Monday, July 10     8:45 a.m.--10:00 a.m. Opening Lecture - Grand Salon
1.01 Back	On Elements for Astronomy Teaching: An International Perspective Dr. Julieta Fierro
Monday, July 10     10:30 a.m.--12:00 p.m. Oral - Duluth
1.02-1 Back	Renewing the Griffith Observatory Dr. E. C. Krupp & John Mosley (Griffith Observatory) At this IPS meeting we announce plans for the renewal of Griffith Observatory - a landmark facility that has seen no major renovation since 1935. Our philosophy that emphasizes seeing the stars and an experiential approach to the sky has guided us to develop a cohesive plan to renew existing spaces and create new ones. The renewed planetarium theater, which retains a horizontal dome and live presentations, will feature a Zeiss Mark-9 planetarium projector and all-dome video projection system. New spaces feature a book and gift shop, food service, 200-seat raked auditorium, and an expanded exhibit area. All exhibits will be renewed. The existing classical building will be restored to its original historic fabric, and new construction will take place underground. The building will be closed in 2002 and 2003. Upon reopening in 2004, the Observatory will resume its role of interpreting the sky through storytelling in its many forms.
1.02-2 Back	Planetarium: Museum of Constellations Loris Ramponi (AAP / Centro Studi e Ricerche Serafino Zani) The common elements that characterize a museum are: conservation, research and education. The planetarium is the best site where to diffuse astronomy, especially if it is in connection with an observatory. Conservation and research usually aren't among a planetarium's activities, but the situation is changing rapidly. Even if the number of laws and public initiatives against light pollution continue to increase, towns and all the most populated areas may never offer their citizens the possibility to look at the sky: thus, city planetariums are the "Museums of constellations," where the best simulations of the dark sky and all its visible constellations are preserved. Planetariums can also be reference centres for research on light pollution and institutional partners of "Star Parks" (dark areas protected inside natural parks). Describing the astronomical teaching activities of the Serafino Zani Study and Research Center, we will show our project of "The Planetarium as Museum of constellations" that also includes contests, an international on-line exhibition about "Invention of constellations" made by children from different countries, and hands-on activities with simple and recycled materials. Interactivity and outreach programs (Starlab cylinders and "Magic walls" projections) are other elements that can successfully promote the "Museum of constellations".
1.02-3 Back	The Role of Astronomy in Multipurpose Theaters Antonio Camarasa & Jose Carlos Guirado (L'Hemisferic. Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias) L'Hemisferic, the Imax/planetarium theater in the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias of Valencia, Spain, has now been open for more than two years. From its beginning, astronomy shares the theater time with Imax movies, and a high number of special (commercial) presentations. Despite the varied offer of l'Hemisferic, astronomy plays the preeminent role in our theater. We shall review our experience in dealing with programs and events related to astronomy in a multipurpose theater like l'Hemisferic.
1.02-4 Back	Designing a New Planetarium for the Next Millennium Philip Groce (Louisiana Arts & Science Center) The Louisiana Arts & Science Center (LASC) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana retained Philip Groce of Helping Planetariums Succeed to develop a new planetarium to open in 2001. This 18.3 meter dome facility will be one of best equipped planetariums in the world with a high quality Minolta Infinium Beta II star projector with infra-red remote control combined with a SkyVision video-matrix system and all-sky/panorama system, an Omniscan full-dome laser graphics system, a 70mm large-format film system, and a six-channel digital sound system, all projected on an Astro-Tec dome. These manufacturers have joined their technological skills to create a cost-effective world-class Space Theater for LASC. The total project is $13 million, five of which will be used to endow, in part, the operational costs of the facility. This progressive and long-term planning guarantees the future success of the theater and should serve as a model for all future space theater projects. This paper will address the challenge of creating a planetarium for the next century.
1.02-5 Back	A Space Station Lands in St. Louis! Terri Gipson (St. Louis Science Center) The St. Louis Science Center like similar institutions throughout the country has reevaluated the role of the planetarium within its organization and community. Addressing audience interests and institutional mission, The St. Louis Science Center is developing a flexible, planetarium concept amidst an immersive exhibit. Our space science facility will feature interactive exhibits on key topics in astronomy and space technology in the environment of an operating Space Station. Visitors will move freely between exhibits, activities and an 80-foot dome in a unique learning environment supporting personal exploration and discovery. Capitalizing on the innovative, fiber optic technology of the Zeiss Universarium, a brilliant star field will always be accessible. Visitors will gaze upon the stars as if they just strolled into their backyard. Ambient light will allow them to view the projected star field, yet see well enough to move around, record notes, complete activities or follow constellation maps.
1.02-6 Back	Tracking the LodeStar: Albuquerque's New Astronomy Center Ryan Wyatt (LodeStar Astronomy Center) The LodeStar Astronomy Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, celebrated its grand opening this spring. Operated by the University of New Mexico, the astronomy center incorporates 6,000 square feet of exhibits, an observatory, a SimEx motion simulator, and a 55-foot-diameter planetarium. A synergistic combination of these several elements is designed to bring astronomy education to a wide audience. In keeping with a commitment to create flexible and visually stimulating programs, the LodeStar Planetarium features the world's first high-definition SkyVision full-dome system as well as Digistar II.
Monday, July 10     10:30 a.m.--12:00 p.m. Panel - Mackenzie
1.03 Back	A Planetarium for All: Reaching Underserved Groups Chair: Noreen Grice (Charles Hayden Planetarium); Panelists: John Dickenson (H.R. MacMillan Space Centre), Anthony Fairall (South African Museum), David Hurd (Edinboro University of Pennsylvania Planetarium) & April Whitt (Fernbank Science Center) The Planetarium is not just a round room, it is a place that takes people to places they may never personally visit such as distant stars, Earth-like planets or other galaxies. The equipment is the space ship and we educators are the guides. Planetarium shows can be a great equalizer among diverse audiences. We are all of the human race and all share the same home planet, view the same moon and dream under the same stars. Given such commonalities, why shouldn't we share the same adventures under a domed sky? Visual-impairements, hearing-impairements, physical disabilities, or language incompatibilities can be considered impenetrable obstacles or achievable challenges.
Monday, July 10     10:30 a.m.--12:00 p.m. Workshop - Marquette
1.04 Back	Demonstration of Digital Production Techniques for Dome Video and All-skys. Brad Thompson (Spitz, Inc.) Includes 3D Modeling, animation, and rendering, compositing, use of stock video material and spherical rendering techniques. Hands-on demonstrations of Spitz's immersive production tools, including Pollydome, Billboard filter, Conglomerator, and ImmersaMax, as well as industry standard Discreet 3D Studio Max, Adobe After Effects, and PremierRT. Discussions will also include how to most efficiently and economically achieve the higher level of production values that immersive video systems demand.
Monday, July 10     4:30 p.m.--6:00 p.m. Special Presentations - Planétarium
1.05-1 Back	The Little Prince's Universe Planétarium de Montréal Staff
1.05-2 Back	Activities for Big Audiences Alan Gould (Lawrence Hall of Science) Many small to medium size planetariums already realize the value of audience participation in creating a lively, entertaining, and educationally valuable experience in public shows as well as school shows. Many big dome planetarians are also aware of the value of audience participation, but cannot imagine it working in their large-size theaters. This workshop is to explore strategies for effective audience participation in big domes. In the big dome of the Planétarium de Montréal, try out activities in horizon astronomy, recording astronomical observations, and constellation identification. With these examples to trigger our creative juices, be prepared to design your own big dome activities!
Monday, July 10     7:30 p.m.--10:00 p.m. Special Presentations - Planétarium
1.06 Back	2nd IPS Constellation Shootout - Finals Jon U. Bell (Hallstrom Planetarium) You'll want to brush up on your star and constellation identification skills, as Jon U. Bell from Hallstrom Planetarium, Fort Pierce, Florida, will be conducting the second IPS Constellation Shootout. The Shootout is open to all registered conference attendees, and consists of two parts: Part One is a half-hour written examination, testing participants' identification skills using a star chart. This written test will be administered at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, July 10, in Saint-Maurice Room. Part Two is a live competition between the twelve top scorers of the Part One Exam, and will be held in the Montreal Planetarium on Monday, July 10 during the evening presentations. This part of the contest will be run very much like a spelling bee; participants will be asked, one at a time, to point out a particular star, constellation, asterism, or deep-sky object in the Planetarium "sky." If the star or whatever is pointed out correctly, the contestant remains in the game. If the object is incorrectly pointed out, the contestant is disqualified, and the next person must correctly point out the missed object and then successfully point out a new object to continue playing. The order of participation in Part Two will be chosen by lottery, and the master list of stars, constellations, etc., will be roughly in order of descending brightness and increasing difficulty (the same way that spelling bees, for example, start with "cat" and work their way down to "antidisestablishmentarianism."). So get out your Norton's star atlas, your Burnham's Celestial Handbooks, your handy-dandy planispheres and computer tutorials, and get ready to point out those stars and constellations.