Look to the heavens for entertaining events

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Updated: March 24, 2012 8:48AM

In both the arts and the sciences, the heavens are the focus of several stellar area events.

† “Earth From Space” is an interesting exhibit of more than 30 remote sensing images captured by satellites, and is on view through March 11 at the Lubeznik Center for the Arts in Michigan City.

This Smithsonian traveling exhibit has examples of satellite images showing: structures of the land, like mountaintops and fault lines; water and air patterns, such as developing hurricanes and the outfall of remote river deltas; and human presence, including aerial city views and deforestation over time in the Amazon valley.

“Most satellite imagery is used for scientific or technical purposes but these complex pictures can also be appreciated aesthetically,” offers geographer and exhibit curator Andrew Johnston of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum’s Center for Earth and Planetary Studies.

His insights are offered on panels in the exhibit and in the accompanying cell phone audio tour. Johnston will be at the Lubeznik Center to speak about the exhibition at a members-only event on Friday, March 9, and to sign copies of his book “Earth from Space.” (A one year adult membership to the Lubeznik Center is $36.)

Turning the lenses in the other direction, “Space from Earth” will be the subject of a public talk from 7 to 9 Thursday, Feb. 23, at the Lubeznik Art Center. Astronomer Shawn Slavin, associate professor of physics and astronomy at Purdue University Calumet, will offer insights on the challenges of obtaining and interpreting images of space.

The Lubeznik Art Center is at 101 W. 2nd St., just north of U.S. Highway 12 in Michigan City. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. There is a $3 suggested donation for admission, including for the Feb. 23 presentation.

† Join in star gazing and Mars gazing from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday, March 3 at the Conway Observatory in Lowell with members of the Calumet Astronomical Society. CAS members share their telescopes and astronomical binoculars, along with their knowledge of what is visible in the night sky.

The Conway Observatory, 1900 Chase Ave., is at Buckley Homestead.

Call the CAS hotline at (773) 639-5491 for cloud cover and viewing status updates, and if conditions are right, dress for the weather.

† “Celestial Splendor” is the title of the next classical concert by the LaPorte County Symphony Orchestra featuring world-renowned pianist Andrius Zlabys. The concert program will include Beethoven’s Concerto No. 4 and Symphony No. 2 by Jean Sibelius.

The concert will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 4, at the Elston Middle School Theater, 317 Detroit St. in Michigan City. To get there from Interstate 80-94, take exit 34 north. Go about 4 miles north on Franklin Street to Detroit Street, just before 11th Street, and turn right. Adult admission is $18 and $15 for seniors, with free balcony seating for students.

The concert will be dedicated to breast cancer awareness and will honor symphony musicians who are breast cancer survivors. Also, all concert attendees wearing pink, the breast cancer awareness color, will receive a gift from Indiana University Health LaPorte Hospital: either a coupon for a free mammogram for women or a free prostate-specific antigen screening for men.

The LaPorte County Symphony Orchestra has one other concert remaining in their regular season schedule, Pop Stars, on Saturday, April 21, featuring Hoosier Star vocal competition winners.

Concert details and advance tickets are available at www.lcso.net.