“Big Astronomy” Planetarium Program and Online Activities Live

Press release from: Great astronomy
Posted: Tuesday, September 22, 2020

“Great Astronomy” (http://bigastronomy.org) Or “Astronomy Gran Escala” is a bilingual planetarium show that extends beyond the dome using web-based and hand-held resources. Discover Chile ‘s great observatories in “Big Astronomy”, meet people who raise the bar of technology and expand what we know about the universe with world-class telescopes.

“Big Astronomy” or “Astronomy is a Gran Escala” shares the story of people and places where great astronomy and great science take place. The Planetarium Show takes viewers to Chile, where the dark sky, dry and distant setting create ideal conditions for observing the universe. By 2022, most of the world’s observatory infrastructure is expected to be in Chile, and the U.S. and other countries are investing billions of dollars in increasing astronomical participation in the country. “Big Astronomy” introduces the audience to the diverse people involved in the invention of astronomy.

The world premiere of the “Big Astronomy” Planetarium Show, produced by the California Academy of Sciences, is on September 26, 2020. Due to the pandemic, most planetariums around the world are closed, so the premiere will be a 360 degree experience, with the PDT appearing on the Big Astronomy YouTube Channel at noon (https://www.youtube.com/channel / UC1WqaovPNVmOA7zR7i8myTw) Or the Academy YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/calacadems). On launch day, the Big Astronomy YouTube channel will offer additional screenings at 5pm and 7pm in PDT and 2pm in PDT Spanish. From September 30, 2020, viewers will be able to enjoy “Big Astronomy” on YouTube every Wednesday at 11:30 am.

The Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTOO) and the International Gemini Observatory are among the Noirlabs facilities in Chile producing this extraordinary planetarium. Atacama Large Millimeter / Sublimeter Array (ALMA), Vera c. Other features include the Rubin Observatory.

The CTIO has 35 telescopes at an altitude of 2,200 meters (7,200 feet) above the Cerro Tololo in northern Chile. Vector M equipped with a dark energy camera. The Blanco 4m telescope is an icon of the CTO. NOIRLab staff, including electronics / detector engineer Marco Bonatti, assistant observer Jacqueline Seron, and astronomer Kathy Vivas, describe their work on telescopes and dark energy cameras in “Big Astronomy”.

The Gemini Observatory operates twin 8.1 m optical telescopes located in Chile and Hawaii. Gemini South, Chile, began to see the sky in 2002, above the Zero Patch. For “Big Astronomy”, Noirlab officials, including electronics engineer Vanessa Montes and science operations specialist Alisha Schugart, describe how observations are made with the Gemini Planet Imager (GPI). .

“Chile is one of the best places in the world for astronomy, and we are fortunate to have a presence in the country,” said Patrick McCarthy, director of NoirLab. The “Big Astronomy” Planetarium Show covers some people, our workplaces, and the activities of other astronomical institutions. ”

The show is now available for planetariums from the “Big Astronomy” website. Planetariums can download a copy for streaming and order 2K Planetarium frames or 4K Planetarium frames with soundtracks in English and Spanish.

“Big Astronomy” does not end at the Planetarium Show. The team has also developed a teacher’s guide, a bilingual flat screen version of the film, and a toolkit with a variety of hand – on functions to further interact with learners of all ages. In addition, over the next two years, “Big Astronomy” will host a series of live virtual events featuring a variety of real-life careers. All of these parts, including the Planetarium Show, will conclude with a new research-oriented model to inform you of the creation of future, more attractive, Planetarium shows.

Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University, Associated Universities Inc. (AUI), Association of University of Research in Astronomy (AURA), Astronomy Society of Pacific (ASP), California Academy of Sciences; Atacama Large Millimeter-Submillimeter Array (ALMA), Vera c. The Rubin Observatory Construction Project is supported by the NSF’s Noir Labs Facilities “Big Astronomy” US National Science Foundation Foundation (Award #: 1811436).

NSF’s National Optical-Infrared Laboratory (NRIL Lab) International GMINI Observatory (NSIF, NCR) – NCF, US – NCF National Observatory (KPNO), Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO), Community Science and Data Center (CSDC), Vera c. Rubin Observatory. It is governed by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) under a cooperation agreement with the NSF and is headquartered in Tucson, Arizona. The astronomical community is honored to have had the opportunity to conduct astronomical research in Eolicom Duag (Kit Peak), Arizona, Monakia, Hawaii, and Zero Tololo and Zero Pachen in Chile. We recognize and acknowledge the important cultural role and respect for these sites for the Tohono Oho Nation, the native Hawaiian community, and the local communities in Chile, respectively.

// Ends //

More newsletters and status reports Or Important stories.

Turn on the space reef Twitter Like us Facebook.