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All programs are about one hour long
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Ages 9 - adult
Destination Pluto is a journey of discovery for space travelers of all ages. Destination Pluto examines the wonders of the Sun's system, reviews the recent change in our understanding of how PLuto differs from the other planets, and introduces some of the early discoverers of the most distant worlds. Recently discovered moons and far flung mysterious ice worlds, rings around the largest planets, close-up views of alien landscapes and hazardous asteroids are all part of the adventure in Destination Pluto at the Jordan Planetarium.
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Ages 4 - 8
In this delightful first visit to the planetarium, we chat with Father Sun and each of the planets, who tell us about their best features and their place in Our Sky Family. The planetarium star projector, Franklin, is our guide, and the planetarium host helps everyone to see this season's constellations.
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Ages 8 - adult
Our planetarium spaceship blasts off on a tour that takes us to each member of the solar system. All nine planets, some of their moons and minor members of the Solar System reveal fascinating spacescapes. Their often-hostile environments and similarities are explained by mission specialists on-board. Then our focus turns to the stars while the planetarium host points out the constellations of the season on the way home. |
Ages 10 - adult
From the atoms in our bodies to the galaxies beyond our sight, everything is moving. Discover the way the Earth and its neighbors move through space and the surprising speeds that they- and we ourselves- travel in Worlds of Motion. The motion of the sun and stars is slow and familiar but the stars themselves and the huge families of galaxies at the farthest reaches are moving like dancers across a universal ballroom. In a less shocking interlude, visitors will also explore some of the constellations and stars of the Maine sky in Worlds In Motion. |
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Ages 4 - 8
In this delightful first visit to the planetarium, we chat with Father Sun and each of the planets, who tell us about their best features and their place in Our Sky Family. The planetarium star projector, Franklin, is our guide, and the planetarium host helps everyone to see this season's constellations. |
Ages 10 - Adult Visited any big planets lately? Ring World will take you on a journey to close-up views of the most elegant of the sun's planets, Saturn. Under the dome, visitors travel with the NASA Cassini-Huygens probe and follow its adventure to the Saturnian system of graceful rings, bright storms, and exotic moons. The forces at work there are just beginning to reveal themselves to scientists on Earth and new data arrives daily from the remote science instruments in orbit around Saturn. A tour of the current night sky, a recreation of Cassini's journey, and its most recent returns make Ring World a true space science exploration. |
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Ages 12 - adult
From the center of the Earth to the edge of the universe, this planetarium perspective demonstrates where we are. The Universe arranges itself into parts and clusters of parts that can be seen from Earth. A survey of these and the vast distances between them help us understand where we fit as a living planet orbiting one average star. The planetarium host also conducts a tour of the constellations in the sky this season. This program can include an optional star chart |
Ages 10 - Adult
Hubble Vision combines the splendor of the cosmos,
brought into focus by the Hubble Space Telescope, with a spellbinding
narrative to take you on a journey through the universe. Using
the latest images from the orbiting observatory, we uncover
new views of the planets; peek into star birth nurseries; catch
visions of star death in its many forms; explore distant star
clusters and galaxies; and experience views of the universe
when the earliest galaxies were first coming into being. |
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Ages 12 - adult
A portrait of the universe as it appears through
recent discoveries and modern technologies. A tour of the dark
Maine sky in this season opens the door to distant views through
telescopes both old and new. With stunning views of the heavens
these instruments have shaped our understanding of what is out
there and how it all began. |
Ages 10 - 14
Have you ever wondered if there could be intelligent
life on other planets? The X-Tra Terrestrial Files, a planetarium
show designed for Earthlings grades 5-8 explores these questions.
How many of those planets might be like ours? Our investigators,
Gully and Boulder, uncover a variety of mysteries in the X-Tra
Terrestrial Files. |
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Ages 7-12
Based on the book by Maine author, Jeannette Winter,
this children's program explains the movements of the sky and
the way slaves used the sky to escape to the North in the 1800's.
The puzzle of the sun's movement through the seasons is solved
and visitors learn a song that slaves used to follow a safe
route to freedom. |
Ages 9 - adult
For many centuries the moon has inspired a sense
of awe and mystery. Moon Shadows reveals some of its intriguing
secrets and recaptures the thrill of the NASA Apollo moon landing.
The human experience of the Moon includes eclipses, phases,
and legends, all rediscovered in Moon Shadows. |
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Ages 9 - Adult
The Season of Light examines origin of the bright and festive traditions still celebrated today. Since pre-history the darkest season of long nights and cold weather have prompted people to look for warmth and hope in the lights of the sky and fires that repel the cold. On the domed sky the reason for the seasons is unveilled and scenes of early cultures show solstice celebrations. Have you wondered how Hanukkah became a holiday of candlelight? How did Romans treat themselves to a mood lift at the winter solstice? What was the famous “star” seen over Bethlehem? |
Grades 3-6
Designed for school groups from grades 3 to 6, the program was built around the Maine State Learning Results. The show is in a 'live' format that brings together visitors and our planetarium host. Students will discover what is out there and get started learning the stars of the Maine sky. |
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Ages 9 - Adult
The Mars invasion has begun. The little red planet has attracted the attention of humans for decades, and this program will follow the history and current events in our exploration of that little red neighbor. Visitors will have the chance to find Mars in the sky, and use 3D glasses to view the stereo imagery from recent exploreration on the surface of Mars. The planetarium host iwll add an introduction to the Maine sky and its constellations. Mars Invasion traces the long tradition of human curiosity about Mars and our assault of technology from the Mariner missions in the 1970's to the orbiters and rovers of today. Perhaps the next machines we send there will be human. |
Grades K -1
In this lively participatory program, cartoon characters talk to us as the daytime and nighttime sky are explored. The planetarium host is Zubenelgenubi (Zubee for short), and introduces visitors to the planetarium and the colorful characters enjoying the sky. During the show, the audience is introduced to Tracy the telephone pole, Hydro the hydrant, and a talking Sun and Moon. During the program a point-out of constellations is followed by a story and stormy sky. Students pitch in to help to blow the storm away and the program ends with a peaceful sunrise and new day. We say it like this: ZU-ben-ell-guh-NU-bee |
The attraction of Black Holes is more than just gravitational. These mysterious graveyards of dead stars have fascinated generations. This OmniDome video will filll the dome to take you to and through the event horizons of black holes. Black Holes explores the history, physics, and mystery of black holes. Narrated by actor John de Lancie (“Q” in the Star Trek TV series), this space adventure features rich, expansive panoramas and incorporates several of the latest scientific theories about how black holes are formed and where they are hiding now. Witness the bending of light, the skewing of perception, and the dizzying descent into a black hole. This show incorporates some of the most visually stunning three-dimensional effects ever created for the OmniDome planetarium system. |
Through his stories, the grandfather takes audiences on a dizzying wild canyon ride, to an ice age blizzard with a woolly mammoths, and back in time to where the dinosaurs lived. Each experience begins with a telescope view of the dynamic Earth in stark contrast with the unchanging lunar landscape. Earth’s Wild Ride is like many tales shared by grandparents over the centuries, except “the old country” is really another planet – always visible from the moon base. Produced in collaboration with Rice University, through NASA’s Immersive Earth Project. |
Ages 9 - Adult This holiday season show is now supercharged in a full-dome video version that makes the traditions even brighter! The Season of Light examines origin of the bright and festive traditions still celebrated today. Since pre-history the darkest season of long nights and cold weather have prompted people to look for warmth and hope in the lights of the sky and fires that repel the cold. On the domed sky the reason for the seasons is unveilled and scenes of early cultures show solstice celebrations. Have you wondered how Hanukkah became a holiday of candlelight? How did Romans treat themselves to a mood lift at the winter solstice? What was the famous “star” seen over Bethlehem? |
Follow a teddy bear’s discovery of flight in this delightful adventure especially for ages 4-7. Wilbear’s grandpa uses demonstrations exploring the nature of flight to build up to the story of the Wright Brother’s historic first airplane experience. Grandpa bear captivates audiences with tales of inventions over time from kites and gliders to today’s jet planes. Young Wilbear’s dream comes true when he gets to fly in a real airplane just like his hero Wilbur Wright. |
New Versions of some Classic Shows are now available ! Hubble Vision - same show with eye-popping video of the original imagery Ring World- Saturn and its entourage Up-[REALLY]-Close
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Contact | Star Shows | Public Shows | Field Trips | UMaine | Observatory
Maynard
F. Jordan Planetarium, 5781 Wingate Hall, Orono, ME 04469-5781
Phone:
(207) 581-1341
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