While I was on my year-long trip, I discovered something I like better than movies: planetarium shows.
It’s similar to a movie in that you buy a ticket, walk into a roomful of padded chairs, sit back, the lights are turned down, and all you have to do is watch and listen. Or space out (no pun intended).
The presentations that appeal to me most are the ones titled something like “Tonight’s Sky.” The shows weave together astronomy, history, ancient civilizations, mythology, chemistry, and other subjects. And I always learn something. The presenters point out a feature to locate after you leave the show, such as a planet, constellation, or meteor shower. So when you leave the planetarium, your involvement with astronomy isn’t over; you now have a task, which involves spending time outside and finding the item that was discussed.
Some presenters speak in soft, soothing voices that lull you into a relaxed, dreamlike state, which in itself is worth the price of admission. Others have rich dramatic voices that express the theatrics of the myths and the wonder of modern space exploration.
Because it’s live, each show is slightly different. There’s is also an immediacy from a live show that’s lacking in a recorded film.
I find the information and stories interesting, but at the same time, I don’t care enough about the topics to study and find all that information on my own. I appreciate that someone else has done the leg work and pieced the highlights together in a fascinating and entertaining way.
If or when public attractions open again, I’m looking forward to taking a journey to the stars.