QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PLANETARIUM

How long has there been a planetarium in Macon?

Mark Smith Planetarium has been in operation for over 40 years. The first public show, Meet the Stars, was presented at 4 pm on January 24, 1965, by Dr. Armand Spitz, astronomer and designer of the planetarium's Spitz A3-P star projector.

Who is/was Mark Smith?

Dr. Mark A. Smith (d. 1958) was a Bibb County school superintendent. He was instrumental in organizing the Macon Youth Museum, which later became the Museum of Arts and Sciences.

How many people visit the Planetarium annually?

From July 2004 to June 2005 (the last 12-month period for which we have information), Mark Smith Planetarium received 34,005 visitors, about a third of which were school groups. Admission to public planetarium shows is included with admission to the Museum itself.

What's that big machine in the middle of the room?

The big, mechanical-insect-looking contraption is our star machine, the Minolta MS-10 projector. It can produce up to 4,000 celestial objects and can simulate the sky over any part of Earth at any time in human history. The machine was built in 1970 and installed at Mark Smith Planetarium in 1989.

Why does it look like the room is spinning?

In some of our programs, the stars may appear to move across the sky. It is an illusion, due entirely to the motions of our star projector. This is often done to simulate the passage of time, or a voyage through space. Some visitors swear they can feel the room moving. But everything remains fixed to the ground during the entire show. All 118 chairs are bolted to the floor, and at no time does the room rotate. If you close your eyes, you will feel no sensation of moving whatsoever.

Why are there red lights in the hallway?

White light, such as we get from the sun or an ordinary light bulb, can be disruptive to night vision. Our eyes take about 20 minutes to become fully adapted to darkness. If a stray light comes into view, we have to start all over! Red lights, however, do not interfere with night vision. This is the reason taillights on cars are red. Red lights allow us to see well enough to walk around safely, without ruining our dark-adaptedness. So that is why we use red lights in the Planetarium and Observatory.

Do you make up these shows?

Mostly, no. Our programs are developed by other planetariums, by companies that specialize in planetarium show production, and by other sources. When we purchase a show, we receive a "show kit" which may contain slides, a CD soundtrack, a DVD with video clips, and any other materials necessary to present the show. Then, we spend several weeks or even months adapting the show to our particular venue. Each planetarium has its own unique configuration of star projection, seating layout, slide & video capability, and special effects. Once we settle on a program arrangement that we like, we can present it to the public.

Some of our shows are produced "in-house". Examples of these include live programs such as Sky Over Macon and Tour the Solar System.

Why is the planetarium sometimes closed?

Approximately every nine weeks, the Planetarium is closed for two or three days at a time to perform regular maintenance and prepare for new shows. We are genuinely sorry if that is the one day you happened to be driving through town! Typically, the Planetarium will be closed on a Wednesday and a Thursday and will re-open on that Friday with an all-new show. Be sure to keep track of our schedule to be aware of our upcoming closings.

Are you bringing back the laser light music shows?

At various times in the past, we have presented laser light shows. The equipment used in these shows is quite expensive, and we do not presently have a complex laser system of our own. It is possible to rent equipment. We may do this in the future, or even purchase a system of our own, but nothing is confirmed at this point.

Can I volunteer?

Interested individuals are welcome to volunteer at the Planetarium and/or Observatory. Please email us at planetarium@masmacon.com

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MUSEUM OBSERVATORY

What kinds of telescopes do you have?

We have a wide variety of telescopes at the Museum Observatory. Our most commonly-used models are three Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrains, with 8-, 10-, and 14-inch diameter mirrors. Other instruments on-site include a 10-inch Newtonian, a 17-inch Dobsonian, and a nice pair of 20×80 binoculars.

I don't believe what I'm seeing! Did you put a fake picture on the other end of the telescope when I wasn't looking?

No.

What's the magnification of your telescopes?

Magnification depends upon the type of eyepiece used. Eyepieces on our telescopes are interchangeable, so the magnification can vary from 50× to 650×. Generally, eyepieces of a smaller focal length will yield a higher magnification, but with a narrower field of view and a murkier image. A common misconception is that high-power magnification is always the most desireable quality to obtain. This is not always true. Many objects in the sky actually look better with a lower power of magnification.

Objects through the telescope don't look like the pictures in my science book. Why do some things look fuzzy, even in a telescope?

The pictures in your science book are time-exposure photographs. The eye of a camera is very different from the eye of a human. A camera's shutter can be opened for several minutes, or even hours, during which time a copious amount of light can be collected from even a dim source to produce a highly detailed image. Our eyes just don't work that way, so some things will look fuzzy in even the largest telescopes.

Will I get to see a satellite tonight?

For you to see a satellite, three things have to happen. First of all, it has to pass overhead. Secondly, it must do this at a time when the sky is dark enough so you can see it against the background (i.e., nighttime). Finally, when it passes by, it must move out of Earth's shadow to be seen. Satellites shine by reflected sunlight, so if it doesn't get sunlight, you can't see it!

The best times to look for satellites are a couple of hours after sunset or a couple of hours before sunrise. The website Heavens Above can help you predict the times that satellites will pass over.

Satellites seen regularly from the Observatory include the International Space Station, the Space Shuttle, the Hubble Space Telescope, Russian Cosmos rockets, and Iridium "flares".

Can you show me my "sign?"

Sure. But we are here to educate people about astronomy, not astrology. If there is some magical power that allows people to predict the future by reading "signs" in the stars, it has nothing to do with science.

Even so, there are still many, many interesting things to see up there. In summer, you may catch a glimpse of the Lagoon Nebula in Sagittarius, or the globular star cluster M4 in Scorpius (not "Scorpio"). In winter, look in the constellation Taurus for the famous Pleiades, or in Cancer to find the Beehive Cluster.

How do you know the names of all those stars?

Experience. If you study anything long enough, it starts to become familiar to you. The same stars return year after year, like old friends, and the planets also move in patterns which become clear to the experienced observer. A stargazer was once asked how he knew that a certain bright point high in the sky was the planet Jupiter. He replied, "Because it was there last week!"

I saw a telescope for $50. Should I buy it?

We would be highly skeptical of a new telescope being offered at that price. To be useful as an astronomical tool, a telescope requires much more light-gathering ability than what is typically found in cheap, discount-store models. Such an instrument might be able to see the moon, maybe a planet or two, but not much else in the night sky.

Your $50 might be better spent on a nice dinner on Friday evening, after which you can go to the Museum Observatory to look through some "real" telescopes for free. Museum staff will be here to give you ample advice on purchasing a telescope.

Should I look at the sun?

Absolutely not! You should never look at the sun, except with special astronomical equipment. Sunglasses are not "special astronomical equipment," even if they're imported from Switzerland and cost $300 at the mall.

The Museum Observatory occasionally offers public viewing of sunspots. Our telescope is equipped with a special glass solar filter that blocks more than 99.9% of the incoming sunlight. But looking at the sun through an ordinary telescope or binoculars can damage the optics and incinerate your eyes. Don't do it!

GENERAL SPACE QUESTIONS

How big is [your favorite planet]?

There is an excellent website, The Nine Planets, which should answer nearly all your questions about the planets in our solar system, including diameters, distances from the Sun, numbers of moons, chemical compositions, who discovered what, and much, much more.

Will Mars appear the size of the full moon in August?

No. This is only an email rumor.

Earth and Mars orbit the sun, Earth somewhat closer than Mars. Because Earth is closer, it orbits the sun faster. About every other year, Earth "catches up" to Mars, and overtakes it. At the moment this happens, Mars is said to be "at opposition" (because it appears directly opposite the sun in our sky). At such a time, the two planets reach a minimum distance of separation, averaging roughly 50 million miles.

Because neither planets' orbit is a perfect circle, some oppositions are closer than others. On August 27, 2003, Earth and Mars were a mere 35 million miles apart, the closest approach in human history. While the Red Planet was indeed a stunning sight during this time, its apparent size was nowhere near that of the full moon. Rather, it looked like a very bright reddish star.

A circulating email began in 2003 (and has somehow returned every August since), implying that Mars would appear as large as the full moon. At no time, in our past or future, will Mars ever appear that big as seen from Earth. The next close approach will be on December 24, 2007. While it won't be quite as close as the 2003 pass, it'll still look roughly the same to casual observers.

Why did they decide Pluto is no longer a planet?

It was misclassified. That is the short answer.

Now, for the long answer. When Pluto was first discovered in 1930, it was hailed as the "ninth planet". Even from the start, it was recognized as an "oddball" of the solar system. First of all, it had an unusual orbit. Most planets orbit the sun in an orderly fashion, sweeping out nearly-circular paths, and staying more-or-less in line with the sun's rotation. But Pluto has more of a surfboard-shaped orbit, which takes it far "above" and "below" the other planets' orbits, and occasionally even brings it inside of Neptune's orbit. Pluto is also much smaller than the other eight planets, and has a different physical composition (being made of ice, rather than rock or gas like the others). In spite of these irregularities, Pluto was readily accepted as a planet by scientists, the public, and popular culture.

Yet, in 1930, humans knew very little about the true nature of the outer solar system. As it turns out, Pluto was only the first discovery... in an entire class of previously-unknown objects. Over 1,000 of these objects have now been documented (including at least one larger than Pluto itself). There may be thousands (or even millions) more remaining to be found. Collectively, they are known as the "Kuiper Belt", named for the Dutch-American astronomer Gerard Kuiper, who theorized their existence decades before observations confirmed them en masse.

Generally, these Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs) have not been regarded as "planets", but they do seem to share many traits with Pluto, including chemical composition and orbital characteristics. Most astronomers agree that if Pluto had been discovered in the present-day, it would never have been called a planet, but rather would simply have been catalogued as a larger-than-average KBO. Knowing what we know now, should we continue calling Pluto a planet?

Think of it this way: imagine that you have a box of pencils, and one red crayon. Whenever you finish using the red crayon, you put it away in the pencil box, because you don't know where else to put it. This is no problem to you; after all, crayons and pencils do have some things in common: they're long and skinny, and they make marks on paper. Why not keep them together? Then one day, you are given an entire box of crayons. What will you do with the red one now? Will you continue storing it in the pencil box, or will you keep it in the crayon box? Pluto is sort of like the red crayon. It just doesn't belong with the planets (pencils). It belongs with its fellow KBOs (crayons).

In 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) issued a statement officially recognizing eight planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. The Museum of Arts and Sciences strives to be consistent with standards set by the IAU, and our exhibits and programming will reflect these new standards.

Did they find a tenth planet?

No. In 2005, a Kuiper Belt Object was found, that was larger than Pluto. Bearing the numerical designation 2003 UB₃₁₃, and nicknamed "Xena", after the television show about a mythical warrior princess, it captured worldwide attention, and brought the Pluto debate to a head. Would our solar system now have eight planets, or nine, or ten? But in the same 2006 meeting that "demoted" Pluto, it was determined that Xena is not a planet either, for the same reasoning that applied to Pluto (see above). Shortly after the meeting, Xena was given a permanent name: Eris, after the Greek goddess of discord. Perhaps this is fitting, considering the hotly-debated controversy sparked by its discovery.

Is there a Planet X?

Most likely, no.

For much of the 20th century, people speculated about the existence of a massive "Planet X" beyond the orbit of Pluto. They believed this planet, with its gravitational influence, would account for some curious deviations in the predicted orbit of Neptune. Neptune itself was discovered by studying unexpected deviations in the motions of Uranus, so the search for Planet X may have seemed a logical step. Yet, the planet has never been found.

In 1989, Voyager 2 flew by Neptune, and was able to give scientists a more accurate figure for its mass. Once this updated mass was plugged into the old calculations, the predicted orbit for Neptune matched up with its observed motion in the sky. So the mystery was solved, with no need to invoke a fictitious Planet X.

What is a shooting star/falling star?

First of all, it is not a star! We prefer to call them meteors. A meteor is the bright flash of light that you see when a piece of space rock is vaporized by the heat of friction as it enters Earth's atmosphere. The meteors you see are typically travelling more than 100,000 miles an hour, and vaporize about 60 miles above the ground.

Most meteors are tiny, the size of pebbles, and are quite harmless. Occasionally, a piece comes along which is large enough that a portion remains intact all the way to the ground. The resulting rock is called a meteorite.

Could a killer comet/asteroid/meteor strike Earth?

Yes, and at some point in the future, one almost certainly WILL. However, it will probably not happen until many, many years after all of us are long gone. The best scientific evidence tells us that no known asteroids will threaten the Earth within the next 1,000 years.

What would happen if the Sun exploded?

Don't worry about it! It's not going to happen. Our sun is not the type of star that explodes. Only the largest stars in the universe have enough material in them to induce a supernova explosion. Such stars have life expectancies of only a few million years, and the Sun is an estimated five billion years old. So in short: if it was going to explode, it would've happened already.

The sun will eventually stop shining, as all stars do, when it runs out of hydrogen fuel. However this will be a slow, gradual demise, and will take place billions of years in the future.

If the planets lined up, would there be earthquakes?

Earthquakes are no more likely to happen when planets are lined up, than at any other time. First of all, the planets in their present orbits will never line up in a perfect "straight line", and even if they did, their combined gravitational pull would still be too weak to cause us any harm. The gravitational force between two objects is extremely weak if the two objects are far apart, and the distances between planets are quite vast. Even the mightiest planet, Jupiter, exerts a gravitational pull on Earth less than a hundredth that of our comparatively puny moon.

Over the years, various individuals have cited planetary alignments as triggers for earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, crime waves, and general worldwide mayhem. Through books, TV appearances, and Internet websites, they have predicted Earth's demise again and again. Each time, the predicted "doomsday" has passed without incident, as virtually the entire astronomical community suspected it would.

Can the Hubble Space Telescope spy on my backyard?

Probably. Its resolution is detailed enough to count the ice cubes in your tea... from 368 miles up in space. But telescope time on Hubble is very valuable. There are countless projects waiting to be carried out, each one more important than learning dirty little secrets about people on Earth. Besides, there are other satellites in orbit, which can spy on you much more cheaply and easily.

 

I saw an advertisement for a company that will let me name my own star. How does that work?

To begin with, you should know that the International Astronomical Union (IAU) is the only organization that has the authority to issue "official" names to celestial objects, and they do not "sell" star-naming privileges to individuals, at any price.

Various companies claim to let you "name a star" after yourself or a loved one, but the name has absolutely no validity or recognition outside of the company that prints the certificate. Competing companies may even conceivably "sell" the same star to two different customers. You might as well give the money to us... a member of our staff could print out a pretty little certificate on a computer that says the star belongs to you. You can even frame it. Sounds fishy, doesn't it?*

The truth is, all the stars belong to all of us: rich and poor, young and old, no matter where we live or what we believe. They are not for sale, but are there for everyone to enjoy. We do not sell star-naming kits in our Museum Store, nor do we recommend them for any purpose beyond a novelty gift.

* We do not actually offer this service. Please don't ask. 

Your program says that the solar system formed out of a cloud of gas and dust. Didn't God make the universe?

We've saved this question for last. With our programming, we try to present scientific theory as accurately as possible, without offending anyone's religious convictions. The purpose of science is to develop the best possible explanations for observations in nature, based on the evidence at hand. Science is certainly not a quest to "kill God", and many people successfully embrace both science and faith.

For all we know, some things in life may be attributable to divine intervention. If so, then such a miraculous act is by definition something beyond the realm of science, and therefore it is not the place of science to comment. All we can do is present the facts. Whether or not there is any grand design behind it all, is something we leave to the viewer to decide.

Prepared by Toby Click, Curator, Mark Smith Planetarium