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ASU Planetarium Summer Schedule

May 30, 2012

Angelo State University’s Global Immersion Center (GIC), formerly the Planetarium, will present three full-dome public astronomy shows during its summer 2012 schedule beginning Thursday, June 7, in the Vincent Nursing-Physical Science Building, 2333 Vanderventer St.

Each Thursday from June 7-Aug. 2, “The Cowboy Astronomer” will run at 7 p.m., “MarsQuest” will run at 8 p.m. and “Oasis in Space” will run at 9 p.m.  All the shows are open to the public with admission prices of $3 for adults and $2 for children, active military and senior citizens.  ASU students, faculty and staff are admitted free. 

“The Cowboy Astronomer” is a skillfully woven tapestry of star tales and Native American legends combined with constellation identification, star-hopping and astronomy tidbits – all told from the distinctive viewpoint of a cowboy astronomer who has traveled the world plying his trade and learning the sky along the way.  Like astronomers, cowboys spend a lot of their time under night skies trying to read the heavens for their own purposes.  Just as cowboys roam the range looking for cattle, astronomers roam the sky looking for stars and planets.  In fact, astronomers are sometimes referred to as the “ranchers” of the universe. 

“MarsQuest” is a chronicle tracing our centuries-long cultural and scientific fascination with the red planet Mars.  Set in a theatrical “three-act” form with an epilogue, it weaves an enjoyable narrative of what Mars means to humanity.  The first section traces Mars through history and includes excerpts from the novels War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells and Barsoom by Edgar Rice Burroughs.  The second act describes recent studies of Mars documented through telescopes and space explorations.  The third act examines the place on Earth where we can best prepare to live on Mars, what will be needed to get manned missions to the planet and what the first Mars landing may be like. 

“Oasis in Space” will transport audiences on a startling and beautiful voyage through our universe, galaxy and solar system in search of liquid water, a key ingredient for life on Earth.  Audiences will be invited to journey through the solar system and gaze at beautiful images of the planets and their satellites.  The show starts with Earth and its vast oceans that make life possible.  One by one, it examines the other planets and moons, accompanied by full descriptions of their characteristics, such as atmosphere, temperature and composition.  Spectacular pictures invite attendees to draw their own conclusions about the other orbiting bodies in our solar system and debate questions like, “Is there water out there?” and “Is there life beyond Earth?” 

For more information, call the GIC at 325-942-2136 or go online to www.angelo.edu/dept/physics/planetarium.php.  A recording of the show schedule is also available by calling 325-942-2188.