Billy Waters hopes to spark student interest with “Nightwalk”

Home 2008 archive Billy Waters hopes to spark student interest with “Nightwalk”

By Joshua Encinias

Published on October 24, 2007

The recently reopened PJC Planetarium will have free showings of “Nightwalk” tomorrow and Wednesday at 9:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 12:00 p.m. each day. 

“Nightwalk” is a 6 minute, Halloween themed demo projected from Digistar, the planetarium’s laser program.

The show was developed in 1996 to play as a technology exhibit during the Olympic Games in Atlanta.  It features a graveyard, haunted house and a visit from the Grim Reaper.

The Reaper appears in a hole ripped through the screen.  Cold air blows across the audience as he inches near. 

Interaction like this may be in the planetarium’s future.

In February for All College Day, Waters is bringing in an all new laser program for the week.  There are thirty shows that come with the program, including an all Led Zepplin show and Fourth of July fireworks display.

If the planetarium can muster enough student and teacher interest outside of the typical public schools and Astronomy classes, they may have an easier time buying the expensive laser program for full time use.

Last week Waters linked Digistar to the Internet, allowing video and other content to be projected onto the dome. 

The Bioethics committee is looking to show “Jurassic Park” at the theatre on December 3.

The planetarium is open to all teachers. Anyone looking to present their lecture material with Slides, PowerPoint,  Angel or MathXL may contact Billy Waters at 484-1117.