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"Season of Light" Planetarium Show
Topics: Christmas, BC, Planetarium, astronomy
Posted by RaisingBakersfield Tue Aug 5, 2008 12:33:46 PDT
Viewed 96 times
0 responses 0 comments Start: Dec 5, 2008
End: Dec 6, 2008
Time: 7:30pm
Contact: Bakersfield College | www.bakersfieldcollege.edu/planetarium | 395-4326
Location: 1801 Panorama Dr, Bakersfield, CA

December 5th & 6th, 7:30 pm - 8:45 pm, BC Planetarium.

Each show will begin with a short tour of the evening sky using the planetarium's Goto Chronos star projector followed by the 37-minute all-dome presentation from Loch Ness Productions called "Season of Light" using our Spitz SciDome projector.

"This presentation traces the history and development of many of the world's most endearing holiday customs, all of which involve lighting up the winter season — from the burning Yule log, sparkling Christmas tree lights and candles in windows, to the lighting of luminarias in the American Southwest and the traditional ritual of the Hanukkah Menorah.

'Season of Light' also recounts the historical religious and cultural rituals practiced during the time of winter solstice — not only Christian and Jewish, but also Celtic, Nordic, Roman, Irish, Mexican and Hopi. It also takes a look at some of our more light-hearted seasonal traditions: from gift-giving and kissing under the mistletoe, to songs about lords a-leaping and ladies dancing, and the custom of decking the halls with greenery and candles. St. Nicholas, Sinterklaas, Kris Kringle, Father Christmas, and Santa Claus all drop by as well.

Naturally, there is some astronomy in 'Season of Light'. Audiences learn a selection of Northern hemisphere winter constellations, and find out why we even have seasons, as we demonstrate the Sun's path across the sky throughout the year, and the Earth's tilt and orbit around the Sun. And of course, the program explores the possible astronomical explanations for a 'Star over Bethlehem' in the last quarter of the show: comets, meteors, novae and supernovae, and planetary conjunctions." (Loch Ness Productions) Tickets are available for $5/adults and $3/children+seniors from the Bakersfield College Ticket Office only (tickets will NOT be sold at the door). The BC Ticket Office is in Business Services (395-4326) and the William M Thomas Planetarium is on the second floor, northwest end of the Math-Science Building, Room 112. The map below shows you where the ticket office and the planetarium are. No food, drink, or gum/candy are allowed in the planetarium. Children must be 5 years or older.

 

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