The Marie Drake Planetarium

Where the stars always shine in Juneau, AK

2011 Shows and Events

Poster by Isabella

The Planets 


The Planets 
Talk by Juneau Symphony conductor Kyle Wiley Pickett on Holst's The Planets. Learn about the music, mythology, astronomy and pop culture associated with Gustav Holst's most famous work. This will be followed by 'The Stars Tonight' and a presentation on 'The Planets'.
The Juneau Symphony performing The Planets twice the following weekend.

Poster by Isabella

Image from www.Dreamstime image.
Yoga Under the Stars (3 events)
Led by Cynthia Pring-Ham. Participants will be guided through a yoga practice that provides an experiential way to welcome the resonating space within each of us and observe the connectivity between the breath, body, and mind that brings us health and happiness.
Romance Under the Stars
Listen to recorded music. Bring a blanket and your loved one(s) and enjoy relaxing under the stars. Free Hershey's Kisses.

Poster by Isabella

NASA Venus picture taken by Hubble telescope.

Aphrodite and Venus
Mythology and astronomy presentation by Ken Fix.
"Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, and procreation. She is identified with the planet Venus; her Roman equivalent."
- Wikipedia
Astronomy Humor 
Astronomy as you have never seen it before by Cristina Della Rosa creator of www.astronomyastronauthumor.com website launched in 2011.

Poster by Isabella

Poster by Isabella
Alaska From Orbit Movie
50 Minutes. World premiere Michael Bott, the creator of 'Celestial Superfly', will show his new film
'Alaska From Orbit.' World premiere.Travel from Alaska to the edge of the universe and back. Includes shuttle launch, celestial objects, and transcendental music. 
Planet Walk to celebrate Astronomy Day.
Astronomy day celebrated twice a year.
Public walk at planet walk at Twin Lakes

Photo by Steve Kocsis
Ares and Mars
Mythology and Astronomy presentation by Ken Fix 
Ares is the Greek God of War
Zeus and Jupiter (35)
Mythology and Astronomy presentation by Ken Fix. Zeus "is the sky and thunder god in ancient Greek religion, who ruled as king of the the gods of Mount Olympus."
- quote from Wikipedia


Wikipedia image

 

Zeus and Jupiter

Retro Sci-Fi Movies
The Day the Earth Stood Still
In this 1951 movie, an alien (Klaatu) with his mighty robot (Gort) land their spacecraft on Cold War-era Earth just after the end of World War II. They bring an important message to Earth that Klaatu wishes to tell to all nations. However, communication turns out to be difficult.
Them
Atomic tests in New Mexico create giant, man-eating ants that threaten civilization

Image from www.dreamstime.com
Astronomy Poetry Contest
Organized by Cristina Della Rosa to celebrate National Poetry Month. 15 entries (11 children, 4 adults)
Click to read entries.
July 4th parade
Our theme:  Gas Giants.
8 volunteers (7 adults and one child) walked in the parade holding the planetarium banner and signs honoring the space shuttle missions: Atlantis, Endeavour, Columbia, Challenger and Discovery. 300 planetarium postcards given to the crowd. Volunteers wore astronomy related t-shits. Candy also given away. A sunny and successful day.
Volunteer Dolly Kremers. Photo by Steve Kocsis
Image from www.dreamstime.com
Observe the Moon Night
Telescope, binoculars and spotting scope were set up outside planetarium However, there was no visibility, so the pubic invited inside and given presentation: Life without the Moon.

Aphrodite and Venus

Mythology and astronomy presentation by Ken Fix

Venus de Milo Fly Trap by Jeff Brown (2010)

History of Astronomy
Presentation by Clark Branch
Poster by Isabella
NASA image of Uranua
Uranus and Uranus
Astronomy and mythology presentation by Ken Fix.
Ouranos aka Uranus was the Greek god personifying the sky.
Helios and the Aurora ( 2 shows)
Astronomy and mythology repeat presentations by Ken Fix. 


Poster by Isabella who reimagined title as namne of a band.

Poster by Isabella

Cronus and Saturn - astronomy and mythology 
Cronus aka Kronos was the son of Uranus and Ge. He became the father of Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, Poseidon, and Zeus. He was Greek God of Time.

Planetarium Show for Kids 
Main presenter Clark Branch with other volunteer assistance.
  • Build a nebula with dry ice
  • Starball view of the night sky
  • Meteorite table
  • Human solar system
  • Aurora borealis demonstration with flow stickes
  • Sing the planet song
Poster by Isabella
What color is the moon?
Moon: Facts and Folly 
Cristina and Steve share the science and silliness of our moon.
Calendars and Their History 
Presentation by Eva

Poster by Isabella

Other Activities

Community Day on Campus
Planetarium has a table at this annual event at UAS.

School Group Presentations

  • Class presentation to 158 students including 3rd graders from Auke Bay, 1st and K graders from Harborview, 4th and 5th graders.

Community Group Presentations

150 people attended presentations.
  • Young Parent Healthy Teen Center (Zach Gordon) with art.
  • Girl Scouts
  • Boy Scouts
  • Birthday party
  • Cub Scouts
  • Constellations presentation for Gold Creek Child Development Center