PASSPORT TO THE UNIVERSE. Narrated by Tom Hanks. For more information, please contact:

Transcription

1 Narrated by Tom Hanks THE ROSE CENTER FOR EARTH AND SPACE For more information, please contact: PASSPORT TO THE UNIVERSE or visit our website at:

2 For millennia, we have wondered about our place in the universe. The American Museum of Natural History s inaugural Space Show at the Rose Center for Earth and Space, Passport to the Universe, looks to answer this question, taking audiences on a journey billions of light years from our home planet to the outermost regions of the observable universe. In this unforgettable exploration of our cosmic address, cutting-edge science forms the foundation for imagery of unprecedented realism and accuracy, enabling viewers to understand the OVERVIEW SCIENCE HAS FINALLY CAUGHT UP WITH SCIENCE FICTION The New York Times true structure and enormity of our universe. Passport to the Universe was created with a specific goal: to use real scientific information wherever possible to educate and inspire. Astronomer s observations and simulations form the scientific backbone of Passport to the Universe, and the integration of numerous scientists diverse work provides a context for the many different scales of the cosmos from the size of our home planet to the vast reaches of the largest structures in the universe. Carefully blending art and science, the collaborative efforts of AMNH staff, outside scientists, supercomputing experts, and artists resulted in rich visuals that allow audiences to experience the wonders of the universe as never before. 1

3 REVIEWS Almost three million visitors to the Hayden Planetarium in New York have seen Passport to the Universe, and it has received high acclaim from national and international press. The most eloquent summary of the museum s achievement will be the look on the faces of children as they leave the new Hayden Planetarium stunned by a virtual trek from Earth to the edge of the observable universe. The New York Times This is an intelligent, exciting introduction to the basics of astrophysics in the form of a seat-of-the-pants tour of the cosmos. The Wall Street Journal I unhesitatingly award my Best of Show blue ribbon to the fabulous ride through the Orion Nebula. Sky and Telescope The experience is literally like nothing on Earth. Who would have thought that astrophysics could set your heart racing? The Daily News The show is as exciting as anything in a theme park, and yet it has great authority. The New Yorker The best thing about the new Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History is the show Passport to the Universe, a dazzling, weirdly comforting 20-minute spin through the depths of outer space. The Washington Post AUDIENCE REACTION & EVALUATION of the universe, the origin of stars, the origin and role of the elements Passport attracts large audiences: The universal appeal of space-related topics and the narration of Tom Hanks have drawn over 3 million people to Passport to the Universe in New York. Audiences love Passport: Almost 80% of viewers rate the show 8-10 on a 10 point scale making it the highest rated experience at the American Museum of Natural History. Audiences of all ages learn something new about the universe from Passport : Over 75% of audience members demonstrated substantially increased understanding of scientific topics such as the structure

4 PROGRAM OVERVIEW Passport to the Universe takes visitors on a vast journey that begins in our solar system and travels millions of light years to the edge of the observable universe, stopping along the way to explore the locations that make up our cosmic address, and finally returning to Earth via an exciting ride through the black hole. We start our journey in our own solar system the first line of our cosmic address. As we speed away from Earth, past Mars and its two moons and beneath the rings of Saturn, distances increase and our seemingly two-dimensional starry sky becomes threedimensional interstellar space. ORION NEBULA As we leave the Orion nebula and our Milky Way Galaxy, we fly into our Local Group of Galaxies and intergalactic space. The Andromeda Galaxy, the nearest spiral galaxy to our own, soars past us as our distance from Earth increases and our Local Group of galaxies recede into the distance. VIRGO SUPERCLUSTER We finally reach the edge of the observable universe, millions of light years from where our journey began. Clusters of galaxies create tangled weblike formations, the brightest knots representing entire superclusters consisting of thousands of galaxies and billions of suns. BLACK HOLE SOLAR SYSTEM After traveling millions of miles in only a few seconds, we arrive in the heart of the Orion Nebula. Surrounded by brilliant young stars and glowing gas, we are firsthand witnesses to the building blocks of life being recycled into new stars and possibly planets! THE MILKY WAY GALAXY AND THE LOCAL GROUP Traveling many million of miles further into space beyond our Local Group, we see the enormity of the Virgo Supercluster, a vast gathering of several thousand galaxies, of which our Local Group is only a very small part. OBSERVABLE UNIVERSE Finding ourselves so far from home at the end of our journey, the quickest way to be sped back to Earth is by jumping into a black hole. Some theories speculate that Black Holes connect distant parts of the universe. Since no one really knows what the inside of a Black Hole looks like, we re free to imagine! CREATING THE ORION NEBULA AMNH S DIGITAL GALAXY PROJECT Based on observations of Orion using the Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers C. Robert O Dell and Zheng Wen created a three-dimensional model of the nebula s interior, which forms the basis of this immersive journey. Volumetric rendering techniques pioneered at the San Diego Supercomputer Center re-created the nebula with unprecedented realism, allowing viewers to feel as though they are inside the heart of the nebula. The joint AMNH/NASA Digital Gallery Project embeds numerous observed datasets from nearby stars to star-forming regions such as the Orion Nebula inside a statistical description of millions of stars. This powerful source of information was used to create several sequences in the Space Show, including the journey from our solar system to the Orion nebula, and the Milky Way model. 4 5

5 SCIENTIFIC DATA & SIMULATIONS CREATIVE TEAM Using real scientific data and simulations, Passport to the Universe was created by a world-class creative team using cutting-edge production technology. With support from NASA, AMNH scientists and science visualizers combined astronomical observations and state-of-the-art astrophysical computer models to create Passport to the Universe. Some scientific sources include: NASA/AMNH Digital Galaxy Project Mark Showalter, NASA Ames Research Center National Center for Supercomputing Applications C. Robert O Dell, Rice University R. Brent Tully, University of Hawaii Space Telescope Science Institute San Diego Supercomputer Center J.P. Ostriker, Princeton University Zheng Wen, Columbia University ASTROPHYSICS AT AMNH The Museum s Department of Astrophysics, created in July 1999 and chaired by Michael Shara, conducts an ambitious research program and provides scientific expertise in supporting the education and outreach activities of the Frederick Phineas & Sandra Priest Rose Center for Earth and Space. The department s active research specialties cover a wide range of modern astrophysics including observational, theoretical, and computational astrophysics. AMNH scientists are using all the tools available to modern astrophysicists ground- and space-based telescopes, supercomputers, and visualization tools many of which are located within the facility. Active research collaborations exist between department members and faculty at Princeton University, Columbia University, and other major research institutions. NARRATOR Tom Hanks is one of Hollywood s leading actors, and is a two-time winner of the Academy Award for Best Actor for his roles in Philadelphia and Forrest Gump. He was producer of the Emmy Awardwinning television miniseries From the Earth to the Moon. WRITERS Ann Druyan is an author, lecturer, and Carl Sagan s longtime collaborator. She was co-creator of the motion picture Contact. Steven Soter, a researcher in planetary astronomy and geoarchaeology, cowrote and advised on the IMAX films Blue Planet, Destiny in Space, and Cosmic Voyage. Druyan and Soter, along with Carl Sagan, cowrote the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning television series Cosmos. COMPOSER Stephen Endelman is a renowned film and television composer whose scoring credits include Bride of the Wind, Flirting with Disaster, The Englishman who Went up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain, and The Adventures of Tom and Huck. 6 7

6 LEASING INFORMATION TIMING Passport to the Universe is 20 minutes in length, and can be ticketed on the half hour. PRESHOW AND PRELUDE An 18-minute loop of astronomical information and a 3-minute introductory prelude to Passport to the Universe are available for viewing on monitors in areas where your visitors gather prior to the show. ADDITIONAL LANGUAGES Passport to the Universe is available in English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, or Spanish. Or, using a multichannel infrared system with user headsets, it can be shown with simultaneous, multiple language narration. TECHNICAL INFORMATION Passport to the Universe can be presented on most digital planetarium systems. Engineers at the AMNH will work with your institution to customize the program to your planetarium s seating configuration, audio system, and number of video channels. PASSPORT TO THE UNIVERSE Interactive DVD with Selected Video Clips from the Space Show EDUCATION Supporting astronomy education for school children of all ages is a very important aspect of Passport to the Universe. To be able to provide school groups with educational materials, you will receive PDF copies of an educator s guide and will have an opportunity to link to the Museum s Web site, which has multiple pre and post Space Show related educational activities. MEDIA RELATIONS AND MARKETING To ensure a successful experience with Passport to the Universe, your institution will be provided with a complete sample media kit including press releases, media images, press reviews, and electronic files containing the designs of marketing materials and print advertisements for customization. HOSTING OPPORTUNITIES Hosting Passport to the Universe offers an ideal opportunity to raise your institution s visibility with the public, media, and donors. It also provides an exciting centerpiece for donor and corporate special events. For more information, please contact: travelingprograms@amnh.org 8