The Gustafson Planetarium is a fully-equipped theatre where audiences
can learn about the wonders of the night sky. Shows are typically
fifty minutes to an hour in duration and seat 49 people comfortably.
A variety of topics can be featured in our theatre. Our operators will
design a show that best suits each topic. All shows will point out familiar
constellations and current objects visible in the sky (planet locations,
comets, meteor showers and other celestial events).
Shows offered:
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Tour of
the eight planets
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The definition of a planet and Pluto’s demotion |
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The following are featured planets, due to
current space missions;
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Mars – Mars Orbiter, Mars Rovers |
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Saturn |
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Pluto (Dwarf Planet) |
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Other solar systems and the search for other earth-like planets
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Native
American Star Legends
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The
creation of the stars |
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Six
Brothers (Plieades) |
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Great
Bear |
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Life Cycle of Stars
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Nebulas, and planet formation
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Types of stars; compare and contrast
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The ingredients of a star and its mechanics |
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Novas and supernovas |
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Stars as a part of galaxies
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The Moon and Moons of the solar system
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Eclipses
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Phases of the moon |
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Creation of the moon, possible theories
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A look at the moons of other planets, including Titan |
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To book a program, contact the
program office at Sharpe
Reservation. Planetarium shows can be scheduled as part
of a school program or they can be scheduled separately.
Current cost for a show is $150.00.
Shows will be
tailored to an audience’s age and knowledge. To enhance your
planetarium experience other programs can be added (daytime
shows only) including;
- Solar
System Walk: Imagine taking a walking tour of the solar
system. When the sun and its planets are reduced to a
manageable scale the solar system is easily and quickly
traversed at Sharpe Reservation. Students will see the inner
rocky planets as tiny objects closely circling the sun while
the outer gaseous giants circle the sun at vastly greater
distances.
- Star
Clocks**: The rotating Earth gives the illusion that the
stars travel across the nighttime sky. Conveniently, this
allowed ancient societies to use the position of the big and
little dipper as a giant time-keeping device. Students will
cut out and assemble their own Star Clock that they can take
home and use in their own backyard.
- Sundials**:
From the ancients comes this “primitive” way of telling
time. As the earth spins on its axis to give us night and
day, the sun appears to creep across the sky and shadows
shift to produce the hour. Have your students delve into the
world of dials and gnomons, and solstices and equinoxes, as
they make and test their own sundials. This activity is the
perfect compliment to the planetarium.
**additional
cost.
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