SPACE ODYSSEY
VOLUNTEER UPDATE 01.12.12
http://spaceodyssey.dmns.org/
Click below for quick access to:
Space Odyssey News
Trainings and Meetings
Space Science Lectures & Events
Museum News and Lectures
Volunteer Enrichment Committee (VEC) Events
SPACE ODYSSEY NEWS
FREE DAY MONDAY JANUARY 9
Thanks for everyone's help on the Free Day!
NEXT FREE DAY: MONDAY JANUARY 30
DMNS SPACE SCIENCE EVENTS FOR 2012
Here's a tentative list of all the cool events that will be coming our way in 2012:
April 12-ish: Yuri's Night--a celebration of all things related to human spaceflight that occurs
on the anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's historic flight: http://yurisnight.net/
May: Space Day
May 20: Solar Eclipse:
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEgoogle/SEgoogle2001/SE2012May20Agoogle.html
June 5: Venus Transit: http://www.transitofvenus.org/
August 5: Mars Science Laboratory Landing:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/index.html
September: Astronomy Day
2012 STICKERS ARE IN If you need a 2012 sticker for your badge, please grab one off my
desk.
HELP NEEDED FOR NEW MEMBER NIGHT MARCH 29
Event timeline: 5 PM--volunteer briefing and dinner; 6 PM: doors open to the members; 9 PM:
event ends. Please let me know if you'd like to help out--these are fun events if you've never
done one before. Thanks!
2012 "APOCALYPSE": What, me worry?
From Marta Lindsay: Pseudoscientific claims link the end of a primary interval of the Mayan
calendar system to a prophecy of the end of time at the Winter Solstice of 2012. This talk will
detail how the 2012 beliefs have been fabricated and marketed and what the universe will
really be doing on the winter solstice in 2012.
Ed Krupp, Ph.D. is an astronomer and Director of Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles.
Recognized internationally as an expert on ancient, prehistoric, and traditional astronomy, Dr.
Krupp has visited more than 1850 sites throughout the world that have astronomical and
archaeological interest. Dr. Krupp is the author of several books on the cultural dimensions of
astronomy and hosted Project: Universe, a PBS series.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGJRGE52WU4
BARANY CHAIR NOTE
We don't have a lock for the Barany Chair cable right now (does anyone out there have it?) so
please do not leave it unattended. When you are through using it, please store it inside the
closet on the Planetarium Stage. Hope to get a new lock by next week. Thanks!
SEASONS REMINDER
It's Winter! Just kidding. ;) Semi-seriously, please remember to plug in the Seasons Table as
we now have rechargeable batteries powering the "Sun." Thank you!
ROVER UPDATE
As you all know, the rover has been working intermittently due to the fact that it hasn't always
been finding it's way back to the charging station. Tech is aware of this and are working on a
fix. If you notice, please let me know if the rover is working or not. Thanks!
SUNDIAL UPDATE
In progress... The sundial has some sort of electrical problem so the light doesn't work. Dave
Lewis is working on a fix.
NEW ASTRONAUT ASSISTANT MANUAL--Revisions
We made a few other changes to this manual, please check it out if you are a veteran or newbie
Assistant. Thanks! Click here to see it:
http://spaceodyssey.dmns.org/media/22903/510-astronautassistanttrainingmanual.doc
COLORADO OBSERVATORY INFO ON THE PORTAL
Ever wonder if there are any observatories here in Colorado? There are! Here's some info
about the Chamberlin and Mt. Evans Observatories:
http://www.denverastro.org/chamberlin.html
http://mysite.du.edu/~rstencel/MtEvans/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meyer-Womble_Observatory
To access this info on the Portal, go to the Earth Based Observatories page:
http://spaceodyssey.dmns.org/missionsobservatories/earth-observatories.aspx
TRAININGS AND MEETINGS
STARRY NIGHT SOFTWARE TRAINING
Wednesday February 8, 2012
6 PM to 9 PM
Galaxy Stage Space Odyssey
Food and drink provided!
This training is open to anyone with an interest in using this fantastic tool to educate our
visitors about "what's up" in the night sky. This training will teach you how to use Starry Night
night sky software which is loaded on all the Space O laptops. Starry Night is powerful and
versatile allowing you to show visitors everything from moon phases to the orbital dynamics
of the solar system to flying to distant star systems and perhaps it's most compelling feature:
showing astronomical events in the past, present and future. This software is also designed to
work with telescopes and can be purchased for personal use.
NEW VOLUNTEER TRAINING
Space Odyssey A Training
Wednesday March 14, 2012
6 PM to 9 PM
Galaxy Stage Space Odyssey
Food and drink provided!
This training is required for any new volunteers and veterans are welcome. It's a fun,
interactive and engaging night that will teach you about being a Museum Galaxy Guide and
help you give our visitors an "out of this world experience!" You'll walk on "Mars," sample a
variety of activities to use with visitors including: the Vacuum Chamber demo, Bowling Ball
Density demo, Moon Phases, LAMP cart, GPS and others. You'll also learn about our teaching
philosophy to better help you work with visitors of all ages and learning abilities. You'll walk
away better prepared and ready to have fun working on the floor in Space O.
Want a Curator Briefing or Cart or Show Training?
Do you have a burning question about dark matter? Would you like to learn the Sundial cart or
another cart or show that you're curious about? Please let me know and we'll set up a date and
time!
SPACE SCIENCE EVENTS
60 MINUTES IN SPACE
Wednesday January 25, 2012
7 p.m.
Gates Planetarium
Free
Go "behind the stories" in space science using the best images and animation available to help
understand new developments. Seating is limited to first come, first served.
Volunteers may attend some lectures for free on a space available basis by calling Adult
Programs at 303.370.6303 or emailing adultprograms@dmns.org.
This is only for lectures, for other programs, like Science Lounge, please call Reservations,
303.370.6000, thank you!
MUSEUM NEWS
T-REX ENCOUNTER CLOSES AND SNAKES AND LIZARDS OPENS
The temporary exhibition TRex Encounter closed last Sunday, January 8th. Our next
temporary exhibition, Snakes and Lizards, is scheduled to open on February 3rd. If you'd like
to learn more about Snakes and Lizards, check out
http://www.dmns.org/exhibitions/upcoming-exhibitions/lizards-snakes. We will also have a
staff and volunteer meeting on Thursday, January 19th from 3:30-5:00pm in Ricketson where
you can learn more about what's to come in this fun exhibit.
We began de-installing T. Rex Encounter at 7am Monday January 9th. As usual, there will be
a lot of activity inside/outside Phipps Gallery, around the freight elevator area, and in the south
atriums of the 1st and 2nd floors. Please remember that we will also be loading and unloading
trucks through the front member doors at various times on January 12th/13th, 16th/17th, and
(tentatively) the 19th.
Also - please remember that for your safety and ours, only authorized DMNS staff will have
access to the Phipps Gallery/infill-queuing area on the 3rd floor.
Installation for Lizards & Snakes begins after T. Rex Encounter leaves, and will continue until
we open to members on Thursday, February 2nd, and then to the general public on Friday,
February 3rd.
Thank you for your support and help during these next very busy weeks!
MEMBER DOOR REMODEL UPDATE
Noise, cold, and holes in the building ... sounds like a problem, no? Really it is good news as
we modify our members entrance door. Thanks to everyone for your patience. Here's some
background info to share with staff and volunteers, so we can address visitor questions.
Construction of the Education and Collections Facility has temporarily blocked the large
loading dock we use to move temporary exhibitions in and out of the building. During
construction we will use the north member entrance to unload and load our large exhibitions.
To accommodate the size, we are putting a temporary opening in this location. Later this
spring, we will install a permanent entrance that will accommodate member visitors and allow
us to move large crates in and out.
Thank you for your patience as we improve the Museum for our guests.
MUSEUM LECTURE INFO
Click here for Lunchtime Lectures
Click here for Evening Lectures
VOLUNTEER ENRICHMENT COMMITTEE EVENTS
THE MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR!
Friday, January 13, 2012
Mystery Tours are just that, you don't know where you're going! What better way to have a
Friday the 13th! Where will we go this time? Past Mystery Tours have included The Botanic
Gardens, Colorado Railroad Museum, and Hammonds Candy. We will tell you the tour is
indoors!
10:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
DENVER HOSPICE IN-PATIENT CARE CENTER TRIP
Friday, January 27
The Volunteer Enrichment Committee is pleased to offer a tour of the new Denver Hospice
Inpatient Care Center. The Facility opened in January 2011 and offers a homelike setting for
patients and families. Refreshments will be served in the Education Center, followed by a tour
of the facility. You will be divided into small groups as you are taken to see the chapel, family
gathering places, spa, suites and art collection, many of which are by Colorado Artists.
Address: 8299 E Lowry Blvd, Denver, CO 80230
9:20-11:15 a.m.
See bulletin board in the Volunteer Lounge for more info
Dave Blumenstock
Coordinator of Volunteers for Space Science
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
dblumenstock@dmns.org
Phone 303.370.8344
Fax 303.370.6005
Join the Museum's Online Community
www.dmns.org