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PLANETARIUM SHOWS
GROUPED BY SUBJECT
(click on a
show to get a description)
1-4. "Season" Stars and
Southern Skies.
Guam is a wonderful place for
stargazing because we're so near the Equator. We can see about 95% of
the visible stars whereas only about 70% of the total visible stars can be
seen from North America. "Season" Stars and Southern Skies
is a four-part series (spring, summer, autumn and winter). In each
show, the prominent stars of the particular season are named and discussed
and the constellations of the southern skies are pointed out. None of
the discussed constellations can be seen from North America. Learn
about the Southern Cross and when it is visible in Guam's skies.
Discover why you can't always find the Big Dipper when you go out to look for
it. Learn the location of the nearest star to our own sun. Find
out when eight of the ten brightest stars and fifteen of the twenty brightest
stars are visible in one glorious evening.
Ask for the show for the current
season by name ("We'd like to see Winter Stars and Southern Skies")
or pick the season or southern constellations you'd most like to learn about
("I want the show that teaches me about the Southern Cross" [that's
Summer Stars and Southern Skies]).
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5. The Zodiac Constellations
Many people don't know that the
astrological "signs" are actually constellations in the sky. In
this show we find the locations and trace the outlines of all twelve zodiacal
constellations. We'll also learn about a scientific phenomenon called
precession. Why do we learn about precession? Because it means
that your "sign" is not the one in the horoscope books. The
astrologers have been lying to you for about 1,000 years! Find out why
in The Zodiac Constellations. We'll also discover how many
people in the audience were actually born under the sign Ophiucus. A
great show for people who are "into" horoscopes.
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6. The
Star
The Star of Bethlehem is one of the
most powerful symbols of the Christian religion. Just what was the
Star? This show examines several current theories about the nature of
the Star of Bethlehem. We'll hear the Biblical texts that mention the
star and consider the possibilities that the Star of Bethlehem was a comet,
or perhaps a meteor, or maybe even a nova. We will view the stars as
they appeared in the year 4 BC over the town of Bethlehem.
Although The Star was
originally presented at Christmas time, it’s not strictly a Christmas show
and can be used to demonstrate logical thinking and critical thought.
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7. The Skies of Mozart's Time
This show transports you back in
time to the late 18th century when Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was alive
(1756-1791). We'll follow the major events in the life of the famous
composer and in the process we'll learn how Halley's Comet was named and about
the discovery of the planet Uranus. We also learn what was happening in
the rest of the world when the British colonies on North America declared
their independence. The Skies of Mozart's Time features a soundtrack
of Mozart's most famous music and can be tied to music or history
classes. It's a cross-discipline extravaganza and can be used to give
students historical background and anchor points for some of the major
astronomical and historical events of the period.
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8. The Planetarium Instrument
Children and adults alike are
fascinated by how things work and this show explains how a planetarium show
is written and produced. During our exploration, we learn what the
ecliptic and coordinates are and we take a journey to the North Pole to find
out why it is called 'The Land of the Midnight Sun'. Find out what
happens when you push up the slide switch marked SUN/PLANETS on the
planetarium console and (maximum fun for your students or group!) what it looks
like when you turn on all the special effects at once.
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9. The
Universe
This show is a journey of the
imagination. We cruise through space in a variety of vehicles that
travel at different speeds to introduce the concept of the vastness of the
universe. Ultimately we board an imaginary ship that travels at the
speed of light to explore the wonders of the universe. We learn how
stars are born and die, and about red giants, white dwarfs and black holes.
We travel to the farthest thing we can see with the largest telescopes and
learn how long it would take us to get there at the speed of light.
Take a trip through The Universe at the planetarium.
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10. The Planetarium as a
Teaching Tool
This show is designed primarily for
teachers and other people who are involved in education. It explains
how you can help the planetarium coordinator design shows for your particular
needs. Do you teach history? Are you looking for a presentation
that will make historical events come alive for your students or group?
Do you teach a language? Are you looking for a show that is recorded
entirely in the language you teach? Are you a Girl or Boy Scout Leader
interested in a show that has scouting concepts and lore?
The Planetarium is not just for
teaching astronomy but is a wonderful teaching tool for all
disciplines. Get several of your teacher friends together and book this
show in the afternoon after school. Learn how you can make your
teaching more exciting and interesting.
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11. The Solar
System
This is the 'upper grades/adult'
version of the fourth grade show (all 'fourth grade' age references have been
deleted) and it provides a quick overview of the planets and satellites that
make up the solar system. If you are looking for introductory material
for both the planets and their satellites, this is the show to book.
This show also makes use of the planetarium orrery, a moving model of the
solar system that shows the relative speed of the visible planets. Come
explore The Solar System at the planetarium.
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12. The
Planets
This show provides a more 'in
depth' look at the planets (except Earth) by using some of the thousands of
photographs sent back to Earth by the radio-controlled robots we have set to
space. Learn why the surface of Venus is hotter than the surface of
Mercury, even though Venus is farther from the sun. Learn the location
of the biggest storms and largest mountains in the solar system. We
also watch the planets move among the stars in the planetarium sky.
Book this show and learn about our neighbors in space. (Please note
that this show does not mention or discuss the satellites or moons).
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13. The
Moons (Part 1)
In this show, we learn about the
natural satellites that circle the planets Earth, Mars, Jupiter and
Saturn. Since our moon is smaller than Earth, most people think that
all the moons are small. However, some of the moons are bigger than
some of the planets!
Book this show and learn about
the moon that scientists call "The Pizza Moon". Find out
which moon is a giant ice-skating rink. The moons aren't just points of
light anymore. Book this show and learn about some of our neighbors in
space. (Please note that although we do mention which planet each moon
orbits we do not discuss the planets in this show. This show does not
include the moons of Uranus, Neptune or Pluto).
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14. The
Moons (Part 2)
In this show, we learn about the
natural satellites that circle the planets Uranus, Neptune and Pluto.
Book this show to learn about "The Cantaloupe Moon" and about the
moon that astronomers believe was completely torn apart in a giant collision
early in the formation of the solar system. The moons aren't just
points of light anymore (with one exception we learn about in this
show). Book this show and learn about some of our other neighbors in
space. (Please note that although we do mention which planet each moon
orbits we do not discuss the planets in this show. This show does not
include the moons of Earth, Mars, Jupiter or Saturn).
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15. Are We
Alone? The Message from Outer Space
In this show, we learn about SETI,
the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence. People have wondered if
we were alone in the universe since we became human. The ancient
peoples placed their gods in the sky and in modern times, we wonder about the
existence of aliens.
This show explores the history
of the various ways we have tried to detect the presence of other life forms
and in a surprise news bulletin we are given a message that could have come
from outer space. Hints about its meaning are given in the planetarium
presentation but the whole 'meaning' is not divulged. When you book
this show, you will be given a handout at the end of the show that contains
the message. You can then discuss the meaning with your students or
group. Are We Alone? Book this show to find out!
NOTE: Are We Alone was
revised and updated in 1999 to include current SETI searches.
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16. Urania's
Heritage. The Women of Astronomy
Urania is the Greek Muse of
Astronomy. Throughout most of recorded history, she was the only
'woman' connected with the science. This show presents the lives of
eleven women astronomers, both historical and present-day. The show is
narrated by the women who work in the science building: secretaries, staff,
professors and students. They tell us about women astronomers, and they
also tell us a little about their own lives and work. Urania's
Heritage is designed to be a role model show for all students to inspire
them to succeed both in the sciences and in their lives.
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17. Sky
Legends of the World I
Sky Legends shows present star and constellation
legends from around the world, but they do not include any of the
'traditional' constellation myths of the Greeks and Romans. The myths
and legends of this show include star tales from Europe, Polynesia and the
American Indian and African cultures. We'll hear an Aztec Indian tale
about a god with a missing foot, laugh at a hilarious story about a group of
women who ate too many onions, and discover how the legends told by a culture
can be used to trace the history of the people.
The stories of Sky Legends of
the World I are beautifully narrated by local elementary school-age
children and the locations of the stars and constellations they talk about
are pointed out on the planetarium dome. Take a cultural tour with Sky
Legends of the World I. (See Catalog Item Nos. 27,
36, 44, 52 & 57)
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18. Sky
Legends of the World I (Japanese language version)
The original Sky Legends of the
World I has now been translated into Japanese by Professor Yasuko
Makita who also does the narration. If you have Japanese students or
teach the Japanese language, book Sky Legends of the World I in
Japanese for a unique learning experience. A copy of the Japanese
translation is available for teachers to borrow so they can teach their
students unfamiliar terms before they see the show. (See Catalog
Item No. 28)
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19.
The Perseus Legend Cycle
The ancient Greeks told many myths,
and they made constellations of many of their greatest heroes. The
Perseus Legend Cycle presents the Greek tale of Perseus, Andromeda and
the sea monster and it is the first of an ongoing tradition of planetarium
shows produced by groups of high school students. This show was
produced from start to finish by a group of eleven high school students from
George Washington High School who presented a live-action re-enactment of
this Greek tale of tragedy for the January 1994 public show.
For the catalog show, the live
action has been replaced by a series of slides taken of the students as they
acted out their parts. This is a great show for any group interested in
Greek history or myth or in how some of our constellations obtained their
names. We learn the location of all six constellations connected with
The Perseus Legend Cycle and when they are visible in Guam's skies.
Book The Perseus Legend Cycle and be transported to ancient Greece by
some of Guam's finest students.
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20. A History
of Stellar Navigation
Several thousand years ago, the
Polynesians embarked on the greatest open ocean explorations the world has
ever seen. In this show, we journey from Hawaii to Tahiti as we learn
some of the navigation techniques of the Polynesians. We also sit at
the feet of a Micronesian navigator and learn pa'afu or numbering the stars;
a first lesson in stellar navigation.
Then we sail with Columbus on
his great voyage of discovery and learn about some modern-day navigation
techniques. We also discover that our spacecraft still use the stars to
guide them. This show was produced by a group of high school students
from Simon Sanchez and George Washington High Schools. Sail with them
through A History of Stellar Navigation.
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21. A Journey
Through Time
Did you ever wonder how it all
began? Do you ever speculate about how it all will end? If so,
consider booking A Journey Through Time. In this show, we
explore current theories about the origin of the universe, galaxies, stars
and our solar system. Journey with us to the beginning and witness the
violet glow that was the first visible manifestation of the Big Bang.
Learn just how large cosmic distances are. See the final collapse of a
star and discover how astronomers think the universe will end. This
imaginary Journey Through Time was produced in its entirety by a group
of high school students from George Washington High School. Take your
students or group on A Journey Through Time.
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22. Jewels of
the April Sky
Here on Guam, we are close enough
to the equator that we see most of the visible sky. This splendid view
becomes absolutely awesome in the months of April and May. During those
months, if you are willing to spend a little time stargazing, you can see
nine of the ten brightest stars and eighteen of the twenty brightest stars in
one spectacular evening. This occurs only in the equatorial tropics.
In this show, we explore these Jewels
of the April Sky. We learn the names and locations of the nine
brightest stars, and answer two of the most frequently asked questions at the
planetarium; "When can I see the Southern Cross?" and "Where
is the Big Dipper?" Although Jewels of the April Sky is
specifically about the skies of April and May, it is a wonderful introduction
to the delightful hobby of stargazing. Guam is one of the best places
in the world to stargaze. Book Jewels of the April Sky and learn
why.
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23. The Seven
Wonders of the Solar System
Are your students or group always
interested in the biggest, the longest, the fastest, the smallest? Is
the Guinness Book of World Records the most popular reference book in
your room? If so, The Seven Wonders of the Solar System is for
you. Learn the location of the largest mountain, the highest cliff, and
the largest storm. Learn which member of the solar system has the most
liquid water (and it probably is not Earth!). Book The Seven Wonders
of the Solar System and take a mind-boggling tour of our nearest
neighbors. The Seven Wonders of the Solar System has been
rewritten to accommodate mixed groups of elementary students. Some
unfamiliar words have been replaced by their definitions and several concepts
have additional explanatory material. This show is still useful for
middle and high school students and special interest groups.
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24. A Ramble
Through Ancient Skies
One of the more frequently asked
questions in the planetarium is "Does the sky look the same now as it
did in ancient times?" The answer is "No", and in A
Ramble Through Ancient Skies we discover why. In this show we turn
the planetarium into a time machine and visit the skies of various locations
as they appeared in the past. We travel to ancient Jerusalem and view
the sky as it appeared to Jesus when he lived on Earth. We return to
Guam and travel 5,000 years into the past to see what the sky looked like to
the ancient Chamorros when they arrived here. We then travel into the
future making several stops along the way and ultimately view the sky as it
will appear over Guam 13,000 years from now. Take a trip in a time
machine! Book A Ramble Through Ancient Skies.
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25. It Came
From the Sky:
Comets and Asteroids Through the Ages
Look! Up in the sky!
It's a bird; it's a plane; It's . . . In It Came From the Sky,
we learn that it probably isn't Superman, but we do discover the nature of
several intruders in Earth's space. This show was produced in
conjunction with students from the Summer 1994 Upward Bound program at the
University and it showcases such cosmic interlopers as comets, meteors and
asteroids.
We learn about some of the rocks
(big and small) that have hit the Earth and see Hubble Space Telescope images
from the Comet Shoemaker-Levy impact on Jupiter. We also learn what
your chances are of being beaned by a cosmic baseball. So book It
Came From the Sky: Comets and Asteroids Through the Ages for a look at
some uncomfortably near space neighbors.
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26. The Hubble
Space Telescope
(The Trouble with Hubble and How We Fixed It!)
The Hubble Space Telescope has been
called the Billion-Dollar Boondoggle. What went wrong with this
ambitious project? In The Trouble with Hubble we explore the
Hubble Mission and discover what happened to the telescope's optics.
We then take a glorious look at
the repair mission that corrected the problem so that Hubble now performs
better than its technical specifications. We also see many "before
and after" shots and discover why the Hubble Space Telescope is so
important to astronomical research. Book The Hubble Space Telescope
for a look at tragedy and triumph in contemporary science. (See Cat. No. 49)
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27. Sky
Legends of the World II
Sky Legends of the World I (Catalog no. 17) was
produced in November 1993 and quickly proved to be one of the most popular
choices in the catalog. It presents star and constellation legends from
around the world including star tales from Europe, Polynesia and the American
Indian and African cultures.
There are many sky stories and
one show wasn't enough to do justice to them. Hence the production of Sky
Legends of the World II. Like the tales in the original show, the
stories of Sky Legends of the World II are also narrated by local
school children. Sky Legends II features more American Indian
stories and some Asian and Pacific star legends as well. We'll hear a
Marshallese tale of a canoe race, go on a never-ending bear hunt and hear a
marvelous tale of Coyote the Trickster. Take a cultural tour of the sky
with local school children with Sky Legends of the World II.
(See Catalog Nos. 17, 36, 44,
52 & 57)
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28. Sky
Legends of the World II (Japanese language version)
Sky Legends of the World II has now been translated into Japanese by
Inoue Midori who also does the narration. If you have Japanese students
or teach the Japanese language, book Sky Legends of the World II in
Japanese for a unique learning experience. A copy of the Japanese
translation is available for teachers to borrow so they can present
unfamiliar terms to their students before they see the show. (See Catalog No. 18)
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29. Winter Skies
Guam's skies are much different
from the skies of the mainland U.S. Because we are so near the equator,
we see many more stars than are visible in North America. Join us for Winter
Skies, an exciting trip through Guam's winter skies. We'll start at
the North Pole and travel to Fairbanks, Pittsburgh, Miami and
then on to Guam. We'll learn the location of the most famous
constellation (and it's not the Big Dipper!) and all the other bright stars
and constellations of Guam's Winter Skies. This show differs
from Winter Stars and Southern Skies (Catalog No. 4) in that it
does not present all the southern constellations and includes constellations
from the northern sky as well.
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30. Venus:
The Beauty and the Beast
The Morning and Evening Star; the
goddess of love. We've been fascinated with Venus for a long time and
there was endless speculation about the nature of this cloud-shrouded
world. In the 1960's, we began to send radio-controlled robots to Venus
to find out what lay beneath the clouds. What we have learned is the
subject of Venus: The Beauty and the Beast. Journey with us to
the surface of this desert world where we explore features revealed by the
Magellan spacecraft, which mapped the entire surface using radar. We
also learn the ultimate fate of Magellan, one of our faithful robotic
servants. Learn about our nearest neighbor in space in Venus: The
Beauty and the Beast.
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31. Our First
Step: The Exploration of the Moon
Our moon affects us in subtle and
profound ways. It causes the tides and it's been an object of wonder
and study for all of our existence. Twenty-five years ago, the Moon assumed
even greater importance because we sent our first voyagers to walk on the
surface of another world. The history of that most important event is
the subject of Our First Step: The Exploration of the Moon.
Learn what happens when the side of your spaceship blows out and hear tales
of dogs in space and lunar rovers.
This show was produced by a
group of high school students from George Washington High School who learned
a great deal about the history of the exploration of the moon. Book Our
First Step: The Exploration of the Moon and share that knowledge with
your students or group today.
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32. The Lives
of the Stars
Stars are like people; they are
born, have varying life spans, grow old and die. In this show, we
explore star types such as red giants and white dwarfs and we learn how stars
are born and how they die. We discuss neutron stars, novae and
supernovae and that most exotic of the cosmic beasts, the black hole.
We may even learn what life would be like inside a black hole.
This show is simple and easy to
understand and is suitable for upper elementary to adult. The stars are a
mystery to most people. Book The Lives of the Stars and learn
the ultimate fate of our star, the sun and what will eventually happen to the
earth.
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33. Learning
the Sky: An Introduction to Stargazing
Are you really interested in
learning about the sky but quite frankly all the stars look alike to
you? Is the only constellation you know the Big Dipper and half the
time you can't find it in the sky? Did you ever wonder if you can see
the Southern Cross from Guam? If your answer to any of these questions
was "Yes", do we have the show for you!!
In Learning the Sky
you'll find out why the stars change from season to season and how you can
tell what season it is just by looking at the sky. You'll learn the
brightest stars and constellations of each season here on Guam and find out
what makes Guam's skies so unique. You'll also learn how the stars
change from early evening to late evening. Then, the blue cove lights
will be turned on and we'll use the planetarium sky to figure out how to use
star charts in the real sky. You won't just lie back and watch the
stars and pictures roll by you! With Learning the Sky: An
Introduction to Stargazing the planetarium goes interactive!
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34. Autumn
Skies
Guam's skies are much different
from the skies of the mainland U.S. Because we're so near the equator,
we see many more stars than are visible in North America. Join us for Autumn
Skies, an anecdotal ramble through fall's stars, constellations and
planets. Autumn Skies on Guam don't have the incredible number
of bright stars of spring skies or the bright constellations of summer and
winter, but they do have their own rewards.
One of the most amazing things
about Autumn Skies is the Milky Way, which arches high overhead in
autumn. We'll find a star that's shaped like a football, and the ice
cream cone in the sky. If the season is autumn, book Autumn Skies!
This show differs from Autumn Stars and Southern Skies (Catalog no. 3) in that it
does not present all the southern constellations and includes constellations
from the northern sky as well.
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35. The Dragon
in the Sky
Periodically but unpredictably, a
terrible event occurred in the sky of our ancestors. A giant invisible
dragon (or other terrible monster) began to take large bites out of the
sun. Sometimes the sun disappeared entirely and most ancient people
feared the world would end.
Today we know that the dragon is
the moon and we call the Sun’s astonishing disappearance a solar eclipse.
In The Dragon in the Sky we learn all about solar eclipses; what
causes them, how often they occur and how to view them safely. We'll
have an almost total solar eclipse over Guam in 2002 and The Dragon in the
Sky will help you prepare for it. If your group is interested in
eclipses, then this is the show for you!!
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36. Sky
Legends of the World III
Each year in November, the
planetarium produces a Sky Legends show. Sky Legends of the World
III features more great stories, more great constellations and more
wonderful kids. We hear the Hopi Indian legend of creation and discover
what happened to the moon's face. We travel to Korea to learn about the
horrible Fire Dogs that cause eclipses and then journey to North America for
a hilarious story about how the Big Dipper got to be the way it is
today. Book Sky Legends of the World III for a cultural tour of
the sky! (See Catalog Nos. 17, 27, 44, 52 & 57)
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37. And the
Heavens Shall Declare
The Hubble Space telescope and
other large Earth-based observatories have been taking some astounding pictures
of the sky. In And the Heavens Shall Declare we see many of
these beautiful pictures. We start the show with a tour of the solar
system, but it's the solar system as you have never seen it before. We
then travel into the wider universe for a look at some of the most beautiful
objects in the sky. We'll learn a little about the things we see, but
the main object of the show is to view images of amazing beauty. This
is a great show for art teachers and anyone else who's interested in letting
their students experience the wonder and beauty of the universe. Book And
the Heavens Shall Declare for your trip through our magnificent universe.
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38. The
Constellations
Most of us know what constellations
are, and most of us are familiar with the Big and Little Dippers, the
constellations taught in North American textbooks. However, the Big and
Little Dippers can't be seen from Guam in fall and winter, and they aren't
even constellations, they're asterisms, small parts of much larger
constellations. There are many other connect-the-dots patterns in the
sky, 88 of them to be exact, and from Guam, we can see 85 of them.
In this whirlwind tour, we visit
every constellation in the sky. We'll learn the largest constellation
and the smallest and discover that some constellations have roots in the past
that go back at least 6,000 years. Find out where to locate the Lynx,
the Giraffe and the Southern Cross. You'll also learn how to find the
Big Bear in the sky. The Big Bear contains the Big Dipper! To
help your students or group visualize the constellations, we have wonderful
slides from the Uranometria, a 1603 star atlas. Book The
Constellations today for a flying trip through mythology, history and
scientific inventions! (Did you know there was a microscope in the
sky? And. . .there's also a fly!)
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39. Cosmology
in Crisis
Did you ever wonder why the sky is
dark at night? You can bet your students have. Of course, after first
or second grade we realize that the Earth is turning and when our part faces
away from the sun, it's night. But. . . we're taught that space is
infinite and it's full of an infinite number of stars. So everywhere we
look, there ought to be a star, and space should be as bright as the surface
of a star. So why is it dark at night?
A group of very talented high
school students from Simon Sanchez High School wondered about this and other
questions. Astronomers have recently discovered that 90% of the
universe seems to be missing. Where is it? In addition, we’ve
recently found out that several stars in the universe seem to be older than
it is. Since you can't be older than your mama, this poses some
definite problems. You'll meet the students, learn a little bit about
their plans and inspirations and follow them as they explore some of the most
puzzling questions in astronomy today. And they explain their findings
in terms your students can understand. Join them for Cosmology in
Crisis.
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40. Erin's
Trip to Space Camp
The Island-Wide Science Fair is
held in the University of Guam Science Building every year and each year it
showcases some of the best and brightest kids on the island. In the 1995
Island-Wide Science Fair, a remarkable young lady named Erin Brewster took
second place overall for her entry that used a computer program to calculate
the mass needed to form a black hole. Her prize for this stellar
achievement was a trip to NASA's Space Camp.
In this show, we follow Erin's
exploits at Space Camp. We watch as she rides on several simulators,
visits the Space and Rocket Center and joins her fellow trainees in a
simulated Shuttle mission. She and the other members of the UTC team
build model rockets and launch them, design a space station to orbit Mars and
experience the joys of the 5th degree of freedom. This show was
designed with kids in mind but adults will also enjoy it. Book Erin's
Trip to Space Camp today for a marvelous trip!
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41. Asteroids:
The Missing Planet
Although most people tend to think
of the asteroids as dull interesting rocks out there in space somewhere, many
people on Guam would disagree. That's because they've seen Asteroids:
The Missing Planet, a wonderful show produced by a team of high school
students from George Washington High School. You will discover with
them that although most asteroids live in the main asteroid belt, several of
them cross Earth's orbit. It was probably one of them that took out the
dinosaurs.
In this show, you'll examine
main belt asteroids (some of them have moons!), learn about the spacecraft
that explore these large rocks and see an exciting sequence about the last
day for the dinosaurs. You'll also learn what your chances are of dying
in an asteroid impact. Book Asteroids: The Missing Planet for an
exciting trip in space and time.
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42. Life on
Mars
One of the biggest announcements of
the summer of 1996 was that scientists thought they’d found evidence of life
on Mars. Life on Mars takes you into the laboratory as we
discover where the evidence was found and why scientists think it implies
there may have been life on Mars. You’ll see the meteorite where
bacteria-like fossils were found and you’ll see the fossils themselves.
We’ll learn why there may not be life on Mars today but how there could have
been in the past. Are we alone in the Universe? A meteorite
that landed in Antarctica may hold the answers. Book Life on Mars
today for some answers to some astounding questions.
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43. Mysteries
of the Sun
Although we learn and study about
the stars, there's only one star that’s really important to our lives.
We owe our entire existence to a middle-sized, middle-aged yellow star and
without the Sun, there would be no life on Earth.
Scientists have discovered there
are some things about our parent star that we simply don’t understand.
Galileo discovered sunspots (and paid dearly for the discovery, as you’ll
learn in this show) but there are many things about them that remain
mysterious. The Sun also puts out tiny particles called neutrinos as a
byproduct of nuclear fusion. We’ve built a very strange telescope to
detect these particles and have found out the Sun consistently produces only
one third the number we think should be there. Book this show to learn
about Mysteries of the Sun.
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44.
Sky Legends of the World IV
Every year in November, the
Planetarium produces a Sky Legends show (See Catalog Nos. 17,
27, 36, 52 & 57). These shows are collections of constellation
stories from all over the world and they’re always narrated by some of Guam's
finest elementary and middle school aged children. Sky Legends IV features
more great stories and more wonderful kids.
We'll sail the starship to
Siberia and hear a tale about a courageous rabbit, travel to Australia for
the story of a giant fish who lives among the stars and then fly to Africa
where we'll hear a story about the origin of all stories. It's a cosmic
experience and one of the narrators could be one of your students. Book
Sky Legends of the World IV today!
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45. Exploring
Mars
There’s been a lot of interest in
Mars recently and in keeping with all this interest, the planetarium is proud
to offer Exploring Mars, a look at past, present and future
exploration of our sister world. The people of Earth have launched
thirty-one space probes to observe and explore our solar system neighbor.
In Exploring Mars, we'll
learn about the Viking landers, the Mariner probes and the incredible bad
luck of the Russians. We'll take a close-up look at the current
generation of observers and landers now on their way to Mars and we'll see
what's in store for the future. And not just the immediate future
either. We’ll take a fantasy ride with the first humans to travel to
the Red Planet and we’ll journey far into the future in our imaginations to
view a Mars totally unlike the one we see today. Mars is a fascinating
place and it holds the key to our future colonization of the solar
system. Book Exploring Mars for a journey that could be in your
students’ future!
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46. Looking
for Planets:
The Search for Planets Beyond the Solar System
In 1995, two astronomers made an
astounding announcement. They said they’d discovered a planet around a
star. . . and the star wasn’t our sun. Didier Queloz and Michael Mayor
announced they’d found a huge Jupiter-sized planet orbiting the star 51 Pegasi,
a star very much like our own sun. The search for extra-solar planets
is hot news and it caught the interest of some local students. The
Planetarium has featured shows produced by groups of high school students for
several years now, but the students who produced this show weren’t high
school students, they were middle school students from St. Francis School in
Yona.
These four students did an
amazing amount of research and work to produce this fine show..
Discover how extra-solar planets are found and travel in a journey of the
imagination to visit some of these bizarre worlds. See what astronomers
think they might look like, and discover that some of them may not be planets
at all. Book Looking for Planets and inspire your middle
schoolers by showing them what kids their age can do.
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47. Comets:
Aliens from Deep Space
Comets are big news. Comet
Hyakutake and Comet Hale-Bopp have recently made trips through the inner
solar system. Hale-Bopp is almost thirty miles across and it has one of
the largest comet nuclei ever seen. If you’d like to learn more about
comets, this is the show for you. You’ll learn what your ancestors
thought about comets, what comets are made of and where they come from.
You’ll also visit some famous comets like Halley, Shoemaker-Levy 9 and Comet
Hyakutake. We have some spectacular photos of the Shoemaker-Levy 9
impacts on Jupiter and we’ll explore what could happen if a comet hit the
earth. Book Comets: Aliens from Deep Space to learn about these
beautiful visitors from far beyond Pluto.
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48. Looking
Back: Views of Earth
One of the marvelous benefits of
the space program is that we are seeing our own planet as we’ve never seen it
before. There are hundreds of satellites in space and many of them
monitor Earth. This show, produced by a group of high school students
from George Washington High school, presents beautiful pictures of our home
planet. They will show you astounding pictures of icebergs, mountains,
clouds, deserts and the Earth at night.
This show is suitable for all
environmentally oriented classes and for any group that wants a better
appreciation of the beautiful place we live. Book Looking Back:
Views of Earth for a magnificent view of our home planet.
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49. New Eyes
on the Universe:
Upgrades to the Hubble Space Telescope
The Hubble Space Telescope is
opening whole new windows on the universe and the instruments installed on
the second servicing mission (Jan 1997) have let us see the sky as we’ve
never seen it before. A group of George Washington High School students
contacted the Space Telescope Science Institute for information and Ms. Prue
Campbell sent us a whole box of Hubble info.
Join this talented group of kids
for a second look at this marvelous machine. (Several Planetarium shows
feature Hubble pictures, most notably The Trouble with Hubble
[No. 26] and And the Heavens Shall Declare [No. 37]).
This show features the newly installed instruments and an in-depth look at
the Hubble Deep Field project that’s teaching us new things about the
universe and how it began. Book New Eyes on the Universe: Upgrades
to the Hubble Space Telescope for a beautiful and interesting trip.
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50. The Darker
Side of the Moon:
A Guide to Lunar Eclipses
Even our ancestors knew that
periodically the Moon turned the color of blood and many stories were told
around many campfires about why this happened. By the time of the
ancient Greeks, we knew that the Moon disappeared because it passed into the
Earth’s shadow but it was later still that we figured out why it is
frequently red.
Book this show to view a lunar
eclipse from Earth and then take a fascinating trip to the Moon for a look at
a lunar eclipse from the Moon’s surface. Along the way we’ll learn why
the ancient Greeks knew the Earth was round and we’ll also discover what
lunar eclipses can tell you about the quality of the air that you have to
breath. Book The Darker Side of the Moon for a fascinating and
unusual look at our nearest neighbor in space and its effect on the Earth and
its inhabitants.
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51. The Little
Robot that Could
Sojourner’s Incredible Adventure
On July 4th, 1997, the whole world
journeyed to another world. No, it wasn’t the latest science fiction
movie, this time it was for real. NASA placed a robot probe on the
surface of Mars and the whole world watched as an intrepid little robot had
an astounding adventure.
The Little Robot that Could takes you and your group to Mars through
the eyes of the Pathfinder lander (also called Sagan Memorial Station) and
the Sojourner robot. You’ll meet several large rocks that have familiar
names, see panoramas of the Martian surface and close-up views of some of
those whimsically named rocks. Take a trip to another world and visit
Yogi, Stimpy, Couch and Scooby-Doo. Book The Little Robot that
Could: Sojourner’s Incredible Adventure and take your group on a most
amazing adventure.
NOTE! This show has been
updated to include 3-D images and 3-D glasses can be provided for your
students.
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52. Sky
Legends of the World V
Like the other Sky Legends shows,
this one features stories from around the world. You’ll hear a Chinese
legend about two sisters that live on the Sun, here an African tale about
what happened when the Sun and Moon invited Water to visit, and hear a
Burmese tale about why the Moon looks the way it does. You’ll also hear
a tale about the North Star from American Indians, learn an Australian aborigine
story about the Pleiades and finally end up in India for a hilarious tale
about an Indian minor official who is ordered by his boss to count all the
stars in the sky.
Sky Legends shows are marvelous fun and let us
experience the sky as our ancestors did. Book a Sky Legends show
today (or maybe two or three!).(See Catalog Nos. 17, 27, 36, 44 & 57)
Back to the index
53. Seven
Wonders of the Universe
One of the most popular shows in
the catalog is Seven Wonders of the Solar System.
Everybody likes to learn about wonderful and unusual things. A group of
George Washington High School students noticed the popularity of Seven
Wonders of the Solar System and decided to expand the horizons a little
bit for their show. They decided to explore The Seven Wonders of the
Universe.
Join this talented group of kids
as they explore the largest stars, the mysteries of galaxies and journey into
a black hole. You’ll also learn about the immensity of the universe and
the awesome fact that the whole universe is a time machine. Book Seven
Wonders of the Universe for an astounding trip to the frontiers of
science.
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54. Chamorro
Sky Stories: Old and New
When two unevenly matched cultures
met in the past, the result was usually tragedy. One loss that occurred
many times was the loss of traditional lore and culture. In the years
following the Spanish arrival, most Chamorro stories and legends about the
sky were lost. And that is tragic.
But myth and legend are stories
we tell ourselves and with Chamorro Sky Stories, the Planetarium is
proud to present both old and new tales of the sky. You’ll hear the
surviving Chamorro story of the creation of the world and its people, plants
and animals. Then you’ll hear a new story told by a local Chamorro
about the Star that Fell to the Sea. Finally, you’ll find out
what really happened to that giant fish that tried to eat through the
island. If you’re a Chamorro teacher, Chamorro Sky Stories makes
a wonderful compliment to your classes. Book a field trip to the
Planetarium today.
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55. Your
Grandchildren’s Vacation
The Solar System Grand Tour
Most people come to the Planetarium
for education or entertainment, but in this show, we’re trying to sell you
something. We want to sell you a tour that you’ll take next year, but
next year isn’t 2002 and we don’t want to sell you a tour to Cocos
Island. The year is 2080 and we're trying to sell you a tour of the
Solar System.
You’ll journey to the Moon for
some sightseeing and flying in the dome and then it’s off to Mercury to see
the Sun close up. You’ll fly past Venus, visit the Martian Arches
Planetary Park and the site of the Viking Landers and then it’s off to
Jupiter for a trip beneath the ice to visit the Europan world ocean. You’ll
journey to Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto to do all the typical tourist
‘stuff’ like riding the rings of Saturn and taking a trip over the edge at
Shoemaker’s Wall on Miranda, one of the moons of Uranus.
Your Grandchildren’s Vacation is an astounding romp through the Solar
System, as our grandchildren will come to know it. Sign up for your
tour of wonder today!
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56. The Moons
of Galileo
Although it was first presented as
a public show, The Moons of Galileo was designed to be a teaching show
for middle and high school-aged students. Your students will learn a
little history as we visit Galileo Galilei and listen as he tells us about
the first telescope observations of the planet Jupiter. Then, through
the magic of the planetarium, students will make their own telescopic
observations of Jupiter and its four large moons.
They will record their data on
provided worksheets and then calculate the orbital period of one of the
Galilean satellites. There are additional questions asked in the show
that are designed to be answered when the students return to class.
Book The Moons of Galileo for a learning experience your students will
never forget.
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57. Sky Legends
of the World VI
Every year in November, the
Planetarium produces a Sky Legends show (See Catalog Nos. 17,
27, 36, 44 & 52). These shows are collections of constellation
stories from all over the world and they’re always narrated by some of Guam's
finest elementary and middle school aged children. Sky Legends VI
features more great stories and more wonderful kids.
We’ll journey to China for a
story of the creation and then we’ll learn how people got fire. Then
it’s off to Australia for a story about where the Moon came from. Then
we’ll hear a couple of bear stories including the explanation for why the Sky
Bear has a long tail and real bears don’t. It's a cosmic experience and
one of the narrators could be one of your students. Book Sky Legends
of the World VI today!
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Cruisin’ the Milky Way
The Planetarium Guide to the Galaxy
I discovered something interesting
when I decided to do a show about the galaxy. It’s too big a subject to
fit into one half-hour show. So Cruisin’ the Milky Way has been
divided into two shows. They can be booked together and the total running
time is slightly over one hour. They can also stand alone and be booked
separately. Cruisin’ the Milky Way is suitable for middle and
high school students and all adult groups.
58. Out to the Edge
In this show, we examine the
Sun’s place in the galaxy and then move into the Local Bubble, the Local
neighborhood, and then out in the Orion and Perseus Arms. Did you know
you’re moving over 400,000 mph as we circle the galaxy’s core?
59. Into the Core
In this show, we journey into
the Sagittarius Arm and then travel into the galaxy’s heart. This
region can’t be seen visually because it’s hidden by dust, and we are only
beginning to understand it. Galaxy Central may harbor a monstrous black
hole.
Back to the index
60. You’d be
Toast
A Romp Through the Solar System with Isa and DB
Several years ago, Ms. Jackie
Hammond, the Puppet Lady made two puppets for the Planetarium. Isa
Fanihi is a smart, sassy fruit bat and DB is her bunny friend who isn’t the
brightest star in the heavens. The second and third grade shows have
been rewritten and updated to feature this marvelous pair.
You’d be Toast is the fourth grade show and though Isa
and DB are nine years old, there’s no age limit on enjoying their antics as
they cruise the neighborhood. DB learns that the moon really isn’t made
of green cheese and why his space suit and helmet (made of aluminum foil and
a plastic water bottle) may not be good enough for a real trip to
space. Join Isa and DB for a hilarious and educational romp through the
solar system and find out just where You’d be Toast.
Back
to the index
61. What
Just Happened to Your Head?
Isa and DB Meet the Aliens
Isa and DB are at it again!
After their wild success at exploring the Solar System, they went out and
found some aliens! In this show you'll meet Keta and Ballor, two aliens
from the planet Wyndver. Wyndver circles the star Procyon, and it's not
like Earth at all. For one thing it's not a planet, but a moon that
circles a giant blue planet with rings! The seasons on Wyndver are very
strange and they've given rise to two completely different ecosystems.
You'll meet Selpar the pet werekile, brunions, glorkas and the strange and
wonderful quimby. You'll also learn what happened to Ballor's head.
What Just Happened to Your
Head? was developed
during a summer Girl Scout program and it features the alien puppets the
girls made. You'll meet the girls and learn how they designed their
puppets to live in Wyndver's strange ecosystem. This show is suitable
for all ages and grade levels. So book What Just Happened to your
Head? to meet Keta and Ballor and learn about Coldtime and Warmtime on
Wyndver. You'll also meet the animals and plants that live in
each season. It's an extra-terrestrial experience!
Back
to the index
62.
Sky Legends of the World 7
Although
it seems impossible to believe, we now have six Legends shows. To commemorate this amazing fact, the
Sky Legends show in 1999 featured all six of these shows. The first three shows (See were
updated with new pictures of the students and updated biographical material. See what happened to those adorable kids
and book one of the first three Sky Legends shows today!
63. Letters Home:
The Diary of the NEAR Spacecraft
In February
2000, on Valentine's Day, the NEAR spacecraft went into orbit around the
asteroid Eros. It was supposed to be a routine mission, but this particular
space voyage turned out to be anything but routine. In this incredibe
show, we let the NEAR spacecraft tell her own story, in her own words.
We watch as the spacecraft is assembled and launched and then learn about her
incredible trip to the asteroid belt and the in-flight disaster that almost
ended the mission. The NEAR spacecraft has had an incredible odyssey
that continues today and you’ll learn all about it when you book Letters
Home: The Diary of the NEAR Spacecraft
Letters Home is an ongoing story and will be updated
with news of the spacecraft as it happens. Allow your students to
experience space from a unique persepective; that of the spacecrat
itself. Don’t miss this incredible story.
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to the index
64. Ten Great
Years
A
Tribute to the Hubble Space Telescope
Occaisionally, an invention or
new machine changes the world and increase our knowledge base by orders of
magnitude. Galileo's first telescope did this. Within a couple of
months of viewing the heavens, he discovered that Earth was not the center of
the universe, the planets were worlds like ours and the Milky Way was made of
uncountable stars.
In 1990, another telescope made
this kind of revolution. The advantage for this telescope wasn't size,
or some brand new concept in telescopes. It was the realtor's mantra,
"Location, location, location". The telescope was the Hubble
Space Telescope and its location far above Earth's intervening air allowed it
to see better and farther than any telescope that preceded it.
Ten Great Years joins several shows about HST (The Trouble with Hubble, And the Heavens Shall
Declare, New Eyes on the Universe)
This show features the latest pictures from and an overview of this
marvelous machine. Book it today for views of some of the most awesome
spectacles ever seen with a robot's eye.
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to the index
65. Sky Legends of the World VII
66. Letters Home 2
67. Mir
68. Saturday Night in Armstrong City
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