Astronomy Club Outing to the Planetarium

Nancy Eisenstein

More than 20 SaddleBrooke Ranch residents took a behind-the-scenes tour of the University of Arizona’s Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium on Sept. 28. The science center’s two-floor exhibits included Undersea Discovery, Wild World of Bugs, Sharks, Solar System Revealed, and Fossil Corner.

Shiloe Fontes, planetarium manager, discussed the history of the planetarium from the use of the old projector and took the group behind the scenes of the giant screen and backroom of electrical wires that enable the many dynamic computerized shows to stay current and up-to-date with the latest information as it becomes available.

While seated in the auditorium, participants were guided on a night sky tour of the stars, planets, and constellations.

Everyone will want to visit the venue as the new show Incoming explores asteroids, comets, and the hard-hitting stories of our cosmic origins with narrator George Takei.