The University of Texas at Arlington

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Today's Moon Phase

Extended Public Show Hours During Spring Break

We have extended our public show hours for spring break Tues., March 12 through Fri., March 15. These shows will be in addition to our regular public shows.

Tuesday, March 12

• 2:00 - Cosmic Colors
• 3:00 - Spacepark 360

Wednesday, March 13

• 2:00 - Astronaut
• 3:00 - Spacepark 360

Thursday, March 14

• 2:00 - One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure
• 3:00 - Spacepark 360
• 6:00 - Astronaut

Friday, March 15

• 2:00 - Secret of the Cardboard Rocket
• 3:00 - Spacepark 360
• 6:00 - Mayan Prophecies

• Does the Mayan calendar end in December 2012?
• Just because the calendar on your kitchen wall ends on December 31, doesn't mean that time doesn't exist after that. The same holds true for the Mayan calendar which does not end on December 21, 2012. This date is the end of the Mayan long-count period but then -- just as your calendar begins again on January 1 -- another long-count period begins for the Mayan calendar.
• What is the origin of the prediction that the world will end in 2012?
• The story started with claims that Nibiru, a supposed planet discovered by the Sumerians, is headed toward Earth. This catastrophe was initially predicted for May 2003, but when nothing happened the doomsday date was moved forward to December 2012. Then these two fables were linked to the end of one of the cycles in the ancient Mayan calendar at the winter solstice in 2012 -- hence the predicted doomsday date of December 21, 2012.
• Are there any threats to the Earth in 2012? Many Internet websites say the world will end in December 2012?
• Nothing bad will happen to the Earth in 2012. Our planet has been getting along just fine for more than 4 billion years, and credible scientists worldwide know of no threat associated with 2012.
• Has NASA spotted an exoplanet orbiting Alpha Centauri a and b and proxima centauri?
• Yes! A planet, known as Alpha Centauri Bb, was discovered orbiting around Alpha Centauri B, which is part of a three-star system just 4.3 light-years away from us. Alpha Centauri Bb zips around its star every 3.2 days, orbiting at a distance of just 3.6 million miles (6 million kilometers) and is approximately the same size as Earth. For comparison, Earth orbits about 93 million miles, or 150 million km, from the sun.

View more and submit your own questions to Ask the Astronomer

Today's Events

• 1:30 pm   Astronaut
• 2:30 pm   Spacepark 360

Now Showing

Astronaut

See what it takes to become an Astronaut and the effect space has on the human body.

Sunday	01:30 pm
Thursday	06:00 pm
Saturday	05:30 pm

Cosmic Colors

Take an adventure along the spectrum and discover the world of color.

Saturday

01:00 pm

Mayan Prophecies

Visit the Classic Mayan cities of Uxmal, Chichen Itza, Tikal, and Palenque to discover how the Maya aligned their temples to watch their sky gods and used interlocking calendars to record the past and predict the future.

Friday	06:00 pm
Saturday	02:30 pm

Pink Floyd

Enjoy a 60's style laser light show set to the music of Pink Floyd.

Saturday

07:00 pm

Spacepark 360

Spacepark 360 is an out-of-this-world entertainment experience. Get transported to surreal vistas and experience the most thrilling amusement park rides the solar system has to offer!

Sunday

02:30 pm