LOUISVILLE, Ky. – New shows and new technology are on the schedule this summer at the Gheens Science Hall and Rauch Planetarium at the University of Louisville.
The planetarium’s summer slate includes three programs featuring Cinemuse, a high-definition television format that produces remarkably crisp, 30-foot by 30-foot images on the facility’s 55-foot dome. The schedule also includes a series of popular music laser shows.
The first Cinemuse program, “Van Gogh and Provence,” display’s the painter’s works in such detail that viewers can literally see the artist’s brush strokes. The second program, “Peach Boy,” is a Japanese folk tale about a young man’s journey to gain treasure for his family.
Both programs are paired with “Legends of the Night Sky,” a laser-animated, humorous telling of the legend of Perseus and Andromeda.
The third program, “Underwater Odyssey,” is a visually stunning exploration of life in the earth’s oceans.
Also on the summer schedule is a new children’s laser program, “Our Place in Space,” which uses animal characters to teach children about a variety of astronomical topics.
The planetarium also is adding two new laser shows to its weekend musical entertainment lineup. “Laser Mania,” a laser show featuring songs by Ricky Martin, Britney Spears and other pop performers, and “Hypnotica,” a program combining lasers with techno hits, join “Laser Beatles” and “Laser U2” on the schedule.
The planetarium also will continue showing its feature program, “Oasis in Space,” a search for water in the galaxy. In addition, the facility will present current sky shows and have free telescope viewing sessions on the first Saturday of each month.