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How do you handle updates for the latest discoveries?
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SHORT ANSWER: We don't. You may.
LONG ANSWER: Fortunately, as of this writing, Hubble is still operating and providing lots of new pictures and science. But while we can use Hubble to look back in time, we have nothing that allows us to look forward into the future.
It would be impractical for us to record new narration and change the entire show with every HST press release. And, we can't simply toss in newly released images into the existing package, because the show's narration naturally won't describe and explain them.
So, in pre-show welcoming remarks to the audience, we suggest that planetarians include words to the effect:
"HUBBLE Vision is an overview of the most significant images and discoveries made since the telescope was launched. It was produced in the spring of 2004. But the mission is still continuing. I'll be back after the program is over to show you some brand-new images I just downloaded from the Space Telescope Science Institute."
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Then go for it!
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What do you say about the end of the mission?
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SHORT ANSWER: Nothing, in the narration; there's an "HST Status" image/slide for the show's end.
LONG ANSWER: As of this writing, Hubble's ultimate fate has yet to be determined. While we hope it doesn't come to a premature conclusion, the situation will undoubtedly develop in ways we can't predict.
So, at the end of the show's narration, before the credits, we provide an "HST Status" image/slide -- like this one. When and if significant events warrant, we'll simply change the wording of the text. Customers will be able to download the revised image here from our Web site, and replace the one that shipped with their show.
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What's the most recent picture included with the show?
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ANSWER: The Ultra Deep Field, released 9 March 2004.
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Does this show fit in the National Science Education Standards?
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ANSWER: Read more here.
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Why does the narrator refer to Pluto and Charon as a double planet? What about the 2006 IAU ruling?
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ANSWER: When we wrote the first script for HUBBLE Vision, the term "double planet" was just coming into vogue among astronomers. It was a sort of shorthand for the fact that Pluto and Charon interact more like two small planets together rather than a planet and its moon.
The argument for the term double planet is largely based in the characteristics and dynamics of the system. Pluto's diameter is 2,272 km, Charon is 1,212 km. That makes Charon half of Pluto's size; its mass is roughly 12-14 percent of Pluto's (the Earth-Moon system ratio is roughly 0.012). This affects their orbital interactions. When the center of mass of a double or binary system is not located under the surface of either object, then both are in orbit around that center of mass, the barycenter. This is the case in the Pluto system.
Here are some citations; each has some variation of the double planet theme in their explanations:
Although in 2006 the IAU re-defined Pluto as a "dwarf planet", our script actually talks about something else. It says: "In 1978, Pluto was discovered to be a 'double' planet, with its companion, Charon." This is still perfectly true; in 1978, Charon's discovery did indeed alter Pluto's single status. This historical event we report is (and will remain) unchanged.
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CLASSIC (SLIDE PROJECTOR-BASED) SHOW PACKAGES
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Isn't this just a rewrite of your old Hubble show? Can't I just get an update?
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SHORT ANSWER: No.
LONG ANSWER: This show is all-new. There has been so much science to talk about and so many new images to show from HST's vast archives that we simply started again from scratch. We're using a new narration voice, and Mark has created entirely new music just for the occasion. We're calling it HUBBLE Vision 2 so planetarians won't confuse the new show with its 1994 predecessor. The logo in the show calls it HUBBLE Vision; in our promo graphics, we provide a version with and without the "2". It's up to you which you use.
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What equipment do I need to run this show?
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ANSWER: A complete description of what you'll need is right here.
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My theater has/doesn't have a video projector I spent a gazillion dollars on. Is it called for in this show?
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SHORT ANSWER: If you want to use it, fine. If not, fine.
LONG ANSWER: There is only one video sequence -- a stellar formation animation -- in the show. Since it's not Hubble imagery, and there's only just the one clip, you may decide that using the still frames we extracted from the video will fit better stylistically with the rest of the show.
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What's the reference video DVD for?
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SHORT ANSWER: The reference video displays the entire show in a typical three-screen L-C-R format. Use it for programming, so images appear on the dome like they do in the video.
LONG ANSWER: The reference video is an extremely useful part of your HUBBLE Vision 2 production package -- a valuable tool to help you plan the installation of the show in your theater. It displays when and how each of the images should appear during the presentation. Use it to help plan where you will put the images in your projection systems: multi-image arrays, panorama (if you have one, although it isn't necessary in order to run the show), zooms, slews, and video (if you have it). The reference video shows you when stars would appear, for example, or a spacecraft would fly, or how the fade rates and timings of a three-screen multi-image montage occur. (It's not for public display, obviously.)
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