Friday, August 21, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Denise Cook
(706) 379-5237, bdcook@yhc.edu

Young Harris College’s Rollins Planetarium Announces 30th Season

YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. – The Rollins Planetarium of Young Harris College will present seven exciting new shows for the 2009-2010 season as it celebrates its thirtieth year of operation. The season opens tonight with the premiere of “Two Small Pieces of Glass: The Amazing Telescope.” The show will also be presented on the following Friday evenings: Aug. 28, Sept. 4, 18 and 25 and Oct. 2, 16 and 23. “Two Small Pieces of Glass” begins at 8 p.m., and admission is $3 for adults, $2 for students and free with a Young Harris College ID.

Watch as the world’s great telescopes gaze ever further into the distant past – and into our future in "Two Small Pieces of Glass: The Amazing Telescope." Produced to engage and appeal to audiences of all ages, this new full-dome odyssey traces the history of the telescope since its invention, set to an exhilarating soundtrack recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra. From the moons of Jupiter to the rings of Saturn and the structure of galaxies, explore how telescopes have helped us understand our place in space and how they continue to expand our understanding of the cosmos.

“2009 is quite a year to celebrate our anniversary,” said Steve Morgan, director of Rollins Planetarium. “Rollins Planetarium opened its doors in 1979, and exactly 400 years ago, in 1609, an Italian scientist named Galileo made a simple adjustment to a child’s spyglass and revealed for the first time an infinite and perplexing universe to our eyes and imaginations. Now, planetariums across the world are presenting the program “Two Small Pieces of Glass” during the International Year of Astronomy, a global celebration of the telescope and its contributions to society and culture. The aim of the year-long celebration is to stimulate more interest, especially among young people, in astronomy and science,” Morgan said.

Next in the season lineup is the perennial holiday favorite “Season of Light.” This special holiday presentation will be presented on the following Friday evenings at 8 p.m.: Nov. 13, Nov. 20, Dec. 4 and Dec. 11.

Beginning in January, Rollins Planetarium will present “Ice Worlds,” a tour of frozen vista throughout the solar system narrated by two-time Academy Award nominee Emily Watson. This polar adventure will be presented on the following Friday evenings at 8 p.m.: Jan. 15, Jan. 22, Jan. 29, Feb. 12, Feb. 19, Feb. 26 and March 19.

In April, enjoy a new laser light extravaganza, “Comic Laser Concert.” This thrilling out-of-this-world adventure will be presented on the following Friday evenings at 8 p.m.: April 9, April 16 and April 23.

The season closes out next summer with “Stars,” a dramatic new program that explores the powerhouses of the universe and man’s relationship with the night sky. Narrated by Mark Hamill—best known for his portrayal of Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, this stunning, 3D journey will be presented on the following Friday evenings at 8 p.m.: May 14, May 21, June 4, June 18, July 9 and July 16.

The season includes two special performances for children and families. On Friday, Nov. 6 at 8 p.m., Rollins Planetarium will present “The Zula Patrol: Under the Weather,” a roller-coaster ride across the universe with the lovable, wacky cast of alien characters from the award-winning PBS series.

On Friday, March 26, at 8 p.m., “Legends of the Night Sky: Orion” offers a lighthearted and imaginative look at the constellation Orion, bringing the great hunter to life in a fun-filled, laser-animated adventure.

If skies are clear, the Young Harris College Observatory is open immediately after planetarium shows. The observatory features a Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope and is located about. 1.5 miles from campus at Brasstown Valley Resort. Maps are available at the planetarium. Observing sessions last up to one hour and include a guided tour of the constellations. The observatory is open on the same dates as Rollins Planetarium.
Ranked third largest in Georgia by dome size, Rollins Planetarium features a state-of-the-art GOTO Chronos Space Simulator star projector with a state-of-the-art full-dome digital projection system, the Sky-Skan Definiti, in a 40-foot dome theater. It offers public shows and educational opportunities for school groups throughout the year.  Rollins Planetarium is located in the Maxwell Center on the campus of Young Harris College.

For more information about planetarium and observatory events, call (706) 379-5195 or visit www.yhc.edu.

About Young Harris College
Founded in 1886, Young Harris College is a private, baccalaureate degree-granting college located in the beautiful mountains of north Georgia. Historically affiliated with The United Methodist Church, Young Harris College educates, inspires and empowers students through the highest quality liberal arts education. Long known for nurturing students during the first two years of college, Young Harris College received accreditation in 2008 to grant bachelor’s degrees. The College currently has approximately 700 students across four divisions—Fine Arts, Humanities, Mathematics and Science, and Social and Behavioral Science—and plans to increase enrollment to 1,200 over the next few years. The historic campus in Young Harris, Ga., is currently undergoing major campus improvements to accommodate the College’s growth. For more information, visit www.yhc.edu.