UW Planetarium Offers Mix of Familiar Events And ‘Dome After Dark’ During April

A mix of familiar events and films, a live talk about dark matter and a “Dome After Dark” audiovisual/musical performance dot the University of Wyoming Harry C. Vaughan Planetarium schedule during April.

“This April, we will have a thorough offering of shows, movies, music programs and a finale special live event,” says Max Gilbraith, the planetarium’s coordinator. “To close the month, we will have a special live event -- Dome After Dark -- featuring music, visuals, makerspace activity, snacks and a bar April 26.”

To get tickets or receive more information about programs, email planetarium@uwyo.edu or leave a voicemail and a call-back phone number at (307) 766-6506. Tickets are $5 for the public or online tickets, and $3 for students, senior citizens, veterans, first responders and those under 18. Seating is free for children under 5. Bulk tickets/gift cards are available at $2 each when 10 or more tickets are purchased.

Reservations or pre-purchase is not required, and walk-ins are welcome. Tickets can be purchased online with a credit card, reserved by email or voicemail, or purchased at the start of the show. Cash or check is accepted at the door. The planetarium, which seats 64, is in the basement of the Physical Sciences Building. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis outside of designated ADA/wheelchair seating.

To pay for tickets with a credit card, go to https://www.uwyo.edu/uwplanetarium/ticket.aspx. For a group larger than six, email the planetarium for a private show at https://uwyo.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bKuqIynOn7gFK2F. Tickets for private shows are the same as the public programs.

A film and special live talk for audiences will be featured each week. All programs are approximately an hour in length. As time allows, a portion of the show also may focus on a live sky tour or supporting information related to the film’s topic.

The April schedule is:

-- Friday, April 4, 7 p.m.: “Stellar Graveyard.” This program explores the science behind the formation of stars; the various forms they take; and the stellar graveyard, including white dwarfs, neutron stars and black holes.

-- Saturday, April 5, 2 p.m.: “The Hot and Energetic Universe,” a full-dome movie. The film investigates the achievements of modern astronomy; the most advanced terrestrial and orbital observatories; the basic principles of electromagnetic radiation; and the natural phenomena related to high-energy astrophysics.

-- Saturday, April 5, 7 p.m. “Liquid Sky: Women Who Rock,” a music-based light show. Enjoy a custom playlist of “out-of-this-world” music from top female artists in genres of rock, indie, pop, electronic and more in 5.1 surround sound. The 4K-resolution planetarium sky will become a canvas of color, patterns and movement with cutting-edge music visualization software and live VJ talent.

-- Tuesday, April 8, 7 p.m.: “Wyoming Skies.” The program provides an exploration of the stars, constellations, planets, meteor showers and other celestial phenomena visible from Wyoming for the season.

-- Friday, April 11, 7 p.m.: “Black Holes.” Are black holes nature's mistake or portals to the unknown? Physics can let us speculate about the nature of these bizarre structures, but astronomers are turning an improving eye towards these mysterious and fascinating objects.

-- Saturday, April 12, 2 p.m.: “Back to the Moon for Good,” a full-dome movie. This film opens with the first era of space exploration in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Viewers will learn what that era of landers and orbiters taught the world about the moon.

-- Saturday, April 12, 7 p.m.: “Liquid Sky: Pop,” a music-based light show. Enjoy a custom playlist of “out-of-this-world” pop music from top artists in 5.1 surround sound. The 4K resolution planetarium sky melts and becomes a canvas of color, patterns and movement with cutting-edge music visualization software and live VJ talent.

-- Friday, April 18, 7 p.m.: “Dark Energy, Dark Matter and the Future of the Universe.” Danny Dale, Harry C. Vaughan Professor of Astronomy in the UW Department of Physics and Astronomy, will give a special talk about our attempts to answer some of the most intriguing questions in astronomy, including whether our universe will continue to expand forever. Einstein’s most famous equation relates energy and mass but, as far as scientists know, dark energy is not related to dark matter. This program is free.

-- Saturday, April 19, 2 p.m.: “From Earth to the Universe,” a full-dome movie. This film takes the audience out to the colorful birthplaces and burial grounds of stars and still farther out beyond the Milky Way to the unimaginable immensity of myriad galaxies.

-- Saturday, April 19, 7 p.m.: “Liquid Sky: Pink Floyd’s ‘The Dark Side of the Moon.’” Enjoy the classic album in 5.1 surround sound. The 4K-resolution planetarium sky will become a canvas of color, patterns and movement with cutting-edge music visualization software and live VJ talent.

-- Tuesday, April 22, 7 p.m.: “Wyoming Skies.” The program provides an exploration of the stars, constellations, planets, meteor showers and other celestial phenomena visible from Wyoming for the season.

-- Friday, April 25, 7 p.m.: “NASA’s Great Observatories.” Hubble, Spitzer, Chandra and Compton are great names in astronomy and great telescopes that see beyond the limited light that can pierce the atmosphere of Earth. Visitors will see and learn what we can only see of space.

-- Saturday, April 26, 7 p.m.: “Dome After Dark.” Details have yet to be announced for this event.

For more detailed descriptions of all programs, go to www.uwyo.edu/physics/planetarium/schedule.html.