Fiske Planetarium at the University of Colorado at Boulder will present a series of monthly astronomy shows this spring that will take viewers from black holes to the very edges of the universe.
The monthly sky shows, in addition to the regular Friday evening and Tuesday evening programs, will be led by noted CU astronomers and will use the planetarium聮s versatile imagery to visualize the cosmos. The in-depth presentations are intended for adults and children age 12 and over.
Weather permitting, the Sommers-Bausch Observatory, adjacent to the planetarium, will be open after the Friday presentations.
Following is a list of the star talks scheduled for this Spring:
Erica Ellington, "Galaxies at the Edge of the Universe," Jan. 12 and Jan. 15 at 7:30 p.m.
Participants see how the sky would look if Earthlings could look beyond the stars to the billions of galaxies that populate our universe. The trip begins with the Milky Way and moves through the local group of galaxies and the local super cluster, extending to the outer reaches of the observable universe. The presentation also shows how studying galaxies has revealed the structure of the universe.
Andrew Hamilton, "Black Holes and Relativity," Feb. 16 and Feb. 19 at 7:30 p.m.
This program features the strange predictions of Einstein聮s theory of relativity, including one prophecy that Einstein himself did not believe 聴 that black holes exist. See the astronomical evidence, including Hubble Space Telescope pictures, that demonstrate such phenomena are real and experience how it would look to fall into a black hole.
John Stocke, Navajo Skies, March 2 and March 5 at 7:30 p.m.
Navajo Skies features a visit to ancient North American observatories and illustrates the love for the sky that made astronomy a daily part of American Indian culture. Examine traditional American Indian star and constellation lore, simulated on the planetarium's sky, and enjoy the sky's mythology, including the Navajo story of the creation of the stars.
David Grinspoon, "Venus: Earth's Twin Planet," April 6 and April 9 at 7:30 p.m.
The program provides a view of the planet Venus from pre-history to modern astronomy. It delves into the mythological personalities attributed to Venus by different cultures, and the history of telescopic and spacecraft exploration of Venus, including the recent Magellan radar mapping imagery of the planets' surface. A summary of the latest discoveries and ideas includes comparative environmental studies of Venus and Earth.
Katy Garmany, "Earth and Sky: Astronomy before the Telescope," May 5 and May 7 at 7:30 p.m.
Participants enjoy the beauty of the night sky and experience the mystical splendor that ancient people saw when they looked into the dark heavens. "Earth and Sky" features the sky as it is now, as well as the way the sky changes through the years. The concepts of constellations, sundials, calendars and navigation are woven into the way our ancestors studied the sky.
Fiske Planetarium is located at Regent Drive and Kittredge Loop Drive on the CU-Boulder campus. Free visitor parking is available after 5 p.m. at the meters along Regent Drive, or in metered lots 306 and 330 south of Regent Drive.
Admission is $3.50 for adults and $2 for children and senior citizens. For information about the programs call 303-492-5001 for a recorded announcement or 303-492-5002 to speak to the planetarium staff. The planetarium's web site address is .