STAFF PHOTOS BY SUSAN USHER
JOHN COV1L (front) and Jason Sofge emerge from the entrance tunnel into the dome.
STUDENTS WAIT THEIR TURN to enter the igloo-like portable planetarium dome.
Bringing The Universe To
The Classroom
BY SUSAN USHER
Giggles bubble up as youngsters kneel outside
a silver igloo and crawl in semidarkness through
the short entrance tunnel. As the light inside the
dome gradually changes, oohs and ahs escape as
an outline map of the Earth appears all around.
Students quickly spot North America, the Unit
ed States. North Carolina's Outer Banks, and then
Cape Fear.
"Cool!" comes an appreciative whisper.
Answers come quickly until earth science
teacher Darrell Cheers reaches a small spot on the
map off the North Carolina coast.
"No. that's not Gilligan's Island, but it is an is
land. That is Bermuda." he replies to one stu
dent's guess.
Over the next 30 minutes Sheila Gore's seventh
grade class eagerly examines the parts of a cell
and checks the night sky. trying to locate various
constellations and the more visible stars.
Adjustments allow the operator to position the
sky as it would be seen at a certain time on a par
ticular night in a specific location.
The students are the last of more than 25
groups and approximately 7(H) students and adults
to visit StarLab, a portable planetarium projector,
during its brief stop at Shallotte Middle School.
With a $13,000 price tag, the device is remark
able. Planetarium projector, viewing dome, six
different projection drums and ventilation fan
pack into several boxes and one large duffle bag.
The space-age StarLab takes only about 30 min
utes to erect. Its silver dome of nylon-reinforced
polymer fabric is extra tough to resist children's
pushing and pulling and sharp pencils carelessly
left in pockets. Two tunnels or tubes extend from
the sides. One holds the box fan that provides ven
tilation; the other serves as entrance and exit.
EYES ARE RIVETED on the dome. From the left are Rodney Cause , Jason Sofge , John
Covil and George Wagner, and in the foreground , Derrick Smith.
"I looked at it and said 'a class will never fit in
there.' hut they did." said Cheers, and comfortably.
The StarUih was provided courtesy of the N.C.
Science and Math Alliance Southeast Partnership,
based at UNC Wilmington. Here for six months
only, it was hopscotching from school to school
through the multi-county area served by the part
nership. After a last Brunswick County stop at
Union Elementary, it was to move on to Colum
bus County.
"It could be such a valuable tool, but we only
have it three days," said Cheers, frustration evident
in his voice. Guidebooks with lesson plans, slides
of satellite views as diverse as solar flares and the
Mississippi River in Louisiana, and audio tapes ar
rive the same day as the planetarium. That leaves
little time to prepare for three days of classes.
This was the first visit of the planetarium to
Shallotte Middle, so the school chose to allow as
many students as possible to experience the Star
Lab rather than limiting access to a few for more
in-depth programs.
Gore's students enjoyed their visit.
"I loved the place," Kevin Harrison declared.
"I liked seeing the stars and the cells."
"The pictures were exciting," added Crystal
Knighton.
The best part for Brena Murray was when
Cheers turned the projector quickly "and it felt
like we were falling backward."
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Happy New Year
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Thanks to everyone who helped us share the spirit of Christmas with those in need. Your
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USING A POINTER BEAM , Darrell Cheers focuses students' at
tention on a constellation.
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