Humanities Week Kickoff

Learn about the stars and their earthly stories as told through fables, fiction and true tales of exploratory adventures, from 4 to 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 7; free, including all exhibits in the planetarium. At 4 p.m., Christopher Cokinos of the UA English department, presents, "The Sky is Falling: The Fascinating Science and Crazy History of Shooting Stars" as interpreted by many cultures throughout history. At 6 p.m., he presents "Meteorite Hunters: Real-Life Adventures in Search of Meteorites," based on natural history and the memoirs of maverick scientists. Humanities week continues through Friday, Oct. 11 with two to three lectures daily on topics as varied as Downton Abbey, Chinese cinema, Chicano culture, Dante's representation of Jewish people, and what makes French people laugh. See the "Lectures" section of Tucson Weekly; visit hw.arizona.edu; or call 626-4319 for a schedule and more information.