We Always Thought Boulder Was Spacey

If you’ve been looking for proof that the city of Boulder is out there, like Pluto out there, look no further than in front of the county court house on Pearl Street. Or, if air conditioning and popcorn are more your speed, the Silver Screen. When the new “Star Trek” movie hits screens in May 2009, it will have a direct, Boulder connection. Producer J.J. Abrams of “Lost” and “Alias” fame, is making the movie and has enlisted the help of Carolyn Porco, a planetary scientist and imaging team leader at Boulder’s Space Science Institute.

Her official title will be scientific advisor, and she’ll be on hand to make the “Star Trek” space scenes look as realistic as possible. After the filming is complete later this year, Porco will team up with the visual effects department to work on the final details of the final frontier. Porco has previously served as a consultant for the movie “Contact.”

Abrams sought her out after seeing her speak at an engagement awhile back. You can see what was so impressive when Porco presents images of Saturn taken by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft on April 28 at the University Memorial Center on the CU-Boulder Campus.