers help society prepare for a safer future.

8 p.m. - "Dawn of the Space Age" with Omega Smith Relive the excitement of the early days of space exploration, from the launch of the first artificial satellite to the magnificent lunar landings and privately operated space flights. Be immersed and overwhelmed with this most accurate historic reconstruction of man's first steps into space. Who were these men and women who took part in these death-defying endeavors? Witness their drive, their passion and their perseverance to explore in "Dawn of the Space Age."

Friday, April 11 (Biology Night) 6:30 p.m. - "Nanocam" with UAA Biological Sciences Professor Caroline Wilson "Nanocam," the show that shrinks you down to the size of an insect and flies you through the eye of a needle, is a microscopic joyride into the five kingdoms of life. Using the latest 3-D animation technology and based on real electron microscope imagery, this show offers a unique, motivating, didactic and funny approach to biology never seen before. "Nanocam: A trip into biodiversity" is one hour in length, featuring a 28-minute show followed by a presentation on the biological uses of electron microscopes.

8 p.m. - "Natural Selection" with UAA Biological Sciences Faculty Catherine Pongratz In Victorian times, many physical phenomena had already been discovered and described by natural laws, but life's most eloquent mechanism was still unknown. Join the young Charles Darwin on an adventurous voyage of exploration circumnavigating the world with the H.M.S. Beagle. Hear Darwin himself reveal the simple and beautiful mechanism that explains the evolution of all life on Earth: natural selection.

Friday, April 18 6:30 p.m. - "River of Bears" with Tom Griffin, Alaska Department of Fish & Game Come to Alaska to see the largest gathering of bears in the world! Shot in stunning 4K full-dome video, "River of Bears" takes you to the legendary McNeil River State Game Sanctuary, where more than 100 brown bears congregate each summer to fish, mate and prepare for the harsh Alaska winter. Immerse yourself in this wild setting while learning from experts how the bears navigate one another with remarkable intelligence in order to survive. You will never see these iconic animals the same way again.

8 p.m. - "Black Holes" with UAA Astronomy Professor Travis Rector, Ph.D. "Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity" is a full-dome show from Thomas Lucas Productions, developed in collaboration with the 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.

Friday, April 25 6:30 p.m. - "Earthquake" with UAA Geological Sciences Professor Kris Crossen, Ph.D. A sweeping geological journey, "Earthquake" explores the forces that transform the surface of our planet. After a stunning flight over the San Andreas Fault, audiences travel back in time to experience San Francisco's infamous 1906 earthquake. Data-driven visualizations illustrate Earth's story, revealing how subtle motions and sudden ruptures have shaped our planet over eons and how geological activity influences the course of human history. Finally, see how scientists and engineers help society prepare for a safer future.

8 p.m. - "Stars of the Alaskan Sky" with Omega Smith Have you ever looked up at the night sky and wondered what you were seeing? What is that bright object on the horizon? Where is the Big Dipper? In a special all-live presentation, Omega Smith will take you on a tour of the night sky and show you what you can see during our long winter nights. You'll learn what constellations and planets are visible, as well as how to look for the moon. Best of all, it will be a balmy 68 degrees inside the planetarium.

March Archive