New Sky Shows from Minneapolis Planetarium Productions!

Abstract:

Three years ago, the Minneapolis Planetarium began making its sky shows available to other planetaria. Our shows were developed to: 1) appeal to the types of audiences we see most frequently (i.e., school-age students and families), 2) cover a variety of astronomical topics that met the curriculum needs and astronomical appetites of our audiences, and 3) satisfy the requirement that shows be of high quality; not high cost. In this paper, the author will present short descriptions of eight new sky shows that are currently available from Minneapolis Planetarium Productions. He will also describe two new programs that will be available in 2000.

Introduction:

As Thomas Marshall, the self-proclaimed "Hoosier Philosopher" and one-time U.S. Vice President once said, "What this country needs, is a good 5¢ cigar." We at the Minneapolis Planetarium believe that what the planetarium community needs, is good, economical star shows. And that's exactly what we provide! Our show kits sell for $350about half the cost of most other commercially-available programs. For this modest price, you'll receive a professionally-produced sound track with original music (on either audio cassette or compact disk), somewhere between 120 to 220 slides, and an annotated script. With some show kits, you will also receive a videocassette, production notes/slide list, and an activity booklet. Shows run 30 to 35 minutes. Best of all, they can be adapted to fit just about any planetarium.

Programs For Younger Audiences: Minneapolis Planetarium Productions offers four programs for primary grade-level groups (1st through 3rd), which may also be used as public shows for families with younger children: Amazing Stargazing introduces youngsters to objects they can see with their own two eyesstars, constellations, planets, meteors, comets, the moon and artificial satellites. And its served up with lots of pizzazz by the stars of the first kids-only radio stationRadio AAHS©! Hercules and Other Superhero Stars uses familiar and unfamiliar superhero characters from all over the world, to describe starsfrom bare-bones basics about star size, shape, color, and temperatureto fun facts about the life cycles of stars, star clusters and the Milky Way galaxy. 3-2-1. . .Blast-Off! takes solar system shows to a new heights! The audience is plunged headlong into a futuristic computer game that simulates a virtual reality trip to the planets and other worlds in the Sun's family. It's far out fun for today's kids, who are growing up with video and computer games! Once In A Blue Moon gives young learners lots of left- and right-brain fun with Earth's natural satellitethe moon. It's loaded with looney tales (from around the world) and clever science about the moon's spots, phases, origin and trips to the moon. Programs For Older Audiences: For audiences consisting of upper elementary, middle school, high school and the public-at-large, we offer the following: Honey, I Shrunk the Universe cuts the sometimes incomprehensible universe down to sizehuman size! The show's cast and the audience are given an instantaneous cosmic make-overshriveling them 400 million times! The result? Everyone discovers a new way to understand the true dimensions and distances of objects in the universe. The X-tra Terrestrial Files asks the ultimate question, "The truth, is it out there?" Join Extraterrestrial InvestigatorsBolder and Gully, as they explore the myth and reality of UFOs, alien abductions, and search for ETs. The Magical Millennium Tour takes visitors on a journey through a "long duration fluctuating porthole," to discover the roots of time, timekeeping and the rollover of humankind's chronological odometer. Let's do the timewarp, again! Winter Wonders isn't just another holiday show. It's got the usual ingredientsthe Star of Bethlehem and Christmas traditions, together with a world of celebrations for the "return of the Sun." You'll see the solsticein a whole new light! Coming Attractions: Minneapolis Planetarium Productions is developing two new programs for release next year: Aurora! follows the events that occur after an enormous coronal mass ejection has occurred on the Sun, unleashing a powerful storm that's on a collision course with earth. What will happen? Audiences will discover the incredible world of earth-sun interactionsespecially the northern and southern lights. Spectacular shuttle and spacecraft images of the aurora will help make sense of nature's incredible polar light shows (it will also help visitors discover where and when to see auroras)! Honey, I Shrunk the Solar System proves you can turn the Sun's family inside out and still make sense of the pieces! This show will offer the freshest look available on this planetat the rest of the planets, their moons, comets and asteroids. Summary: Make your program dollars go further, check out Minneapolis Planetarium Productions line-up of star shows. Visit our display in the vendor room, where you can examine our show kits, scripts, slides and sign up to receive audio cassettes containing complete show sound tracks. You can also contact Minneapolis Planetarium Productions by mail: 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55401, by phone: (612) 630-6155 or e-mail: EtornoET@aol.com