EXCURSIONS
University Daily Kansan / Friday, November 15, 1991
9
UNDER THE MILKY WAY
Tombaugh observatory reopens for public star-gazing
By Keith Thorpe Special to the Kansan
Stephen Shawl wants to put stars in your eyes.
Stars, planets, galaxies and other celestial wonders are visible through the telescopes at Lindley Hall, and Shawl, professor of physics and astronomy, is inviting people to take a closer look.
"Astronomy is something that everyone can get involved with," he said.
Shawl has reopened the Clyde Y. Tombaugh Observatory on the roof of Lindley Hall for public viewing 8 to 9:30 p.m. on Friday nights when skies are clear. There is no admission charge.
Public access to the telescopes was not allowed for more than three years because of potential fire code violations. A new stairway to the roof was made and improvements to the roof are expected to be completed by January, Shawslaid.
The decision was made to open on Fridays while construction is under way because of the observatory's past popularity.
"We would average about 25 people per week," Shawl said. "Sometimes we would have hundreds of people up there."
The observatory's 6-inch refracting telescope and 14-inch mirror reflector.
inch mirror reflecting telescopes are available to the public, he said.
Last Friday, about 50 people braved nose-numbing temperatures for a RIFLE.
Mike Biggs, Englewood, Colo. senior, said he came to the observatory as part of his Astronomy 191 class. He showed us shown up without the requirement.
"It's a lot more interesting than computer science or something like that because weegt to look at the stars of doing all of the book work," he said.
"I'd rather come up here and look at the stars as much as possible."
Eitan Dickman, Overland Park sophomore and student telescope assistant, said viewing the stars needed to put the universe in perspective.
"It really shows you how small and hard to make anything is here compared to the big picture."
"Ever since you were a child, you were looking up at the stars, wanting to know 'Why do the stars twinkle?' How far away are the planets?'
"This is a good hands-on experience and the answers to your questions," he said.
Laura DI Simone, Lawrence resident, said she brought her two children and a friend's child to the observatory or a look at the ringed planet Saturn.
Amid the oohs and aahs of the
youngsters, Di Simeon said, "My children haven't seen Saturn before. We thought it be a nice mini-field. I think they are cool. They think Saturn is really cool."
Because aaslur viewing is not possible on cloud nights, Shawl recommended checking the skies before coming to the observatory.
"If you can't see it with your eyes, you can't see it through the telescope," he said.
Shawl said city lights had made viewing more difficult in past few years. The situation has become so bad that the physics and astronomy department has considered moving the observatory away from campus if funds can be found to do so.
"The state motto of Kansas is 'Ad astra per aspera,' meaning "To the stars through difficulty," he said. "The state legislature has done a good job with the 'difficulty' part."
"Unfortunately, the 'to the stars'
history of astronomy at KU."
However, Shawl remains undaunted in trying to arouse public interest in astronomy.
"It's sad for people who don't see the stars and constellations," he said. "It's sad for those who don't see the universe as we are a part."
"Astronomy is the study of everything."
Keith Thorpe/ Special to the KANSAN
The stars paint trails across the sky over the Clyde W. Tombaugh Observatory at Lindley Hall (above) during a 10-minute time exposure. Laura D! Simone, Lawrence resident (above left), views Saturn through the observatory's 6-inch refracting telescope. The observatory is open Friday nights from 8 to 9:30 p.m.
Lawrence Nightlife
- Jazzhaus, 926 $^{1/2}$ Massachusetts St. Love Squad will perform at 10 tonight and tomorrow night. Cover charge is $3.
- Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. Sin City Disciples will perform at 10 tonight. The cover charge is $4. Mutabaruka, Mighty Diamonds and 809 Sunsplash Band will perform at 9 tomorrow night. Advanced tickets are $10. Tickets are $12 at the door.
- Benchwarmers, 1601 W.23rd St. Band Dujour will perform at 9:30 tonight.
- Down & Under, 801 New Hampshire St. Paw and Season to Risk will perform at 10 tonight and Sleezet will perform at 10 tomorrow night. Cover charge is $3.
- Bogarts, 611 Vermont St. Lonesome Hobos will perform at 9 tomorrow night. Cover charge is $3.
- Just a Playhouse, 806 W. 24th St. Ronny Ward and the Cowtown Band will perform at 10 tonight and tomorrow night. Cover charge is $3.
Director adds life to gangster play
Visiting professor from Berlin directs 'The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui'
By Jennifer Bach Kansan staff writer
Remembrances of Chicago mafia king Al Capone will be portrayed this weekend as the KU Theatre department presents its last three productions of "The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui."
Heiwz-Uwe Raus, a visiting professor who is teaching a graduate course on directing techniques this semester, came to KU from Berlin, specifically to direct this play.
"This University is in a very good situation to have so many theatrical events," he said. "The Lawrence community and the University community have a chance to participate in them."
The play, which will be presented tonight and tomorrow night at 8 p.m. in Crafton-Preyer Theater, revolvesaround Arturo Uri, a mafioso character rises to power in Chicago during the 1930s.
The 165-miute play was written by German playwright Berdert Brecht.
Andrew Tubaki, choreographer and movement director of the play, said the production focused on how organized crime corruption took over the Chicago scene.
"We want to show Americans that like how Hitler
Heiwz-Uwe Haus
Visitingprofessor
came to power in Germany, takeovers in America can happen too," he said. "Brecht used the example of Al Capone's rise and presented it through Arturo Ui."
Haus, who has studied Brecht's $174 plays, made the production very exciting by using a lot of movement and expression. Tsubaki said.
Most of Brecht's plays emphasize alienation, which emotionally keeps the audience at a distance by not being over-dramatic, so they can look at the play intellectually. Tsubaki said.
"Dr. Haus is very movement oriented," he said.
"He brings fun and excitement to the plays he directs."
Tsubaki said Haus' direction brought an enormous amount of knowledge to Brecht's play, which took six weeks to rehearse.
"He creates the performance with joy and the audience can share that," he said. "Everyone seems astonished that Brecht can be so exciting."
Haus said he had the actors bring in articles of comparable gangster stories to supplement their studying of the play.
"The play is for youngsters and adults, so you have to tell a story," he said. "All different kinds of people like to listen to stories."
Haus said he has directed many of Brecht's plays in universities around the United States.
"Brecht shaped the modern world theatre," he said. "Before I did anything else, there was Brecht. We're happy that we succeeded."
Roseanne sues
A former National Enquirer reporter said an editor ordered employees of the tabloid to trash a home rented by Roseanne Arnold and photograph the mess for a story.
The Outlook newspaper in Santa Monica reported Tuesday that former Enquirer reporter James W. Cruse told his editor that the home sustained "normal wear and tear" after the Arnolds moved out. He said his editor other Enquirer employees to
The comedian, star of television's "Roseanne," and her husband, Tom Arnold, were sued for $205,296 in damage to the $3.5 million home. They filed a counter suit, saying the Enquirer did the dirty deed after they moved out in May 1990.
empty trash cans in the home and take pictures.
Richard S. Hoffman, attorney for the Lantana, Fla., based tabloid, denied Cruse's scenario.
Ex-athlete cuts deal
A drug-possession charge against former football star mark Gastineau will be dropped if he completes a year of drug treatment.
Under the deal approved Wednesday, Gastineau did not admit guilt to a charge of picking up a package of ampetamines at an airport last April.
Cruse gave a deposition to attorneys for Arnold.
The 31-st year-old former New York Jets stir went to the Pro Bowl five times and logged a career 107 quarterback sacks. He retired in the 1988 season.
Defense attorney Paul Fischer said
fighting the charges would have been expensive and would have interfered with Gastineau's fledgling boxing career.
'Curly Sue' is No.1
"Culy Sue," the feel-good comedy by themaker of "Home Alone," rose to the top of the box-office charts in its third week of release, while the holiday fim "All I Want for Christmas" fizzled.
Collecting $5 million for the week end, "Curly Sue" now has made $17.2 millin and slipped only 7 percent
from the previous weekend, according to figures released Monday by Entertainment Data Inc. The film stars Alison Porter as a moppet con artist.
In second was Wes Craven's horror film "The People Under the Stairs," which made $4.4 million and fell out of first place from its debut last week. Dustin Hoffman and his gangster release "Billy Bathgate" landed in third with sales of $3.7 million.
Jackson video debuts
Moonwalking recluse Michael Jackson returned to the music and dance scene with an 11-minute video debuting in 27 countries yesterday.
The video was directed by John Lan-
The video, promoting Jackson's
new song "Black or White," teams him with an all-star cast that includes cartoon character Bart Simpson. "Cheers" star George Wendt and "Home Alone" star Macaulay Culin.
The video was did
dis and was
rumored to have
cost $4 million.
The video made its debut in the United States on the Fox Broadcasting network and cable television's MTV and VH-1 channels at 8:24 p.m. EST.
Michael Jackson
On Nov. 26, Jack-
son will release "Dangerous," his first
album in four years.
Sly fights with canvas
When Sylvester Stallone locks himself in his garage and breaks out his canvas, paints and brushes, the result can sometimes resemble one of his movies.
"I have a full-on street fight with that canvas. I go to war," the 45-year-old star of the "Rocky" and "Rambo" movies said in the December issue of Connoisseur magazine.
Stallone said his painting style was expressionistic. "All my paintings are done out of angst, anger, happiness or something," he said.
He is also an art collector who owns about 200 19th- and 20th-century works, including a pair of portraits of himself by Andy Warhol.