Astronomy Shows at ASU

Angelo State University’s Global Immersion Center (GIC), formerly the Planetarium, will present three full-dome public astronomy shows during its spring 2013 schedule beginning Thursday, March 21, in the Vincent Nursing-Physical Science Building, 2333 Vanderventer St.
Each Thursday from March 21 to May 9, “Saturn: Jewel of the Heavens” will run at 7 p.m., “Stars: Powerhouses of the Universe” will run at 8 p.m., and “Cosmic Journey: A Solar System Adventure” 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.

Incorporating the best imagery from the Cassini-Huygens missions, “Saturn:  Jewel of the Heavens” gives audiences a close-up view one of the most amazing and dynamic planetary collections of our solar system.  From its bizarre moons with mysterious features to the millions of icy particles that compose the enigmatic rings, this tour of Saturn goes a billion miles beyond our everyday experiences.

Every star has a story.  Some are as old as time, faint and almost forgotten.  Others burn bright and end their lives in powerful explosions.  New stars are created every day, born of vast clouds of gas and dust.  Through every phase of their existence, stars release the energy that powers the universe.  “Stars: Powerhouses of the Universe” takes audiences on a journey to the furthest reaches of the galaxy to experience both the awesome beauty and destructive power of stars.

Volcanoes that tower 80,000 feet above a barren surface, monstrous hurricanes that rage for 400 years and multicolored rings that sit suspended in air are just a few of the features in “Cosmic Journey: A Solar System Adventure.”  Audiences will take a virtual tour through the Earth’s solar system faster than the speed of light, taking in the wonders of the planets and their moons along the way.

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.