By Courtney L. Woods
Gheens Science Hall and Rauch Planetarium
Nestled near the School of Music and Strickler Hall is a huge source of pure, untapped fun. Gheens Science Hall and Rauch Planetarium offer many educational services for students of all ages. However, not all of the shows are dedicated to just science and stars.
The original planetarium was dedicated in 1962 in honor of Rabbi Joseph Rauch, who died in 1957. In 1998, the old planetarium was torn down, and the new science center and planetarium opened on April 24, 2001. The lobby of the science center is filled with interactive tools, while on the inside of the Planetarium are 160 reclining seats, a 15,000-watt sound system, and a 360-degree panoramic screen.
All of this makes the featured shows very exciting, most notably “Legends of the Night Sky” (Saturdays at 11:45 a.m.), which pays tribute to mythology; “African Garden of Eden” (Saturdays and Sundays at 5:30 p.m.), which transports you to the heart of adventure with the animals of the Kalahari Desert; and, of course, the stellar Friday night rock shows. Yes, that’s right: on Friday nights, the planetarium rocks.
The lineup changes every now and then with shows like “Laser Beatles,” “Laser U2,” and “Laser 80’s;” at the moment, the featured shows are fantastic. The first of these shows (Fridays at 8 p.m. through October) is called “Fright Light” and dedicates visuals to Halloween music. At 9 p.m. comes “Laser X,” which is devoted to alternative music by Rage Against the Machine, Alice in Chains and Smashing Pumpkins. At 10 p.m., the most popular show begins with “Laser Zeppelin,” a must-see for any Page, Plant, Jones and Bonham fans. Eleven songs are featured in the show, including “Song Remains the Same,” “Over the Hills and Far Away,” “The Immigrant Song” and the obligatory “Kashmir” and “Stairway to Heaven.” At 11 p.m., “Pink Floyd: The Wall” airs with cool laser visuals to add to the somber, trippy vibe.
Regular admission for the planetarium is $6 per show for adults and only $4 per show for U of L and Metroversity students who show a school ID. Children ages 3-16 get in for a mere $3 a pop, but children under three are not admitted at all. The Gheens Science Center and Rauch Planetarium are great assets to the Louisville learning community; however, they are also great places to spend a Friday night, watching a laser concert of some of the best and most exciting bands.
For more information, call 852-6664.
