IPS 2000 Conference Abstracts

IPS 2000 Conference
Paper Abstracts -- Tuesday, July 11

Tuesday, July 11     8:45 a.m.--10:00 a.m.
Oral - Mackenzie

2.01-1
Back The Montreal Planetarium Exploration Kits for Schools
Pierre Chastenay (Planétarium de Montréal)
For two years now, the Montreal Planetarium has been lending to primary schools all across the Province of Québec two educational kits, "The Solar System Exploration Kit" and the brand new "Moon Exploration Kit." These educational kits come complete with instructions for teachers, background information and all the materials needed to realize the activities. So far, the kits have been a huge success. In my presentation, I will show the kits and their content, and briefly illustrate some of the most successful demonstrations one can accomplish with them.

2.01-2
Back Popularisation of Planetarium Science in the State of Tamilnadu, India
Dr. Marudanayagam Sargurumoorthy (Tamilnadu Science and Technology Centre & Planetarium)
A planetarium is the place to teach basic concepts of Astronomy by simulating the night sky and the positions of the planets and other astronomical objects in a domed theatre. With the development of the modern planetarium projectors, many complicated astronomical phenomena could be demonstrated to the public with ease. The history of the origin and development of planetariums starting from the basic mechanical models dating back to 1682 is described. The first major planetarium installed in India was the Birla Planetarium of Calcutta in 1962. Details of the growth of the planetarium movement in India are outlined. The term `Planetarium Science' essentially means the study of Astronomy. The efforts taken by the Chennai and Tiruchirappalli planetariums in popularising the Planetarium Science are explained. Details of the planetariums of Chennai and Tiruchirappalli are described. Including the proposal to build a new planetarium in the city of Coimbatore, the future plans to strengthen the Planetarium Science in Tamilnadu are highlighted in conclusion.

2.01-3
Back ASH: Access to Scientific Space Heritage
Chris Janssen (Europlanetarium)
ASH is the acronym for "Access to Scientific Space Heritage". The main purpose of the Ash project is the realization of a "Virtual Control Center" which will allow students to plan and execute a (virtual) space mission.
The students will work individual and as a group to accomplish the mission successfully. They will build and operate space probes, rovers, rockets,… For this purpose is all our knowledge at their disposition (database/Internet,…) so that they can solve problems/questions. To make all this a little bit more attractive, use will be made of the latest 3D/multimedia techniques: Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality shall for shure be a part of the project, and projection on a big screen will give an extra dimension to the mission.
The project should be finished at the end of 2001.
The project is partially funded by the European Commission (5th Framework).

2.01-4
Back Help Students Calculating Chinese Calendar
Dr. Wang Rongbin (Beijing Planetarium)
The Chinese calendar is a great creation of Ancient China. It is a kind of lunisolar calendar that relies mainly on the Moon's revolution period but also gives consideration to the Earth's revolution period.
The Chinese calendar demands that the first day of every lunar month must be the day of the new moon. For this reason, we have to calculate the ecliptic longitude of the Sun and the Moon. The calculation of the Chinese calendar is filled with trivial details and very difficult. But if we accept lower precision, we can design a simplified algorithm and let students write a computer program by themselves. This way students acquire some astronomical knowledge, while they get comprehensive training in mathematics and computer technology; in the end, students are rewarded with a kind of sense of achievement.

2.01-5
Back Hands-On Space: Fernbank's Interactive Curriculum for NASA
April Whitt & David Dundee (Fernbank Science Center)
Several NASA grants have enabled DeKalb County School System's Fernbank Science Center to develop interactive demonstrations and materials for students in grades K-12. Earth and space science, life science and aerospace activities are all included.

2.01-6
Back Live Broadcast of Meteors
Tadashi Mori (Media i Corporation)
Introducing the project of Leonid Meteors Live in 1999, a joint project by Media i Corp., Goto Optical Mfg.,Co. and Agawa Village. By using image intensification and RealSystem, people and students could see meteors in real time. This system can be used in domed theaters: we will also present its possible uses for other astronomical phenomena.

Tuesday, July 11     8:45 a.m.--10:00 a.m.
Panel - Marquette

2.02
Back Misconceptions in Astronomy
Chair: Jon Miller (Northwestern University); Panelists: Dr. John R. Percy (Erindale College, University of Toronto), Philip M. Sadler (Learning Technologies Inc.) & Marcel Thouin (Université de Montréal)
Both children and adults who see shows in our star theaters come with an impressive background of misconceptions. How much does the content of our shows reinforce some of these misconceptions? What are the most efficient ways to correct them? Four specialists on this subject matter share with us their experiences and the results of their research.

Tuesday, July 11     8:45 a.m.--10:00 a.m.
Workshop - Duluth

2.03
Back Scriptwriting Techniques for the Planetarium
Richard D. Lavoie (Albédo Films)
When writing a script for a planetarium show, one becomes a storyteller, just like a playwright or a movie scriptwriter. What storytelling techniques and skills can we learn from these other fields? How can we adapt these techniques and skills to the specific environment and tools of the planetarium? Just like a movie scriptwriter has to "see" the story on the screen while writing, we have to create stories keeping in mind how they will look and sound in the planetarium theater. This workshop will address some of the fundamental issues of effective scriptwriting for the planetarium, from the synopsis to the final storyboard. It will show how to structure a script, how to establish a sound narrative framework, and will discuss some of the characteristics of the planetarium as a medium. It will also underline some of the difficulties facing the scriptwriter, and suggest some helpful creativity techniques.

Tuesday, July 11     1:30 p.m.--3:00 p.m.
Oral - Duluth

2.04-1
Back Inuit (Eskimo) Sky Ideas and Use
Jeanne E. Bishop (Westlake Schools Planetarium)
This paper is intended to complement a paper presented in the STARLAB on Inuit Astronomy and Mythology, presented at another time. Star chart transparencies will be used to illustrate the stars at high northern latitudes visible during the long winter night, the only time of year when stars are visible from here. Unlike at latitudes further south, Polaris cannot be used for navigation, and Inuit star knowledge is limited to the region north of the celestial equator. I will discuss their use of particular stars as seasonal markers and navigational aids, and tie observations to Inuit activities.

2.04-2
Back Programming at the National Space Science Centre in Leicester, England
Dr. George Reed, Annette Sotheran & George Barnett (National Space Science Centre)
The Space Centre will open in May 2001. The 58-foot diameter Spitz ElectricSky Space Theatre will include an immersive 200° by 60° video system, a 2Pi allsky projection system, Omniscan, an audience response system and a 1024 planetarium system with ATM-4 automation.
In this presentation I shall describe how we intend to strike the balance between the live `Night Sky' type programming and the populist special effects. Our aim is for each program to give the audience something personal to take home, and a reason to return. I shall dwell particularly on the use of the response system in this context.
I shall comment on the need for School programmes to satisfy the requirements of the UK National Curriculum and fit with the other educational packages in the Space Centre.
The resources issues raised by a high-tech theatre with ongoing educational and entertainment programme development will also be discussed.

2.04-3
Back "Navigating with Lewis and Clark."
Creating a Planetarium Program: A Case Study
Eileen M. Starr (Valley City State University)
The celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of the Lewis and Clark expedition up the Missouri River and across the Rocky Mountain to the Pacific Ocean will occur in three years. The public has already shown considerable interest about learning more information about this expedition. This paper describes the decision-making that went into creating the "Navigating with Lewis and Clark" planetarium presentation, which will be available next autumn. The presentation is a travelogue that describes how the explorers used celestial navigation to determine their location. Included in the paper are the steps used to create the script, the search for music and a narrator, slide selection, and a description of the show materials.

2.04-4
Back Multifarious Education of Popularization of Astronomy in Beijing Planetarium
Prof. Cui Shizhu (Beijing Planetarium)
Beijing Planetarium was opened to the public in October 1957 and has since received tens of millions visitors from home and abroad. It has been playing a leading role in popularizing astronomical science across China. With the approach of a new century, the state and the general public have a greater demand for the popularization of scientific knowledge, yet the existing facilities of Beijing Planetarium fall short of that demand. Facing new challenges, the staff of Beijing Planetarium has carried out a series of measures and played an active part in disseminating astronomical science and related knowledge out of the planetarium compound. Great achievements have been made in this respect:
1. The Successful "Moving Planetarium"
2. Observing Astronomical Phenomena on a Mass Basis
3. Lectures, Summer Camps on Astronomical Science and Other Education Programs

2.04-5
Back Everyone's a Critic: Editing Purchased Shows
Karen Klamczynski (Barlow Planetarium)
Many planetariums produce show kits that are purchased by dozens of other planetariums worldwide. If the original authors and programmers could see their shows installed in these other planetariums, they might be surprised. Since planetarium shows come in a kit, much like a model airplane, each institution assembles and installs their copy of the show. Changes are made to planetarium shows for many reasons. The technology in each planetarium is different (everyone doesn't have dissolving 25%-overlap panoramas, for example). Other reasons include community needs, changes in scientific thought, and mistakes in the original script.
This paper discusses editing purchased shows without violating the license agreement. This paper also proposes reasonable agreements that will keep the original creators happy and give the purchasers freedom to adapt the show for the best presentation possible in their planetariums.

2.04-6
Back Spirits from the Sky, Thunder on the Land
Phyllis Pitluga (Adler Planetarium / Chicago)
The Adler Planetarium is producing a planetarium show, partially funded by The National Science Foundation, about Native American Pawnee-Indian sky traditions. It is a forty-minute narrative featuring a grandfather and two grandchildren. They take the audience inside a Pawnee earth lodge to join the chiefs in using the smoke hole to sight the Council-of-Chiefs stars passing overhead at dawn. The stars announce the annual cycle of rebirth and renewal. From out under the vast skies of the plains, we follow the cycles of their stars during the ceremonial year - from first planting, to the summer buffalo hunt, the harvest and the winter buffalo hunt. We witness conjunctions of the planets, Sun and Moon that bring alive the Pawnee creation legend.
"Spirits from the Sky, Thunder on the Land" opens at the Adler Planetarium July 28-30, 2000 and, for a fee, will be available to other planetaria in October 2000.

Tuesday, July 11     1:30 p.m.--3:00 p.m.
Panel - Mackenzie

2.05
Back Planetarium Standards: Elevating the Profession
Chair: Ed Lantz (Spitz Inc.); Panelists: Philip Groce (MegaSystems), Mark C. Petersen (Loch Ness Productions), Steve Savage (Sky-Skan, Inc.) & Kenneth Wilson (Science Museum of Virginia)
Many professional societies elevate the quality of their profession by the voluntary adoption of standards and professional guidelines. Panelists will present their ideas for planetarium standards that could foster greater professionalism, improve planetarium facilities, facilitate fundraising, increase attendance, streamline show production, insure show cross-compatibility and elevate show quality. Panelists will also comment on what role IPS could or should play in the formation of standards, and the role of vendors in this process. The panel will then open to a forum allowing the panelists and the audience to participate in open dialog.

Tuesday, July 11     1:30 p.m.--3:00 p.m.
Workshop - Marquette

2.06
Back Hands-On Astrophysics: A Workshop
Dr. John R. Percy (Erindale College, University of Toronto) & Janet A. Mattei (American Association of Variable Star Observers)
Amateur astronomers and students can contribute to scientific research by measuring and analyzing variable stars, because variable stars provide important information about the nature and evolution of stars. The techniques can be simple, and there are organizations - notably the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) - which co-ordinate such activity, and make the measurements available to scientists and educators worldwide. By measuring and analyzing variable stars, students can do real science, with real data, while developing and integrating a wide range of science and math skills. The AAVSO therefore developed the education project "Hands-On Astrophysics" (HOA): more than half a million measurements, software, charts, and instructional material including videos, tied together with a comprehensive teachers and students' manual, and supported through the AAVSO web site www.aavso.org. This workshop will provide an "eyes-on" introduction to variable star measurement and analysis, and to the AAVSO and HOA, either as a self-contained activity for the classroom (or the planetarium dome), or as a prelude to observing the real sky.

Tuesday, July 11     3:30 p.m.--4:45 p.m.
Invited Lecture - Duluth

2.07
Back From Stonehenge to Gemini -- A Venture Between Science and Technology
Dr. Jean-René Roy

Tuesday, July 11     7:30 p.m.--10:00 p.m.
Planetarium - Planétarium

2.08
Back The Sky's Not the Limit Any More! - How to Create Full-Dome Immersive Video
Tony Butterfield & Carolyn Sumners (Burke Baker Planetarium)
New full-dome immersive projection technologies can create photo-realistic environments - both virtual and real on the planetarium dome. Fast computers, high speed networks and terabytes of storage make in-house show production feasible and financially viable for a planetarium. This presentation demonstrates a range of production techniques from QuickTime™ VR panoramas of places such as the Parthenon to traditional 3D modeling programs such as LightWave™ and landscape design software such as Bryce™. The authors will also demonstrate abstract, fractal-based, full-dome imagery suitable for evening entertainment or laser shows.
This presentation will be valuable for any planetarium interested in creating pre-rendered video sequences for individual video projectors or for full-dome immersive environments. The circular dome masters for full-dome scenes can be shared with any full-dome playback system.

Tuesday, July 11 8:45 a.m.--10:00 a.m. Oral - Mackenzie
2.01-1 Back	The Montreal Planetarium Exploration Kits for Schools Pierre Chastenay (Planétarium de Montréal) For two years now, the Montreal Planetarium has been lending to primary schools all across the Province of Québec two educational kits, "The Solar System Exploration Kit" and the brand new "Moon Exploration Kit." These educational kits come complete with instructions for teachers, background information and all the materials needed to realize the activities. So far, the kits have been a huge success. In my presentation, I will show the kits and their content, and briefly illustrate some of the most successful demonstrations one can accomplish with them.
2.01-2 Back	Popularisation of Planetarium Science in the State of Tamilnadu, India Dr. Marudanayagam Sargurumoorthy (Tamilnadu Science and Technology Centre & Planetarium) A planetarium is the place to teach basic concepts of Astronomy by simulating the night sky and the positions of the planets and other astronomical objects in a domed theatre. With the development of the modern planetarium projectors, many complicated astronomical phenomena could be demonstrated to the public with ease. The history of the origin and development of planetariums starting from the basic mechanical models dating back to 1682 is described. The first major planetarium installed in India was the Birla Planetarium of Calcutta in 1962. Details of the growth of the planetarium movement in India are outlined. The term `Planetarium Science' essentially means the study of Astronomy. The efforts taken by the Chennai and Tiruchirappalli planetariums in popularising the Planetarium Science are explained. Details of the planetariums of Chennai and Tiruchirappalli are described. Including the proposal to build a new planetarium in the city of Coimbatore, the future plans to strengthen the Planetarium Science in Tamilnadu are highlighted in conclusion.
2.01-3 Back	ASH: Access to Scientific Space Heritage Chris Janssen (Europlanetarium) ASH is the acronym for "Access to Scientific Space Heritage". The main purpose of the Ash project is the realization of a "Virtual Control Center" which will allow students to plan and execute a (virtual) space mission. The students will work individual and as a group to accomplish the mission successfully. They will build and operate space probes, rovers, rockets,… For this purpose is all our knowledge at their disposition (database/Internet,…) so that they can solve problems/questions. To make all this a little bit more attractive, use will be made of the latest 3D/multimedia techniques: Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality shall for shure be a part of the project, and projection on a big screen will give an extra dimension to the mission. The project should be finished at the end of 2001. The project is partially funded by the European Commission (5th Framework).
2.01-4 Back	Help Students Calculating Chinese Calendar Dr. Wang Rongbin (Beijing Planetarium) The Chinese calendar is a great creation of Ancient China. It is a kind of lunisolar calendar that relies mainly on the Moon's revolution period but also gives consideration to the Earth's revolution period. The Chinese calendar demands that the first day of every lunar month must be the day of the new moon. For this reason, we have to calculate the ecliptic longitude of the Sun and the Moon. The calculation of the Chinese calendar is filled with trivial details and very difficult. But if we accept lower precision, we can design a simplified algorithm and let students write a computer program by themselves. This way students acquire some astronomical knowledge, while they get comprehensive training in mathematics and computer technology; in the end, students are rewarded with a kind of sense of achievement.
2.01-5 Back	Hands-On Space: Fernbank's Interactive Curriculum for NASA April Whitt & David Dundee (Fernbank Science Center) Several NASA grants have enabled DeKalb County School System's Fernbank Science Center to develop interactive demonstrations and materials for students in grades K-12. Earth and space science, life science and aerospace activities are all included.
2.01-6 Back	Live Broadcast of Meteors Tadashi Mori (Media i Corporation) Introducing the project of Leonid Meteors Live in 1999, a joint project by Media i Corp., Goto Optical Mfg.,Co. and Agawa Village. By using image intensification and RealSystem, people and students could see meteors in real time. This system can be used in domed theaters: we will also present its possible uses for other astronomical phenomena.
Tuesday, July 11 8:45 a.m.--10:00 a.m. Panel - Marquette
2.02 Back	Misconceptions in Astronomy Chair: Jon Miller (Northwestern University); Panelists: Dr. John R. Percy (Erindale College, University of Toronto), Philip M. Sadler (Learning Technologies Inc.) & Marcel Thouin (Université de Montréal) Both children and adults who see shows in our star theaters come with an impressive background of misconceptions. How much does the content of our shows reinforce some of these misconceptions? What are the most efficient ways to correct them? Four specialists on this subject matter share with us their experiences and the results of their research.
Tuesday, July 11 8:45 a.m.--10:00 a.m. Workshop - Duluth
2.03 Back	Scriptwriting Techniques for the Planetarium Richard D. Lavoie (Albédo Films) When writing a script for a planetarium show, one becomes a storyteller, just like a playwright or a movie scriptwriter. What storytelling techniques and skills can we learn from these other fields? How can we adapt these techniques and skills to the specific environment and tools of the planetarium? Just like a movie scriptwriter has to "see" the story on the screen while writing, we have to create stories keeping in mind how they will look and sound in the planetarium theater. This workshop will address some of the fundamental issues of effective scriptwriting for the planetarium, from the synopsis to the final storyboard. It will show how to structure a script, how to establish a sound narrative framework, and will discuss some of the characteristics of the planetarium as a medium. It will also underline some of the difficulties facing the scriptwriter, and suggest some helpful creativity techniques.
Tuesday, July 11 1:30 p.m.--3:00 p.m. Oral - Duluth
2.04-1 Back	Inuit (Eskimo) Sky Ideas and Use Jeanne E. Bishop (Westlake Schools Planetarium) This paper is intended to complement a paper presented in the STARLAB on Inuit Astronomy and Mythology, presented at another time. Star chart transparencies will be used to illustrate the stars at high northern latitudes visible during the long winter night, the only time of year when stars are visible from here. Unlike at latitudes further south, Polaris cannot be used for navigation, and Inuit star knowledge is limited to the region north of the celestial equator. I will discuss their use of particular stars as seasonal markers and navigational aids, and tie observations to Inuit activities.
2.04-2 Back	Programming at the National Space Science Centre in Leicester, England Dr. George Reed, Annette Sotheran & George Barnett (National Space Science Centre) The Space Centre will open in May 2001. The 58-foot diameter Spitz ElectricSky Space Theatre will include an immersive 200° by 60° video system, a 2Pi allsky projection system, Omniscan, an audience response system and a 1024 planetarium system with ATM-4 automation. In this presentation I shall describe how we intend to strike the balance between the live `Night Sky' type programming and the populist special effects. Our aim is for each program to give the audience something personal to take home, and a reason to return. I shall dwell particularly on the use of the response system in this context. I shall comment on the need for School programmes to satisfy the requirements of the UK National Curriculum and fit with the other educational packages in the Space Centre. The resources issues raised by a high-tech theatre with ongoing educational and entertainment programme development will also be discussed.
2.04-3 Back	"Navigating with Lewis and Clark." Creating a Planetarium Program: A Case Study Eileen M. Starr (Valley City State University) The celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of the Lewis and Clark expedition up the Missouri River and across the Rocky Mountain to the Pacific Ocean will occur in three years. The public has already shown considerable interest about learning more information about this expedition. This paper describes the decision-making that went into creating the "Navigating with Lewis and Clark" planetarium presentation, which will be available next autumn. The presentation is a travelogue that describes how the explorers used celestial navigation to determine their location. Included in the paper are the steps used to create the script, the search for music and a narrator, slide selection, and a description of the show materials.
2.04-4 Back	Multifarious Education of Popularization of Astronomy in Beijing Planetarium Prof. Cui Shizhu (Beijing Planetarium) Beijing Planetarium was opened to the public in October 1957 and has since received tens of millions visitors from home and abroad. It has been playing a leading role in popularizing astronomical science across China. With the approach of a new century, the state and the general public have a greater demand for the popularization of scientific knowledge, yet the existing facilities of Beijing Planetarium fall short of that demand. Facing new challenges, the staff of Beijing Planetarium has carried out a series of measures and played an active part in disseminating astronomical science and related knowledge out of the planetarium compound. Great achievements have been made in this respect: 1. The Successful "Moving Planetarium" 2. Observing Astronomical Phenomena on a Mass Basis 3. Lectures, Summer Camps on Astronomical Science and Other Education Programs
2.04-5 Back	Everyone's a Critic: Editing Purchased Shows Karen Klamczynski (Barlow Planetarium) Many planetariums produce show kits that are purchased by dozens of other planetariums worldwide. If the original authors and programmers could see their shows installed in these other planetariums, they might be surprised. Since planetarium shows come in a kit, much like a model airplane, each institution assembles and installs their copy of the show. Changes are made to planetarium shows for many reasons. The technology in each planetarium is different (everyone doesn't have dissolving 25%-overlap panoramas, for example). Other reasons include community needs, changes in scientific thought, and mistakes in the original script. This paper discusses editing purchased shows without violating the license agreement. This paper also proposes reasonable agreements that will keep the original creators happy and give the purchasers freedom to adapt the show for the best presentation possible in their planetariums.
2.04-6 Back	Spirits from the Sky, Thunder on the Land Phyllis Pitluga (Adler Planetarium / Chicago) The Adler Planetarium is producing a planetarium show, partially funded by The National Science Foundation, about Native American Pawnee-Indian sky traditions. It is a forty-minute narrative featuring a grandfather and two grandchildren. They take the audience inside a Pawnee earth lodge to join the chiefs in using the smoke hole to sight the Council-of-Chiefs stars passing overhead at dawn. The stars announce the annual cycle of rebirth and renewal. From out under the vast skies of the plains, we follow the cycles of their stars during the ceremonial year - from first planting, to the summer buffalo hunt, the harvest and the winter buffalo hunt. We witness conjunctions of the planets, Sun and Moon that bring alive the Pawnee creation legend. "Spirits from the Sky, Thunder on the Land" opens at the Adler Planetarium July 28-30, 2000 and, for a fee, will be available to other planetaria in October 2000.
Tuesday, July 11 1:30 p.m.--3:00 p.m. Panel - Mackenzie
2.05 Back	Planetarium Standards: Elevating the Profession Chair: Ed Lantz (Spitz Inc.); Panelists: Philip Groce (MegaSystems), Mark C. Petersen (Loch Ness Productions), Steve Savage (Sky-Skan, Inc.) & Kenneth Wilson (Science Museum of Virginia) Many professional societies elevate the quality of their profession by the voluntary adoption of standards and professional guidelines. Panelists will present their ideas for planetarium standards that could foster greater professionalism, improve planetarium facilities, facilitate fundraising, increase attendance, streamline show production, insure show cross-compatibility and elevate show quality. Panelists will also comment on what role IPS could or should play in the formation of standards, and the role of vendors in this process. The panel will then open to a forum allowing the panelists and the audience to participate in open dialog.
Tuesday, July 11 1:30 p.m.--3:00 p.m. Workshop - Marquette
2.06 Back	Hands-On Astrophysics: A Workshop Dr. John R. Percy (Erindale College, University of Toronto) & Janet A. Mattei (American Association of Variable Star Observers) Amateur astronomers and students can contribute to scientific research by measuring and analyzing variable stars, because variable stars provide important information about the nature and evolution of stars. The techniques can be simple, and there are organizations - notably the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) - which co-ordinate such activity, and make the measurements available to scientists and educators worldwide. By measuring and analyzing variable stars, students can do real science, with real data, while developing and integrating a wide range of science and math skills. The AAVSO therefore developed the education project "Hands-On Astrophysics" (HOA): more than half a million measurements, software, charts, and instructional material including videos, tied together with a comprehensive teachers and students' manual, and supported through the AAVSO web site www.aavso.org. This workshop will provide an "eyes-on" introduction to variable star measurement and analysis, and to the AAVSO and HOA, either as a self-contained activity for the classroom (or the planetarium dome), or as a prelude to observing the real sky.
Tuesday, July 11 3:30 p.m.--4:45 p.m. Invited Lecture - Duluth
2.07 Back	From Stonehenge to Gemini -- A Venture Between Science and Technology Dr. Jean-René Roy
Tuesday, July 11 7:30 p.m.--10:00 p.m. Planetarium - Planétarium
2.08 Back	The Sky's Not the Limit Any More! - How to Create Full-Dome Immersive Video Tony Butterfield & Carolyn Sumners (Burke Baker Planetarium) New full-dome immersive projection technologies can create photo-realistic environments - both virtual and real on the planetarium dome. Fast computers, high speed networks and terabytes of storage make in-house show production feasible and financially viable for a planetarium. This presentation demonstrates a range of production techniques from QuickTime™ VR panoramas of places such as the Parthenon to traditional 3D modeling programs such as LightWave™ and landscape design software such as Bryce™. The authors will also demonstrate abstract, fractal-based, full-dome imagery suitable for evening entertainment or laser shows. This presentation will be valuable for any planetarium interested in creating pre-rendered video sequences for individual video projectors or for full-dome immersive environments. The circular dome masters for full-dome scenes can be shared with any full-dome playback system.