An Aboriginal tribe's knowledge of the stars, and its culture, stories and music will be explored at the University of Colorado at Boulder's Fiske Planetarium in April.
John Stocke, a CU-Boulder professor of astrophysical and planetary sciences, will be joined by Australian storyteller and educator Paul Taylor to present "Aboriginal Skies" on Friday, April 22, at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, April 23, at 2 p.m.
During the show, Taylor and Stocke will explore the creation story and assorted rock art and sky constellations of the Wardaman people, an Aboriginal tribe of northern Australia. Through live music, stories and rock art they will describe the tribe's beliefs about the heavens.
The planetarium projector will then be used to show the sky the way the Wardamans view it, according to Stocke. The show also will include a live didgeridoo performance by Taylor.
This is the third Fiske Planetarium show presented by Stocke exploring indigenous people's knowledge of the stars. In years past he also has presented "Navajo Skies" and "Pawnee Skies."
Taylor lives in the United States and travels the country sharing the music and stories of the Aboriginal people. He also visits Australia every year to learn more about the Wardaman culture by studying with Bill Yidunduma Harney, a tribal elder.
Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for students and $3.50 for children and seniors. Sommers-Bausch Observatory, adjacent to the planetarium, is open to the public following Friday shows, weather permitting. Admission to the observatory is free.
For more information about Fiske Planetarium and other shows and programs it offers, call (303) 492-5002 or visit the Web site at .