See the Wonders of Ancient Egypt at the TAMIU Planetarium

On a clear night, you might see the Big Dipper, Mars and maybe even a meteor or two. With “Stars of the Pharaohs” at the Texas A&M International University’s Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium, you can see how the ancient Egyptians saw their night sky and how they used science to build a workable calendar, align buildings and tell time.

The show will run Friday, July 28 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, July 29 at 8 p.m.

“Stars of the Pharaohs,” narrated by John Rhys-Davies of “Lord of the Rings” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark” fame, takes audiences to ancient Egypt and explains ancient Egyptian architecture, mathematics and astronomical tradition. Ancient Egyptians mythological beliefs were based on a connection they felt with the stars and various astronomical phenomena.

Audiences will also have a chance to see some of the most spectacular temples and tombs of the ancient world, such as Tut’s tomb, all recreated in their original splendor.

Other shows currently showing at the Planetarium include: “Kaluoka'hina, The Enchanted Reef,” an adventure story for young and young-at-heart; “Wonders of the Universe,” takes audiences deep into space through the eyes of the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope and back billions of years in time to witness the birth of the universe; and “enTRANCEd,” a music entertainment show that combines digital animation, laser beamwork, and live-performed visual effects inside the TAMIU theatre’s 45-foot dome fashioned to a combination of modern and classic examples of Techno, Rave, and Trance styles.

General admission tickets for “Kaluoka’hina” and “Wonders” is $5; tickets to “Pharaohs” and “enTRANCEd” cost $6; tickets for TAMIU students, faculty and staff and children under 12 are $4 for “Kaluoka’hina” and “Wonders” and $5 for “Pharaohs” and “enTRANCEd.” Buy a ticket for a second showing on the same weekend, and save $2 off the second ticket. Group rates are available for 50 or more people; advance reservations required.

Also available weekdays and during weekends is the downlink to NASA 24-hour programming on the Plasma TV above the lobby Planetarium door. All the latest developments in the space program and its findings are shown here first.

The TAMIU Planetarium has one of the few new generation digital projectors. Prior technology only allowed a view from the Earth; this projector allows viewing from any part of the known universe. Thus, one can travel to structures unseen, except to highly developed telescopes.

The Digistar 3 projectors use powerful graphics hardware and software to generate immersive full-dome images on the interior surface of a dome, integrating all-dome video, real time 3D computer graphics, and a complete astronomy package.

For more information and show schedule, visit the Planetarium on the Web at tamiu.edu/coas/planetarium or call 956. 326.2444.

For information on group rates, please call Laura Diaz at 326.2463 or e-mail planetarium@tamiu.edu.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu