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Downtown Digital Dome Theatre and Planetarium


For the Adventurer
For the Kids
Thrill Ride for the Senses
 
   
     

Monthly Sky Guy Free Show

July 5th, 2008: Monthly Sky Guy Planetarium Show

Come on down to the Downtown Digital Dome Theater and Planetarium and enjoy a free planetarium show on Saturday July 5th at 10 a.m. This planetarium show is coordinated with the monthly Tallahassee Democrat "Sky Guy" column and is presented by the Tallahassee Astronomical Society. The sky over Tallahassee will be reviewed including prominent constellations, stars and planets. The zodiac constellation Scorpius and the three constellations of the “Summer Triangle” will be highlighted for "Learning Constellations". The “Learning Astronomy” topic this month is the seasons and includes “Why Stonehenge is round” or “A calendar too big to carry”. While you are there stay for children’s show “The Secret of the Cardboard Rocket”, the 11:00 a.m. the regular planetarium show at one-half off the regular price for those attending the 10:00 a.m. free planetarium show.

Black Holes

They lurk in the universe like cosmic dragons, unseen voids with the energy of a million suns. They can devour entire stars, and once in their grasp, nothing, not even light, can escape. Few mysteries in the universe have the power and awe of the black hole. Only now are we on the verge of understanding their true nature. What are they? How are they made? Is the earth in danger of being pulled into one?

Narrated by film actor John de Lancie ("Q" in the Star Trek TV series), this immersive digital theater program incorporates some of the most visually stunning three-dimensional effects ever created for the dome. Designed for all audiences, this full-length production features 3-D simulations of black holes and the strange physical and visual effects they can create. With the help of science advisors from around the country, audiences will be able to see and feel what it might be like to approach the supermassive black hole at the center of our own Milky Way galaxy, or speculate on the existence of "worm holes," theoretical portholes in space and time.

Extreme Planets

Imagine a world where an ocean of molten rock breaks against a pitch black shoreline of hardened lava... a place where a seething hot and swollen star hangs perpetually over the horizon, and night never falls. Imagine a world where the rocks glow in luminescent shades of pink, blue and green under a madly spinning burned-out star...a planet where auroras perpetually dance across the starry sky. These may sound like the products of a wildly creative imagination, but they’re not. Scientists now believe that places like these, and places even more incredible, may actually exist throughout the universe. Now, armed with the latest scientific methods of detection, we are combing the skies, looking for planets that may be like Earth. And what we are discovering are places so strange and exotic that they defy the imagination. Come join us on an immersive voyage of discovery as we tour the Universe in search of these truly Extreme Planets.


Secret of the Cardboard Rocket

Embark on an outstanding adventure as two children spend a night touring all the planets in our solar system alongside their ship's navigator, a rather plucky astronomy book. "Cardboard Rocket" was produced with state of the art 3-D animation and a 5.1 soundtrack with spectacular effects created at George Lucus' Skywalker Ranch.

The Zula Patrol: Under the Weather

Based on the popular PBS animated children's series, The Zula Patrol: Under the Weather stars stalwart Captain Bula, brainiac Professor Multo, feisty hot-doggin' space pilot Zeeter, the amazing space pet, Gorga, and the twin flying companions Wizzy & Wigg as the lovably wacky characters who will take pre-Kindergarten through fourth graders on a roller coaster fun ride across the Universe... and teach them critical facts about science and astronomy in the process. This exciting new show features the Zula Patrol as they try to save the solar system's weather from interplanetary villain Dark Truder. Like the TV series, Under the Weather supports National and State Science Education Standards and was written by Zula's Emmy-award winning writers and animated by Spitz Creative Media.

For more information on Zula Patrol, including kids activities visit www.zula.com.

For information on the PBS series The Zula Patrol airing on WFSU, visit www.wfsu.org/kids.

Kaluoka'hina: The Enchanted Reef

This show runs on limited engagement only.

The vastness of our planet's oceans guard unimaginable secrets. One of its most precious is "Kaluoka'hina," the enchanted reef whose magic protects it against humans finding it. Kaluoka'hina's colorful inhabitants have thus always lived in peace, until a volcano erupts, and the spell is broken. Now it is up to the young sawfish Jake and his paranoid pal Shorty to restore the magic of the Kaluoka'hina. Their only lead: the ancient legend that tells of touching the moon. But how is a fish supposed to touch the moon? This is just one of the intriguing puzzles that Jake and Shorty have to solve on their most exciting adventure ever: the quest to save their beloved reef.r the Big Five. Tour guide Liesl Eichenberger, a young South African zoologist and ranger, conducts the game drive for viewers from an open vehicle and presents essential information about the different wild animals and their habitats.

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Legends of the Night Sky: Orion

This show runs on limited engagement only.

Orion takes a lighthearted and imaginative look at the myths and stories associated with the constellation Orion, the great hunter of the winter sky. Accompanied by narrators Aesop the Owl and Socrates the Mouse, we follow Orion's adventures as he grows to manhood, battles mythical beasts, foils the plot of an evil king and wins the heart of Artemis, the beautiful moon-goddess. By the end of the story, we learn how the constellation Orion was placed in the sky, forever turning overhead throughout the seasons.

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Rock Hall of Fame

This intense and revolutionary entertainment program brings down the house with hits from some of the most popular bands in the history of Rock and Roll. This show features full dome 3D animations and digital visualizations choreographed to some of your favorite tunes from Emerson, Lake & Palmer, The Doors, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Pink Floyd, Midnight Oil, U2, and Metallica. See these masters of rock in a unique mind-blowing experience!

Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon

Dark Side of the Moon comes to life in all its glory, in this full dome digital presentation that truly has to be seen to believe. Lose yourself in the waves of colors, images, animations, and fractals that dance along to this epic masterpiece. Presented in full dome digital video and 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound, this is the ultimate way to enjoy this classic album!