NOVEMBER 2013 FRIENDS OF THE PLANETARIUM PROGRAMMING

November 15-17, 2013

The Friends of the Planetarium organizes and hosts public programs for one weekend each month. We've chosen themes for each month, and all the activities or presentations for a given weekend will be related in some way to the chosen theme. The Friends of the Planetarium will use donations from the community to purchase digital full-dome programming to complement the library being developed by Arlington Public Schools. For a complete schedule of this year's Friends weekends, please go here.

The theme for November is The Comet is Here!

Friday, November 15, 2013

1) Screening of the digital program Magic Tree House® Space Mission —Travel with the brother-sister duo, Jack and Annie in their Magic Tree House® as they proceed to answer the questions left for them in a mysterious note signed “-M.” The show begins with narration by Mary Pope Osborne, author of the best-selling Magic Tree House® children’s book series. Viewers will find themselves perched high in the trees as Jack and Annie discover the note that asks them to answer a series of six questions about space. Target audience ages 5 to 12 and their families. Older children familiar with the book series may also enjoy the show.

Running Time: 35 minutes

Doors Open: 6:15p.m. Show Begins: 6:30p.m.

The Ladies' Comet.

2) The “Ladies' Comet”— an evening with eighteenth century celestial siblings, William and Caroline Herschel. The first brother and sister astronomers, the Herschel’s discoveries include binary stars, moons, nebulae, a new planet, and 8 comets. As a comet hunter, Caroline blazed a trail for future female scientists. Hear of their remarkable journey from accomplished musicians to famous astronomers. Target audience ages 8 and up.

Running Time: 50-60 minutes

Doors Open: 7:15p.m. Show Begins: 7:30p.m.

Saturday November 16, 2013

Credit: www.hulu.com.

“Movie Night at the Planetarium” features a surprise Mystery Science Theater 3000 (MST3k) presentation! Come to the Planetarium to poke a little fun at a comet-themed B-movie of the 70’s. The cult classic MST3k series features a man and his robot sidekicks who are trapped on a satellite in space and forced to watch a selection of terrible movies, especially science fiction B-movies. The space travelers keep a running commentary going on during the film, making fun of its flaws and wisecracking their way through it in the style of a movie theater peanut gallery. Target audience 14 and up.

Rated TV14 for Language

Running time: 97 minutes

Doors Open: 6:15p.m. Show Begins: 6:30p.m.

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Credit: Morehead Planetarium and Science Center (http://moreheadplanetarium.org/).

1) Screening of the digital program Earth, Moon & Sun — This program explores the relationship between the Earth, Moon and Sun with the help of Coyote, an amusing character adapted from Native American oral traditions who has many misconceptions about our home planet and its most familiar neighbors. His confusion about the universe makes viewers think about how the Earth, Moon, and Sun work together as a system. Native American stories are used throughout the show to help distinguish between myths and science. Target audience ages 7 and up.

Running Time: 35 minutes

Doors Open: 1:15p.m. Show Begins: 1:30p.m.

2) An Interview with a Mad Scientist — Reporter Lois Lane hosts a double-feature of classic Superman cartoons featuring thrilling clashes with evil scientists bent on destruction. Lois will interview one fiendish scientist who thinks that he and his comrades are victims of bad publicity! Suitable for all ages.

Running Time: 50-60 minutes

Doors Open: 2:45p.m. Interview Begins: 3:00p.m.

Admission for all programs is $3 for Children (up to age 12), $5 for Friends, Members, and Seniors (60+), and $7 for teens and adults.

Online ticketing will end two hours prior to each show, and any unreserved seats will be made available on a first come, first served basis 15 minutes prior to the doors opening.

Download a flyer (1.9 MB PDF) announcing these shows! Make copies and post them on bulletin boards / place under windshield wipers / hand them to strangers.

ABOUT FRIENDS OF THE PLANETARIUM

Founded in 2010 to save the Planetarium from being closed, Friends of Arlington's David M. Brown Planetarium is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that continues to raise funds to make the Planetarium even better, and to support Arlington Public Schools in providing enhanced science education in Arlington County. The Friends of Arlington’s David M. Brown Planetarium has an all-volunteer Board of Directors and Advisory Council.

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