An International line-up of over 50 digital planetarium films will be showcased at ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center’s first Fulldome Film Festival, October 5 to 10, 2010.
    “We are very excited to host this international fulldome film festival in Hilo,” says Shawn Laatsch planetarium manager, “this will showcase the passion and artistry of the digital technology in the planetarium industry.  Endorsed by the International Planetarium Society this will be the largest planetarium film festival in the world.”
    The festival is a unique chance for planetarium and museum professionals from around the world to preview and evaluate the latest content available for digital planetarium theaters.  It will showcase a variety of production types including CGI (computer generated imagery), time-lapse photography, and full dome videography.  
     Join us in celebrating the cutting edge digital imagery from the industry professionals.  All access passes available, contact the front desk for details. 808-969-9703.  Entry admission is required for all planetarium shows.  Daily admission rates apply, choice of show is by availability.  Members benefits apply for up to 3 shows per day, extra show fees apply after, chioce of show is by availability.  

 

Click here for the Festival Show Schedule
 

A Traveler’s Guide to Mars
Get ready for an immersive space journey! Soar through a high-definition Martian landscape on a guided tour of the once-mysterious surface of Mars. This show takes place in the future as the audience joins a human expedition that is in search of evidence that life may have had the opportunity to gain a foothold on the once watery planet.  It highlights some of the Mars-like places on Earth and the similarity in these features give clues as to where humans should search for evidence of past life.  Producer:  Buhl Planetarium at Carnegie Science Center - based on the book “A Traveler’s Guide to Mars.” by noted planetary scientist Dr. William Hartmann. 22  minutes.

Ancient Skies
Ancient Skies explores the emerging science of Archeo-astronomy. Utilizing the Megalithic civilization of Britain as its principal template, the film poses two questions: Did our ancestors develop advanced astronomical skills, and did they construct some of their monuments accordingly? Combining groundbreaking image acquisition and presentation, contributions from some of the most respected researchers in the field, and a rigorous scientific methodology, ANCIENT SKIES will be an inspiring, illuminating and thought provoking journey into a subject that has for centuries aroused fury, wild speculation, reverence, awe. Producer: Grant Wakefield & Glenn Smith. 14 minutes.

Astronomyths: Where the Sky Ends, the Myth Begins
The universe is a circle, and everything in it revolves; every single End, finds an equal Beginning and together the whole world goes round and round forever and ever. The universe of ASTRONOMYTHS is no different. ASTRONOMYTHS will playfully circle around your consciousness, taking you into an upward spiral flight through light and sound, which will dazzle your senses and explode your knowledge, until it ultimately changes the way you are able to look up into the night sky forever. It’s a digital planetarium show that blends modern astronomy with the ancient Greek mythology after which each constellation visited, was named after.  Producer: White Tower Media, Inc.  24 minutes.

Astronomy: 3,000 Years of Stargazing
The sky, and everything that happens in it, has always piqued our curiosity. Eclipses, the regular cycle of the seasons, and the motion of the stars have fascinated us since our earliest ancestors looked up to the sky. In the learned company of a cartoon Einstein, this show takes audiences on a tour of the major astronomical milestones of the last 3,000 years -- from the cosmological models of antiquity, through the Ptolemaic system of epicycles, to the contributions of Copernicus, Newton, Hubble and many others. We explore the discoveries made possible by the use of technology -- from the first telescope used by Galileo -- to modern ones in use on Earth and in space. All have revealed the beauty of the cosmos. Come along for an exploration of nebulae, pulsars, and black holes and 3,000 years of astronomy exploration. Producers: Antares FullDome Productions in cooperation with Loch Ness Productions. 34 minutes."

ASTRONAUT
The exploration of space is the greatest endeavour that humankind has ever undertaken. What does it take to be part of this incredible journey? What does it take to become an astronaut? Experience a rocket launch from inside the body of an astronaut. Explore the amazing worlds of inner and outer space, from floating around the International Space Station to maneuvering through microscopic regions of the human body. Discover the perils that lurk in space as we subject ‘Chad’, our test astronaut, to everything that space has to throw at him.  Producer: NSC Creative.  23 minutes

Attack of the Space Pirates
Clark Planetarium Productions presents its first action adventure space show, one that is sure to appeal to mid-elementary aged children, families and adults. "Attack of the Space Pirates” takes visitors on a race through the galaxy in search of hidden treasure of a different kind. But they're not alone!  The show is rendered in a stunning photo-realistic style, one that will not only transport you into the stars, but to the very edge of the galaxy itself. Embark on a thrilling sci-fi adventure that has something for everyone: alien planets, exploding stars, black holes, evil villains and a series of space battles that will put you into the middle of the action!  Includes one of the best sound effects tracks ever done for us by George Lucas’ Skywalker Sound.  Producer: Clark Planetarium Productions. 35 minutes.

Awesome Light:  Seeing the Invisible
How do we see the invisible? By looking using different kinds of eyes!  Seeing the Invisible takes the audience to Maunakea and the radio and submillimeter observatories located there.  In this episode we see the remnants a comet collision with Jupiter using the SMA, fly into the heart of our Milky Way Galaxy an see gas flows there from JCMT, study star formation in the Whirlpool Galaxy from CSO, and explore at the largest black hole and jet in the Universe with the VLBA.  The program uses dramatic footage of each of these observatories and displays their science results in spectacular 3D.   Producer: Imiloa Astronomy Center & Sky Skan, Inc. 23 minutes.

Awesome Light:  Giant Mirrors on the Mountain
Hawaiians care for Maunakea as an elder and a sacred place that connects them to their place of origins. Astronomers from around the world care for Maunakea as a place to search for knowledge – it is here that the world’s most renowned observatories seek to understand the great questions of the universe.  See how Subaru Observatory studies distant solar systems – stars and planets that may be similar to our own. Learn how Gemini watched the death of a star in a far-off galaxy to understand how the universe seeds elements that form the building blocks of all matter.  Marvel at CFHT’s Legacy Survey that has mapped many thousands of galaxies to figure out how structure in the universe was created. Explore a massive black hole at the center of our galaxy as viewed by W.M. Keck Observatory. The program is presented in 3D.  Producer: 'Imiloa Astronomy Center & Sky Skan, Inc. 24 minutes.

Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity
There's a place from which nothing escapes, not even light, where time and space literally come to an end. Black holes exert their force on our imaginations in this visually stunning show, which allows us to fly through wormholes, experience the creation of the Milky Way galaxy, and witness the death of a star. See how astronomers are using advanced telescopes to probe the mysteries of these objects. Cross the cosmic threshold to experience the irresistible pull of Black Holes! Producer: Denver Museum of Natural History & Spitz, Inc. 23 minutes.

Bugs! A Rainforest Adventure (3D)
Get a view of the fascinating universe of insects magnified up to 250,000 times their normal size in A Rainforest Adventure - Bugs! Become immersed in a miniature world, where a leaf weighs as much as a car and a single raindrop can quench the largest thirst. Highlighting the extraordinary world of insects, A Rainforest Adventure - Bugs! focuses on the life cycles of a praying mantis and a butterfly from their birth to their inevitable encounter in the tropical rainforest of Southeast Asia, where predator meets prey. Narrated by Dame Judi Dench.  Produced by Principal Large Format and SK Films, Transformed from giant-screen film by Sky-Skan, Inc. 40 minutes

Cosmic Collisions
From subatomic particles to the largest galaxies, cosmic collisions are a universal force of nature. Creative and destructive, dynamic and dazzling, collisions have resulted in many things we take for granted — the glowing Moon, the Sun's warmth and light, our changing seasons, waves washing up on a sandy shore. They've ended the age of the dinosaurs and changed the very map of the cosmos, reforming galaxies and giving birth to new stars and new worlds. Cosmic Collisions, provides an unprecedented and extraordinary view of these catastrophic and constructive events that have shaped our world and our universe. Producer: American Museum of Natural History, New York, in collaboration with the Denver Museum of Nature & Science; GOTO Inc., Tokyo, Japan; and the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, China. 18 minutes.

Cosmic Journey: A Solar System Adventure
Volcanoes tower 80,000 feet above a barren surface. Monstrous hurricanes rage for 400 years and multicolored rings hover suspended in space. Amazingly sharp and detailed, each scene you experience is based on scientific fact.” In Cosmic Journey: A Solar System Adventure, travel through our solar system at many times the speed of light as we look for signs of life and take in the wonders of the planets and their moons. Written by James Manning, this show is primarily for school audiences but is appropriate for all ages. Producer: Denver Museum of Nature & Science. 25 minutes.

Dawn of the Space Age
Re-live the excitement of the early days of space exploration, from the launch of the first artificial satellite to the magnificent lunar landings.  Be immersed and overwhelmed with this most accurate historic reconstruction of man’s first steps into space.  Who were these men and women that took part in these death-defying endeavors?  Witness their drive, their passion, and their perseverance to explore.  Produced by Mirage IIID. 41 minutes.

Darwin and his Fabulous Orchids
This show presents the fascinating world of evolution biology. It is an introduction to the largest and most varied family of plants on earth and to the life and work of Mr. Charles Darwin, who carried out intensive research on this family of plants. The story about Charles Darwin, his botany research and the evolution theory moreover has been packed into a stunning world of animated origami paper, and has recently been awarded with the international IF communication design award 2010.  Producers: Ralph Heinsohn – Tilt Pictures, Kiel Planetarium, and the Botanic Gardens Kiel, Germany. Funding by Volkswagen Foundation. 42 minutes.

Earth, Moon , and Sun
Why do the Sun, Moon, and stars seem to move across the sky?  Why are different evening star patterns visible at different times of the year?   Why does the Moon seem to change shape from time to time?  Children and adults alike are often confused by these and other basic astronomical phenomena.  This show tackles fundamental misconceptions surrounding eclipses, lunar phases, why the Moon is sometimes visible during daytime, how the Sun generates its energy, and more.  Audiences then journey to the Moon with the Apollo astronauts. Created specifically to complement elementary Earth science learning objectives, this fun fulldome show is appropriate for school audiences, as well as general audiences with young children.  Producer: Morehead Planetarium & Science Center.  27 minutes

Egypt: Secrets of the Mummies
Journey to the royal tombs of Egypt and explore the history of ancient Egyptian society as told through the mummies of the past.  The film follows explorers and scientists as they piece together the archeological and genetic clues of Egyptian mummies, and provides audiences with a window into the fascinating and mysterious world of the pharaohs.  To unwrap the secrets of the mummies is to perhaps glimpse the future of our own civilization. Produced by Arabella Cecil, Don Kempf, Steve Kempf. 40 minutes

EM Eyes- A Universe of Secrets
Why would most of the universe be hidden from us? Don't we have our eyes to see it?  Two hundred years ago, William Herschel made a discovery that changed history. Beyond the light, our eyes can see lies something bigger, something just as real but invisible to our human eyes.  EM Eye - A Universe of Secrets maps out the full electromagnetic spectrum, examines why humans can only see from red to violet, and presents some of the amazing discoveries made since our species ventured beyond our own limited vision. We have a new set of eyes gazing out on to the universe, and they have revealed wonders stranger than we could possibly have imagined. Producer: Starlight Studio LLC. 45 minutes

Forces of Nature
Closer Than You’d Ever Want To Be! Witness the awesome power and the unimaginable destruction of explosive volcanoes, ground-buckling earthquakes, and deadly tornadoes as you head into the field with scientists who risk their lives exploring the origins and behaviors of these fearsome natural disasters. Venture to the brink of an erupting volcano on the Caribbean island of Montserrat. Crisscross the Midwest’s infamous “Tornado Alley” with storm-chasers racing to unlock the secrets of monster twisters.
Discover how the history of massive, city-leveling earthquakes in Turkey is helping scientists predict where and when the next quake will strike. It’s a spectacular, up-close glimpse of the Earth’s most destructive forces! Narrated by Kevin Bacon.  Producer: National Geographic and Graphic Films, Inc., Transformed from giant-screen film by Sky-Skan, Inc.  40 minutes

Fragile Planet
Travel 120 million light years to rediscover home! Earth, our only know haven for life, inhabits a special place in the cosmos.  Sigourney Weaver guides us on an immersive excursion that will inspire a new perspective on our home world.  After a close-up look at Earth, we visit planets and moons in our solar system in search of hide-outs for life, and then venture outward to exo-planets and beyond.  This visually intense program uses the latest visualization techniques to weave together observed data, including high resolution satellite and spacecraft imagery, terrain maps, and pinpoint positioning of stars, exo-planets and galaxies. Producer: Morrison Planetarium at the California Academy of Sciences in collaboration with NCSA and SCISS AB. 30 minutes.

Galileo: The Power of the Telescope
Two eyes and two pieces of glass revolutionized human understanding 400 years ago. The eyes belonged to Galileo Galilei, and the curved pieces of glass were the lenses of his telescope. Audiences will learn Galileo's personal and powerful story, and explore how his discoveries displaced long-held views about the universe. Travel back in time to Pisa, Italy, to experience Galileo’s early experiments with gravity and the laws of motion, his advocacy of the idea that the Earth revolves around the sun (still an absurd notion to many in the 1600’s), and his work with early telescopes. Learn how his keen observations culminated in The Starry Messenger, an early masterpiece in which Galileo described all his dazzling discoveries in a straightforward, easy to understand way. Narrated by Dava Sobel, author of the award-winning biography Galileo's Daughter. . Producer:  Daniel M. Soref Planetarium. 24 minutes.

HAYABUSA: Back to the Earth
On May 9, 2003, the Japanese space probe HAYABUSA was launched atop a M-V Launch Vehicle on a mission to return a sample from the asteroid Itokawa.  However, as the 2 billion kilometer mission went on, more and more technical challenges faced the tiny probe.  Yet it eventually landed on the asteroid, and after more amazing work by earth-based scientists and engineers, it returned to earth on June 13, 2010.  This is the inspiring story of that “little spaceship that could!” Producer: Hiromitsu Kohsaka/GOTO Inc.  43 minutes.
 

In My Backyard
Join Fred Penner from TV's Nickelodeon as he explores things large and small:   from the colors of the rainbow, to reasons for the seasons and the stars at night.  In My Backyard is especially designed for the youngest stargazers. Producer: Christiana  Unaeze & Coca-Cola Space Science Center. 30 minutes.

Invaders of Mars!
Under the care of Emmy award-winning space artist, Don Davis, this beautifully crafted show highlights our ongoing exploration of Mars.  We explore the Martian surface as seen by Earth’s various spacecraft “invaders” and use the data gathered to explore the red planet as only CGI can.  We emerge with a new perspective on the red planet Mars.  Includes an optional five-minute end sequence of stereo imagery. Narrated by Tom Baker, of the BBC’s Dr. Who television series.  Winner of four Telly Awards.  Producer: Evans and Sutherland, Inc. 25 Minutes.

Journey to the Stars
Featuring extraordinary images from telescopes on the ground and in space and stunning, never-before-seen visualizations of physics-based simulations, the dazzling new Journey to the Stars launches visitors through space and time to experience the life and death of the stars in our night sky, including our own nurturing Sun. Guided by narrator Whoopi Goldberg, tour familiar stellar formations, explore new celestial mysteries, and discover the fascinating, unfolding story that connects us all to the stars. Those who come along for the journey may never see the night sky in the same way again. Producer: American Museum of Natural History, New York in collaboration with the California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco; GOTO INC, Tokyo, Japan; Papalote Museo del Niño, Mexico City, Mexico and Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.  24 minutes.

Kalouka'hina- The Enchanted Reef
Uniting an intriguing plot about an endangered reef together with lovable and quirky characters, as well as environmentalist concerns, Kaluoka‘hina, The Enchanted Reef is an exciting adventure, packed with humor, sprinkled with conservationism, as well as educational flavor: a treat for the entire family, which shows in a poetic way how our life on earth depends on the universe. Producer: Softmachine GmbH. 32 minutes.

Legends of the Night Sky:  Perseus and Andromeda
A humorous and well-paced animated production of the classical Greek myths associated with the Fall Sky.  Watch how Perseus, the son of Zeus,  grows up to become a great warrior, slews the evil Medusa, rescues Andromeda from Cetus, the sea monster and unwittingly fulfills ancient prophecy.  This popular story was first produced for laser display, receiving rave reviews from audiences of all ages.  Producer: Audio Visual Imagineering, Inc. 20 minutes.

Magic Tree House® Space Mission
Jack and Annie from the best-selling Magic Tree House® children's book series guide audiences in this original adventure.  They embark upon a fun-filled journey in their magical tree house and learn wondrous secrets of the Sun, the Moon, planets, and beyond.  During their adventure, Jack and Annie meet an astronaut, visit an observatory, and travel into outer space.  This show is written by Will Osborne, co-author of Space, the non-fiction companion and research guide to the Magic Tree House® book Midnight on the Moon. Producer: Morehead Planetarium & Science Center.  29 minutes

Moonwalk
Moonwalk is an experimental, poetic film with its focus on astronomical themes.  Its expansive scope, and the somatic presence of the space to create a rare science-art film that explores the Moon in all its aspects. It is a work about the Moon in human thought, spirituality, and achievement. The stories of the Moon take us across history and cultures, introducing us to great literature, science, poetry, and music. There are extraordinary images of fantasy and of a beautifully stark reality. There are as many views of the Moon, from all imaginable cultures and times, as there are craters on its surface. Producer: Clea T. Waite. 22 minutes.

Natural Selection
Join the young Charles Darwin on an adventurous voyage of exploration circumnavigating the World on the HMS Beagle.
It was a time in which life's most eloquent mechanism was still unknown: How could new species arise to replace those lost in extinction? It was time for someone to come forth with a Naturalist explanation of this Mystery of Mysteries.  Allow Darwin himself to reveal this simple and most beautiful mechanism that explains the evolution of all life on Earth: Natural Selection, the single most wonderful idea anyone has ever had...  Produced by Mirage IIID. 41 minutes.

Nine Planets and Counting
How many planets are there? Nine? Eight? Ten? Twelve? Audiences want to know, or they wouldn't keep asking the same question every day!  Nine Planets and Counting presents the continuing debate in an open-ended manner. What is the definition of a planet? How many are there? The show includes a tour of the solar system utilizing spectacular photographs, exciting new discoveries beyond Pluto, and writing that won't be outdated next week. Producer: Sudekum Planetarium.  35 Minutes.

One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure
The fun begins on Sesame Street when Elmo's friend, Hu Hu Zhu, visits from China. Big Bird, Elmo and Hu Hu Zhu take viewers on an exciting discovery of the Sun, Moon, and stars, learn about the Big Dipper, and take an imaginary trip to the Moon. When Elmo and Hu Hu Zhu imagine themselves back on Earth, they celebrate the idea that even though they live in two different countries, they still share the same sky. The program was funded by the National Science Foundation. Producers: Adler Planetarium and Sesame Workshop. 23 minutes

Origins of Life
This show deals with some of the most profound questions of life science: the origin of life and the human search for life beyond Earth. Starting with the Big Bang, in chronological order, the show deals with prebiotic chemistry, the formation of stars and solar systems, and the first life on Earth.  It covers the great extinctions as well as our search for life beyond planet Earth.  Narrated by Lord Robert Winston.   Produced by Mirage IIID. 23 minutes.

Our Living Climate
An engaging primer about the history of climate change on planet Earth that explores how complex the climate systems is, the atmosphere’s ability to sustain life, and similarities and differences between Earth and other planets in our solar system.  Visually dramatic and documentary in style, it immerses us in the story of Earth’s climate travelling though time to view the dependent interaction between climate and life during the evolution of our planet.  A mass extinction, ice-age, and industrial revolution are described in detail.   This show helps audiences understand how scientists study constant climate change, and how we as humans have the opportunity to impact the climate, for better or worse.  Producer: Melbourne Planetarium at the Scienceworks Museum.  28 minutes.

Our Place in Space
While solving a crossword puzzle about the sky, endangered animals explore the cause of day and night, the importance of our star the Sun, the beauty of the constellations, and the variety of objects that make up the Universe.  Join Scarlet McCaw as she journeys around the world to solve a clues learning about astronomical concepts.  Producer: Sudekum Planetarium.  32 Minutes.

Realm of Light
With astonishing, never-seen-before full dome images, REALM OF LIGHT takes us on an amazing journey through space and time, telling the story of life and its evolution from the Big Bang until the modern age of man.  REALM OF LIGHT is a poetic and phenomenal adventure underscored with breathtaking music and sound effects - it is a truly unique full dome experience for the whole family that will amaze and inspire people of all ages. Producer: Softmachine GmbH. 24 minutes.

Rendez-vous
Tells the story of 2 astronauts, one European woman and one Russian man, sent to the moon for a special mission on December 31st 2028. They take any opportunity to teach the audience a clear, concise and understandable speech about the moon phenomena, how the moon does affect our lives on earth, the efforts the men have done to conquer it, and much more.  Some spectacular visual effects were used so the audience could take full advantage of the fulldome format. Producers: Montpellier Agglomeration (Montpellier County) and Cité de l’Espace de Toulouse.  30 minutes.

Sea Monsters 3D: A Prehistoric Adventure
Journey 80 million years back in time to an age when mighty dinosaurs dominated the land—and an equally astonishing assortment of ferocious creatures swarmed, hunted, and fought for survival beneath the vast, mysterious prehistoric seas.  Stunning photo-realistic imagery re-creates the perilous underwater realm of two young, dolphin-sized marine reptiles called Dolichorhynchops, or Dollies, and follows their incredible journey through waters ruled by some of the most awesome predators ever to prowl the Earth’s oceans. Producers: Lisa Truitt and Jini Durr. 40 minutes.

Solar Storms: A Tale of Twin Spacecraft
From Earth, the Sun cannot be looked at with human eyes. Solar Storms gives the audience the opportunity to see the Sun up close. Stand above the arctic circle and witness the most brilliant auroras on Earth; take a ride on a solar blast from Sun’s surface to Earth Magnetosphere, and come to a deeper understanding of what this vast sea of fire means to life here on Earth.  Originated for giant screen format, this fulldome version was produced by accessing the original 3D animation, adding spherical stereo cameras and re-rendering each scene to take full advantage of the fulldome environment.  Developed with the assistance of NASA and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.  Producer:  Melrae Pictures in association with Sky-Skan and K2 Communications. 20 minutes

Space Opera
Space Opera is a virtual interplanetary journey, realized with a CG "spherical rendering" technology, and presented in a standard domemaster format.  The  Space Opera's journey is entirely designed and harmonized to Gustav Holst's Op. 32, also known as "The Planets", which was and still is the most beloved and admired among Gustav Holst's productions.The visual style of the opera is experimental and innovative: the setting manages to recreate an immersive atmosphere  of a slick alien spaceship, and its voice participates to the experience guiding the passengers by explaining and narrating using our own cultural reference like aphorisms, quotes, and paraphrasing famous historical figures, philosophers, artists, and writers down to a linear synthetic message landing in the immensity of the universe and its meaning, and telling a perspective on its tale. Producer: Matteo Gagliardi - timeline360.  40 minutes.

SpacePark360:  Geodesium Edition
A 9-ride show that takes audiences on a wild immersive ride through the solar system. It is designed to recreate the experience of amusement park thrill rides - roller coasters, pendulums, inverters and more.  The music of Geodesium is used to take audiences on a wild ride with elements of acid, house, techno, trance, electronica, and flat-out kick-butt rock.  Producers: Dome3D and music producers Loch Ness Productions. 38 minutes.

Stars
Every star has a story. Some are as old as time, faint and almost forgotten. Others burn bright and end their lives in powerful explosions. New stars are created every day, born of vast clouds of gas and dust. Through every phase of their existence, stars release the energy that powers the Universe. Journey to the furthest reaches of our galaxy and experience both the awesome beauty and destructive power of STARS. Producer: Sudekum Planetarium at the Adventure Science Center. 26 minutes.

Tales of the Maya Skies
Using 3-D laser scanning and other cutting-edge non-film technologies to virtually reconstruct the architecture and artwork of the Maya at Chichén Itzá, Tales of the Maya Skies provides an experience of unparalleled realism as viewers go back in time to explore the astronomy, art, science and legend of the ancient Maya culture. Inspiring and educational,  and narrated by Latin Grammy awards winner, Lila Downs,  Tales of the Maya Skies is the world’s first planetarium show to feature the Maya culture.  It was produced in English, Spanish, and Mayan languages.  Producer:  Chabot Space & Science Center.  33 minutes.

TAO: Unlocking the Mysteries of Distant Stars
The TAO project team of Tokyo University has been constructing the huge infrared telescope on the peak of Mt. Chajnantor. The show merges CG space scenes with powerful and beautiful live-action images including scenes of severe desert and local town San Pedro. The story unfolds as an astronomer working on the project meets a boy Sherpa. Together they watch the stars, trace the constellations and discover a pure fascination for the stars. Based on the interviews for the TAO project members, the story lively depicts the enthusiasm of the astronomer for the stars. Producer: Konica Minolta. 35 minutes.
 
The Heart of the Sun
The Heart of the Sun, a fulldome digital presentation by John Weiley—maker of multi-award winning Imax films including Antarctica, SolarMax, and the hit 3D production Imagine!—shows us the Sun as it has never been seen before. New space-based telescopes, along with a new generation of terrestrial instruments, capture both the fine surface detail and the vast eruptions of the corona with unprecedented clarity and for the first time take us right inside a living star. Heart of the Sun delivers new breathtaking, high-resolution motion pictures never before seen in a fulldome theater.  From the Neolithic sky watchers of Europe to the solar observatories and blood sacrifice of Mesoamerica to the sun gods of the Egyptians and Greeks and the dawning of Aristotelian science, The Heart of the Sun reveals how the development of our whole cosmology has been informed by our struggle with this oldest of mysteries. Experience the story that shows how that process continues today as the sheer strangeness of our nearest star continues to challenge our imagination. Producer:  Heliograph Productions. 22 minutes.

The Power of the Stars – From Sky Disc to Stardust
How are stars related to our world? Which concepts had our early ancestors – and what are the stories astronomers of today can tell us?  Travel with us through space and time. Visit extraordinary buildings and monuments of the past. Follow archaeologists and astronomers and decode the world famous “Nebra Sky Disc“, which is probably the oldest depiction of the starry sky. Learn about the cycles of Sun, Moon and stars which shape or lives and be amazed about the awesome power of the sun and the stars unveiled by modern astronomy.  Join us on a spectacular expedition from bronze age to space age sky observation! Producer: Hamburg Planetarium  and the State Museum for Prehistory of Saxony-Anhalt in Halle, Germany. 30 minutes.

The Zula Patrol: Under the Weather
The stalwart heroes of the Zula Patrol and their pet Gorga are on an expedition collecting weather samples for scientist Multo's research. When the Zula gang inadvertently hurts Gorga's feelings, he decides to leave and find another planet to live on. Interplanetary villain Dark Truder then tricks Gorga into stealing the weather from other planets - part of his scheme to rule the Universe. The Zula Patrollers find out and go after him - in the process learning all about weather, both terrestrial and planetary. The Zula Patrol: Under the Weather” is based on the award-winning TV series now reaching 300 million households worldwide. Producers: Zula USA and Spitz, Inc. 45 minutes.

The Zula Patrol: Down to Earth
In their latest adventure, a routine fossil-hunting mission launches The Zula Patrol on a rollicking ride into Earth’s past!  When the Zula Patrollers discover that the villainous Deliria Delight has been traveling back in time to illegally dump her company’s toxic trash, they must find and catch her, before her actions cause catastrophic consequences. In the process, our heroes learn all about the formation and development of Earth, and the life forms who call it home. The Zula Patrol: Down to Earth is based on the award-winning TV series, The Zula Patrol, now reaching 300 million households worldwide. Producers: Zula USA, Spitz, Inc. and E&S. 24 minutes.

Touching the Edge of the Universe  
Four hundred years after Galileo's revolutionary discoveries, two sophisticated scientific satellites are launched into the Universe. These complex space telescopes will look deep into space at very distant events that our eyes cannot see. They will observe the birth of stars and planets and look back to the very beginning of time. Touching the Edge of the Universe brings the secrets of the distant cosmos direct to the audience being an exciting and imaginative celebration of science and discovery. Recently, both space telescopes, Herschel and Planck, have amazed scientists when their first images were presented -just a glimpse at what is expected during the next years to come. Producers: European planetaria and the European Space Agency. 30 minutes.

Two Small Pieces of Glass: 400 years of the Telescope
Explore 400 years of the telescope and its discoveries as seen by two students and their mentor as they attend a star party.  Learn how Galileo, Newton and many others developed these instruments and how they have allowed humans to learn about the universe.   Experience the view from the largest observatories in the world such as Maunakea, Cerra Telolo, and numerous other ones around the globe.  This program celebrates the International Year of Astronomy in 2009. Producer: 'Imiloa Astronomy Center, Buhl Planetarium, & Interstellar Studios 23 minutes.

Violent Universe: Catastrophes of the Cosmos
Comets, asteroids, and meteors hurtling through space.  Stars collapsing under their own gravity.  Infernos of nuclear energy releasing their deadly radiation across the universe.  Witness the raw power of the cosmos in this thrilling show that gives you a front-row seat to watch as worlds collide!  Narrated by Sir Patrick Stewart of Star Trek: The Next Generation and the X-Men films.  Producer: Evans & Sutherland, Inc.  25 minutes.

Voices in the Dark
Mike Batt is one of the most successful composers and producers of our time. His work extends from bestselling hits like “Bright Eyes” (for Art Garfunkel) and “Nine Million Bicycles” (for Katie Melua) to soundtracks (“Watership Down”, “Caravans”), musicals and symphonies. With a team of leading 3D-designers, animators, dancers, video artists and in collaboration with the Planetarium in Hamburg (Germany), the composer combined his epic music with impressive 360-degree-imagery for the planetarium dome. Spectacular scenes of unique beauty, enthralling music - an experience for all senses: Voices in the Dark opens doors to marvelous worlds that spring to life by the touch of Mike Batt’s compositions. Nothing is merely what it seems to be at first sight: a postcard transforms into a gate to a long lost place, a deck of tarot cards starts moving, a ballet dancer floats through a virtual landscape. A symphony of sounds, visuals and emotions which will surround and embrace you! Producer: Hamburg Planetarium. 45 minutes.

We Are Astronomers
Do you know what an astronomer does? Today’s astronomer is not the lone observer of past centuries. We Are Astronomers reveals the global collaboration, technology and dedication required to answer the unresolved questions of the Universe.  We Are Astronomers narrated by David Tennant is an exciting new 360° Fulldome digital planetarium show produced by NSC Creative with input from UK astronomers. Producer: NSC Creative.  25 minutes