The Marie Drake Planetarium

Where the stars always shine in Juneau, AK

2014 Shows and Events

Public Presentations

Poseiden and Neptune
Presentation by Ken Fix covering the Greek mythology of the god Poseidon and planetary science of Neptune.

Poster by Isabella

Flying Blue Marble 

When you sit in traffic for awhile and it's hard to believe that anything anywhere is moving.  But, despite its appearance, our world is whirling through space in seven different directions at more than a million miles per hour.  This is a program that will surely leave your head spinning!  

Presentation by visiting astronomer Dennis Mammana.

$5 for adults


Cristina's photo of 2013 San Diego balloon parade.

Colors of the Cosmos

Presentation by visiting astronomer Dennis Mammana

As we once again turn the page on the calendar, an exciting new year of celestial events comes into view: eclipses, lunar and planetary conjunctions, meteor showers and more. 

A fun-filled preview of what promises to be a fascinating year in the skies over Juneau!

Click here for image information

Night Sky Photography Workshop

All day fee class by Dennis Mammana

Photo by Dennis Mammana

Dark matter, Dark Energy and the Fate of the Universe

Presentation for adult audiences by Steve Kocsis

Find out why "if the universe is constantly expanding how come the sky never gets any bigger?"

Calvin and Hobbs

Click to learn more

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 is the goddess Venus."

- Wikipedia

Poster by Isabella

Venus de Milo fly trap by Jeff Brown (2010)

Other Movies

Space Trucker Bruce movie


Movie by local director. Suitable for teenagers up.

Learn more at www.spacetruckerbruce.com

Fundraiser

Movie Poster

Other Movies


Apollo 18

Horror movie about fictitious mission.

Deep Impact 
Action movie

Independence Day
Action Movie

Galaxy Quest
Family comedy

International Space Station

NASA image

NASA image - Expedition 40

Ares and Mars

Mythology and Astronomy presentation by Ken Fix

"Ares is the Greek god of war. He is one of the Twelve Olympians, and the son of Zeus and Hera.  In Greek literature, he often represents the physical or violent and untamed aspect of war, in contrast to his sister the armored Athena, whose functions as a goddess of intelligence include military strategy and generalship."

- Wikipedia


Poster by Isabella
Earth Day Humor
Enjoy with a lighthearted look at this annual worldwide event held to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It was first celebrated in 1970, and is now celebrated in more than 192 countries each year. Learn the history of Earth Day and how humor is used to encourage environmentally friendly behavior every day of the year.
Two shows. One at UAS, one at planetarium.

Image from www.dreamstime.com
October Eclipses in Juneau
See article in Juneau Empire
NASA image
Cronus and Saturn
Mythology and Astronomy presentation by Ken Fix.
" In Greek mythology, Cronus, Cronos or Kronos was the leader and youngest of the first generation of Titans, the divine descendants of Uranus, the sky, and Gaia, the earth."
- Wikipedia

Poster by Isabella
The Rosetta Mission
Presentation by Rosemary Walling.  Learn about Rosetta's visit to Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and the landing of a probe on its surface
NASA image
Stars and Why Our Sun Seems So Ordinary
Presentation by Ken Fix who will cover the composition of stars, their births and deaths, and how astronomers determine what they are made of.

NASA image

Big Dipper

Earth Day at the Glacier

Planetarium has table with solar system puzzle and make a constellation activity. 50 people stopped by.

Community Presentations

School Group Presentations

  • AWARE 
  • Summer Day Care (two visits)
  • Juneau Youth Services (two visits)

Other Activities

Two birthday parties

  • Montessori (7 and 8)
  • Glacier Valley (3rd) 
  • Harborview (elementary)
  • Harborview Science Night (elementary)
  • Rally after school program (five presentations)
  • Two pre-school classes
  • Gastineau Elementary Kindergarten
  • Rally
  • Path to Excellence Summer Academy -  Navigating with the Stars. High school students.
  • UAS Astronomy Class (51 students at four presentations)
  • IDEA Families Homeschool
  • 2nd Graders