So Spacious

By Megan Metzger

published: February 15, 2007

A visit to the planetarium was one of our better school field trips, but even at a young age we found the effects pretty dated. We’re intrigued by laser light shows at planetariums, but aside from discovering that flashing lights synched to Dark Side of the Moon is totally trippy, what are we learning? Linda Hall Library (5109 Cherry), the picturesque and recently expanded science library nestled on the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s campus, boasts a state-of-the-art Cosmology Theatre among its new additions. No, cosmology is not the study of cranberry-vodka martinis; rather, it’s the study of the universe. To further probe this subject, the theater features ViewSpace, a program of the Space Telescope Science Institute, which presents a series of educational shorts about such topics as Mars rovers, Saturn’s moons and Jupiter’s red spot. The theater also shows programs about our own planet in segments called EarthWatch. And Skylines teaches viewers when and where to look for planets, constellations and meteor showers. Admission is free, and the theater is open whenever the library is; call 816-363-4600.
Mondays, 9 a.m.-8:30 p.m.; Tuesdays-Fridays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 2007