The University of Texas at Arlington

Friday, May 25, 2012

Today's Moon Phase

Planetarium Closed Memorial Day

The Planetarium will be closed on Monday, May 28th due to the Memorial Day holiday. We will re-open for normal business on Tuesday, May 29th. We apologize for any inconvenience.

New Public Show - Dynamic Earth

We're debuting a brand new show in our public schedule this May. Join us for Dynamic Earth at 3:30 every Sunday this month - for FREE! That's right, we're offering this show for free in May. Tickets will be required for this show; they can be picked up at no charge from the ticket booth at 3:00 every Sunday. Groupon vouchers will not be accepted for this show. Still have questions - give us a call at 817-272-1183 during normal business hours.

Groupon Customers

If you purchased a voucher from Groupon to visit the Planetarium, please note that advance reservations are not required. To redeem your voucher please bring it with you to any public show through August 22, 2012 to receive your tickets. The voucher may be used for any regular public show except the $2 movie. The voucher is good only for 1 show - it may not be used over multiple visits. If you have additional questions about your voucher please call the Planetarium office at 817-272-1183 during normal business hours.

Summer Schedule

The summer schedule is valid from June 1st - August 26th. If you are looking for public show times before June 1st, please see our Now Showing section, on the right side of the page.

Tuesdays

• 2:00 - Texas Stargazing

Wednesdays

• 2:00 - Two Small Pieces of Glasss

Thursdays

• 2:00 - One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure

Fridays

• 2:00 - Stars of the Pharaohs

Saturdays

• 1:00 - One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure
• 2:30 - Cosmic Colors
• 5:30 - Stars of the Pharaohs
• 7:00 - Pink Floyd

Sundays

• 1:30 - Two Small Pieces of Glass
• 2:30 - Spacepark 360
• 3:30 - Molecularium (June Only)/Spacepark 360

• Why does it always say that the best time to watch for meteorites during a meteor shower is between midnight and dawn? Are there really more meteorites at that time, or is just because the sky is usually darker at that time?
• It is possible to see meteors before midnight but it can sometimes be more difficult. Meteors are caused by the Earth “running into” debris fields left behind by passing comets. The reason that the best viewing time is generally said to be midnight or later, is not because the sky is darker but because the constellation the meteors appear to come from is higher in the sky at midnight, making the meteors much easier to spot. Before midnight, the constellation tends to be close to the horizon, so spotting meteors isn’t easy.
• When will we get actual pictures of the class m planets recently discovered by Kepler? Artist conceptions are cool and optimistic, however the truth is always more amazing.
• Unfortunately, astronomers do not have the technology to actually see, or take pictures of, exoplanets. Most exoplanets are discovered by indirect methods, like looking for a dimming in a star’s light, or for the wobble in a star’s orbit – which is caused by a planet pulling on the star. In order to directly see the planet, astronomers would need much larger telescopes than have currently been built, in order to see the incredibly small bodies at great distances. One of the closest exoplanets discovered is about 22 light years away – that’s approximately 135 trillion miles away – and is only 4 times the size of Earth (at approximately 32,000 miles in diameter)! This is way too small to be seen by our telescopes. So for now, the best we can do is imagine what the planets look like, with artist conceptions.
• 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.

View more and submit your own questions to Ask the Astronomer

Today's Events

• 5:30 pm   $2 Movie - Puss In Boots

Now Showing

$2 Movie

See your favorite movies on a REALLY BIG SCREEN.

Wednesday	05:30 pm
Friday	05:30 pm
Saturday	02:30 pm

Astronaut

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

Saturday

01:00 pm

Cosmic Colors

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

Sunday	01:30 pm
Tuesday	06:00 pm

Dynamic Earth

Explore the inner workings of Earth’s climate engine with visualizations based on satellite monitoring data and advanced supercomputer simulations.

Sunday

03:30 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

We Are Astronomers

Do you know what an astronomer does? Today's astronomer is not the lone observer of past centuries. We Are Astronomers reveals the global collaboration, technology, and dedication required to answer the unresolved questions of the Universe.

Thursday	06:00 pm
Saturday	05:30 pm