Feature Shows
For visitors who have an established interest in astronomy and space, the Barlow Planetarium presents feature shows on astronomy and space topics.
Space Storm
January 7 - April 29, 2012
Explore the fascinating world of space weather: solar cycle, sun spots, coronal mass ejections, geomagnetic storms and the spacecraft and equipment used to study/predict these activities. Each show concludes with a tour of the current nighttime sky – stars, constellations and planets – as seen from the Fox Valley and Northeast Wisconsin.
Family Shows
For the visitors that are young and young-at-heart that are looking for a light, fun and educational astronomy experience, the Barlow Planetarium presents family shows on astronomy.
Follow the Drinking GourdJanuary 31 - February 28, 2012
The Barlow Planetarium celebrates Black History Month! Discover how astronomy played a pivotal role in guiding escaped slaves to freedom in the North. Encoding escape instructions and a descriptive map into the lyrics of song, escaped slaves were able to find their way north from Mobile, Alabama to the Ohio River and to freedom. The drinking gourd,” the ladle made from a hollowed out gourd, represented the most famous and recognizable asterism in the sky: The Big Dipper. The Big Dipper points to the Polaris, also known as the North Star, which would guide the slaves to the North. Each show concludes with a tour of the current nighttime sky – stars, constellations and planets – as seen from the Fox Valley and Northeast Wisconsin.
Family Laser Shows
RETURNING OCTOBER 2012
For the visitors that are young and young-at-heart that are looking for a light, fun and educational music laser experience, the Barlow Planetarium presents family laser shows.
Current Events Star Show
In conjunction with Barlow Planetarium Family Astronomy Night!
Wisconsin Skies
Get a rundown of the past month’s astronomy, space and science events in Wisconsin Skies. Each month Barlow astronomers comb the news, surf the internet, and monitor the message boards to find the most intriguing astronomy and space information available – sometimes some of the information was released only hours before our program! Expect to hear about the latest developments in Earth observing, spaceflight, solar system and deep space. Wisconsin Skies concludes with a longer, expanded and more in-depth tour of the current nighttime sky – stars, constellations and planets – as seen from the Fox Valley and Northeast Wisconsin.
- March 3, 2012
- March 31, 2012
- April 28, 2012 (ASTRONOMY DAY)
- June 2, 2012
- June 30, 2012
- July 28, 2012
- August 25, 2012
- September 22, 2012
- October 27, 2012
- November 24, 2012
- December 22, 2012
Barlow Planetarium Family Astronomy Night
Planetariums offered the very first form of virtual reality. However, to get the full astronomy experience, everyone should spend time under and observing the real sky as well. Barlow Family Astronomy Night offers such an experience. Each month on the Saturday evening on or after the First Quarter Moon, the Barlow offers the current family show at 6:00 pm, current -feature show at 7:00 pm, and a special current events Wisconsin Skies show at 8:00 pm.
After each show, weather permitting, Barlow astronomers (laser pointers at the ready) and telescopes are available for showing you the real nighttime sky. Expect to see Moon, planets (when available), constellations, star clusters and nebulae. Telescope viewing is free with admission to any the Barlow shows.
Program time: 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Telescope Viewing: 7:00 - 9:00 pm (weather permitting)
- March 3, 2012
- March 31, 2012
- April 28, 2012 (ASTRONOMY DAY)
- June 2, 2012
- June 30, 2012
- July 28, 2012
- August 25, 2012
- September 22, 2012
- October 27, 2012
- November 24, 2012
- December 22, 2012
