By SARA GIBONEY
UNK Communications
KEARNEY – The University of Nebraska at Kearney will present the planetarium show “The Dark Side of Light” in the Bruner Hall of Science at 7 p.m. Friday (Jan. 24).
The show, led by Dan Glomski, will explore the effects of light pollution. While light at night can be used for getting around, too much light can affect our view of the stars and even impact human health, said Glomski, who is an educator at the Edgerton Explorit Center in Aurora.
The show is free and open to the public, and tickets will be available before the show. Donations of dry or canned goods for a local food pantry are accepted. Children must be at least five years old to attend, and no food or drinks are allowed inside. Once the show has started, no one will be admitted to the planetarium, and anyone who leaves during the show will not be re-admitted.
The UNK planetarium is considered the most modern planetarium between Chicago and Phoenix and can seat 60 people. A $600,000 NASA grant helped fund the planetarium, which features a state-of-the-art projector, the Zeiss Skymaster ZKP4. Using fiber optic technology, each star is individually projected on the dome, creating a replica of the night’s sky. Since the functions of the projector are controlled entirely by a computer, it is possible to use the planetarium to navigate to any place or time, whether it is in the past or the future.
The UNK Department of Physics and Physical Science presents educational shows to school groups and private organizations at no charge during the fall and spring semesters at UNK.
For more information, contact the UNK Department of Physics and Physical Science Office at 308-865-8277 or visit www.unk.edu/academics/physics/UNK_Planetarium.
Planetarium Spring Schedule
Jan. 24 – The Dark Side of Light: While light at night can be a convenience for getting around at night, too much of it can affect not only the view of the stars, but human health as well. The effects of light pollution will be explored during this presentation.
Feb. 21 – Birth and Death of Stars: Stars are born, live their lives, and eventually die. This presentation will feature places in the sky where we see stars at various stages of their lives.
March 21 – King of the Planets: Jupiter starts the night high in the sky in March.This presentation will take a closer look at the largest planet in the solar system along with some of its fascinating moons.
April 11 – Eclipsing the Moon: A total lunar eclipse takes place on April 15. This presentation offers a sneak preview.
May 9 – The Big Picture: Spring is a great time to view galaxies outside of the known Milky Way galaxy. While most require telescopes to see, some can be viewed with binoculars. Attendees will learn where to look and get a glimpse of the vastness of the universe.
*All shows begin at 7 p.m.
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Source: Elizabeth Steele, 308.865.8277, steeleek@unk.edu
Writer: Sara Giboney, 308.865.8529, giboneys2@unk.edu
