The Planets Online is a new educational web site that introduces viewers to a broad range of subjects in a unique, innovative, and entertaining way. The site naturally interweaves information on science, engineering, music, visual design, and technology, making it a showcase for STEAM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) and interdisciplinary connections.
For more see the Press Release and the Educator's Guide.
'The Planets Op. 32' by Gustav Holst
Performed by the Auburn Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Anthony Spain
Featuring the Seattle Pacific University Women's Chorus
Sound by Bill Levey
Choreographed visuals and lighting: 'The Planets Live' by Adrian Wyard, Performance Calendar, Booking Info
While many of the visuals are original animations everything shown has some basis in fact and has as its source data from telescopes, orbiting spacecraft, or rovers on the planets' surfaces. Source images, video, and computer modeling courtesy of NASA, JPL-Caltech, SwRI, DLR, ESA, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Goddard Space Flight Center, The Space Telescope Science Institute, The Advanced Visualization Laboratory at the NCSA (esp. Drs. B. Robertson & L. Hernquist), Carnegie Institution of Washington, USGS, California Institute of Technology, Lunar & Planetary Institute (esp. Dr. P Schenk), Malin Space Science Systems, The Lunar and Planetary Laboratory at the University of Arizona (esp. Dr. P Smith) and the Institute of Geological Sciences at The Free University of Berlin. Special thanks to Bard Canning for the enhanced Mars descent, Arthur Lepage for 3D modeling, and Andy Ermolli for deep space astrophotography.
Music Composition: Bath Philharmonia Music Director, Jason Thornton
All others: Adrian Wyard
New commentaries will be added over time. To see what we're working on follow this link
This site was designed by Adrian Wyard and coded by Candice Canoso & Pablo Ramirez with assistance from Waleed Malik. Funding was provided by Counterbalance Foundation.
Source media is either used with permission, in the public domain, or covered by a creative commons license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/igo/
Please send any issues, feedback, or enquiries to: info@adrianwyard.com
The Planets Online makes extensive use of features in modern browsers, so please make sure yours is up to date.
Version 1.0
Clicking on a time code will start the video at that point
Clicking on a link in a comment will show that link but leave the video playing
Clicking on the web address of an external site will open it in a new window. This is recommended if you wish to dig further