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6 Winnipeg Free press - saturDaY, august 2, 2014 EXPRESSYOUROPINION FrenchandSpanishclasses startSeptember15th Visit:ustboniface.ca orcall:(204)2 5-4400,(204)233-0210or toll-free1-888-233-5112 /educationplus 3 James Steffensen, a student in the Manitoba Museum astronomy course, looks through his telescope in his backyard in St Vital. Photo by Darcy Finley planetarium Course aims HiGH By Holli Moncrieff For the Free Press A popular program offered by The Manitoba Museum will have you seeing stars. For James Steffensen, who took the Eyes to the Skies course for the first time last spring, it was the catalyst that awakened his interest in astrophotography — taking photos of the moon, planets and stars. "It sparked my interest, and it helped me learn the basics of the night sky so astrophotography is a lot easier," he said. "Astronomy is something that's been there all my life but I never took the time to explore it. It's different when you see it with your own eyes than from a text book." Eyes to the Skies: A Beginner's Journey Into Astronomy, is held in the Museum's Planetarium. It's a six- evening program that covers the basics of astronomy and navigating the night sky. It takes participants on an in-depth tour of the sky, including constellations, planets, the moon and more. The Museum has offered this course for years, but with their recent Planetarium upgrade it's a completely new experience. The Manitoba Museum was the first Planetarium in Canada to feature the Digistar 5 All-Dome digital projection technology. This projection system enhances the visitor experience by using two wide-angle video projectors to cover the entire dome with a single seamless video image. Gone are the "small TV screens floating in space" of the old projection system. The image can still be the night sky, but now viewers can leave Earth and fly out through the cosmos. The image is actually real data about where objects are, so when they leave our planet, things move in 3D and they can fly through the stars and around them. "The new system allows for much more dynamic movement. It was very difficult to explain celestial co-ordinates with the old Zeiss. With Digistar, it's right there with the push of a button. As we move the sky, the co-ordinates move with it," explained instructor Mike Jensen. "Now we've got objects you can fly towards, spin around, and travel through. We have lines that connect the dots between stars to show the constellations. We used to do that with the green arrow." The course was Steffensen's first experience with the new technology, and he admits he was in awe. "The equipment was amazing. It's really neat that the instructor could type in the time and date of anywhere in the world and you would see what the sky looked like at that time." By using images and video, hands- on demonstrations, handouts, and the technology of the Planetarium Star Theatre, even the most novice of stargazers will be able to navigate the night sky like a pro by the end of the course, said Jensen. "The course has definitely been upgraded with the new digital system. We're adapting as we go along — it's still a work in progress. We've added more and more elements—the course keeps getting bigger and bigger." Although it's a course designed for beginners, astronomers who are more advanced will still get something out of it, Jensen said. "When people are more advanced, chances are they focus on one particular thing. This course will diversify them a bit," he said. "We've had quite a few people join who've had telescopes for years. By the end of the course, there are always plenty of things they've learned. We can build on what they already know." Jensen said it's a fine balance between upgrading the course with the capabilities of the new technology and not changing it too much. "We always want to do upgrades and improve it, but it's a good program and people seem to enjoy it the way it is," he explained. "Almost everyone who joined came with another person last year. It's become a get-together for friends — they go out for coffee and then come to the astronomy course." While dates for the next course have not been set, Jensen estimates it will start in late fall. To put your name on a waiting list, contact him at 204-988-0613 or mjensen@manitobamuseum.ca. He is also considering adding an advanced class if there is enough interest. "The instructor was fantastic — he tailored the course to the interests of the class," said Steffensen. "I would definitely think of taking it again as a refresher. I really enjoyed it." ■ JOINUS atourfree BusinessAdministration programinfosession. Wednesday,August6,7-9pm|A104-160PrincessSt. PleaseRSVPtoBrantLongatblong@rrc.caor204.949.8379 TheWorldisChanging. MakeityourBusiness. Ifyou'veeverthoughtabout workinginmarketing,human resources,financialservicesor accounting–oryouaspiretobe Manitoba'snexttopentrepreneur –RedRiverCollege'sBusiness Administrationprogram offerstheresourcesyou needforasuccessfulcareer. Applyyourskillsafterjust twoyears,ortransferyour creditstocompleteadegree. AtRedRiverCollege,wehave unmatchedconnectionstoindustry —andthat'sjustoneofthemany reasonswhyOURGRADSGETHIRED. TheBusinessAdministrationprogramisofferedatbothour NotreDameandExchangeDistrictCampuses.Applytoday foradmissionthisfall.Formoreinfo,visit: rrc.ca/bus ur ne ra Pr b u i r p i e t r e a e o pu t: urfree nessAdministration raminfosession. PrincessSt. or204.949.8379 bout uman icesor retobe preneur iness er. t r ree. ave industry emany ETHIRED. offeredatbothour puses.Applytoday t:

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