The M. D. Anderson Planetarium was mentioned in today’s Jackson Sun as a good, inexpensive option for family entertainment:
http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20090421/LIFESTYLE/904210301/1024

As mentioned in the article, we have two more public nights for this season:

• May 4, 2009 at 7:30 PM:  Oasis in Space
• May 18, 2009 at 7:30 PM:  “Black Holes:  The Other Side of Infinity”

Admission is $5 per adult, $3 per child under 18, and $10 for a family of 3 or more. Lambuth students, faculty, and staff are admitted free with their ID.  For school, church, scout, or other groups, please see our school/group page.

I am also still gathering names for a Jackson Astronomy Club.  (For those of you who have sent me messages already, I will be getting back to you soon!)  If you are interested, please send me an e-mail at francis@lambuth.edu.  For more information, see my earlier post.

Also, if you’re on Facebook, we have a page and a group. Please feel free to join and/or drop me a line through that medium if you’d like.

Posted by Matthew R. Francis under Director's Notes & Planetarium News & Public Events | No Comments »

On Monday, March 16, we present….

Astronaut

Narrated by Ewan McGregor

What does it take to become an astronaut? Going into space is simultaneously one of the most exciting things a human being can do, and one of the most dangerous. The human body is adapted to life on Earth, with its steady supply of breathable air, ground beneath our feet to give our skeletons support, and the atmosphere to shield us from much of the radiation the Sun produces. In this program, an astronaut by the name of Chad prepares to launch into orbit, and we witness the rigors of the training he needs to survive in space.

The show begins at 7:30 PM. Admission is $5 per adult, $3 per child under 18, and $10 for a family of 3 or more. Lambuth students, faculty, and staff are admitted free with their ID.

Posted by Matthew R. Francis under Planetarium News & Public Events | 1 Comment »

These are exciting days at the M.D. Anderson Planetarium:

• We have expanded our web presence by adding a page on Facebook.  We will post all our events there, host discussions, and talk about what you as the public would like to see at our planetarium.  Become a fan today!
• On March 2 and April 6, we debut the new program Oasis in Space.  This program explores our Solar System and beyond, in search of water and habitable Earth-like planets.
  
• On March 16 and April 20, we will debut Astronaut, narrated by Ewan MacGregor. What does it take to become an astronaut? This program will tell you!
  

All programs begin at 7:30 PM. Admission is $5 per adult, $3 per child under 18, and $10 for a family of 3 or more. Lambuth students, faculty, and staff are admitted free with their ID.

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Please join Dr. Nick Ashbaugh (Lambuth Biology Department) and Dr. Matthew Francis (Planetarium Director) tonight at 7:30 in the planetarium, as we talk about the diversity of life on Earth and the possibility of life elsewhere in the universe.  Among the topics we will cover:

• How do scientists define life?  What distinguishes a living thing from a nonliving thing?
• What do all living things on Earth have in common, despite their diversity?
• How much variety is there on Earth?  How do we categorize organisms?
• What does the study of life on Earth reveal about the chances and characteristics of life on other worlds?
• And, will we be able to recognize life on other worlds if we find it?

Admission is  $5 per adult, $3 per child under 18, and $10 for a family of 3 or more.  Lambuth students, staff, and faculty are admitted free with ID.

P.S.  The Planetarium is now on Facebook!

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On February 9, 2008, the M. D. Anderson Planetarium reopened after a major upgrade.  Our grand reopening celebration was shared by over 300 people, who watched a special planetarium presentation, a chemistry magic show, various programs in the library, and the keynote address by Lawrence Krauss, well-known author and professor of physics and astronomy at Case Western Reserve University.  In the year that followed, we have had more than 1,000 people coming to our programs, through school, church, and family groups, as well as individuals.  Thank you all for helping make this such a successful year!

In honor of our anniversary, we are announcing two new programs and a special event:

• Special Presentation:  What is Life? In honor of the 200th birthday of Charles Darwin, the Lambuth Biology Department and Planetarium team up to explore life in all its forms on Earth, and what they can tell us about the possibility of life on other worlds.  (This one-time presentation will happen Monday, February 16.)
• Oasis in Space: Life on Earth, throughout its variety, depends on liquid water for existence.  This program takes a tour through our Solar System and beyond, to search for places where liquid water can exist.  (Shows on March 2, April 6, and May 4.)
  
• Astronaut:  What does it take to get a person into space?  What demands are required for a person to become an astronaut?  Narrated by Ewan MacGregor, this program demonstrates the challenges someone must overcome to travel beyond the shelter of Earth’s atmosphere.  (Shows on March 16 and April 20.)

All programs begin at 7:30 PM.  Admission is  $5 per adult, $3 per child under 18, and $10 for a family of 3 or more.  Lambuth students, staff, and faculty are admitted free with ID.

Posted by Matthew R. Francis under Director's Notes & Planetarium News & Public Events | No Comments »

The M. D. Anderson Planetarium welcomes you to the Winter/Spring 2009 Season!  We will be introducing a new show this season (which I am still in the process of selecting), as well as bringing back our most exciting program, “Black Holes:  The Other Side of Infinity” on this coming Monday, January 12.

Winter/Spring 2009 Schedule

• January 12, 2009 at 7:30 PM:  “Black Holes:  The Other Side of Infinity”
• January 26, 2009 at 7:30 PM:  “Hubble Vision 2″
• February 2, 2009 at 7:30 PM:  “Black Holes:  The Other Side of Infinity”
• February 16, 2009:  Show to be determined
• March 2, 2009 at 7:30 PM:  “Black Holes:  The Other Side of Infinity”
• March 16, 2009:  Show to be determined
• April 6, 2009 at 7:30 PM:  “Black Holes:  The Other Side of Infinity”
• April 20, 2009:  Show to be determined
• May 4, 2009: Show to be determined
• May 18, 2009:  Show to be determined

Note:  for January, we are breaking the usual “first and third Mondays” pattern, due to Lambuth’s winter break and Martin Luther King Day.

Admission is $5 per adult, $3 per child under 18, and $10 for a family of 3 or more. Lambuth students, faculty, and staff are admitted free with their ID. Please write or call 731-425-3283 to inquire about group rates.

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2009 is the International Year of Astronomy!

From the International year of Astronomy website:

The International Year of Astronomy 2009 is a global effort initiated by the International Astronomical Union and UNESCO to help the citizens of the world rediscover their place in the Universe through the day- and night-time sky, and thereby engage a personal sense of wonder and discovery.

Please join us in making 2009 a great year for the M. D. Anderson Planetarium!

Posted by Matthew R. Francis under Planetarium News & Public Events & Science News | No Comments »

Since Lambuth University is closing due to inclement weather, there will be no show tonight.  I apologize to anyone who was greatly looking forward to the program—since it is seasonal, we won’t be showing “Season of Light” again until December 2009.

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Monday, November 3 at 7:30 PM, we present:

Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity

Admission is $5 per adult, $3 per child under 18, and $10 for a family of 3 or more. Lambuth students, faculty, and staff are admitted free with their ID.

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Monday, May 19 is the last planetarium show of the season!  Please join us for one last viewing of “Black Holes:  the Other Side of Infinity”:

The show begins at 7:30 PM. Admission is $5 per adult, $3 per child under 18, and $10 for a family of 3 or more. Lambuth faculty, staff, and students are admitted free with their ID.

The Planetarium will be closed for June and July, and we will reopen for the fall season on August 18.

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