Astronomy Events This Month

By Carma Spence1. Science Fiction, Events & Conventionsastronomy, exhibits, Mars, museums

Astronomy Month may be October, but you wouldn’t know that by the events that open this month.

Roving Mars
Now Playing
www.imax.com/ImaxWeb/filmDetail.do?type=nowPlaying&movieID=code__.__45127

Roving Mars shows you Mars as you’ve never seen it before — up close and personal from the viewpoint of Spirit and Opportunity, the Mars Rovers, which, miraculously, are still working! According to the IMAX website, “this film takes moviegoers on a fantastic journey unlike any that has ever been seen on the giant screen before.”

Produced by Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker Frank Marshall (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Sixth Sense, Seabiscuit) and produced and directed by George Butler (The Endurance: Shackleton’s legendary Antarctic Expedition, Pumping Iron), Roving Mars was written by George Butler and Robert Andrus, with narration written by George Butler. The score was composed by multiple Oscar®-nominated composer Phillip Glass (The Hours, Kundun).

Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity
Opening Feb. 10, 2006
www.dmns.org/main/en/General/Planetarium/UpcomingShows/blackHolePlanetarium.htm

The Denver Museum of Nature and Science has produced a planetarium show that explores the mysteries of black holes. Showing from Feb. 10 through June 8, Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity promises to zip you “through other-worldly wormholes,” help you “experience the creation of the Milky Way Galaxy” and show you “the violent death of a star and subsequent birth of a black hole.” Along the way, you will learn about mathematical equations, cutting-edge science, and Einstein’s theories. Visit the website above to see the trailer.

‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai’i
Opening Feb. 23, 2006
www.imiloahawaii.org

Formerly called Maunakea Astronomy Education Center, the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai’i is located on a nine-acre campus on the slope of Maunakea, within view of Hilo Bay. Named from the Hawaiian word for “exploring new knowledge,” the Center will feature interactive exhibits, planetarium shows, group tours, a store, a cafe, and a full schedule of events.

Debuting with the opening of the Center, Maunakea: Between Earth and Sky is ‘Imiloa’s signature planetarium film. The show will take you from the beginning of time to the farthest reaches of the heavens, from a Polynesian point of view.

The Center will be open 9am to 5 pm, Tuesday through Sunday and will be closed on Christmas and Thanksgiving days. General admission is $14.50 and children aged 4 to 12 are $7.50. Discounts are available for members and student and adult groups. For more information about memberships and group tours, call Marketing Manager Gloria Chun Hoo at 808-969-9705.

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About the author

As The Genre Traveler, Carma Spence loves to view the world through Genre-Coloured glasses. In other words, she sees the world through a lens of science fiction, fantasy, and horror, where trash cans can be Daleks in disguise and neighborhood forests can harbor faeries and sprites. Magic realism is real! Or at least you can choose to see the world that way to add to the fun and awe of life.

1 comments on “Astronomy Events This Month”

  1. Transfered from Bravenet
    Original Poster: Dolores, d2dartist@comcast.net
    Original Post Date: February 20 2006 3:47pm
    Post:
    Seeing the Imax Mars expedition left me with a couple of mixed feelings — two negatives — at the beginning and at the end. The beginning had so much time spent with the preparation of Spirit and Opportunity — when will we finally land on Mars? After all, I had seen much the same on the Science Channel. However, I must admit that I began to see the rovers almost as individuals. And finally, the movie was so short — less than 45 minutes.
    That being said, the launch of the rovers and their landing was awsome! The rocket’s take off roared; it could be felt in the theatre and my stomach and chest vibrated — I totally experienced it.
    The landing scenes were beautifully done and I rejoiced with the NASA team in its success.
    One scene touched me and remains with me: one of the rovers moving across the Martian surface leaving its tracks behind — doing it’s job millions of miles away until it dies.

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