UW Planetarium Reopens After Renovations and Technical Upgrades

After the University of Wyoming Harry C. Vaughan Planetarium closed for two weeks for renovations and technical upgrades, the venue has reopened and will pick up its August schedule, which includes the premiere of "Big Astronomy," a new film.

"The Harry C. Vaughan Planetarium at the University of Wyoming Department of Physics and Astronomy has completed its largest upgrade in 10 years," says Max Gilbraith, the planetarium's coordinator. "After a public bidding process, New Hampshire-based SSIA Technologies delivered and installed new projectors, computer renders, peripherals and software updates to the planetarium. The new system has an order of magnitude greater resolution, brightness, color, contrast and fidelity."

The planetarium received funding from UW's College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, the Science Initiative, the Wyoming NASA Space Grant Consortium and the Windy Ridge Foundation to complete the upgrades that cost nearly $250,000.

"We look forward to serving the Wyoming, Nebraska and northern Colorado communities for more decades to come with our cutting-edge learning environment," Gilbraith adds.

To get tickets or receive more information about programs, email [email protected] or leave a voicemail and a call-back phone number at (307) 766-6506. Tickets are $5 for the public or online tickets, and $3 for students, senior citizens, veterans, first responders and those under 18. Seating is free for children under 5. Bulk tickets/gift cards are available at $2 each when 10 or more tickets are purchased.

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 August schedule is:

-- Thursday, Aug. 22, 4-7 p.m.: Dome Club. Attendees will learn about immersive technologies for augmented reality, virtual reality, extended reality and full-dome development. Participants are welcome to bring their own projects and technologies to test and demonstrate. The event takes place at the SciDIY Makerspace in the basement of the Physical Sciences Building. For more information, email Jane Crayton at [email protected].

-- Friday, Aug. 23, 7 p.m.: "One Sky," a full-dome series of short films. Each short film represents the perspective of a different culture or Indigenous society from around the globe. Each film stands alone as a short story, or in combination, as a longer narrative organized around themes of "finding patterns" and developing tools. Short films are "The Forge of Artemis," "Thunderbird," "Jai Singh's Dream," "Celestial Canoe," "The Samurai and Stars" and "Wayfinders."

-- Saturday, Aug. 24, 2 p.m.: "Big Astronomy: People, Places, Discoveries," a full-dome movie. The film takes a journey to three world-class observatories in Chile's rugged Andes Mountains and arid Atacama Desert -- remote, extreme regions that have the perfect conditions for astronomical research. Featured is an inspiring cast of astronomers, engineers, technicians and support staff who keep the megamachines running.

-- Saturday, Aug. 24, 7 p.m.: "Pluto Reclassified." Pluto was reclassified from a major planet to a dwarf planet Aug. 24, 2006. Audience members can learn why Pluto was demoted and observe the data and discoveries of the New Horizons mission to the farthest reaches of the solar system.

-- Thursday, Aug. 29, 7 p.m.: Dome Club. Attendees will learn about immersive technologies for augmented reality, virtual reality, extended reality and full-dome development. Participants are welcome to bring their own projects and technologies to test and demonstrate. The event takes place at the SciDIY Makerspace in the basement of the Physical Sciences Building. For more information, email Crayton at [email protected].

-- Friday, Aug. 30, 7 p.m.: "Aurorae: Dancing Lights." For millennia, our ancestors looked in awe at the "dawn in the North," better known as the Aurora Borealis. What causes this display in the sky? Where does it occur? Do other planets have aurorae? A tour from the surface of the sun out to the magnetic poles of the solar system will help attendees learn the answers.

-- Saturday, Aug. 31, 2 p.m.: "Two Small Pieces of Glass," a full-dome movie. Attendees will learn about the history of the telescope, from Galileo's modifications to a child's spyglass -- using two small pieces of glass -- to the launch of the NASA/European Space Agency Hubble Space Telescope and the future of astronomy.

-- Saturday, Aug. 31, 7 p.m.: "The Sun: Our Living Star," a full-dome movie. The sun consumes 600 million tons of hydrogen each second and is 500 times as massive as all of the planets combined. Viewers will discover the secrets of the sun and experience never-before-seen images of its violent surface.

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