UW Planetarium Will Host Truncated Program Schedule During June

During June, the University of Wyoming Harry C. Vaughan Planetarium will have a scaled-back program schedule, as many of its student workers will be away that month.

“As we get into our summer months, our talented planetarium student staff will be away doing research, internships and other activities. As a result, we will be truncating our public show schedule for the month of June,” says Max Gilbraith, the planetarium’s coordinator. “We are available for private shows, field trips, summer camps, parties and other bookings throughout June, but realize that our availability is limited.”

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 and $3 for students, senior citizens, veterans, first responders and those under 18. Seating is free for children under 5.

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 June schedule is:

-- Friday, June 2, 7 p.m.: “Forward! To the Moon,” a full-dome movie. Narrator Kari Byron, from “Crash Test World” and “MythBusters,” takes viewers on a journey beyond Earth toward a sustainable future in space. NASA’s 21st century Artemis program is the next step in the mission to explore the universe and land the first woman and person of color on the moon. This film is produced by Fiske Planetarium in collaboration with Tend Studio. 

-- Saturday, June 3, 2 p.m.: “Forward! To the Moon,” a full-dome movie. Narrator Kari Byron, from “Crash Test World” and “MythBusters,” takes viewers on a journey beyond Earth toward a sustainable future in space. NASA’s 21st century Artemis program is the next step in the mission to explore the universe and land the first woman and person of color on the moon.

-- Saturday, June 3, 7 p.m.: “Liquid Sky: R&B,” a music-based light show. Enjoy this lovesick playlist of the past decades’ best rhythm and blues 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.

-- Tuesday, June 6, 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, June 9, 7 p.m.: “Solar System Vacation,” a full-dome movie. This program will provide a tour of the most exciting and relaxing locations around the solar system. See giant ice geysers, lava lakes and aurorae; or watch the sunset on methane lakes on the bizarre moons and planets of the sun.

-- Saturday, June 10, 2 p.m.: “Cosmic Mashups: Gravity, Galaxies and Supermassive Black Holes,” a full-dome movie. Supermassive black holes are found in most galaxies, and scientists are beginning to uncover how the merging of galaxies activates galactic centers. 

 -- Saturday, June 10, 7 p.m.: “Liquid Sky: Pink Floyd’s ‘The Dark Side of the Moon,’” a music-based light show. Enjoy the classic album, now in its 50th year, 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. 

-- Sunday, June 11-Tuesday, July 4: The planetarium has limited availability for private shows.

-- Thursday, June 29, 8:30 p.m.: Telescope Night at the Albany County Public Library, located at 310 S. Eighth St. in Laramie.

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