Sora’s Desert Planetarium

You've arrived at the Desert Planetarium. Far away from the city. We can simply enjoy the stars. Sora is in the observatory, tending to the telescope. Every night offers something different in the cosmos. Maybe tonight you'll catch a falling star. Anything is possible at the planetarium. First, let's get cozy with a little wind down exercise. Tonight's exercise is a really simple breathing exercise. So when you are ready, let's begin. So first, get yourself comfortable. Now just bringing the attention to the breath, just noticing where you feel it in the nose, the throat, the chest, the diaphragm, you're nice and relaxed. We are going to be taking a deep breath in for four, holding it for four, and then breathing out for six. So are you ready? Let's begin, in for four, 2, 3, 4. Hold it for four, 2, 3, 4. Now breathing out for six, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. In for four, 2, 3, 4. Holding for four, 2, 3, 4. Out for six, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. In for four, 2, 3, 4. Holding for four, 2, 3, 4. Out for six, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. In for four, 2, 3, 4. Holding for four, 2, 3, 4. Out for six, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Great. Now returning the breath to normal. Here's a room that remains a mystery, even to Sora. For years, this desert structure stood unattended, with dust bunnies running the show. Except for this room, Sora found it perfectly preserved. It may take a moment for your eyes to adjust to the soft glow lighting, but maybe you can start to see the shapes lining the walls. And untrained eye might wonder, "Are they diagrams, graphs without a grid?" Sora recognized these shapes right away. They are constellations. Each one is a mosaic made of all sorts. Seeds, bottle caps, spare bits of tinsel. A compound of objects taking shape, like Taurus. The two horns drawn of fishing line and silver tissue paper. Each star marked by a tightly woven circle of copper buttons. The swooping L-shape of Pisces is charted by bits of ceramic blue plates. Their shimmering glaze bathing in the low light. The material is far from precious stones, but assembled together, it's something even better. No artist ever took credit. No signature is hidden in the doorway. Sora's checked every corner. Still, someone made sure these delicate details held together for who knows how long. Now it is Sora who takes great care, keeping the room cool, treating each piece like the work of art that it is. An act of reverence to those who built this place long ago. A little stop in Orion's Gift Shop is a must for any visitor. For the aspiring scientist, there are space dust kits and fragments of moon rock ready to be studied under a microscope. Inflatable solar systems, perfect for a lightweight planetary display. If spacecrafts call your attention, you can build a...