The Crookston Public Library will host Exploradome, an exploration experience with the University of Minnesota’s Natural History Museum and the Bell Museum Exploradome Traveling Planteaturim. The program is offered free of charge, thanks in part to funding from the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.
This event will occur on Wednesday, July 17, from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the Crookston High School. The day will consist of six shows lasting about 40 minutes each, and activities will be available while you wait for shows to begin. The shows are as follows-
Mars: The Ultimate Voyage (All Ages)- 10:00 a.m.
Description: On a two-year journey across space, how will astronauts stay motivated? How will they stay healthy? What challenges will they face along the way? The Bell’s original production, Mars: The Ultimate Voyage, dives into these questions while showing what the first journey to Mars might look like and how creativity, communication, and collaboration come together to ensure safe, deep space travel.
Seasons, Phases, Eclipses (All Ages)- 10:50 a.m.
Description: Our Minnesota sky changes throughout the day and across the seasons. Participants will learn how to make observations about the sky, such as noticing constellations, planets, and the changing positions of the sun and moon.
Mars: The Ultimate Voyage (All Ages)- For a second time at 11:40 a.m.
There will then be a break for lunch until 1:00 p.m.
Minnesota in the Cosmos (recommended ages 8-14) will have three showings at 1:00, 1:50, and 2:40 p.m.
Description: The land beneath us holds a deep cosmic and geologic history. Join Jacob as he explores this history on a field trip to Interstate State Park. Starting with the solar system’s formation, follow along this uniquely Minnesota journey through time and space.
“If you can make it to any of the sessions, stop by anytime throughout the day. That will be a really good experience that the kids will remember, and this Exploradome is different from your basic planetarium because it’s more immersive and much larger,” said Youth Services Librarian Cassidy Manninen.
On July 24, a drawing class will be held online and at the library. Then, on July 31, the library will host Minnesota State University Moorhead’s planetarium at the Crookston Public Library.
