Local children can learn about seasonal changes and celestial mysteries of the night sky at the next CU Wizards show "Stars Overhead" on Saturday, June 19, on the CU-Boulder campus.
Katy Garmany, director of Fiske Planetarium and professor of astrophysical and planetary sciences, will give the free presentation at 10 a.m. in the planetarium. The CU Wizards program is recommended for children in grades five through nine. No reservations are required.
Participants will each be given a "moon on a stick," a prop that Garmany uses to explain the phases of the moon. Garmany also will discuss why there are different seasons and also will explore the night sky and take a trip to the North Pole to show what the sky looks like from there.
"The fun part for me is the enthusiasm that the kids have," Garmany said. Sometimes adult audiences don't show as much interest in astronomy, she said.
They may not be as star-savvy as the children who attend the program either. "If the children could go away from the program just knowing why the seasons change and why the moon changes shape, then they'll be doing better than many Harvard graduates," Garmany said.
The CU Wizards series is an annual program that provides aninformal introduction to astronomy, chemistry and physics. It includes presentations by CU-Boulder faculty in several areas of expertise. "Stars Overhead" is the last program of the 1998-99 season.
Free parking is available in lot 308, west of the planetarium and lot 436, east of the Engineering Center. Anyone with a disability or special need should notify the physics department at 303-492-6952 a few days in advance of the show.
For general information about the CU Wizards program call 303-492-4318.