Download Queen`s Observatory Multimedia Guide

Queen’s Observatory Multimedia Guide
(1) DVDs:
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Blue Planet: an IMAX film about the Earth, largely shot from space. Topics: Earth
from space; under the oceans; earthquakes; storms; global warming; desertification;
life on Earth. Special features: movie trailer. Time: 40 min.
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Cosmic Voyage: an IMAX film introducing the Universe. Narrated by Morgan
Freeman. Includes a “Power of 10”, where we go out to the edge of the universe, and
inwards to the center of the atom; each step is 10x larger/smaller than the preceding
step. Other astronomical topics are also covered, but very quickly. Would be good
for younger children, up to Grade 9 or 10, and possibly for the lay public (these
comments also apply to blue Planet). Special Features: movie trailer; making of
Cosmic Voyage. Time: 40 min.
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Hyperspace: A 6-part series presented by Sam Neill. Generally very nice graphics
and reasonably good scientifically (with a few exceptions). Special features: Photo
Gallery; Space Facts; Behind the Graphics. Time: 30 min each
 Star Stuff: about the birth, lives, and death of stars
o Staying Alive: about ways the Earth could die! Impacts, supernova, black
holes, etc
o Black Holes: all about black holes …
o Are We Alone?: SETI, extrasolar planets, life on Mars or Europa?
o New Worlds: Interplanetary colonization; terraforming; Mars; Europa
o Boldly Go: Interstellar travel (solar sails, ion propulsion, wormholes)
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Origins: A two-disc PBS/NOVA series hosted by Neil DeGrasse Tyson, produced in
2004. Very good. Special features: teaching materials. Time: 1 hour per episode.
o Earth is Born: the first billion years of Planet Earth
o How Life Began: first life on Earth
o Where are the Aliens?: what would aliens look like? Extrasolar planets.
o Back to the Beginning: how the universe began; early universe; CMB
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The Planets: A four-disc, 8 episode BBC series, produced in 1999. Special
features: none. Time: 45 minutes per episode
o Different Worlds: space travel and planetary exploration
o Terra Firma: pioneering missions to our neighboring worlds
o Giants: about giant planets in the Solar System
o Moon: about our Moon
o Star: about our Sun
o Atmosphere: planets and moons with atmospheres
o Life: life in the solar system
o Destiny: evolution of planets; extrasolar planets
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(2) Using the Multimedia Facilities
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Turn on the wide-screen TV (power button on right-hand side)
“Source Selection” should be on Colorstream HD1—select using TV/Video button on
TV
Unlock the bottom cupboard below the TV; key is on the upper left-hand drawer
Turn on DVD player on the right-hand side, and VCR on left-hand side
DVD movies/slideshow are above DVD player
To Play DVD Movies:
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TV should look like Figure 1 (page 3)
Put DVD in, and it will start playing.
Adjust volume on TV
To navigate through DVD menu:
o Use Toshiba SE-R0093 remote (see Figure 3 on page 4)
o Use bottom arrow keys to navigate:
▲
◄
Enter
►
▼
o Hit enter key when selected
To Play DVD Hubble Slideshow:
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TV should look like Figure 2 (page 3)
Use Toshiba SE-R0093 remote and bottom arrow keys to select “JPEG”
Hit ‘Enter’, and you can then select different slideshows (e.g. Hubble-picture, Hubblewallpaper, galaxies, humans in space, telescopes, etc)
Use Skip “>>|” and “|<<” to navigate through slides
To end a given show, hit Stop in center of remote
When finished:
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Put remotes in upper left-hand drawer, and DVDs back above DVD player
Turn off DVD and VCR
Lock bottom cupboard and put key back in the left-hand drawer
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Figure 1: Wide-screen TV without a DVD in
Figure 2: Wide-screen TV with DVD slideshow in
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Figure 3: Remote Control used to play DVD movies and slideshows
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