KELSEYVILLE >> “The Martian,” one of 2015’s most popular movies, recently won a Golden Globe Award and has been nominated for an Oscar. On Saturday at Taylor Observatory solar system expert Eduardo Alatorre will describe the interesting science behind this popular movie. But why was the Golden Globe award given to “The Martian” in part for Comedy? To answer that, Eduardo will explain some of the “in” space jokes that are interspersed through the movie — too subtle for most viewers of this popular movie. Even if you didn’t see the movie, Eduardo’s lecture will entertain you with a fascinating account.
To accompany the lecture, the observatory staff will present a new Mars planetarium show, produced by NASA.
The evening at Taylor begins with a planetarium show at 7:15 p.m., followed by the lecture at 8 p.m. and a second planetarium show around 9. Telescope viewing on the Taylor’s 16-inch scope will begin after the talk, weather permitting. Clearing skies are forecast, giving some chance of viewing the comet Catalina as it races away from the solar system in it’s once only journey from the Oort Cloud. Catalina may be even visible with binoculars near the Big Dipper with an approximate magnitude of 6.
Friends of Taylor Observatory-Norton Planetarium sponsors the program. Admission is $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children 12 and under. Taylor is located at the end of Oak Hills Lane in Kelseyville. For further information phone 415 209-3084, consult the website www.taylorobservatory.org or visit the Friends of Taylor Facebook page.
