CURRENT PROGRAMS

BAD ASTRONOMY:
 
Myths and Misconceptions

SUNDAY AFTERNOONS AT 2 P.M.

September  20, 27
October  4, 11, 18, 25
November  1, 8, 15, 22

Were the Apollo visits to the moon actually a hoax?  Have aliens landed on Earth?  Can you tell your future from the stars?  Prepare to debunk and tackle pseudoscience head-on in this planetarium show.  Based on the popular book and website by the same name, Bad Astronomy offers a unique and fun approach to learning about the cosmos.  Join the “Bad Astronomer” Phil Plait as he takes a critical look at popular myths and misconceptions to show visitors how science can be used to evaluate questionable claims.  From the Apollo moon landings, to aliens and UFO's we analyze the evidence and see what is really true.

Night Skies of Fall

MONDAY EVENINGS AT 8 P.M.
 

On Monday evenings we have a real treat.  This program concentrates on the stars and constellations that are visible in our evening skies.  We concentrate not only on some of the objects that are visible with just our eyes but also look at some of the objects that can be seen through a telescope.  Following this program if the skies are clear we invite visitors to the observatory in order to see some of these objects first hand through the telescope.

Both of these programs are free to the public

Future shows  

    WINTER WONDERS    Shows at: 2:00 p.m.

November  29
December  6, 13, 20

This program looks at the time of the winter solstice, the point where the noontime sun is lowest in the sky.  Join Jackie and Michelle, two teenage girls, as they hear about the Christian and Jewish religious events during this time of year.  In addition, the girls learn about celebrations and rituals of many other cultures that originate from solstice observances.  We also look at some of our more light-hearted traditions: gift-giving and decking the halls with greenery and candles.  This program includes a look at some of the solstice customs of some of the peoples of central Africa, China, Native Americans, the Inuit, and the Incas to name a few.  We conclude by looking at some of the monuments that have been built by prehistoric peoples to the winter solstice.  Winter Wonders is a great holiday program for families. 

SEASON OF LIGHT   Shows at: 3:15 p.m.
Doors open at 3 p.m. 

November  29
December  6, 13, 20

This program traces the development of many of the world’s most endearing holiday customs, from the burning Yule log, sparkling Christmas lights, to the lighting of the Menorah and luminarias.  Season of Light not only recounts Christian and Jewish historical and religious events during the time of the winter solstice, but also celebrations and rituals of many other cultures.  St. Nicholas, Sinterklaas, Kris Kringle, Father Christmas, and Santa Claus all drop by as we also look at some of our more light-hearted traditions: gift-giving, kissing under the mistletoe, and decking the halls with greenery and candles.  We conclude by looking at some of the possible astronomical explanations for what the Christmas star might have been.  Lighten your holiday with a celebration of one of the warmest and brightest of times.

THE STARGAZER

January  24, 31
February  7, 14, 21

The stars themselves are featured in our first program of the new year as we look at the life cycles of the stars.  Narrated by Nichelle Nichols, known by many as Uhura, the communications officer on the starship Enterprise.  We also see how astronomers learn about the stars by studying the light from those stars.  Discover the secrets of the universe by allowing the sheer power of the night to arouse your curiosity.  By becoming the stargazer within you. 

SKY QUEST

February  28
March  7, 14                          No shows on March 21 or March 28
April  11, 18                                          No show on April 4   

Come along with a young woman on her personal quest to find a special place in the night sky.  Starting with her childhood adventures on Mars (thanks to a cardboard rocket) and on to the discovery of her “birthday star”, these experiences eventually led her to becoming an astronomer.  During the remainder of the program she shares telescopic views of celestial objects and describes the night sky.  Sky Quest is narrated by Roxann Dawson (the actress who portrays B’Elanna Torres on TV’s Star Trek: Voyager) and it is an entertaining and educational exploration of the night sky that appeals to family members of all ages.

IN SEARCH OF NEW WORLDS

April  25
May  2, 9, 16, 23 

The age-old question of “Are we alone in the Universe?” is the focus of this program.  The only way that we can really answer that question is by finding out what other types of “solar systems” are out there.  The main emphasis of the search for new worlds is finding out how astronomers are actually finding planets around other stars.  This program, by using computer animations and interviews with planet hunter Geoff Marcy, offers viewers a comprehensive look at the search for planets beyond our own solar system.