|
|
| Volume 5, Issue 2 Pepeluali (February) 2010 | |
|
Aloha mai!
Welcome to 'Imiloa's monthly membership e-newsletter, Kilolani. Please send your comments and feedback to our Membership and Development Office at membership@imiloahawaii.org or call (808) 969-9732.
'Imiloa Astronomy Center is open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Tuesday through Sunday, and on these holidays: King Kamehameha Day and Independence Day (Fourth of July). We're closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Calendar of Events at a Glance -- details provided below
Every Saturday: Keiki Kilohoku Korner activities from 9:30 am to 11:00 am
10:00 am Legends of the Night Sky: Orion
February 5: U2 returns to 'Imiloa as the Friday Night Music Show at 7:30 and 9:00 pm
February 6: NASA's public presentation by researcher Rob Landis at 7:00 pm
February 10: Science Rocks! after-school program
February 14 - 25: Hawai'i District Science and Engineering Fair at 'Imiloa
February 17: Science Rocks! after-school program
February 24: Science Rocks! after-school program
February 20: Maunakea Skies Lecture Series at 7:00 pm
February 26: Last chance to see U2 at 7:30 and 9:00 pm
February 28: 'Imiloa's Birthday Bash/KTA Community Free Day/Journey through the Universe
March 19-22: 'Imi Na'auao Wayfinding and Navigation Crew Training Workshops
March 20: Maunakea Skies Lecture Series at 7:00 pm
March 26: Member Appreciation Event & Preview
April 6-9: Merrie Monarch Festival Workshops at 'Imiloa
June 1-4: Science Rocks! Summer Camp for Girls
June 8-11: Science Rocks! Summer Camp for Boys
September: Celebrate Museums Month
October 8-10: 3rd Annual Hilo Wayfinding and Navigation Festival
October 30: Halloween Spooky Science Hall - CSI Edition
December 3: 3rd Annual Member Mahalo Holiday Party
Questions about any of the above events? Call our front desk at 969-9703.
|
| Image of the Month |
|
Trees on Mars?
|
Click here for the explanation of our February Image of the Month! |
| Upcoming Events and Activities |
NASA Presentation - "Between the Moon and Mars: The Near Earth Object Factor"
 'Imiloa is proud to present a special NASA presentation entitled "Between the Moon and Mars: the NEO Factor," by researcher Rob Landis on Saturday, February 6, at 7:00 pm in the 'Imiloa Planetarium.
In late 2006, NASA examined the feasibility of sending a piloted Orion spacecraft to a NEO. A NEO is a Solar System object whose orbit brings it into close proximity with the Earth, which makes them interesting targets for exploration. Mr. Landis will share how astronauts might some day explore these high-profile destinations and hopes to inspire the younger generation of the possibilities.
Rob Landis has worked on several NASA programs and projects, including the Hubble Space Telescope, Cassini, the Mars Exploration Rovers and the International Space Station. The idea of human exploration of near-Earth asteroids is not new; however, the new powerful rockets NASA plans to have within the decade could very well enable such missions of exploration and discovery.
The presentation is free to the public, with space limited to a "first come, first served" basis. 'Imiloa members receive precedence for seating - only if RSVPs are made prior to the event.
RSVP by emailing Tara Ballard at tballard@imiloahawaii.org and indicate the following:
1. Name of the event (NASA Presentation)
2. Date (February 6)
3. Your name
4. Total number of people who will attend
5. Type of membership you have
For questions about membership, call Nico Verissimo, Membership and Fund Development Manager, at 969-9732. For questions about the event itself, call Shawn Laatsch, 'Imiloa's Planetarium Manager, at 969-9735.
The Science and Engineering Fair at 'Imiloa
 Schools, families, and visitors are invited to 'Imiloa Astronomy Center to view more than 100 student projects on display as part of the 2010 Hawai'i District Science and Engineering Fair annual competition.
This free showcase will run for two weeks beginning Sunday, February 14 and continuing through Thursday, February 25. There is no charge to see the Hawai'i District Science and Engineering Fair. Admission applies for the 'Imiloa exhibits and Planetarium.
The projects will be displayed in 'Imiloa's Moanahoku Hall from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
For the fourth year in a row, 'Imiloa is extending a special invitation to any Big Island school interested in bringing students to view projects. Schools that accept the field trip invitation will explore 'Imiloa's Exhibit Hall as well as a viewing of the new planetarium show, IBEX: Search for the Edge of the Solar System which focuses on the boundary between our Solar System and the rest of the galaxy.
Interested schools are encouraged to contact Craig Mitchell at 969-9720 or our front desk at 969-9703.
Journey to 'Imiloa's Birthday Bash (A KTA Community Free Day)
'Imiloa's special day will be celebrated on Sunday, February 28, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Sponsored by KTA Super Stores, admission is free all day to guests. Help us celebrate our 4th birthday!
To compliment our birthday celebration, our partnership with Journey through the Universe will be exhibited through the hosting of its "Family Science Day" and hourly astronomical presentations in the Earl & Doris Bakken Moanahoku Hall.
There will be special planetarium programming with show times every twenty minutes. Exhibit tours, cultural games, and various activities supplement this event while, in addition to exploring the exhibit halls and experiencing the planetarium, there will be numerous hands-on activities, a demonstration of poi pounding, kalo presentations, gourd carving,
fish net weaving and throwing, theatre performances, as well as guided landscape tours.
The Sky Garden Restaurant will be open from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm, and from 5:00 pm to
8:30 pm for dinner. 'Imiloa will have outdoor benches and tables available for public use.
For more information, call our Front Desk at 969-9703. |
|
Coming up soon! Member Appreciation Event & Preview
Keep an eye on your inbox! On Friday, March 26, 'Imiloa will be hosting a special members-only appreciation event and preview. Look for an e-vite in your inbox in early March.
If you have any questions about membership, contact Nico Verissimo, our Membership and Fund Development Manager, at 969-9732 or Tara Ballard, Membership Assistant, at 969-9719.
|
| Keiki Programs and Opportunities |
Saturday's Keiki Kilohoku Korner
The Keiki Kilohoku Korner is held every Saturday from 9:30 am - 11:00 am for the visitors who come to see Legends of the Night Sky: Orion, our 10:00 am keiki planetarium show. Educational activities take place in 'Imiloa's atrium area. Storytelling, science demos, or experiments will be offered weekly.
Science Rocks! at 'Imiloa |
 Bring your keiki to 'Imiloa's Science Rocks! educational, interactive after-school program from 2:30 pm to 5:15 pm. With exciting new topics, Science Rocks! is held every Wednesday that school is in session through May 19, 2010. This program is tailored for students in grades 4-6.
February 10: Space Science
February 17: Inventions - Boats, Land Vehicles, etc.
February 24: Geometric Bubbles
Each session is limited to 20 students and enrollment is necessary, costing $15 per session, with a "pay-as-you-go" policy. For more information, please call our School Programs Coordinator, Gail Loeffler, at 969-9729.
|
| February Skies 2010 |
|
Highlights from the Night Sky |
 Mercury is visible early in the month at sunrise. Look for it low on the horizon at approximately thirty minutes before sunrise.
Venus and Jupiter are not visible this month, as they are still lost in the glare of the Sun.
Mars is bright in February. It will be in the east at sunset and will be visible for most of the evening.
Saturn rises around 9:00 pm and is visible to sunrise. Small telescopes can easily reveal its wonderful rings, which are continuing to open up.
February's Celestial Calendar
Tuesday, Feb. 2 Makulu (Saturn) 8° north of the Moon
Friday, Feb. 5 Kaloakukahi (Last Quarter Moon) at 1:48 pm
Friday, Feb. 12 Ukaliali'i (Mercury) 2° north of the Moon
Saturday, Feb. 13 Muku (New Moon) at 4:51 pm
Sunday, Feb. 21 'Olekukahi (First Quarter Moon) at 2:42 pm
Friday, Feb. 26 Hoku'ulapina'au (Mars) 7° north of the Moon
Saturday, Feb. 28 Hoku (Full Moon) at 6:38 am; Ka'awela (Jupiter) in conjunction
|
| February Maunakea Skies: "The Nearby Milky Way - Our Local Neighborhood" |
Saturday, February 20, at 7:00 pm in the planetarium
The ever-popular Maunakea Skies is back again at 'Imiloa Astronomy Center. Inge Heyer will host this month's Maunakea Skies on Saturday, February 20, at 7:00 pm. She will be joined by Dr. Andy Adamson, Associate Director for the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT). Dr. Adamson's topic will be: "The Nearby Milky Way - Our Local Neighborhood."
 Dr. Andy Adamson is currently the Associate Director of the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT). British by birth, before arriving on the Big Island in 1998, Andy was a lecturer and computer systems manager at the University of Central Lancashire in the northwest of the United Kingdom. His research focuses on interstellar dust particles - the microscopic motes of silicate and (hydro) carbons which pervade the space between the stars and obscure much of the local Universe from our sight. These grains also take a leading role in the life cycle of the stars themselves, assisting the formation process while re-forming and driving the "winds" from stars near the end of their life spans.
The Sky Garden Restaurant will be open from 5:00 to 8:00 pm for dinner.
Maunakea Skies will be held the third Saturday of each month and will replace the Directors' Lecture Series held for the International Year of Astronomy in 2009, which was included as a sponsorship during that special time. With the completion of the IYA2009, 'Imiloa's monthly talks again require an admission fee. Admission is $8.00 for non-members and $5.00 for members.
For more information on Maunakea Skies, please visit http://www.imiloahawaii.org. The Maunakea Skies Series begins at 7:00 pm and is on the third Saturday of every month. Please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes in advance.
Questions? Please feel free to call Shawn Laatsch, 'Imiloa's Planetarium Manager at 969-9735 or our front desk at 969-9703.
|
| In the Planetarium |
U2 - Friday Night Music Shows
 U2 is back! By popular demand, the entertaining music show is returning to 'Imiloa starting on Friday, February 5, and ending on Friday, February 26.
U2 is the first ever full-dome planetarium production featuring U2's timeless classics and modern hits. This show is a 43-minute immersive experience to the popular band's music, thanks to the high-tech, full-dome digital video and 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround sound capability of the 'Imiloa planetarium. See waves of rich computer renderings of colors, images, animations, and fractals that are expertly choreographed with the band's music. From "Sunday Bloody Sunday" to "Bullet the Blue Sky" and "With or Without You," this jam-packed show is full of U2's all-time greatest hits!
Shows will be offered every Friday at 7:30 pm and 9:00 pm from February 5 to February 26.
Admission rates are as follows:
Non-member rate............$10 Individual Member ($50)...$8
Dual Member ($60)..........$8
Family Member ($85).......$8
Patron Member ($125).....$6
Silver Member ($250)......FREE
Gold Member ($500)........FREE
To purchase tickets, call 969-9704 or 969-9703. You can also visit our front desk during regular business hours.
IBEX: Search for the Edge - NEW planetarium show
 'Imiloa Astronomy Center welcomes the newest addition to our planetarium: IBEX: Search for the Edge. Join scientists who are investigating the boundary between our Solar System and the rest of our galaxy. Designed for visitors with an appreciation for the challenges of space science and a desire to learn more about science research, IBEX: Search for the Edge follows the creation of NASA's Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX).
Audiences get an in-depth look at the mission and how IBEX is collecting high-speed atoms to create a map of our Solar System's boundary. Narrated by two inquisitive teenagers, audiences hear from the scientists and engineers that developed the IBEX mission and created the spacecraft.
IBEX: Search for the Edge plays every day, Tuesday through Sunday, at 1:00 and 3:00 pm, in the 'Imiloa planetarium. IBEX replaced Origins of Life.
Legends of the Night Sky: Orion
Legends of the Night Sky: Orion has returned to 'Imiloa as the Saturday morning keiki planetarium show. This colorful and entertaining program is the world's first traditionally-animated fulldome movie. The show takes an imaginative look at the stories and legends about Orion, the great hunter of the winter sky. It's an ideal show for family audiences and younger viewers.
Legends of the Night Sky: Orion is presented every Saturday at 10:00 am and is supplemented with the Keiki Kilohoku Korner, held from 9:30 am to 11:00 am.
| |
|
|
|
'Imiloa Astronomy Center
|
To ensure delivery of `Imiloa Astronomy Center e-mails to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add membership@imiloahawaii.org to your address book.
If you or someone you know isn't receiving Kilolani on a regular basis, please call us at (808) 969-9732 or email us at membership@imiloahawaii.org so we can investigate for you!
|
'Imiloa Astronomy Center
Membership and Fund Development Office
600 'Imiloa Place Hilo, HI 96720
Nico Verissimo - Membership and Fund Development Manager
(808) 969-9732
nverissimo@imiloahawaii.org
membership@imiloahawaii.org
Tara Ballard - Membership Assistant
(808) 969-9719
tballard@imiloahawaii.org
Front Desk Superstars
(808) 969-9703
Center Hours:
Tues-Sun 9 am to 4 pm
Closed Mondays
Front desk: (808) 969-9703
Sky Garden Restaurant:
Open Tues-Sun 9 am to 4 pm
Dinner: Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun 5 pm to 8 pm
(808) 969-9753
Mahalo nui loa for your support of 'Imiloa! |
| |
|
