Attention earthlings: take a voyage into space

July 17, 2017

Want to be among the first earthlings to see “The Farthest—Voyager in Space,” a documentary about NASA’s Voyager mission?

UofL's Gheens Science Hall and Rauch Planetarium is offering a free preview of the film before it officially debuts on KET in August.

Preview times are: July 23 at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. and July 27 at 6:30 p.m. The event is free but reservations are required and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Rauch Planetarium is one of just two Kentucky locations offering the preview (the other is Eastern Kentucky University’s Hummel Planetarium).

“The Farthest” will be shown on KET Aug. 23 at 9 p.m. (8 p.m. Central) and on KET2 Aug. 24 at the same times.

[caption id="attachment_37522" align="alignleft" width="300"] Both Voyager spacecrafts were equipped with a "golden record." The 1970s era recording included music, sounds from nature and a message from President Jimmy Carter.[/caption]

The film marks the 40th anniversary of the mission. The story of the Voyager’s two ships — each with less computing power than a cellphone — provides details on how scientists used slingshot trajectories to send them to the fringes of our solar system, employed aluminum foil to protect them from radiation, overcame near disasters at launch and equipped the ships with “gifts” just in case they were discovered by aliens.

Before the Louisville preview screening, viewers will also be treated to a brief immersive flight through our solar system using technology unique to UofL’s planetarium.