Enclosed under one small roof, the Jasper Planetarium is the only place in the world where curious onlookers can gaze in wonder at the Northern Lights flickering above Pyramid Lake, marvel at the shockwave of a star that just died, and watch all 67 of Jupiter鈥檚 moons in orbit.
After a successful first year last summer, the space exploration centre is ready for its second bustling season starting May 6.
鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to capitalize on the momentum of last year,鈥� said Peter McMahon, manager and senior presenter with the Jasper Planetarium. 鈥淟ast year we were just exploring how to do this. There was still a lot of tweaking to be done, but this year we have the finished project."聽
The blow-up planetarium sits inside a small white tent outside Marmot Lodge, but McMahon says don鈥檛 let its tiny exterior fool you. Once people pull down the tent鈥檚 zipper, they are virtually transported through space from the comfort of a reclining beach chair as various projections dance across the dome鈥檚 walls.
鈥淲e have a lot of people showing up at the tent thinking this is just where you buy tickets, but afterwards people are always impressed by the show,鈥� McMahon said.
Much like last year鈥檚 show, which is specifically designed for Jasper, the presentation takes the audience on a swirling tour of the town鈥檚 night sky from outside the information centre to Pyramid Lake and the Columbia Icefield. Along the way, the audience learns about the constellations used by Cree and Blackfoot people and how local explorers used the stars to guide them through the park.
鈥淭here are planetariums all over the place, but only this one tells the true story of Jasper,鈥� McMahon said. 鈥淭his show takes tourists all over the park, but also shows them millions of other sights they would never see.鈥�
After a night tour of town, the 35 minute presentation catapults the audience into the mysterious black skies above Earth鈥攃ircling the planet and flying over each continent.
鈥淚t鈥檚 more than just a presentation. It鈥檚 almost like improv theatre,鈥� McMahon said. 鈥淲hile we have a standard show we can also make stuff up on the spot. If we have tourists from Australia we can show them their skies at home.鈥�
Once the audience has come back to Earth, they are invited to take a peep at the real deal through the largest telescope in the Rockies鈥攕ituated just outside the planetarium.
Viewings begin at 8:45 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. every night until mid-fall. Tickets for the planetarium cost $29 for adults, $12.50 for children.聽
For those looking to dive further into the local night sky, the planetarium staff will once again be offering stargazing tours from the peaks of the mountains via the SkyTram and also along the clear waters of Pyramid Lake.
A new tour option this year will also allow participants to stare into the cosmos from the Jasper Airfield.
鈥淭here's a limit on the amount of people we can bring on the SkyTram and to the lake, but at the airfield we could have 500 people come out to the same show,鈥� McMahon said.
Before this season鈥檚 swell of tourists take over Jasper鈥檚 streets, McMahon is offering free planetarium shows during the month of May for folks who work in town.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to do free staff shows every year,鈥� McMahon said. 鈥淚f the town embraces the planetarium then we鈥檙e going to be here for a long time.鈥�
Along with the free shows, a second special treat for locals has been added to this year鈥檚 schedule. On May 9, the planetarium is inviting people to come down and watch the transit of Mercury鈥攖he planet鈥檚 feeble attempt at eclipsing the sun.
鈥淚t鈥檚 sort of like a loser eclipse because Mercury is so small it can鈥檛 block the sun,鈥� McMahon said. 鈥淏ut for a few hours we鈥檒l be able to watch a chubby black dot go across the sun.鈥�
Mercury鈥檚 next transit won鈥檛 happen again until 2019 and then again in 2040.
At more than 11,000 square kilometers, Jasper is the second largest dark sky preserve in the world.
鈥淛asper is on the map for stargazing, but we鈥檙e not a Chilean desert鈥攊t鈥檚 not always clear or nice at night,鈥� McMahon said. 鈥淏ut with the planetarium we never have to worry about that.鈥�
Folks who work in town can register for their free show online at www.jasperplanetarium.com.
Kayla Byrne聽
