Tag Archives: planetarium

New astronomy show focused on STEM comes to Chaffee Planetarium

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The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) is pleased to announce a new show titled: Big Astronomy: People, Paces, Discoveries, is coming to the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium which features three observatories located in Chile, in some of the world’s most extreme and remote places. The show will be part of the schedule of programmatic offerings at the Chaffee Planetarium beginning Friday, Nov. 25.

“Big Astronomy: People, Paces, Discoveries” showcases the people needed to run an observatory. (Courtesy, Grand Rapids Public Museum)

Through stunning visualizations, Big Astronomy: People, Places, Discoveries shows examples of the multitude of STEM careers needed to keep these great observatories working. The show is narrated by Barbara Rojas-Ayala, a Chilean astronomer. This new show will be featured in the Chaffee Planetarium’s winter schedule among audience favorites such as Ice Worlds and Let it Snow!

“What I love about Big Astronomy is that it shows visitors, especially students and children, the real people who work on these world-class observatories. We get to meet not just the astronomers, but the engineers, technicians, and teachers who contribute to the work of astronomy,” said Jack Daleske, the GRPM’s Planetarium and Theater Manager. “We want audiences to see themselves in the people they see in our shows, and Big Astronomy will help make that connection for viewers.”

Big Astronomy: People, Paces, Discoveries will be part of the regular show schedule at the GRPM’s Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium, beginning on Friday, Nov. 25. Tickets are $4 with general admission, $5 for planetarium-only access, and $2 for Museum members. Capacity is limited and advance ticketing is recommended. Tickets to Big Astronomy: People, Places, Discoveries are available by visiting grpm.org/planetarium. Showtimes can also be reserved for school groups in English or Spanish by visiting grpm.org/schools.

Big Astronomy is a multifaceted research and outreach project supported by several partners and funded by the National Science Foundation.

GR Public Museum host virtual backyard stargazing program featuring Perseid Meteor Shower

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By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) announced that a Backyard Stargazing virtual program will be offered to the public on Thursday, July 29, at 6 p.m., focused on the upcoming Perseid Meteor Shower.

 

Virtual visitors will journey to the depths of the universe, alongside the GRPM’s Chaffee Planetarium experts to learn about the characteristics of meteors, how to spot the Perseid Meteor Shower and more. The Perseid Meteor Shower peaks in mid-August and is considered to be the best meteor shower of the year, frequently leaving long “wakes” of light and color behind them as they streak through Earth’s atmosphere. This year, the Perseid Meteor Shower will peak Sunday, Aug. 11, but will be visible for a few days before and after.

“We’re thrilled to continue offering virtual programming as an extension of the Museum’s Chaffee Planetarium experience,” said GRPM’s Planetarium Manager Jack Daleske. “Our team strives to create engaging science programming for all ages to enjoy, that prompts them to continue their quest for knowledge about science and space exploration.”

Backyard Stargazing Meetups are only $2 for GRPM members and $4 for the general public. One ticket link is needed per household. Capacity is limited; early registration is recommended. Tickets can be reserved or purchased at grpm.org/Calendar.

Meet-ups are in webinar style held via Zoom, so attendees will be able to see the GRPM panelists, but not each other. A brief Q & A session will follow the presentation. 

Chaffee Planetarium set to reopen Dec. 22

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Chaffee Planetarium will present “Let It Snow” through Jan. 3, 2021. (Photo Courtesy of Grand Rapids Public Museum)

By Christie Bender
Grand Rapids Public Museum

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) announced today that the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium will reopen and welcome visitors on a limited capacity basis starting on Tuesday, Dec. 22.

Visitors to the Chaffee Planetarium can relax, recline and visit the galaxy, constellations, far away planets, learn about asteroids and much more! All of the shows feature the latest Digistar projection technology and immersive surround sound for an unbelievably rich and realistic experience.

The Chaffee Planetarium will host multiple shows per week with enough time in between for a thorough cleaning. The schedule beginning this week will include the holiday show, Let it Snow, as well as the popular show Incoming!, Under Starlit Skies and Ice Worlds.

Let it Snow
This special holiday show features a new variety of festive classics from Frank Sinatra and Chuck Berry to Burl Ives and Brenda Lee, and includes a stunning multimedia finale by the Trans Siberian Orchestra. The soundtrack is visually enhanced with thematic animation, laser imagery and special effects. Let it Snowwill run through Jan. 3, 2021. 

George Takei’s “Incoming!” at the Chaffee Planetarium. (Photo courtesy of Grand Rapids Public Museum)

Incoming!
Narrated by George Takei, Incoming! explores asteroids, comets and meteors. California Academy of Sciences developed cutting-edge visualizations based on real-time data from current NASA missions to show audiences the dynamic story of our Solar System. A live show was created by the GRPM to accompany the movie portion of Incoming! in partnership with NASA scientist Dr. Brent Bos, who is currently studying asteroids and grew up in West Michigan.

Ice Worlds
The delicate balance between ice, water and the existence of life has been a topic of scientific inquiry for generations. In travels to the Arctic and Antarctic regions of our planet, viewers will examine the ecosystems that exist and thrive there and learn how their survival is connected with our own. Beyond Earth, see how the existence of ice shapes the landscape and the natural systems on other planets and moons in our solar system.

 

Under Starlit Skies – LIVE Presentation
Join a live presenter to explore the wonders of the winter night sky. Learn tips and tricks that will help you find planets and constellations from your own backyard. Fly to the far reaches of the solar system to get a closer look at planets, moons and more.

For a full Chaffee Planetarium show schedule, visit grpm.org/planetarium. Planetarium tickets are $2 for Museum members, $4 each with general admission to the Museum, and $5 each for planetarium only tickets. Limited capacity; advance ticketing is required and can be purchased at grpm.org.

 

The GRPM is open and welcoming visitors. Explore three floors of core exhibitions, along with Sean Kenney’s Wild Connections Made with LEGO® Bricks and Under the Arctic. Limited capacity; advance ticketing is required. For additional details about the GRPM’s visitor experience, visit grpm.org/the-grpms-new-visitor-experience/. The Museum will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. For updates, please visit grpm.org. 

GRPM to host a Chaffee Planetarium virtual meet-up

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The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) announced it will house a Chaffee Planetarium virtual meet-up. (Supplied)

By Kate Kocienski
Grand Rapids Public Museum

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) announced today that a Backyard Stargazing virtual meet-up from the GRPM’s Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium will be offered to GRPM members and the public on Thursday, July 23 at 4:30 p.m. 

Virtual visitors will journey the depths of the universe, alongside the GRPM’s planetarium experts to learn about the upcoming Perseid meteor shower, tips and tricks on how to spot planets and constellations in the night sky and more. 

“The planetarium is a large part of the GRPM experience,” said Kate Kocienski, the GRPM’s Vice President of Marketing and PR. “We are happy to offer affordable, educational programming during this time when we are unable to welcome visitors to the Chaffee Planetarium. In this program, visitors of all ages can enjoy learning about upcoming celestial events.” 

Backyard Stargazing is free for GRPM members and only $2 (per link) for the general public. Capacity is limited; early registration is recommended. Only one ticket link is needed per household. Tickets can be reserved or purchased a grpm.org/Calendar.

Meet-ups are in webinar style held via Zoom, so attendees will be able to see the GRPM panelists, but not each other. A brief Q & A session will follow the presentation. 

The Grand Rapids Public Museum is now open and welcoming visitors. Explore three floors of core exhibitions, along with Bodies Revealed, extended through September 27. Limited capacity; advance ticketing is required. For additional details about the new GRPM visitor experience, visit grpm.org/the-grpms-new-visitor-experience/. At this time, the Chaffee Planetarium is temporarily closed. For updates, please visit grpm.org.

The animals invade Chaffee Planetarium in new show

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Returning with new xxx is "Dark Side of the Moon: the Light Show, featuring the music of Pink Floyd.
Returning with new production is “Dark Side: The Light Show,” featuring the music of Pink Floyd.

Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

One new, original planetarium show along with a returning favorite were recently added to the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s Chaffee Planetarium scheduled.

 

Starlight Safari, a state-of-the-art globetrotting planetarium adventure, is an interactive trip across the continents to see and learn about various animal constellations.

 

Visitors join a live presenter in the Chaffee Planetarium to begin their adventures. This 40-minute show includes interactive questions that test the audience’s knowledge of animal and mythical constellations, as well as teaching about lesser known animals in the sky. Beginning near Grand Rapids, attendees will learn about what is in our night sky. From there, venture to remote areas in Africa, Australia, South America and Asia to see Pisces, Leo, Draco the Dragon and many more.

 

The program, which will run through Sept. 18, is a fun, entertaining, and educational experience suited all ages, especially families with children. Tickets are $4 each with general admission to the Museum, $5 each for planetarium only tickets and free to Museum members. For more information and show times, visit grpm.org/Planetarium.

 

Starlight Safari is an original production by the Chaffee Planetarium inspired by the Museum’s 2016 traveling exhibitions, The Robot Zoo and National Geographic’s Earth Explorers, which is set to open in May.

 

The popular Dark Side: The Light Show, featuring music from Pink Floyd’s album “The Dark Side of the Moon,” also returns tot he planetarium.

 

Visitors will experience this iconic album “The Dark Side of the Moon” as never before, featuring stunning 4k visuals, brilliant LED sequences and incredibly clear 5.1 surround sound. Dark Side: The Light Show was the GRPM’s first original production since the planetarium underwent major renovations in 2013/2014.

 

This most recent production of this show was developed by members of the original crew that worked on previous laser light shows at the GRPM in the 1990s and 2000s. Members of the volunteer planetarium production team include: Jacob Bourjaily, Matt Bourjaily, Ethan Brown, Dave Staskiewicz, Chad Kremer, Dave DeBruyn, John Foerch and Daniel Tell.

 

Each song from this album is played in this show with its own unique thematic visuals. Following the course of the album, the visuals increase in complexity each song, taking the audience on an unforgettable rock and roll journey.

 

Dark Side: The Light Show will play Tuesdays at 8 p.m., Fridays at 9 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 4 p.m through June 19. Tickets are $4 each with general admission to the Museum, $5 each for planetarium only tickets and free to Museum members. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit grpm.org.

 

Dark Side: The Light Show contains adult language and dizzying visual effects. It is not recommended for individuals prone to motion sickness, seizures or light sensitivity.