...are usually on the last Friday of the month at 11am or 2 pm Pacific Time. The seminars are recorded and archived. For connection URL, see the Zoom Online Seminar page. Any planetarian who has something interesting to share is invited do a presentation at a seminar. Please contact Planetarium Zoom Seminar (PZS) Coordinator, Rosemary Walling <rosemary{~at}mariedrakeplanetarium.org>, with the following:
1. Possible date(s) for your presentation
2. A catchy Title
3. A brief Description
4. A brief Bio (who you are, where you work, 1-3 sentences)
2025
Dates and times subject to alteration depending on availability of presenters.
2025 Aug 29 at 11am PDT (2pm EDT, 18:00 UT). Cosmic Creations! Choices & Challenges in Crafting a Planetarium Show with Bob Bonadurer and Terry Spears. We humans make over 30,000 decisions a day. When creating a planetarium show, it seems that number must triple or quadruple. Explore a few show roads we've taken--and roadblocks we discovered--in Milwaukee. Bob Bonadurer is the director of the Soref Planetarium at the Milwaukee Public Museum. He has conjured up over 30 shows in his career—and one even collected a scriptwriting award. Terry Spears is the Digital Media Producer. He brings the cosmos to life in countless creative ways.
2025 Sep 26 at 11am PDT (2pm EDT, 18:00 UT). An Ancient Place for Skyscapes - Creating Immersive Experiences with Stellarium with Daniel Brown. During prehistoric times standing stones acted as markers or highlighted alignments. In the UK they rarely highlight the Sun location through their shadows. This presentation will introduce a standing stone at Gardom’s Edge in the Peak District, UK, erected 2,500 – 1,500 BC. Its unusual shape tells an intriguing story of skyscape archaeology, shadows and landscape phenomenology. It will also outline our work at King Arthurs Hall in Cornwall, UK, a recently excavated and dated site now known to be Neolithic. Both stories told through the use of 3D scanning to create a holistic immersive virtual engagement with the site using 3D stellarium capability as well as meaningful 2D landscapes. Daniel Brown is an Associate Professor of Astronomy and Science Communication at Nottingham Trent University, UK. He teaches astronomy at all levels, provides international placement opportunities and runs the onsite observatory. A major part of his work involves public engagement and science communication based around unique settings with historic background, e.g. Bromley House Meridian Sundial. His research explores our engagement with skyscape throughout time.
2025 Oct 31 (or 24 if Halloween is not appropriate)
2025 Nov 21 (3rd Fri)
2025 Dec 19 (3rd Fri)