Bakersfield College’s William M. Thomas Planetarium will debut a new show on Thursday, October 18 at 7:30 p.m. Dynamic Earth: Exploring Earth’s Climate Engine, by the creators of Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity, explores the innerworkings of the Earth’s climate system.
The one-hour show will begin with a short tour of the evening sky using the planetarium's Goto Chronos star projector followed by the 24-minute all-dome presentation from Denver Museum of Natural Science called Dynamic Earth: Exploring Earth's Climate Engine using the Spitz SciDome projector. Dynamic Earth is narrated by Liam Neeson, and features visualizations based on satellite monitoring data and advanced supercomputer simulations. This cutting-edge production follows a trail of energy that flows from the Sun into the interlocking systems that shape the Earth’s climate: the atmosphere, oceans, and the biosphere. Audiences will ride along on swirling ocean and wind currents, dive into the heart of a monster hurricane, come face-to-face with sharks and gigantic whales, and fly into roiling volcanoes.
Dynamic Earth integrates the physical and biological sciences in exploring the impact of solar and terrestrial energy sources on the climate. Examinations of the Earth-Sun system, plate tectonics, and the carbon cycle are presented as foundational background to the primary focus of the program: the intricate connection between Earth’s energy trails and the environmental systems that shape its climate. Stunning satellite data visualizations, supercomputing simulations, and photorealistic animations are combined to allow the audience unprecedented insights into the inner workings of Earth’s dynamic climate system.
Tickets are $6.50 for adults and $4.50 for students and seniors. To purchase tickets, call the Bakersfield College Ticket Office at 395-4326. Tickets will not be sold at the door. Children must be five years old or older, though the presentation is