Mueller Planetarium Extends Mars Show and Updates Through Feb. 29

WHEN: Saturdays and Sundays through Feb. 29, 2 p.m.
WHERE: Ralph Mueller Planetarium, University of Nebraska State Museum (Morrill Hall), 14th and U Streets

Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 30, 2004 -- After a capacity crowd showed up Jan. 24 to view broadcast coverage of the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity, Ralph Mueller Planetarium at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will continue to present the "Mars Show" astronomy program and Mars exploration updates through Feb. 29.

The "Mars Show" was originally scheduled to be shown only through the end of January, but Jack Dunn, Mueller Planetarium coordinator, said an enthusiastic crowd of more than 200 people late on a Saturday night filled all three rooms available for the broadcast from NASA. Mueller Planetarium is one of only about 70 planetariums and museums in the country that are members of the Mars Visualization Alliance that was set up by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. The purpose of the alliance is to assist in explaining and presenting the results of the Mars Rover mission to the public.

"We believe the turnout for the Opportunity landing forecasts a large audience for our Astronomy Day speaker, Nagin Cox of the Mars Exploration Rover team at JPL, on April 18," Dunn said.

The "Mars Show" and Mars updates will be presented Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. Admission to planetarium astronomy shows is $6 for adults and $4 for children, and includes admission to the University of Nebraska State Museum. Tickets are sold at the front desk of the NU State Museum (Morrill Hall), 14th and U streets on the UNL City Campus.

Dunn said a new astronomy show, "Ring World," featuring the planet Saturn, will begin later in February. He said laser light shows will return to the planetarium on Feb. 6.

CONTACT: Jack Dunn, Coordinator, Mueller Planetarium, (402) 472-2641