On my way to and from Gabon for the November 3rd total solar eclipse (successful), I went to the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) several times, including their special night to launch the Hayden Planetarium’s latest show ‘Dark Universe’ on 28 October 2013. This is the third major AMNH special launch for shows or exhibitions I’ve managed to get to over the years.

Some of you would know the two fellows on either side of me after the official function – Carter Emmart (left) Director of Astrovisualization at the Hayden Planetarium and Ryan Wyatt, Director of the Morrison Planetarium and Science Visualization at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. Always great to catch up. I went back the next night to watch Carter and Brian Abbott prepare and then present ‘Grand Tour of the Universe’ live using Digital Universe. It’s always great to spend time with Carter and last year the two of us literally spent hours into the night flying over and exploring the Moon and Mars in great topographic detail.

Mark Rigby