February's e-Planetarium Schedule
Heart of the Sun
February 4 & 5
Experience our nearest star, the Sun, from a new perspective: This planetarium show takes you inside the Sun, in breathtaking high definition!
New space-based telescopes, along with a new generation of terrestrial instruments, capture both the fine surface detail and the vast eruptions of the corona with unprecedented clarity. Heart of the Sun delivers new breathtaking, high-resolution motion pictures never before seen in a full-dome theater.
From the Neolithic skywatchers of Europe to the solar observatories of Mesoamerica to the dawning of Aristotelian science, "Heart of the Sun" reveals how the development of our whole cosmology has been informed by our struggle to understand the Sun. This living star continues to challenge our imagination today.
Astronaut
February 12 (Please note there will not be a e-Planetarium show on Saturday, February 11.)
The exploration of space is the greatest endeavor that humankind has ever undertaken. What does it take to be part of this incredible journey? What does it take to become an astronaut? Experience a rocket launch from inside the body of an astronaut. Explore the amazing worlds of inner and outer space, from floating around the International Space Station to maneuvering through microscopic regions of the human body.
Discover the perils that lurk in space as we subject 'Chad', our test astronaut, to everything that space has to throw at him.
Ultimate Universe
February 17, 18, 19, 20
A joint effort between Evans & Sutherland and the Clark Planetarium, Ultimate Universe is a three dimensional journey from the edge of the universe through space and time to reach our home planet, witnessing the major components of the cosmos along the way. See the transformation of galaxies in collision, experience the devastation of a star's death, and feel the immense power of erupting volcanoes on Jupiter's moon, Io.
Force Five
February 25 & 26
Feel the Fury! Get ready to take cover when you see nature go "Force Five", from our partners, Houston Museum of Natural Science and Rice University.
Extreme weather takes center stage in this full dome animated show revealing images not seen by naked eye due to their life-threatening nature. Using real movies and NASA based images, Force Five offers the audience a vantage that would never be safe in the real world, creating a sense of what it would look and feel like if you were standing in the middle of a deadly storm. "Experience a storm without getting wet!"
The show begins by stepping back in time to 1900, when the great hurricane swept through Galveston, killing over 6,000 men, women, and children in one night of terror. Homes collapsed under the incredible force of torrential winds, powerful rain and rising water, and animates how the surge may have looked. It then shows how NASA spacecraft and special aircraft measure hurricanes and predict their paths. We fly with a storm chaser aircraft through the heart of a hurricane.
e-Planetarium Interview with Brian Sterner,
GEHC Programming Coordinator
Hey Brian! We are so excited to learn more about the new e-planetarium that is now at the GEHC! We've heard that seeing the shows is a really cool experience.
Q: When will visitors be able to see the e-planetarium shows?
A: Our first show for GEHC visitors will be on Saturday, February 4 at 1:00pm, and we will also have a show every Sunday in February at 3:00pm as part of our Funday Sundays in February. Each weekend we will feature a different show. Shows are about different subjects like astronauts, the Moon, the Sun, the universe and even extreme weather! All of the shows are really cool with movie like graphics that bring outer space closer to us.
(Please note there will not be a e-Planetarium show on Saturday, February 11.)
Q: What makes the e-planetarium so special?
A: Well, visitors can see the same types of shows that they could see at a stationary planetarium, but you don't have to travel far to see it! The planetarium dome is an emersion experience. You sit inside and can see the whole sky from your seat!
Q: What can visitors learn during a planetarium show?
A: The shows are each 20-30 minutes long, and we also do an exploration of the night sky before the show starts. The shows really pique the interest of visitors; they get a glimpse of the world of space. Depending on the program, you can learn about solar storms, weather here on Earth, what it takes to become an astronaut or constellations you can see in our sky! So many people are curious about space and what is around our planet and solar system; this is a great way to learn about this topic without having to travel far!
Q: How is the GEHC going to use this new planetarium?
A: The GEHC is using it in our K-12 fieldtrip programs, Museum Tours, Outreach Programs, Science Nights at local schools, and of course here on the GEHC campus on the weekends. We hope to integrate the e-planetarium into upcoming programs! We hope that visitors enjoy it as much as we do, and we hope that they can experience all of the cool shows that the e-planetarium has to offer!
Q: How can visitors find out what show is being presented?
A: Visitors and members can always visit our website at www.gwinnettEHC.org for the schedule and show listing. The e-planetarium shows are included in Center Admission. GEHC members are free.
Thanks for all of the great information, Brian! We can't wait to check out all of the cool shows! See you at the first one on February 4 at 1:00pm! (Please note there will not be a e-Planetarium show on Saturday, February 11.)
