UW Planetarium to Premiere Three New Films During July

Three new full-dome movies will highlight the July schedule at the University of Wyoming Harry C. Vaughan Planetarium.

“This July, we are premiering three new planetarium films -- ‘Dark Biosphere,’ ‘The Great Solar System Adventure’ and ‘We Are Stars,’” says Max Gilbraith, the planetarium’s coordinator.

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 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 July schedule is:

-- Tuesday, July 8, 7 p.m.: “Wyoming Skies.” A discussion of Saturn’s return and a screening of the full-dome movie “Losing the Dark.” Saturn will appear in the evening sky again and rise around 9 p.m. by the end of the month. For the first time in 15 years, Saturn will tilt its south end toward Earth, and the thin line of the planet’s rings will be visible nearly edge on with earth.  

“Losing the Dark,” a public service announcement planetarium show, introduces and illustrates some of the issues regarding light pollution and suggests three simple actions people can take to help mitigate it. The film is a collaboration of Loch Ness Productions and DarkSky International. 

After the planetarium show finishes at 8 p.m., informal telescope observing on the rooftop of the Physical Sciences Building at the STAR Observatory will be available, weather permitting.

-- Friday, July 11, 7 p.m.: “James Webb Space Telescope.” The next-generation space telescope launched in 2021. The epic mission to send a tennis court-sized observatory past the moon will reveal the mysteries of the universe like never before. This program will detail the exciting science objectives and the knuckle-biting engineering feats that have gone into our next eyes in the sky.

-- Friday, July 11, 8:30 p.m.: “Liquid Sky: The Beatles,” a music-based light show. Enjoy a custom playlist of “out-of-this-world” music from the legendary British band 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.

-- Saturday, July 12, 2 p.m.: “The Great Solar System Adventure,” a full-dome movie. Join showman extraordinaire “The Great Schiaparelli” as he takes the audience on a death-defying space-time adventure within his wondrous observatorium. From the sun-scorched surface of Mercury to the icy expanses of Pluto and beyond, the audience will be subjected to the myriad dangers and wonders of our solar system.

-- Saturday, July 12, 7 p.m.: “Dark Biosphere,” a full-dome movie. Deep beneath the earth’s crust, hundreds of meters or kilometers below the surface -- with no light, no air and very little water, in pores and fissures of hard rock -- scientists have found an enormous biodiversity of microorganisms that thrive in extreme conditions in an area known as the dark biosphere. This film is narrated by actor Viggo Mortensen.

-- Saturday, July 12, 8:30 p.m.: “Liquid Sky: EDM,” a music-based light show. Enjoy a custom playlist of “out-of-this-world” electronic dance music from artists 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.

-- Friday, July 18, 7 p.m.: “Dust, Light, Dust.” The 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.

-- Friday, July 18, 8:30 p.m.: “Liquid Sky: Metal,” a music-based light show. Enjoy a custom playlist of “out-of-this-world” metal music 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.

-- Saturday, July 19, 2 p.m.: “We Are Stars,” a full-dome movie. Connect life on Earth to the evolution of the universe by following the formation of hydrogen atoms to the synthesis of carbon and the molecules for life. This film is narrated by Andy Serkis.

-- Saturday, July 19, 7 p.m.: “The Great Solar System Adventure” and “Always Above,” a full-dome movie double feature. “The Great Solar System Adventure” features showman extraordinaire “The Great Schiaparelli” as he takes the audience on a death-defying space-time adventure within his wondrous observatorium. From the sun-scorched surface of Mercury to the icy expanses of Pluto and beyond, the audience will be subjected to the myriad dangers and wonders of our solar system.

“Always Above” looks at how much our modern way of life depends on the thousands of satellites that fly around our planet. Orbiting the Earth are satellites that allow us to communicate with one another, monitor the weather, help us get to where we’re going and keep our country safe.

-- Saturday, July 19, 8:30 p.m. “Liquid Sky: ABBA,” a music-based light show. Enjoy a custom playlist of “out-of-this-world” music from the Swedish pop band 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.

-- Tuesday, July 22, 7 p.m.: “Wyoming Skies.” Learn about the conjunction of the moon, Jupiter and Venus; and watch “Losing the Dark,” a full-dome movie. In the predawn hours, the moon will form a triangle with Jupiter and Venus.

“Losing the Dark,” a public service announcement planetarium show, introduces and illustrates some of the issues regarding light pollution and suggests three simple actions people can take to help mitigate it. The film is a collaboration of Loch Ness Productions and DarkSky International.

After the planetarium show finishes at 8 p.m., informal telescope observing on the rooftop of the Physical Sciences Building at the STAR Observatory will be available, weather permitting.

-- Friday, July 25, 7 p.m.: “Pluto and the Kuiper Belt.” Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet Aug. 24, 2006. Audience members can learn why Pluto was demoted and observe the data and discoveries of the New Horizons mission to the farthest reaches of our solar system.

-- Friday, July 25, 8:30 p.m.: “Liquid Sky: Retro Rock,” a music-based light show. Enjoy a custom playlist of “out-of-this-world” retro rock music from top pop musical 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.

-- Saturday, July 26, 2 p.m.: “Dark Biosphere” and “Always Above,” a full-dome movie double feature. Deep beneath the earth’s crust, hundreds of meters or kilometers below the surface -- with no light, no air and very little water, in pores and fissures of hard rock -- scientists have found an enormous biodiversity of microorganisms that thrive in extreme conditions in an area known as the dark biosphere. “Dark Biosphere” is narrated by actor Viggo Mortensen.

“Always Above” looks at how much our modern way of life depends on the thousands of satellites that fly around our planet. Orbiting the Earth are satellites that allow us to communicate with each other, monitor the weather, help us get to where we’re going and keep our country safe.

-- Saturday, July 26, 7 p.m.: “We Are Stars” and “Always Above,” a full-dome movie double feature. “We Are Stars” connects life on Earth to the evolution of the universe by following the formation of hydrogen atoms to the synthesis of carbon and the molecules for life. This film is narrated by Andy Serkis.

“Always Above” looks at how much our modern way of life depends on the thousands of satellites that fly around our planet. Orbiting the Earth are satellites that allow us to communicate with one another, monitor the weather, help us get to where we’re going and keep our country safe. 

-- Saturday, July 26, 8:30 p.m.: “Liquid Sky: Taylor Swift,” a music-based light show. Enjoy a custom playlist of “out-of-this-world” Taylor Swift music 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.

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