The University of Wyoming Harry C. Vaughan Planetarium will celebrate Earth Day next month with a program Friday, April 22.
“Our annual Earth Day show will be celebrating our beautiful planet — with stunning 4K images pole to pole and mountain peak to ocean bottom — as we cherish our home world and the life upon it,” says Max Gilbraith, the planetarium’s coordinator.
To get tickets or receive more information about programs, email planetarium@uwyo.edu or leave a voicemail and a call-back phone number at (307) 766-6506. Tickets are $5 for the public and $3 for students, senior citizens, veterans, first responders and those under 18. Seating is free for children under 5.
Reservations or pre-purchase is not required, and walk-ins are welcome. Tickets can be purchased online with a credit card, reserved by email or voicemail, or purchased at the start of the show. Cash or check is accepted at the door. The planetarium, which seats 58, is in the basement of the Physical Sciences Building. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis outside of designated ADA/wheelchair seating.
To pay for tickets with a credit card, go to https://www.uwyo.edu/uwplanetarium/ticket.aspx. For a group larger than six, email the planetarium for a private show at https://uwyo.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bKuqIynOn7gFK2F. Tickets for private shows are the same as the public programs.
A film and special live talk for audiences will be featured each week. All programs are approximately an hour in length. As time allows, a portion of the show also may focus on a live sky tour or supporting information related to the film’s topic.
The April schedule is:
— Friday, April 1, 7 p.m.: “Flat Earth.” This program — specifically scheduled for April Fool’s Day — explores eclipses, telescope images, space exploration, satellites, maritime navigation, the moon, tides, time zones and Antarctica.
— Saturday, April 2, 2 p.m.: “Back to the Moon for Good,” a full-dome movie. This film opens with the first era of space exploration in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Viewers will learn what that era of landers and orbiters taught the world about the moon.
— Saturday, April 2, 7 p.m.: “Liquid Sky: Indie,” a music-based light show. The program will feature music from artists such as Tame Impala, STRFKR, MGMT and M83 in 5.1 surround sound. The 4K-resolution planetarium sky will become a canvas of color, patterns and movement with cutting-edge music visualization software and live VJ talent.
— Tuesday, April 5, 7 p.m.: “Wyoming Skies.” The program provides an exploration of the stars, constellations, planets, meteor showers and other celestial phenomena visible from Wyoming for the season.
— Friday, April 8, 7 p.m.: “Aurorae: Dancing Lights.” The program will discuss what causes the Aurora Borealis in the sky, where it occurs and if other planets have aurorae.
— Saturday, April 9, 2 p.m.: “Max Goes to the Moon,” a full-dome movie. Max, the dog, and a young girl named Tori take the first trip to the moon since the Apollo era.
— Friday, April 15, 7 p.m.: “Search for Extra-Terrestrial Life.” Astronomers use telescopes from ground and space in an attempt to locate signs of life on other planets. Landers, rovers and probes visit the scattered planets and moons of our system to hunt for extraterrestrials.
— Saturday, April 16, 2 p.m.: “Distant Worlds: Alien Life,” a full-dome movie. This film explores one of the most enduring questions of humankind: Are we alone?
— Saturday, April 16, 7 p.m.: “Liquid Sky: Pop,” a music-based light show. The program will feature a playlist of music from today’s top artists in 5.1 surround sound. The 4K-resolution planetarium sky will become a canvas of color, patterns and movement with cutting-edge music visualization software and live VJ talent.
— Tuesday, April 19, 7 p.m.: “Wyoming Skies.” The program provides an exploration of the stars, constellations, planets, meteor showers and other celestial phenomena visible from Wyoming for the season.
— Friday, April 22, 7 p.m.: “Earth Day.” This program observes Earth from the ground, sky and space. Visitors can learn about glaciers, atmospheric science, meteorology, extreme weather events, anthropogenic change and climate history.
— Saturday, April 23, 2 p.m.: “From Earth to the Universe,” a full-dome movie. This journey of celestial discovery explores the theories of the ancient Greek astronomers to today’s grandest telescopes.
— Friday, April 29, 7 p.m.: “Mars.” This program will discuss recent discoveries from the Red Planet and its ability to support life.
— Saturday, April 30, 2 p.m.: “Mexica Archaeoastronomy: Between Space and Time,” a full-dome movie. This program illustrates the important role played by astronomical observation for the evolution of pre-Hispanic cultures in central Mexico.
— Saturday, April 30, 7 p.m.: “Liquid Sky: Electronica,” a music-based light show. The program will feature music from today’s top artists in 5.1 surround sound. The 4K-resolution planetarium sky will become a canvas of color, patterns and movement with cutting-edge music visualization software and live VJ talent.
For more detailed descriptions of these programs, go to www.uwyo.edu/physics/planetarium/schedule.html.