A trip to the planetarium

Josh Braun, Ithaca, NY — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:07:32 GMT

Sounds really cool. It's interesting to me that a lot of planetariums have sort of evolved from showing an indoor version of the night sky into basically a kind of IMAX presentation, with zooming star fields and flybys of planets. A friend of mine who was loosely involved with the Hayden Planetarium in New York tells me that they now have reduced the actual constellation displays to scheduled events, while using the planetarium most of the time for other sorts of astronomy-related presentations.

A trip to the planetarium

John Kohlhepp,Huntington,West Virginia — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 23:01:50 GMT

would like to take the kids, awsome experience for kids,and hope for thier future.

A trip to the planetarium

Abby, Missoula, MT — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 23:48:30 GMT

Wow, Kris McCall has an incredible story. If there is any way that a fellow space enthusiast like myself could get in contact with her and ask a few questions let me know!

A trip to the planetarium

Greg Payne The Dalles, Oregon — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 00:16:39 GMT

Please post this video on the website I have posted below!

Thank you,
Greg Payne

A trip to the planetarium

San Pedro, CA — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 03:16:24 GMT

A trip to the planetarium

Kris McCall — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 17:24:27 GMT

To Josh in NY who commented that many large planetariums have gotten away from showing what you can see in the current night sky, The Sudekum Planetarium in Nashville is offering a LIVE tour of the current night sky seven days a week. We also work hard to incorporate a natural view of the sky into all of our programs, and this is a commitment for the future as well. We create a monthly star chart each month, distribute to visitors of all shows, and make it available for download on the web. We like interacting with people who come to the Planetarium. Please introduce yourself when you come for to Nashville.

Kris

A trip to the planetarium

Kris McCall — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 17:27:07 GMT

To Abby in MT, you can contact me at krismccall@adventuresci.com. I am sure the real sky in MT is a lot more spectacular than the humid skies of Tennessee.

kris

A trip to the planetarium

Michael Crist, Hohenwald, TN — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 20:13:00 GMT

Please tell Abby in Missoula that she can reach the Sudekum Planetarium in Nashville by going to www.adventuresci.com/. Kris is as genuine in person as she was in the news story.

A trip to the planetarium

Josh Braun, Ithaca, NY — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 21:08:18 GMT

@Kris Thanks so much for the reply. It's wonderful that you still show constellations. I'll be sure to say hello next time I'm in the Nashville!

A trip to the planetarium

Denise Abend, North Ridgeville, OH — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 21:45:33 GMT

Hi Krissy! Greetings to you from your cousin in Ohio...it's Denise (Kovach) Abend. It's been soooo long since we've seen you. It was so good to watch your MSNBC interview. You look wonderful! Congratulations on the planetarium. You can tell you love what you do and that makes all the difference in the world. I know you're busy but email if/when you can. Take Care and Congrats again! Denise

A trip to the planetarium

Kendra Schaber, Salem, OR — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 01:59:50 GMT

I am visually impaired also and I have also been intrigued by astronomy. How do you do it? How do teach it? How do you do what you do? What kind of technology do you use and what is your vision? Mine is 20/250 in my left eye and only light perception in my right eye. I am very impressed by your story here and am just now beginning my post-educational pursuits. I have only seen the moon without an extremely powerful telescope and with one I have only seen Jupiter. I would be very greatful for any feedback you can give.

A trip to the planetarium

Paul Elmira, NY — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:50:26 GMT

Sounds like the author of this article speaking in the first person (Denise or Ron?) had a quite poor education not to have known that "planetarium domes don't open up and present a magnified view of the sky". One should know that at least without having visited a planetarium...especially if one is a producer for a national news program and presumably has educational credentials to validate holding that position. And I would suggest a grammer school field trip is not the only motivation one should need to have visited a planetarium.

A trip to the planetarium

Kris McCall — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:43:25 GMT

Kendra inOR,

My right eye vision runs between 20/200 and 20/400. Left eye is light and movement, but the right eye is DOMINANT. This gives me poor depth perception.

When I see the Moon in the night sky, it's just a bright spot. I can estimate the phase by the brightness of the Moon, and I can't see any features with my unaided eyes.

I see some detail through telescopes, but not nearly what my friends and colleagues report. The world is NOT blurry to me. I just miss out on a LOT of detail.

I use minimal technology. I get ink on the end of my nose and leave nose prints on my monitor from reading. I have some really powerful glasses that help relieve some of the strain from reading. have a monocular for distance viewing. And I remember a lot of things because I don't like looking things up more than once :)

You can reach me at krismccall@adventuresci.com and we can talk some more.

Kris

A trip to the planetarium

Kris McCall — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:54:27 GMT

Hey Paul, If astronomy is not one's hobby or job, you might have to think twice as to which is which regarding an observatory and planetarium, so I cut them a little slack. At least they knew a planetarium is used for astronomy. I get some visitors who ask "where are the plants?"

Someone once called and asked if "Nashville had an outdoor planetarium."

There's a lot of stuff I don't know anything about, so I'm a little understanding when it comes to such things. But please do not call me an astrologer.

Kris

A trip to the planetarium

Shelley Tomlinson, Iron River, MI — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:29:28 GMT

This is such an inspiring story! I can't wait to share it with my son. He is also legally blind (20/200 L) and 20/400 R). He is struggling as to what to do with his life due to his disability. He is entering the 9th grade in the fall. How wonderful for you to have found your calling!

A trip to the planetarium

Sharon Johnson, Iron River, Mi. — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 01:11:34 GMT

Kris is an inspiration. I am legally blind and have a blind son and five blind grandchildren. Life can be tough but nothing is impossible as her life bears testimony. Thank you for this story.

A trip to the planetarium

Tiffany , Nashville,TN — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:46:26 GMT

Hi Kris,

Just wanted to say that the planetarium was outstanding to see. I learn so much from your show that I didn't even know. I just want to thank you for bring it to us to see and it is a pleasure working with an outgoing, wonderful woman like yourself. Thank you once more.

A trip to the planetarium

Kris McCall — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:25:21 GMT

To all those with visual impairments, don't let anyone discourage you or prevent you from trying new things. If you want to jump out of an airplane or ride a horse or write a book, go right ahead and do it. I'm not a great observational astronomer, but I do what I can because I enjoy it. Find joy and enrichment wherever you want.

Kris