COWBOY ASTRONOMER

The Cowboy Astronomer

What do cowboys need to know about the stars?

Find out in this enjoyable show for the entire family and children of any age, with entertaining storytelling by cowboy poet Baxter Black. Come prepared to relax, kick back, laugh, and even snap your fingers as Baxter awakens you to the beauties of the night sky.

Produced by Loch Ness Productions, this show features a professional soundtrack and numerous multi-media effects adapted to the OBU Planetarium's unique theater environment.

General info

Spring '98: Cowboy Astronomer lasts about 40 minutes and is shown every Friday night at 7 p.m., immediately before The Mars Show.
Telescopic viewing is available after each show, weather permitting.
Show schedules
Map and directions on how to find us.
Ticket information.

Constellations toured

Asterisms

The Big Dipper, in the constellation Ursa Major the Big Bear, and how to use it to find your way around the sky.
Polaris and the Little Dipper, in the constellation Ursa Minor the Little Bear.

The Zodiac

Gemini the Twins
Leo the Lion
Taurus the Bull (Crab nebula, Pleiades)

Other constellations

Orion the Hunter (belt of three stars, Betelgeuse, Orion nebula)
Pegasus the Horse (baseball diamond)
Andromeda the Princess (M31)
Cygnus the Swan (Deneb, Cygnus X-1)
The bright star Sirius in the constellation Canis Major the Big Dog

Educational resources

Big Dipper starclock ($1).
Tell time by the Big Dipper! Easy to assemble; large graphics printed on card stock and laminated. Includes a star chart of the northern sky.
Current monthly star chart (complimentary; on the back side of your ticket).
Planisphere ($6 or $12 at the OBU Bookstore).
A laminated star chart that works all year long. Available in either a pocket-sized or larger, easier-to-read version. Also available from Astronomics in Norman.
365 Starry Nights, Chet Raymo ($15 at the OBU Bookstore).
Introduces the night sky in only a few minutes every night of the year. A great way for families to become familiar with the constellations together, besides picking up a pretty good knowledge of astronomy.