Barlow SkyWatch: Northern Lights Adventure
Mind Bending | April 1, 2018
By Alan J Peche, Director, Barlow Planetarium, Photo by Joven Loria, Norway Aurora (March 2018)In March the Barlow participated in an expedition to hunt the aurora in Norway. The trip was truly a once in a lifetime experience and it did not disappoint.
After three airplane trips – Chicago to London, London to Oslo and Oslo to Kerkenes – my family and I embarked on the M/S Nordkapp (“North Cape”). The M/S Nordkapp is the 400-foot long, 65-foot wide, 12,000-ton floating, and highly maneuverable, hotel.
We were very lucky in a couple of ways. First, there was a solar storm that happened just a couple of days earlier and the storm was scheduled to start arriving at Earth on the first night of our voyage. Second, due to the Russell-McPherron effect, where the Earth’s magnetic field weakens around the time of the equinoxes, the night came alive with aurora. After an initial display that just whetted our aurora appetites, we were treated to a second display later in the early morning hours.
Our second night on board, I was scheduled to do a presentation and, at the end of the presentation I was asked a “forecast” question. This question was not unexpected but, northern lights are difficult to predict. I pulled up the latest data and said “I would not be surprised if I took a long exposure right now that they wouldn’t be visible.” Literally, just as I finished my sentence, the Nordkapp’s public address system announced that the northern lights are visible.
All in all, we spent 5 nights above the Arctic Circle, witnessed several awesome northern lights displays, and sailed through incredible scenery.
Visit the Skymaps link under the “Astronomy Resources” link at www.barlowplanetarium.org. Each month, the Barlow Planetarium, Wisconsin’s first major planetarium, provides interesting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) topics for students of all ages.
Astronomy Day 2018
April 21, 2018 | 12:15pm-5:00pm & 7:00-10:30pm
Each spring, with the assistance of the Northeast Wisconsin Stargazers (NEWSTAR), the Barlow Planetarium celebrates all things astronomy and space on Astronomy Day. In addition to having the Barlow’s standard Astronomy Day offerings – specially priced shows, NEWSTAR (Northeast Wisconsin Stargazers) telescope and astronomical displays in the lobby and a full-size replica of a Mercury capsule.
The Barlow is proud to be one of the busiest planetariums of its type in the nation – serving nearly 25,000 students and 10,000 members of the general public each year. Astronomy Day allows us to share our school programming with the general public including Our Place in Space, Solar System Exploration, Orbit and Galactic Quest.
Admission for the afternoon programs will be reduced to match Barlow’s field trip fees: all seats (child, student or adult) will be just $4 for a single show. Additional shows will be just $3 extra. Tickets are available online – however, discounts are only available at the Barlow Box Office!
In the evening the Barlow will offer and expanded version of our popular monthly Family Astronomy Night: Larry Cat in Space and Cosmic Colors will be offered; telescopes will be available to view the Moon and Venus. Similar pricing will be used for the evening program: $4 for a single program and $7 for the double feature.
For a complete schedule and for more information, visit BarlowPlanetarium.org.
