Lunar Eclipse Highlights UW Planetarium Schedule During March

Programs about the upcoming lunar eclipse, as well as the sun and the moon, highlight the schedule at the University of Wyoming Harry C. Vaughan Planetarium during March.

“We’ve got a jam-packed schedule of special events to announce through the next month,” says Max Gilbraith, the planetarium’s coordinator. “Following spring break, we’ll have a couple of shows focused on the sun. During the week of March 25, we will move up our ‘Wyoming Skies’ show to Monday to prepare folks for the lunar eclipse occurring later that evening. We will host an observing night on the roof, weather permitting.”

During the last weekend of March, the planetarium will host two programs -- “Apollo to Artemis” and “Max Goes to the Moon” -- with a focus on Earth’s only natural satellite, Gilbraith adds.

To get tickets or receive more information about programs, email planetarium@uwyo.edu 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 March schedule is:

-- Friday, March 1. The planetarium will be closed for a private event.

-- Saturday, March 2, 2 p.m.: “Two Small Pieces of Glass: The Amazing Telescope,” a full-dome movie. Learn 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, March 2, 7 p.m.: “Liquid Sky: Taylor Swift,” a music-based light show. Enjoy a custom playlist of music from all eras of Taylor Swift in 5.1 surround sound. The 4K-resolution planetarium sky will become a canvas of color, patterns and movement with cutting-edge music visualization software and live VJ talent.

-- Friday, March 8, 7 p.m.: “Astronomical Women.” This program follows the history and discoveries of the great female astronomers, scientists and engineers, including Hypatia, Annie Cannon, Vera Rubin and astronomers of today.

-- Saturday, March 9-Sunday, March 17: The planetarium will be closed for spring break.

-- Friday, March 22, 7 p.m.: “Parker Solar Probe.” On a mission to “touch the sun,” NASA’s Parker Solar Probe became the first spacecraft to fly through the corona -- the sun’s upper atmosphere -- in 2021. With every orbit bringing it closer, the probe faces brutal heat and radiation to provide humanity with unprecedented observations of the only star that can be studied up close.

-- Saturday, March 23, 2 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.

-- Saturday, March 23, 7 p.m.: “Live Jazz: The Andy Wheelock Trio.” Laramie’s own Andy Wheelock Trio will present a special live performance of jazz at the planetarium. The performance will drift through space and dazzle patrons with color and light. Wheelock is a UW Department of Music assistant professor.

-- Monday, March 25, 7 p.m.: “Wyoming Skies.” This special lunar eclipse show provides an exploration of the stars, constellations, planets, meteor showers and other celestial phenomena visible from Wyoming for the season.

-- Monday, March 25, 8 p.m.: “Observing Night -- Penumbral Lunar Eclipse.” Weather permitting, visitors will be able to enjoy a penumbral lunar eclipse and otherwise stargaze on the roof of the Physical Sciences Building.

-- Friday, March 29, 7 p.m.: “Apollo to Artemis.” See the history of lunar exploration and learn about the newest efforts to get humanity back to the moon. Artemis 1 is preparing for a summer launch of the Orion capsule, without a crew, on a 25-day journey to the moon and back.

-- Saturday, March 30, 2 p.m.: “Max Goes to the Moon,” a full-dome movie. Max, the dog, and a young girl named Tori take the first trip to the moon since the Apollo era.

-- Saturday, March 30, 7 p.m.: “Cowboy Soundbox.” Enjoy live immersive and experimental full-dome visual and audio performances.

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