Posted 6:51 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011
Retired Physics Professor Bob Allen is back.
[caption id="attachment_7636" align="alignright" width="400" caption="Retired Physics Professor Bob Allen is back behind the console in UW-L's Planetarium. Allen's brought back the popular weekly Public Planetarium Program and Album Encounters. "]
[/caption]
Retired Physics Professor Bob Allen is back.
So are Album Encounters and the monthly Public Planetarium Programs. Allen returned as director of the UW-La Crosse planetarium this fall after a five-year hiatus that saw him still volunteering with the program all but two of those years. The other three, he and his family were living in his native Florida. Back at the helm, Allen has re-started monthly programs in the planetarium, as well as the long-time popular weekly laser and light shows to rock music. Both had been discontinued in 2009 because of budget cuts. Public Planetarium Programs begin at 1 p.m. Saturdays. They begin with a talk on the current evening sky that leads into a multimedia audiovisual presentation. Admission is $2 for students/children and $3 for others.
Fridays, the planetarium rocks with Album Encounters at 8 p.m. Allen started the show in the mid-70s when planetariums throughout the country began doing special effects and laser-light shows to rock music. The show alternates between a current release and a classic. It includes lighting and laser effects, along with images and video clips of the musicians. Admission is $3.
Allen took an interest in the planetarium while doing graduate work at the University of Colorado and the University of Michigan, where the planetarium was part of lab instruction. He also gave public planetarium presentations there. When he came to UW-L (then Wisconsin State University at La Crosse) as an astronomy instructor in 1969, he took over planetarium duties in Cowley Hall. He held the teaching position until 2003, and the planetarium position until 2006.
Both programs are in UW-L’s Planetarium, Room 20 of Cowley Hall. School or private groups may arrange programs by contacting Allen at 608.785.8669 or allen.robe@uwlax.edu. See more at: http://www.uwlax.edu/PLANETARIUM/.
Public Planetarium Programs
1 p.m. Saturdays.
Admission: $2 for students/children; $3 for others.
Programs begin with a talk on the current evening sky, followed by a multimedia audiovisual presentation.
Nov. 12, 19 and 26 — "Ancient Observatories - Legacy In Stone"
Dec. 3, 10, and 17 — "Star Of Wonder"
Feb. 4, 11, 18 and 25 — "Journey To The Stars"
March 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 — "Death Of The Dinosaurs"
April 7,14, 21 and 28 — "Cosmic Colors"
Album Encounters
8 p.m. Fridays
Admission: $3.
Nov. 18 — Black Keys "Brothers"
(No program Nov. 25.)
Dec. 2, 9 and 16 — TBA
Future classics may include: Rolling Stones, The Who, David Bowie, Beatles, Jethro Tull, Queen, Neil Young and Tom Petty.
[/caption]
Retired Physics Professor Bob Allen is back.
So are Album Encounters and the monthly Public Planetarium Programs. Allen returned as director of the UW-La Crosse planetarium this fall after a five-year hiatus that saw him still volunteering with the program all but two of those years. The other three, he and his family were living in his native Florida. Back at the helm, Allen has re-started monthly programs in the planetarium, as well as the long-time popular weekly laser and light shows to rock music. Both had been discontinued in 2009 because of budget cuts. Public Planetarium Programs begin at 1 p.m. Saturdays. They begin with a talk on the current evening sky that leads into a multimedia audiovisual presentation. Admission is $2 for students/children and $3 for others.
Fridays, the planetarium rocks with Album Encounters at 8 p.m. Allen started the show in the mid-70s when planetariums throughout the country began doing special effects and laser-light shows to rock music. The show alternates between a current release and a classic. It includes lighting and laser effects, along with images and video clips of the musicians. Admission is $3.
Allen took an interest in the planetarium while doing graduate work at the University of Colorado and the University of Michigan, where the planetarium was part of lab instruction. He also gave public planetarium presentations there. When he came to UW-L (then Wisconsin State University at La Crosse) as an astronomy instructor in 1969, he took over planetarium duties in Cowley Hall. He held the teaching position until 2003, and the planetarium position until 2006.
Both programs are in UW-L’s Planetarium, Room 20 of Cowley Hall. School or private groups may arrange programs by contacting Allen at 608.785.8669 or allen.robe@uwlax.edu. See more at: http://www.uwlax.edu/PLANETARIUM/.
Public Planetarium Programs
1 p.m. Saturdays.
Admission: $2 for students/children; $3 for others.
Programs begin with a talk on the current evening sky, followed by a multimedia audiovisual presentation.
Nov. 12, 19 and 26 — "Ancient Observatories - Legacy In Stone"
Dec. 3, 10, and 17 — "Star Of Wonder"
Feb. 4, 11, 18 and 25 — "Journey To The Stars"
March 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 — "Death Of The Dinosaurs"
April 7,14, 21 and 28 — "Cosmic Colors"
Album Encounters
8 p.m. Fridays
Admission: $3.
Nov. 18 — Black Keys "Brothers"
(No program Nov. 25.)
Dec. 2, 9 and 16 — TBA
Future classics may include: Rolling Stones, The Who, David Bowie, Beatles, Jethro Tull, Queen, Neil Young and Tom Petty.