Most programs at the Ward Beecher Planetarium are
appropriate for general audiences, although the subject matter and
topics in some programs may be better
suited
for older students and/or adults. Parents should use their own
judgement, based on the program descriptions and knowledge of their
child.
The Kids Explore series is
designed
especially for children ages 4 and older. Saturday afternoon programs
are mostly geared for families and/or children.
Reservations are not required for any of the
programs listed
here, and all programs are free and open to the public. For more
information or to be added to our mailing list, call the
Planetarium’s
InfoLine at 330 941-1370 or the Department of
Physics
& Astronomy at 330 941-3616.
Field trip programs on a wide
variety of
topics
in space and earth science and astronomy are available during the day
throughout
the week during the school year. For more information or to schedule a
field trip, call 330 941-3619.
All-Dome
Programs
|
Big
Big is a little program that tackles a really
big topic:
just how big is the universe? Big looks at the question by
taking an imaginary
journey across the solar system, through the Eagle Nebula, and out of
our
galaxy into the blackness of space and seeing how long it takes. Narrated by Richard Attenborough;
appropriate for general audience; from the National Space Centre,
Leicester,
UK. Also available as a field trip program.
|
|
Black
Holes: The Other Side of Infinity
Narrated by Academy-Award nominated actor Liam Neeson, Black Holes:
The Other
Side of Infinity brings the current science of black holes to the
dome screen.
Supported by grants from NASA's high-energy GLAST telescope project and
the
National Science Foundation, this cutting-edge production features
high-resolution, animated visualizations of cosmic phenomena, working
with data
generated by computer simulations. We'll bring you striking, immersive
animations of the formation of the early universe, star birth and
death, the collision
of giant galaxies, and a simulated flight to a super massive black hole
lurking
at the center of our own Milky Way Galaxy. Thomas
Lucas Productions in collaboration with Denver Museum of Nature &
Science,
NOVA, and the National Center for Supercomputing Applications. General
audiences; also available as a field trip program after April 25 .
|
Oasis
in Space
The Ward Beecher Planetarium’s
first all-dome
program will take you on a beautiful journey through the solar system
and
beyond in search of water – and water worlds like our own planet Earth.
Oasis in Space
incorporates the latest results of astronomical research
and exploration and offers a new look at water, that simple mixture of
hydrogen and oxygen that seems to be the key for all life on Earth. Appropriate
for all ages; full-dome production by Spitz Inc. Also available as a
field trip program.
|
Ringworld
II
The
Cassini spacecraft has been in orbit around the ringed planet Saturn
since
2004. This updated full-dome show highlights some of the amazing images
from
Saturn, its rings, and its satellites. Ringworld II is narrated by John
Billingsley from Star Trek:
Enterprise, and was produced by NASA's Jet
Propulsion Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology. Courtesy of
the Houston Museum of Natural Science; appropriate for general
audiences. Also
available as a field trip program. |
|
Traditional
Programs
|
The Case of the Disappearing
Planet
Pluto is missing and the children are frantic! Private
Investigator Skye Watcher is called in to investigate and cracks the
case. Find
out what happened to Pluto and learn more about our solar system at the
same
time. From the Bays Mountain Planetarium; appropriate for
third grade and older. Also available as a
field
trip program.
|
|
Destination: Mars
What might a trip to Mars in the not-too-distant future be
like? What will humans do there once they land? Destination: Mars, narrated by
NASA astronauts, is a likely blueprint for our first journey to another
planet. From the Houston Museum of Natural Science
and Johnson Space Center; for grades 5 and up and the general public.
Also
available as a field trip program.
|
|
Explorers of Mauna Kea
Explore Mauna Kea, "the white
mountain" on the
island of Hawaii, from its geological formation a million years ago to
the
cutting edge astronomy now done on the mountain with the biggest
telescopes in
the world. The audience turns itself into a model of the Keck mirror
system,
using 36 mirrors to concentrate light onto a single target. From
the Jhamandas Watumull Planetarium at
the Bishop Museum in Honolulu; appropriate for all ages. Also available
as a field
trip program.
|
|
Just Imagine
Imagine what our world would be
like without a moon. Imagine
what life would be like if the sun were a different kind of star. Just Imagine
is the program that imagines this – and more – and opens the doors for
more
imagining. For grades 5 and up and
general audiences; from the Sudukum Planetarium in Nashville. Also
available as
a field trip program.
|
|
Of Space and Time
Looking out in space is looking
back in time - but then, so
is looking into a mirror. What did the universe look like a
nanosecond
ago, two second ago, an hour ago, and 10 billion years ago? Join us as
we look
at “what’s old” and predict what’s next for planet Earth and our very
own star. A Ward Beecher Production. Appropriate
for general audiences. Also available as a field trip program.
|
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Live
Programs
|
|
Dr. Ray’s Amazing Side Show of Science
To entertain, educate and just plain
amaze visitors to the
Lake-to-River Science Fair, the Ward Beecher Planetarium presents Dr. Ray’s
Amazing Side Show of Science, with high voltage, low
temperature, faster than
the blink of an eye feats that must be seen to be believed. Science
facts and
carnival flare meet head-on. Warning: occasional volunteers from the
audience
may be needed.
|
Geology on a Roll and Mineral Museum
and Rock Walk
A journey of 600 million years begins with a trip to the Ward
Beecher Planetarium as YSU Geologist Dr. Ray Beiersdorfer and
Planetarium
Staffer Rick Pirko take visitors on a whimsical multi-media tour of
geologic
time. Visitors then will be invited to tour the Clarence R. Smith
Mineral
Museum
in Moser Hall next door to the planetarium building.
This spectacular collection, appraised at $1.2 million, is a real gem of the valley!
Bring comfortable shoes, because YSU scientists also will take you on a
walking
tour of campus to point out beautiful sedimentary, igneous, and
metamorphic
rocks. Allow two hours to participate in all three activities, or join
us for
your choice.
Skywatch
Our traditional Skywatch
programs prepare visitors for the best viewing of seasonal skies and
allow us
to add in breaking news from the scientific and astronomical
communities. At
each Skywatch session we will
have an activity that you can take home. On clear
nights we will set up our sidewalk telescopes (weather permitting, of
course).
January 11-12: Winter's Brilliant Stars
May 3-4: Summer Sundials
September 26-27: Moon Maps and Planet
Finders
December 5-6: Star Maps |
|
Solar System Lineup
One weekend is not enough to cover
all nine planets - or should
that be eight planets? And what about all of the other pieces of our
solar system
puzzle? Where do they fit in? And then, there are over 250 newly
discovered
planets circling nearby stars. Join us for any or all of ten weekends,
when we will barely scratch the surface of our dynamic
solar system.
Sun - Fire, Fury, and Sunspots (Joe Neiheisel)
Mercury & Venus – Hidden in Plain Sight (Richard Pirko)
Earth & Moon - Blue Planet and More (Richard Pirko)
Mars - Visit to the Red Planet (Pat Durrell)
Jupiter – King of the Hill (Joe Neiheisel)
Saturn – Moon, Rings and Other Things (Warren Young)
Uranus & Neptune - Ocean Blue (Doug Fowler)
Pluto and the Kuiper Belt – (Sharon Shanks)
Asteroids, Comets and Impacts – Leftovers Again? (Pat Durrell)
Extra Solar Planets – (John Feldmeier)
|
|
Space Program Live
100 years of flight and 50 years in
space have generated
milestones, turned ordinary people into heroes, and made travel, even
to the
planets, seem ordinary. Some names and dates are known to everyone;
other
events, although they have changed our lives, remain unknown to most.
From backyard rockets to lunar landings and laboratories in
space, relive the space age in this live presentation.
|
Astronomy
Day 2008
"Bringing
Astronomy to the People" is the annual theme of Astronomy Day, a grass
roots movement designed to share the joy of astronomy with the general
population. On Astronomy Day, thousands of people who have never looked
through a telescope will have an opportunity to see first hand what has
so many amateur and professional astronomers all excited.
The
Ward Beecher Planetarium and the Mahoning Valley Astronomical
Society,
our local amateur astronomy organization, are joining with the Astronomical
League in presenting Astronomy Day 2008 on May 10. A
variety of hands-on activities and demonstrations for various ages will
be presented in Ward Beecher Hall and outdoors (weather permitting).
The PBS program Seeing in the
Dark, a film by Timoth Farris, will be shown in the Planetarium
throughout the day, up until the 8 p.m. all-dome program Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity.
MVAS
members will be on hand with telescopes (again, weather permitting) to
show the sun to the public through solar filters and, after dark, stars
and planets. If you have a telescope question, this is the event to
attend to talk to the experts. MVAS membership information also will be
available.
Scouting
Boy Scouts: A program
series designed specifically for the
Boy Scout merit badge in astronomy and/or aviation is offered at
various times;
call Richard Pirko at 330-941-7278 for more information. Cub Scouts
wishing a
programs focusing on constellation identification and the stars may
call Sharon
Shanks at 330-941-3619.
 Girl
Scouts: Saturday afternoon programs that
will include a special emphasis for Girl Scouts at various levels are
marked
with the Girl Scout logo (see the program descriptions for age levels).
Cadet scouts and older also may request the
program Women Hold Up Half the Sky as an afternoon program at a
time other than the public shows; contact Ms. Shanks for more
information.
Programs that are especially beneficial to
both Girl and Boy scouts are all of the Skywatch programs, any or all of
the live solar system programs, the programs on the Lake-to-River
Science Day, Space Program Live,
Just Imagine, and The Explorers of Mauna Kea.
Spring Break
Specials
The week of March 24 is spring break week for many area
schools. Take a break during your vacation with the Planetarium, or
turn your
spring break into an exciting educational experience by combining a
Spring
Break Special program with a visit to one of the excellent museums near
the YSU
campus. (See the schedule for programs and the Teacher's
Guide for links to area museums.)
Summer Festival of the Arts
The Planetarium will showcase our immersive
fulldome video
programs during the 2008 Summer
Festival of the Arts. Each show
lasts about
30 minutes, just enough time to allow you to cool off in air
conditioned
comfort before returning to the hot sidewalk to view the sun through a
safe
solar filter and take in the rest of the festival's fun, food and fine
shopping. The fulldome programs start on the top of the hour; at the
bottom of
the hour we'll present short, live star and constellation programs
called just Stars.
The Kids Explore series offers
programs
especially
for young children, ages 4 and older (and sometimes as young as 2) and
families. Programs run approximately 45 minutes.
George
& Oatmeal Save
Santa
Santa Claus is missing, and it’s up
to George
the wizard and Oatmeal the snowman to find him - and show him how to
use
the North Star to find his way back to the North Pole. The program also
includes holiday music and special features just for children. A
Ward Beecher Planetarium program; for children ages 4 and older and
families. |
Great
Space Treasure Hunt
Our alien friend Bleamer
finds a
special treasure
map and leads us on a quest to the Milky Way Galaxy to find a blue and
white ”treasure.” We journey past constellations, nebulae, the sun,
planets
and some moons of the solar system to discover that our treasure hunt
can
be done right here in Earth's night sky. From the
Calgary
Science Centre; appropriate for children in pre-school through grade 2. |
In My
Backyard
There are all kinds of things to
explore in our
own backyards (or local parks) and children’s entertainer Fred Penner
will
help us find them. We’ll discover bugs, the different seasons, and the
stars in the nighttime sky. Recorded
program by the
Calgary
Science Centre, for ages pre-school through grade 2 and older and
families. |
The Super
Sky Show
Join host Seymour Sky on today’s
episode of The
Super Sky Show - the all-puppet talk show that features only the
greatest
of today’s “stars” as guests. Today’s special guests include Queen
Cassiopeia
and an intriguing “mystery” guest. In this fun, fast-paced program,
children
will hear star myths and learn the names of the colors of the rainbow,
basic shapes, facts about stars and Earth, and how to find the Big
Dipper
and North Star. From the Calgary
Science Centre,
for ages
pre-school through grade 2 and older and families. |
|
Wilbear's
Adventure
Wilbear's in all-dome! The Ward Beecher Production of Wilbear's Adventure
– all about a teddy bear who wants to fly – has been
transformed into our first all-dome program for children by the
planetarium at
the St. Charles Parish Library in Luling, LA. Appropriate
for pre-school through grade 3; includes the story of the
Wright Brothers and finding constellations. Also available as a field
trip
program.
|
Nightlights
Nightlights is the
Planetarium’s
popular
Halloween program, full of music, silliness, strobe lights, and light
effects. Appropriate
for all
ages,
although young children may dislike the strobe lights and loud music.
This
is a Halloween program and thus has some frightening segments, although
the entire program is not scary.
The
Halloween
Show
All the teachers are sick so
it’s up to
Holly,
a student witch, to go to the annual Halloween Conference. What if she
gets lost? No problem. A friend, Jack O’Lantern, shows Holly how to use
the stars to find her way around the night sky. The two explore a few
Halloween
superstitions and Holly learns how to say “Happy Halloween” in cat, bat
and goblin. The history and traditions of Halloween are presented in a
fun, non-scary style, making this show ideal for all ages; recommended
for grades 1 through 6. From the
Calgary Science Centre; also available
as a field trip program in October.
Holiday Lights
The Planetarium's
annual holiday treat for visitors is Holiday Lights, which is updated
and refreshed for 2008. This program of lights, music, and visual
effets combines the feeling of the season with the awe-inspiring
majesty of outer space. Appropriate for general audiences. Specifically
for children ages 4 and older is George
and Oatmeal
Save Santa (see description in
Kids Explore), a story featured in Holiday Lights but presented with
different features and a shorter format for younger audiences.
First
Night Under the Stars
A program of stars, light effects and music to usher in the new year,
presented on conjunction with First Night Youngstown.
A First Night
Badge is not required for entry to planetarium shows; the badge is
required for other activities offered by First Night Youngstown.
All programs are free
and open to the
public.
For more information, call the Planetarium's InfoLine at 330 941-1370
or
the Department of Physics & Astronomy at 330 941-3616.
The
planetarium receives generous support
from
the Ward Beecher and Florence Simon Beecher
Foundations
and the
Friends
of the Ward Beecher Planetarium
As
always, the Planetarium
continues to
offer
programs on the night sky, astronomy, and space science for school
field
trips during the day during the week throughout the school year
and for summer programs. Teachers and program coordinators are invited
to call the Planetarium at 330 941-3619 for more details or check the
information in the Teacher's
Guide.
Back
to Planetarium Home Page
|
January
Friday January 11
8 pm Skywatch:
Winter's Brilliant Stars
Saturday January 12
1 & 2:30 pm The
Case of the Disappearing Planet
8 pm Skywatch: Winter's Brilliant Stars
Friday January 18
8 pm The Solar
System-The Sun: Fire, Fury, and Sunspots (Joe Neiheisel)
Saturday January 19
1 & 2:30 pm The Case of the Disappearing Planet
8 pm The Solar System-The Sun: Fire,
Fury, and Sunspots (Joe Neiheisel)
Friday January 25
8 pm The Solar System-Mercury &
Venus: Hidden in Plain Sight (Richard Pirko)
Saturday January 26
1 & 2:30 pm The Case of the Disappearing Planet
8 pm The Solar System-Mercury &
Venus: Hidden in Plain Sight (Richard Pirko)
February
Friday February 1
8 pm The Solar System-Earth & Moon:
Blue Planet and More (Richard Pirko)
Saturday February 2
1 & 2:30 pm The Case of the Disappearing Planet
8 pm The Solar System-Earth & Moon: Blue Planet and
More (Richard Pirko)
Friday February 8
8 pm The Solar System-Visit to the Red
Planet (Pat Durrell)
Saturday February 9
1 & 2:30 pm Destination:
Mars
8 pm The Solar System-Visit to the Red
Planet (Pat Durrell)
Friday February 15
8 pm The Solar System-Jupiter: King of
the Hill (Joe Neiheisel)
Saturday February 16
1 & 2:30 pm Destination:
Mars
8 pm The Solar System-Jupiter: King of
the Hill (Joe Neiheisel)
Friday February 22
8 pm The Solar System-Saturn: Moons,
Rings, and Other Things
(Warren Young)
Saturday February 23
1 & 2:30 pm Great
Space Treasure Hunt
8 pm The Solar System-Saturn: Moons,
Rings, and Other Things
(Warren Young)
Friday February 29
8 pm The Solar System-Uranus & Neptune: Oceans Blue (Doug
Fowler)
March
Saturday March 1
1 & 2:30 pm Great Space Treasure Hunt
8 pmThe Solar System-Uranus &
Neptune: Oceans Blue (Doug Fowler)
Friday March 7
8 pm Dr. Ray's Amazing Side Show of
Science
Saturday March 8 Lake-to-River
Science Day
10 am through 3 pm -
Continuous showing of Dr. Ray's
Amazing Side Show of Science
8 pm Dr.
Ray's Amazing Side Show of Science
Friday March 14
8 pm The Solar System-Pluto and the
Kuiper Belt (Sharon Shanks)
Saturday March 15
1 & 2:30 pm The Case of the Disappearing Planet
8 pm The Solar System-Pluto and the
Kuiper Belt (Sharon Shanks)
Friday March 21
8 pm The Solar System-Asteroids, Comets
& Impacts: Leftovers Again? (Pat Durrell)
Saturday March 22
1& 2:30 pm The Case of the Disappearing Planet
8 pm The Solar System-Asteroids, Comets
& Impacts: Leftovers Again? (Pat Durrell)
March
24-28
SPRING BREAK SPECIALS
Showtimes: 10:30 am and
2:30 pm each day
Mon, March 24 Just Imagine
Tuesday, March 25 In My Backyard
Wednesday, March 26 Wilbear's
Adventurer
Thursday, March 27 The Case of the
Disappearing Planet
March 28-29
Ohio-Region Section of the
American Physical Society - no Friday evening
or Saturday afternoon public programs
Saturday March
29
8 pm The
Solar System-Extra Solar
Planets (John Feldmeier)
April
Friday April 4
8 pm Space
Program Live
Saturday April 5
1 & 2:30 pm Just
Imagine
8 pm Space Program Live
Friday April 11
8 pm Space Program Live
Saturday April 12
1 & 2:30 pm Just Imagine
8 pm Space Program Live
Friday April 18
8 pm Space Program Live
Saturday April 19 Women In Science and Engineering Career
Day
Women Hold Up Half the Sky at 12:30
and 1:15 pm; also open to the public
8 pm Space Program Live
Friday April 25
8 pm Black Holes: The Other Side of
Infinity
Saturday April 26
1 & 2:30 pm Black Holes: The Other Side of
Infinity
8 pm Black Holes: The Other Side of
Infinity
May
Friday May 2
8 pm Skywatch: Summer Sundials
Saturday May 3
1 & 2:30 pm Super
Sky Show
8 pm Skywatch:
Summer Sundials
Friday May 9
8 pm Black Holes: The Other Side of
Infinity
9 pm "Planets in the Park," public
observing at Boardman Park, sponsored by MVAS
Astronomy
Day 2008
Saturday May
10
Co-hosted by the Mahoning Valley Astronomical Society
All activities begin at 2 p.m.
Hands-on activities and demonstrations
Continuous showing of Seeing in the Dark
throughout the day in the planetarium
Outdoors: telescope observing throughout the day with solar filter
during daylight hours, stars and planets after dark
8 pm Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity
Friday May 16
8 pm Black Holes: The Other Side of
Infinity
Saturday May 17
1 & 2:30 pm Black Holes: The Other Side of
Infinity
8 pm Black Holes: The Other Side of
Infinity
Friday May 23
8 pm Black
Holes: The Other Side of
Infinity
Saturday May 24
1 & 2:30 pm Black Holes: The Other Side of
Infinity
8 pm Black Holes: The Other Side of
Infinity
Friday May 30
8 pm Black
Holes: The Other Side of
Infinity
Saturday May 31
1 & 2:30 pm Black Holes: The Other Side of
Infinity
8 pm Black Holes: The Other Side of
Infinity
9 pm Public telescope observing at Scenic Vista
Park, sponsored by MVAS
June, July
Field trip programs
available during
the day; call 330 941-3619 to schedule
Saturday July 5
9
pm Public telescope observing at Scenic Vista Park,
sponsored by MVAS
Summer Festival of
the Arts
July 12 & 13
Noon Oasis in Space
12:30 pm stars
1 pm Wilbear's Adventure
1:30 pm stars
2 pm Big
2:30 pm stars
3 pm Black Holes: The
Other Side of Infinity
3:30 pm stars
4 pm Ringworld II
4:30 pm stars
Saturday July 12
9
pm Public telescope observing at Scenic Vista Park,
sponsored by MVAS (Rescheduled for Saturday, July 5)
August
Closed for general planetarium
maintenance
September
Friday September 26
8 pm Skywatch:
Moon Maps and Planet Finders
Saturday September 27
1 & 2:30 pm The
Explorers of Mauna Kea
8 pm Skywatch: Moon Maps and Planet
Finders
October
Friday October 3
8 pm The Explorers of Mauna Kea
Saturday October 6
1 & 2:30 pm The Explorers of Mauna Kea
8 pm The Explorers of Mauna Kea
Friday October 10
6 & 8 pm Geology on
a Roll
Saturday October 20
1 & 2:30 pm
Mineral Museum and Rock Walk
6 & 8 pm Geology on
a Roll
Friday October 17
6 & 8 pm Geology on
a Roll
Saturday October 18
1 & 2:30 pm
Mineral Museum and Rock Walk
6 & 8 pm Geology on
a Roll
Friday October 24
6 & 8 pm Nightlights
Saturday October 25
1 & 2:30 pm The
Halloween
Show
6 & 8 pm Nightlights
Friday October 31
6 & 8 pm Nightlights
November
Saturday November 1
1 & 2:30 pm Black Holes: The Other Side of
Infinity
8 pm Black Holes: The Other Side of
Infinity
Friday November 7
8 pm Of Space and
Time
Saturday November 8
1 & 2:30 pm In My Backyard
8 pm Of Space and
Time
Friday November 14
8 pm Of Space and
Time
Saturday November 15
1 & 2:30 pm In My Backyard
8 pm Of Space and
Time
Friday November 21
8 pm Of Space and
Time
Saturday November 22
1 & 2:30 pm Of Space and
Time
8 pm Of Space and
Time
Friday November 28 CLOSED
– THANKSGIVING
Saturday November 29
1 & 2:30 pm Black Holes: The Other Side of
Infinity
8 pm Black Holes: The Other Side of
Infinity
December
Friday December 5 Skywatch:
Star Maps
Saturday December 6
1 & 2:30 pm Wilbear's
Adventure
8 pm Skywatch: Star Maps
Friday December 12
8 pm Of Space and
Time
Saturday December 13
1 & 2:30 pm Wilbear's Adventure
8 pm Of Space and
Time
Friday December 19
8 pm Holiday
Lights
Saturday December 20
1 & 2:30 pm George
&
Oatmeal Save Santa
8 pm Holiday
Lights
Wednesday, December
31
6, 7, 8, 9 pm First
Night Under the Stars
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