About the Program

Hosts

JAMES ALBURY spends a lot of time in the dark. Leaning back and surrounded by stars, he juggles whether to fly to Neptune or Saturn. Neptune it is. Stars rush forward and planets swing by as Albury moves at speeds only NASA can only dream of. This is the life of a planetarium director, and Albury is the man in charge at Santa Fe’s Kika Silva Pla Planetarium.

Albury took over the helm at the Kika Silva Pla Planetarium in October 2009 and spent the first few weeks testing it out to see what his new baby can do. His first creation, "Meteors!," opened Friday, November 20, 2009 and not only supplied an explanation and history of meteors, past and present, but also came with its own 5,000-year-old, 75-pound meteorite. Listening to Albury during the show, you could hear the enthusiasm in his voice. This is a man in his element. “I get to do something I have been passionate about since I was a child,” says Albury.

MARLENE HILDAGO is a seasoned science teacher for students with learning disabilities, autism, and attention deficit disorders at St. Brendan High School in Miami, FL. Her concentrations are environmental science, physical science and mathematics. Ms. Hidalgo has been teaching science to students with learning disabilities for over 10 years in the public and private sector.

Ms. Hidalgo has a Master of Science degree in exceptional student education from Nova Southeastern University and a Bachelor of Science degree in sociology and anthropology from Florida International University.

Marlene is a member of the South Florida Associations of Amateur Astronomers and the Southern Cross Astronomical Society.

The stars captured DEAN REGAS, Outreach Astronomer, Assistant Director of the Cincinnati Observatory in 1998 while working at Cincinnati’s Wolff Planetarium in Burnet Woods.

It was there that he discovered a passion for astronomy and has since become a local expert in observational astronomy, star identification and mythology. Dean has written over 60 astronomy articles for the Cincinnati Enquirer and Community Press and has been featured on local television and radio.

He has been the Outreach Astronomer for the Cincinnati Observatory since 2000.

Partners

MIAMI SCIENCE MUSEUM
For over 60 years, Miami Science Museum’s award-winning educational programs, family-focused exhibits, historic planetarium, and rehabilitative Wildlife Center and Clinic have enriched locals and tourists alike. In 2014, the legacy continues with the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science, a new world-class, state-of-the-art facility designed by Grimshaw Architects in the heart of downtown Miami. Miami Science Museum is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.

KIKA SILVA PLA PLANETARIUM | SANTA FE COLLEGE
Since 2006, the Kika Silva Pla Planetarium has been dedicated to enriching the learning environment of Santa Fe College students and our community. We employ the latest educationally innovative technology in a unique immersive-learning environment for Santa Fe and University of Florida students, public and private school children, community groups, and the public of North Central Florida.

THE CINCINNATI OBSERVATORY
The Cincinnati Observatory is a fully functioning 19th century observatory used daily by the public and amateur astronomers, civic organizations, teachers and students, history buffs and science mavens. The main telescopes are an 11 inch Merz and Mahler refractor purchased in 1842 and a 16 inch Alvan Clark refractor dating to 1904. The historic buildings are recognized as a National Historic Landmark and the grounds provide a serene, park-like setting while still being centrally located in the city of Cincinnati.

Production Crew

Bill Dishong, Producer

Ray Ratliff, Graphics

Sean Hickey, Editor

Erlin Morandeira, Director

Jack Kelly, V.P., Production