Seeing stars at UM planetarium shows

ORONO – The University of Maine’s Jordan Planetarium is offering two public star shows throughout the summer. X-Tra Terrestrial Files is a presentation for sky watchers ages 10 to 14, at 11 a.m. Tuesdays in July. Have you ever wondered if there could be intelligent life on other planets? How many of those planets might be like ours? Investigators Gully and Boulder uncover a variety of mysteries and explore these questions in the X-Tra Terrestrial Files show. Planetarium visitors age 9 to 99 will enjoy Hubble Vision 2 at 7 p.m. Thursdays in July. Hubble Vision 2 combines the splendor of the cosmos, brought into focus by the Hubble Space Telescope, with a spellbinding narrative to take viewers on a journey through the universe.

The planetarium will offer Worlds of Wonder at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1 and Aug. 8. The planetarium spaceship blasts off on an imaginative tour of the largest members of the solar system. Mission specialists explain hostile environments. Then the focus turns to the stars while the planetarium host points out the constellations of the season.

Get a closer look at Mars during Mars Invasion, showing at 7 p.m. Thursdays, Aug. 3 and Aug. 10. The program traces the history and imagines the future of Earth’s connection to its little red neighbor. Beautiful scenery from recent Mars explorers include 3D images which bring the planet up close and personal.

Admission is $3, UMaine students free. Information on current showings is available at www.umainesky.com or by calling 581-1341.