The sky opens up when Alan Davenport is around.

Whether he’s watching a “rainstorm” or leading a group on the first manned mission to Mars, he tries to give visitors to the University of Maine’s Jordan Planetarium the sun, moon and stars.

“I think that’s one of our most important missions here – to help people become more familiar and enjoy the universe more,” Davenport said.

This month, the planetarium has two shows scheduled that do just that. The first, “Don’t Duck, Look Up!” is geared toward children ages 5 to 8. Dudley Duck and his barnyard friends teach young skywatchers about rain showers, clouds, constellations, and what makes the sky blue. “Destination Mars” takes planetarium visitors on the first manned mission to the red planet. The year

is 2018, and viewers watch the 18-month trip through astronauts’ eyes.

“It’s a combination of video, slides and special effects,” Davenport said of the Mars show. “It’s kind of like a movie, but it’s not a movie.”

During the show, viewers get to climb cliffs on Mars, explore the planet, and even grow tomatoes there. Then, after they return safely, they learn about some of the constellations in the winter sky.

In “Don’t Duck,” Davenport’s assistant, Jennifer Ledenican, plays the part of Dudley Duck, who leads young audiences on an interactive journey.

“The Dudley Duck show is cool because it’s a program where the host is doing a live character and she’s explaining things about the sky,” Davenport said. “It gives children an opportunity to see what goes on in the daytime and what goes on in the night as well.”

At the end of the children’s show, Ledenican points out a few constellations in the winter sky, with superimposed outlines to help young viewers understand how Orion got its name, or why Leo is called “the lion.”

“We want people to be able to identify a few things in their own sky,” Davenport said.

If you plan to do a little stargazing in your back yard, Davenport recommends that you leave the lights off indoors, even if you come inside to warm up for a few minutes. It takes 15 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the darkness – after that, the stars seem brighter and easier to identify. However, it only takes a minute for them to readjust to the light, so when you go back outside, you’ll have to wait another 15 minutes to fully enjoy the view again.

Davenport shows visitors what stars and planets are visible at this time of year and gives tips for stargazing at home. But at the planetarium, he’s the master of his own little universe.

“It’s like painting with colored light,” he said. “It’s a beautiful synthesis of media.”

“Don’t Duck, Look Up!” plays at 2 p.m. each Sunday in January. “Destination Mars” plays Fridays, Jan. 11-25. Because space is limited, reservations are recommended. For information or to make a reservation, call 581-1341 and follow the instructions on the voice mail. If you make a reservation, plan to arrive 20 minutes before the show. The Maynard F. Jordan Planetarium is located in Wingate Hall on the University of Maine campus in Orono.

Winter-spring star shows at January

“Don’t Duck, Look Up!” especially suited for ages 5-8, 2 p.m. Sundays,

Jan. 6-27

“Destination Mars,” 7 p.m. Fridays, Jan. 11-25

February

“Our Place in Space,” 7 p.m. Fridays, Feb. 1-22

“Follow the Drinking Gourd,” 2 p.m. Sundays, Feb. 3-24

March

“Worlds in Motion,” 7 p.m. Fridays, March 1-29

“Zubenelgenubi’s Magical Sky,” especially suited for ages 5-8, 2 p.m.

Sundays, March 3-24

April

“Worlds in Motion,” 7 p.m. Fridays, April 5-26

“Moon Shadows,” 2 p.m. Sundays, April 7-28

May

“X-tra Terrestrial Files,” 7 p.m. Fridays, May 3-31

“Our Sky Family,” especially suited for ages 5-8, 2 p.m. Sundays, May 5-26