Say Goodbye to Hector Vector Star Projector
Hector Vector Star Projector
Tucson, Arizona – The public is invited to visit Flandrau: The University of Arizona Science Center and say goodbye to Hector Vector Star Projector before it closes it doors on June 1, 2009. Flandrau Science Center is closing as a result of state budget cuts announced earlier in the year.
Hector Vector Star Projector, the nickname local kids fondly gave the optical projector that rises from the floor at the beginning of each planetarium show to depict the realistic night image of our sky and solar system, has been a staple for generations of Tucsonans. Many adults that came to Flandrau Science Center as children years ago to watch Hector’s wondrous performances now bring their children to share the same childhood memories they had as kids. It is estimated that more than 1.5 million people visited Flandrau Science Center during its 33-year history.
For more than three decades, Flandrau Science Center has provided a variety of science related exhibits and experiences for residents, school groups and visitors to southern Arizona. It has offered visitors an opportunity to experience the universe in a new way.
Visitors encounter hands-on exhibits, viewing through a 16-inch telescope, informative presentations and a multi-media journey through the solar system in the planetarium theater.
Oral histories of the men and women who live and worked in the underground mining communities are presented in the Miners’ Story Project. Tours of The University of Arizona Mineral Museum, the longest continuously-curated mineral museum west of the Mississippi, also are available. The museum contains one of the top five collections in the United States and has more than 27,000 minerals and 1,000 artifacts, including mineral specimens that date back to 1892.
The Science Center got its start with a 1972 bequest from the estate of Grace H. Flandrau, noted author and frequent winter visitor to Tucson. The University decided to use the generous gift to fund a facility that would increase public understanding and appreciation of science.
Originally known as The Grace H. Flandrau Planetarium, the facility was part of the UA department of astronomy. Its location on campus, near the astronomy department, the College of Optical Sciences, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory and historic Steward Observatory, reflects its continuing connections to the research community. The Planetarium was designed by Tucson architectural firm Blanton and Company and opened its doors to the public in 1975.
After closing to the public on June 1st, Flandrau will maintain its commitment to community education through various astronomy outreach programs for both school and general public audiences. Also, work will continue on exhibit concepts and prototyping for the new science center planned as part of the City of Tucson’s downtown redevelopment district.
About Flandrau: The UA Science Center and Mineral Museum
Currently, Flandrau: The UA Science Center which houses the Mineral Museum is open 4 days a week – Thursday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with evening hours on Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. The science center is located on the northeast corner of University Boulevard and Cherry Avenue. For more information call 520- 621-STAR.
Click here for schedule and showtimes.
About Astronomy Outreach Program
For information about the astronomy outreach program, call astronomy coordinator Mike Terenzoni at 520-621-3646 or email him at: miket@ns.arizona.edu
Contact Information
Sam Kane
520-626-3032
skane@email.arizona.edu
June 3rd, 2009 at 11:55 am
I personally think it’s ridiculous that Flandrau Planetarium is closing for “budget cuts”…the U of A can afford to pay a football coach $2 million dollars a year, and bring him to the press conference in a limousine, but, with all the astronomy & space exploration connections Tucson has, the Great Desert University can’t afford to keep Flandrau open! Guess they just reiterated that sports, not academics or research, is their priority here.
June 3rd, 2009 at 4:30 pm
I completely agree with Ed Martinez. This is a closing that did not have to happen, there are alternatives (especially if others involved with the UA sacrificed a bit more via their salary until things improved). After all, do professors need 5 or 6 figures, etc? When the economy improves, then $2M for the coach, etc is fine; however, during trying times, I do not understand the selfishness. Especially when treasures, such as the planetarium are in the crosshairs. RIP Hector Vector Star Projector…I shall miss you, and I pray for a resurrection.
June 11th, 2009 at 8:54 am
Closing the Flandrau is appalling! The Planetarium is a little gem of which Tucson could always be proud. I will miss the opportunities it presented for expanding my perspective of the universe. And as to Mr. Martinez’ comment about the salary the University pays a football coach, how true! If the alumni and the university can sponsor athletics then they can surely “scrape together,” what we were told in the media, the $200,000.00 to keep this wonderful facility open!
June 16th, 2009 at 11:29 am
Major disappointment that the Flandreau is closed! I went there all the time when I was in college. My family has recently moved back to the area and I was really looking forward to taking my 4 year old son to the awesome facility. UA needs to rethink what they have just done. Other cut backs could have taken place or fundraising events to support the center. The educational system is in serious trouble when athletics for entertainment is more important than the teaching science. A lot of children will miss out on this wonderful learning experience.
June 16th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Even after my fiance and I graduated from the UA, we still went back to see a planetarium show once in awhile and to see what was new with the exhibits. We always bought some freeze-dried strawberries (”astronaut food”). I was saddened to come on this site today and find out that I was too late to visit one last time.
June 19th, 2009 at 11:37 am
What a bummer. My freshman and sophomore years in the late 80s I spent many many hours working at Flandrau earning my “work study” financial aid – ran the star projector during laser shows every weekend, gave tours to school kids, sold trinkets in the gift shop. It was a great campus job. Sorry to hear it’s no more – I will miss the stodgy old smell of that place. (FYI, there is no direct connection between coaches’ salaries and the general UA budget – those salaries, whether obscenely high or not, are paid out of the athletic budget which is entirely self-supporting. Cuts to save the planetarium would have to come elsewhere on campus.)
June 24th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
I’m so bummed to hear that the planetarium is closed. I used to come there every year for field trips. I now live in Indiana and was so excited about bringing my kids there during vacation this July. It was a Tucson landmark that I enjoyed as a child and as an adult for laser shows. It will be missed!
July 5th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
I was out here last year with my granddaughter visiting her dad. We read about this “star Planetarium” and decided to go. It was fantastic! We decided to go again this year,and when I got online to find out the “times,I unfortunately found out the bad news about “Hector”. What you had at this place was so outstanding,I cannot imagine doing away with it. I am a teacher and if I taught here I would have a field trip every year to see this. This inspired my 9 year old granddaughter so much that she ask for a telescope for Christmas. I wish we had “Hector” at Ohio Univrsity. We have a southern campus that is growing each year, and this would be a great assest. Too bad you run your colleges like most…sports,especially football come first…what a shame.
July 8th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
I have to say I was bummed to hear about Hector. I loved it and when my fiance said he never experienced Hector and his awesomeness I thought I could show him something awesome but now it was Kitt Peak and he likes it but its ahhh not the same. However I do agree on something: They need to bring Hector back cause there is so much to teach for all ages. Budget cuts are just an excuse. If it wasn’t for science and astronomy we wouldn’t have a lot of things we have. I’m sad.
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July 15th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
Ouch! We live in Central California and have visited often over the years. Our state budget woes are much like that of AZ. Still, was hoping to fly over and drop by Flandreau next week. Good memories. Will miss the programs.
July 24th, 2009 at 11:26 am
We are in Tucson visiting and was so looking forward to taking our children to the science center.
What a huge disappointment that your facility has been closed due to budget concerns.
It is quite unfortunate that science and astronomy had to take the brunt of the A’s financial woes. The children will suffer. Our future will suffer.
August 1st, 2009 at 10:21 am
My name is Macey and I am 7 years old. I think you should open the Flandrau Planetarium because it has very neat things that people can learn about. It is one of my favorite places in Tucson and it makes me feel bad that it is closed.
My name is Hilary and I am Macey’s mom and an elementary school teacher. It is absolutely pathetic that our community did not do something to keep this amazing institution from closing. We are an astronomy center and our community is much the worse for letting this local treasure slip quietly away. Where is the outrage?! Macey and I will write a letter to the governor and the legislature and the UofA president to let them know we think this is really crummy. I hope more people do that too.
September 2nd, 2009 at 10:28 am
The only thing keeping me from making obscene comments are my education and class learned from the Flandrau Planetarium. This is a disgrace to Arizona, the U of A, and I am writing a letter to the governor and the legislature right now requesting that our children’s need for awe and wonder be restored with the reopening of the planetarium!
September 8th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
I also agree with Ed Martinez… this school is known for space science…. the football team isn’t even that good….
November 7th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
I was prepared to take my two young children to the Flandrau today and I am disgusted to learn that this opportunity is no longer available. Sincerely disgusted.
November 30th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
I was looking forward to taking my team to the planetarium for a fun activity. I’m sad that I didn’t hear about the closing and wasn’t able to go one last time before it closed down.
I agree with everyone. I’m very disappointed that they didn’t reach out to the community more. Maybe they could have done a fund raiser to keep the planetarium open
December 5th, 2009 at 9:15 am
I was shocked to read that the Planetarium had closed! Our class took many field trips there and it was an excellent place to discover and learn about things in outer space. The hands-on activities were fabulous. It was the field trip of the year for our classes. The university (which is my alma mater, I’m sad to say) needs to rethink what they’ve done and bring back a great learning experience for students.
December 25th, 2009 at 12:21 am
Was saddened to hear that the Planetarium was closed. Kept meaning to go but never got around to it, now it appears that I won’t be able to at all. And for budget cuts? How much does it cost to operate the planetarium? It’s not like you had to buy a new projector …
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:23 am
I cant believe this place has closed I have been going to it for as long as I can remember. I no longer live in Tucson but visit it whenever possible, I have a vacation coming up where I am going to be visiting with my two children who are both very excited about coming to Tucson and one of the things they have been so looking forward to was seeing the planetarium. I cant believe people let this place close down I loved it and my children would have too. There are so many people going to miss this place and it is very unfortunate that there are many who will never get to see it. Its a very sad loss indeed I hope they see there folly and reopen it.
March 10th, 2010 at 11:54 am
I’d like to add to this collection of blogs decrying the Flandrau’s demise. I’ve heard that the New York State school system has done worse… eliminating (I think) all of their planetarium staffers across the state due to “budget cutbacks”.
Educational institutions have lost their way. Thus, more luxury skyboxes in stadiums, but lost night skies. Universities trip over themselves in a race to the bottom (in terms of public science outreach and notions of “public mission”) while whatever brings in the “doh” is shown a front seat. Administrators don’t get it: the more they reject serving the public interest and suck up to Big Sports (etc.) the more that the citizens will fail to support them through taxes. U Presidents have dimmed visions and function more like cheerleaders/fundraisers… all while the academic mission suffers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has noted the brain drain away from physics and math and our increasing dependence on foriegn expertise. When will saner voices speak out?
In short, Arizona is following the curve… a downward one.
March 26th, 2010 at 9:38 am
Having grown up here in Tucson, the Hector Vector program was my favorite field trip as a school child. It was the only one I remember where I learned something new. The closing of the planetarium was a huge let down, and now that I have children who could benefit from the wonderful program, the loss if felt even more. We all say we value education for children yet we continually throw our money and time at things of less importance and value. Our actions speak louder than our words.