New film, “Wired to Win” premieres at Planetarium

The Mayborn Planetarium and Space Theater recently premiered a new large format film,“Wired to Win: Surviving the Tour de France.” This is an action-packed, spellbinding ride chronicling the legendary Tour de France bike race. The film seamlessly melds state-of-the-art computer animation of the human brain with the first-ever giant screen film footage of this grueling athletic event, thus bringing together the excitement of world-class sport and the frontiers of science.

The Tour de France – a physically demanding three-week battle where elite athletes risk it all in pursuit of victory, fame and, in some rare cases, a place in the annals of cycling history, takes place across the spectacular landscape of France - the towering mountains of the Alps, the broad urban avenues of Paris, and the knotted villages of Provence. “Wired to Win” puts audiences face-to-face with these fierce competitors as they survive hair-raising crashes, battle each other - and themselves - up storied mountain passes and navigate action-packed descents down treacherous mountain roads at speeds of more than 100 kilometers an hour. Follow the world's top professional cyclists through the Alps to experience the fight-or-flight situations on a steep downhill switchback, witness their struggle to maintain mental focus on roads melting in a heat wave and learn from their constant battle with fatigue.

Through the eyes of the film's heroes, audiences will learn of the incredible demands of the Tour and the remarkable ability of the human brain. Mixing sports with science, the audience will be exposed to a new age of medical science as we discover the dynamic nature of the human brain and its incredible ability to adapt and overcome insurmountable odds. Using a combination of cutting edge computer graphic digital animation, strong and inspiring personal stories and unprecedented giant screen footage, this film will entertain and, hopefully, inspire audiences of all ages that they too can tap into the incredible source of power and achieve the remarkable. Show time for “Wired to Win” is Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m.

At 8 p.m., the large format film “Cosmic Voyage” returns. This show brings audiences face to face with the mysteries of the universe as it embarks on a guided tour from the smallest particles of matter to super clusters of the galaxies. This great adventure travels through time and space pulling viewers from their seats and launching them into a spectacular world of extreme dimensions encompassing inner and outer space. Show time is at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

The lineup concludes with three all-new digital laser light shows featuring today's hot sounds from today's hottest artists. “Laser Pop” airs at 9 p.m., “Laser Rock” is at 9:45 p.m. and “Laser Hip Hop” jams at 10:30 p.m.

The Saturday matinee begins at 1 p.m. with “In My Backyard.” Children's entertainer Fred Penner leads a lighthearted exploration of things large and small from the colors of the rainbow to the counting of ladybugs on a rose. Families with children age seven and under investigate the night sky, the names of the planets, reasons for the seasons and shooting stars all from the safety and comfort of the backyard.

At 2 p.m. “Far Out Space Places” takes the audience on a virtual vacation of a lifetime through the galaxy. Explore the magnificent surfaces of the planets, moons and asteroids through the latest images captured by interplanetary spacecraft.  Hike through the canyons on Mars, dive beneath the oceans of Jupiter's moon Europa, trek around the craters of the asteroid Eros or journey to the tenth, newly discovered planet in our solar system, affectionately named Xena. This visually rich, interactive show allows the audience to create its own itinerary to far out space places. No two shows are alike as the audience picks each destination.

The popular “Dinosaurs: Giants of Patagonia” airs at 3 p.m. This giant screen epic provides a unique occasion to get a true experience of the incredible size and strength of the creatures that roamed the Earth 65 million years ago. The film concentrates on the remarkable discoveries made in Patagonia, South America by world-renowned paleontologist Rodolfo Coria who was responsible for discovering some of the largest dinosaurs ever found: Argentinosaurus, a giant herbivore that could reach 100 tons in weight and 120-feet high in length, making it the biggest animal to ever walk the earth; and Giganotosaurus, a 15-meter long meat-eating predator that was even bigger than the famous T-Rex. The audience gets a first-hand look at the lives of these two superb creatures with never-before-seen computer-generated footage. The action is intense and the landscapes of Patagonia, which are very similar to the ones inhabited by the dinosaurs, are amazing.

The matinee concludes at 4 p.m. with the laser light show “Space Laser” which features some of the greatest science fiction and space-themed songs. Artists include Will Smith, the B-52's, “Weird” Al Yankovich and Three Doors Down. Show time is 4 p.m.

For more show details, call 254-526-1800 or log onto www.starsatnight.org .