Planetarium adds April shows; State Museum in 'Week of Young Child'

Mueller Planetarium at the University of Nebraska State Museum will add a limited run of fulldome shows to its schedule Thursday nights in April.

On April 15, the planetarium will present a special showing of "Enchanted Reef" at 7 p.m. as part of the Lincoln community's "Week of the Young Child" event. The NU State Museum in Morrill Hall will offer free public admission to the museum 4:30-8 p.m. April 15 as part of this promotion (however, regular planetarium admission will apply). On April 22 and 29, the planetarium will show Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon: The Fulldome Experience" at 7 p.m. Regular museum and planetarium admission will apply.

"Enchanted Reef" is a humorous adventure story that gives audiences informative details about the fantastic world under water and ways we can help preserve the environment. The young and young-at-heart will appreciate this fun and educational show (30 min. running time).

"Dark Side of the Moon: The Fulldome Experience" is not a laser light show as audiences have seen in the past. It features the next generation of computer-generated graphics. Experience Pink Floyd's popular rock album "Dark Side of the Moon" in immersive fulldome digital format with both abstract and concrete imagery. This show is not intended for young children due to mature language content (43 min. running time).

"Earth, Moon and Sun" explores lunar phases, eclipses and other puzzles in space. Children and their families will enjoy this fun and fast-paced show featuring a witty coyote (26 min. running time). "Earth, Moon and Sun" will be shown Saturdays and Sundays at 2 and 3 p.m. in April, as well as Thursday, April 1 and Thursday, April 8 at 7 p.m. Beginning in May, it will return as the only fulldome show on the Mueller Planetarium schedule.

The University of Nebraska State Museum (Morrill Hall) and Mueller Planetarium are located south of 14th and Vine streets on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln City Campus [map]. Parking is free. Planetarium tickets include museum admission and can be purchased at the museum's front desk the day of the show. Admission is $8 for adults, $5.50 for children, and $3 for UNL staff, faculty and students with valid NU ID. On April 15 only, museum admission will be free to the public from 4:30-8 p.m. as part of the "Week of the Young Child" promotion. Planetarium admission will still apply on this day ($3 for adults, $2.50 for children). For more information on the "Week of the Young Child," visit www.nebraskachild.org/index.html. For more information on planetarium shows, astronomy and space science, visit www.spacelaser.com. For more information on the museum, visit www.museum.unl.edu.

April Mueller Planetarium Schedule:

* "Earth, Moon and Sun," Saturdays and Sundays all month, 2 and 3 p.m.; April 1 and 8 only, 7 p.m.

* "Enchanted Reef," April 15, 7 p.m.

* "Dark Side of the Moon: The Fulldome Experience," April 22 and 29 only, 7 p.m.

WRITER: Dana Ludvik, Public Relations Coordinator, NU State Museum, (402) 472-3779