The Sky Through Lucy's Eyes

The Sky through Lucy’s Eyes is a planetarium show about the changes in the night sky over the last three and a half million years. This 40-minute show is appropriate for ages 9 and up, and seating is limited to 40.

The Sky through Lucy’s Eyes is regularly offered at 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays during the month of October, and is free with admission, though seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. It will not be offered on October 11. From November onwards, The Sky through Lucy’s Eyes will be offered at 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Purpose of Show

  • Audience members will know that the Earth is moving very fast in a lot of different ways. (Daily motion, Annual Motion, Precession, Proper Motion, Space Velocity, and Motion through the plane of the galaxy will be covered, but audience members will not be expected to name them).
  • Audience members will understand that the magnitude and timeframe of these motions makes it difficult for us to calculate the positions of stars 3.5 million years ago when Lucy would have looked up.
  • Audience will be able to talk about sky viewing in Ethiopia. Either how the sky is different there, or by hearing a folktale from Ethiopia.
GLEs addressed - Washington State Learning Goals

These are Earth and Space Systems standards addressed in this planetarium show:
  • 1.2.5 (10) Describe how other galaxies and other celestial bodies appear from Earth.
  • 1.2.5 (Grade 6) Describe how the Earth orbits the Sun and the Moon orbits the Earth.
  • 1.3.7 (Grade 4) Describe how star patterns are different at different times of the year as seen from Earth (e.g., constellations such as Orion cannot always be seen during the course of a year).
  • 1.3.7 (Grade 10) Explain phenomena caused by the regular and predictable motions of planets and moons in the Solar System.