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Our ShowsOur
shows are every Tuesday and Thursday
evening at 7:30pm, with the Saturday morning children's
show (debuting in October) at 10:30am. |
We are part of the Radford University Science Outreach Consortium, along with the Geology Department's Museum of the Earth Sciences, the Biology Department's Greenhouse, and the Department of Chemistry and Physics. This group brings K-12 school groups to the RU campus for a day of science activities in our facilities, showing them aspects of the physical and natural sciences during their visit. To learn more about this, and to schedule your group for a tour please contact either Dr. Rhett Herman or one of the departments/facilities in the Consortium.
Radford University is pleased to be a part of the network of planetaria throughout the United States offering the "Explorers" series of shows to all audiences. All materials in the "Explorers" shows are aligned with the National Science and Geography Education Standards. The Explorers Project was conceived by then-NASA-Administrator Daniel Golden and Hawai'i's Senior U.S. Senator, Daniel Inouye.
"The Explorers" series of shows is produced by the Bishop Museum and Planetarium in Hawai'i in conjunction with NASA.
"Skywatchers of Africa"
“Skywatchers of Africa” tells the story of a number of cultures in Africa and their relationship to the sky. The Dogon people of Mali, the nomadic Tuareg, and the ancient Egyptians are highlighted in this beautiful, enlightening show.
Produced by the Adler Museum Planetarium, this show lasts for approximately 30 minutes.
"The Planets"
"The Planets" takes audiences on a tour of our solar system, explaining how our solar system and its planets formed, why things rotate around the sun in the ways they do, and looks at planets that have been discovered around other stars. This show was produced by the Southeastern Planetarium Association and is narrated by Kate Mulgrew (Captain Janeway of "Star Trek: Voyager").
This multimedia show goes into planetary science in depth but is very accessible for audiences from 5th grade and older.
"Spirits from the Sky, Thunder on the Land"
This show tells many of the stories from the first Native American astronomers. Many of the legends of the Pawnee come alive, showing how they viewed the sky and used the sky to help regulate the daily and yearly rhythms of their lives.
Produced by the Adler Museum Planetarium, this show lasts for approximately 30 minutes.
"In My Backyard"
Produced by the Calgary Science Centre this show is designed specifically for kids 4-7 years old. This show tells about some of the things normally seen in peoples' back yards including birds and flowers, the changing of the seasons, prominent constellations, and the sun, moon and stars. The reasons for the things like the changing of the seasons, the phases of the moon, and the motions of the sun and stars are introduced.
This show addresses many of the Virginia SOLs for these ages, and lasts about 22 minutes. It is narrated by children's entertainer Fred Penner, and includes three original songs performed by Fred.
"MarsQuest"
You can't travel through the depths of space to find out more about Mars, but you can do the next best thing--visit the Radford University Planetarium to see MarsQuest. MarsQuest examines the history of the Red Planet, from its naming for a god of war, through the conjectures about life on its surface, and toward the future of its exploration.
The show is narrated by Patrick Stewart, a.k.a. Jean-Luc Picard of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and lasts for 40 minutes. "MarsQuest" is produced by Loch Ness Productions.
"Images of the Infinite"
Produced by the Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum in Chicago, this show features the lastest discoveries made by the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope. The images reach out to the edge of the visible universe and thus take us back nearly to the beginning of time itself.
The show is narrated by Bill Kurtis, host of the PBS series "The New Explorers," and lasts for about 35 minutes.
"The Explorers"
From the Bishop Museum Planetarium, "The Explorers" is the first of three shows developed for the Explorers Project. This show celebrates human exploration from the ancient Polynesians who crossed the vast Pacific Ocean using only the stars as their guide, to our present-day ventures into space aboard the Space Shuttle, and describes NASA's planned mission to Mars slated for the year 2020.
This show lasts for approximately 35 minutes.
"The Explorers of Mauna Kea"
Produced by NASA and the Bishop Museum Planetarium, "Mauna Kea" shows the latest discoveries made by some of the world's largest telescopes located on the Mauna Kea volcanic peak in Hawai'i.
This 33-minute show is the second in the "Explorers" series.
"The Explorers of the International Space Station"
A mission to the space station provides the frame as we explore the ways in which astronauts from the US, Russia, Japan and other nations work together in space. See the past, present and future of this great human endeavor as we are now a permanent space-faring species.
This 33-minute show is the third in the "Explorers" series.
"Stardate: Ancient Horizons"
Produced by the Science Museum of Virginia, StarDate and the MacDonald Observatory of the University of Texas at Austin. This program presents the Egyptian view of order and the cosmos, with information on mythology and constellations, the creation of the calendar, and a struggle involving the concept of the Sun.
StarDate radio has been broadcast since 1977 and is the longest-running science feature in the United States. StarDate is heard on more than 250 radio stations throughout the country.
This fast-paced show lasts for 23 minutes and addresses a number of Virginia SOLs in grades 4-7.
"Light Years from Andromeda"
From Loch Ness Productions, "Light Years" chronicles the 2 million year journey of a ray of light as it travels from the Andromeda galaxy to our own. The course of our planet's history during this journey is given concurrently.
The show is narrated by Michael Dorn, a.k.a. Commander Worf of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and lasts for 30 minutes. "Light Years" is produced by Loch Ness Productions.
" 'Tis the Season"
From Loch Ness Productions, " 'Tis the Season" describes the legends associated with the stars that appear during the Christmas season, including the Star of Bethlehem. Jolly Ol' Saint Nick, holiday lights and candles. Presents and festivals are also explored in this festive show.
This 35-minutes show is narrated by Noah Adams of NPR's "All Things Considered."
