UW Planetarium Schedules Spooky Fun During October

To celebrate the Halloween season, the University of Wyoming Harry C. Vaughan Planetarium's October lineup includes a few spooky offerings.

"In lieu of our normal Saturday music programs, we will be watching and commenting on scary sci-fi films 'The Thing' and 'Apollo 18'," says Max Gilbraith, the planetarium's coordinator. "Our Friday evening talks also will have a spooky flair with 'Search for Extraterrestrial Life,' 'Hotter Than the Sun: The Atomic Age,' and 'Space Trivia and Treat.'"

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 October schedule is:

-- Thursday, Oct. 3, 4-7 p.m.: Dome Club. Learn about immersive technologies for augmented reality, virtual reality, extended reality and full-dome development. All are welcome to bring their own projects and technologies to test and demonstrate. This activity takes place at the SciDIY Makerspace in the basement of the Physical Sciences Building. For more information, email Jane Crayton at [email protected].

-- Friday, Oct. 4, 7 p.m.: "Search for Extraterrestrial Life." Astronomers use telescopes from ground and space to locate signs of life on other planets. Landers, rovers and probes visit the scattered planets and moons of our solar system to hunt for extraterrestrials.

-- Saturday, Oct. 5, 2 p.m.: "Out There: Extrasolar Worlds," a full-dome movie. This film features the primitive science fiction of early civilizations; future space missions that will observe the universe in greater-than-ever detail; and the opportunity to travel to the surfaces and oceans of moons in our solar system.

-- Saturday, Oct. 5, 7 p.m.: "Science of Sci-Fi: John Carpenter's 'The Thing.'" This program will analyze and review the 1982 R-rated horror classic. The program will review funny physics faux pas and groundbreaking visuals that advance the body of scientific knowledge.

-- Tuesday, Oct. 8, 7 p.m.: "Wyoming Skies." The program provides an exploration of the stars, constellations, planets, meteor showers and other celestial phenomena visible from Wyoming for the season.

-- Thursday, Oct. 10, 4-7 p.m.: Dome Club. Learn about immersive technologies for augmented reality, virtual reality, extended reality and full-dome development. All are welcome to bring their own projects and technologies to test and demonstrate. This activity takes place at the SciDIY Makerspace in the basement of the Physical Sciences Building. For more information, email Crayton at [email protected].

-- Friday, Oct. 11, 7 p.m.: "Hotter Than the Sun: The Atomic Age." Physicists and astrophysicists were set loose to develop nuclear weapons and energy in the first half of the 20th century. This program will go beyond the headlines of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Cuban Missile Crisis, Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima. It will explore the history of nuclear weapons testing, power generation and the modern risks and benefits of technology that either harness or unleash energy hotter than the sun.

-- Thursday, Oct. 17, 4-7 p.m.: Dome Club. Learn about immersive technologies for augmented reality, virtual reality, extended reality and full-dome development. All are welcome to bring their own projects and technologies to test and demonstrate. This activity takes place at the SciDIY Makerspace in the basement of the Physical Sciences Building. For more information, email Crayton at [email protected].

-- Friday, Oct. 18, 7 p.m.: "Space Trivia and Treat." This event will include Halloween craft activities and a space-themed survival trivia game. This free show is a fundraiser for the Society of Physics Students. A donation of $5 is suggested.

-- Saturday, Oct. 19, 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, Oct. 19, 7 p.m.: "Science of Sci-Fi: 'Apollo 18.'" This program will analyze and review this PG-13-rated movie from 2011. The program will review funny physics faux pas and groundbreaking visuals that advance the body of scientific knowledge.

-- Tuesday, Oct. 22, 7 p.m.: "Wyoming Skies." The program provides an exploration of the stars, constellations, planets, meteor showers and other celestial phenomena visible from Wyoming for the season.

-- Thursday, Oct. 24, 4-7 p.m.: Dome Club. Learn about immersive technologies for augmented reality, virtual reality, extended reality and full-dome development. All are welcome to bring their own projects and technologies to test and demonstrate. This activity takes place at the SciDIY Makerspace in the basement of the Physical Sciences Building. For more information, email Crayton at [email protected].

-- Friday, Oct. 25: The planetarium will be closed for the Wyoming Infrared Observatory open house at Jelm Mountain. For more information and to make reservations, email [email protected].

-- Saturday, Oct. 26, 7 p.m.: "Cowboy Sandbox." Enjoy live immersive and experimental full-dome visual and audio performances.

-- Thursday, Oct. 31, 4-7 p.m.: Dome Club. Learn about immersive technologies for augmented reality, virtual reality, extended reality and full-dome development. All are welcome to bring their own projects and technologies to test and demonstrate. This activity takes place at the SciDIY Makerspace in the basement of the Physical Sciences Building. For more information, email Crayton at [email protected].

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