Traverse the cosmos this October at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Allen F. Blocher Planetarium.
The Blocher Planetarium will be hosting planetarium shows and a stargazing session during Homecoming/Family Day on Saturday, Oct. 10:
- 10 a.m. – From Earth to the Universe
- 11 a.m. – Supermassive Black Holes
- 1 p.m. – Two Small Pieces of Glass – The Amazing Telescope
- 2 p.m. – Phantom of the Universe – The Hunt for Dark Matter
- 3 p.m. – Mars, The Ultimate Voyage
- 4 p.m. – Sunstruck
- 7:30 – 10 p.m. – Stargazing at the Sundial (weather permitting), 1800 Portage St, Stevens Point, WI
Planetarium shows will be offered at 2 p.m. on Sundays in October. All regular public shows are around one hour long and include a 25-min presentation focusing on the current night sky of Central Wisconsin (bright stars, constellations, planets, etc.) All events are free and open to the public, but donations are appreciated and help continue these programs:
- Oct. 4 – “Cosmic Origins Spectrograph” – Explore the science of spectroscopy and highlight how the Hubble Space Telescope’s COS instrument analyzes light to decipher the cosmic evolution, composition, and large-scale structures of our universe.
- Oct. 11 – “Two Small Pieces of Glass – The Amazing Telescope” – Hear about the history of the telescope from Galileo’s modifications to a child’s spyglass.
- Oct. 18 – “Mysteries of Your Brain” – Discover the science behind how your brain perceives the world around you.
- Oct. 25 – “Spark: The Universe in Us” – Explore how hundreds of millions of celestial events have forged the elements that make up the Solar System, Earth and us.
A Junior Scientist planetarium program, “The Solar System,” will be offered 3:30-4 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 11, with a book reading season starting at 3 p.m. This program is in collaboration with the UW-Stevens Point Museum of Natural History.
On Friday, October 16 from 6:30-8:30 p.m., there will be portable telescopes at the Boston School Forest for a family-friendly Pumpkin Glow Walk event. The event will take place at 5084 Lincoln Ave, Plover, WI.
Planetarium seating is first come, first served for up to 55 people. Groups of eight or more may schedule a special showing of any planetarium program by calling 715-346-2208 or completing an online request form. There is a cost for these requests.
The planetarium is located on the second floor of the UW-Stevens Point Science Building, 2001 Fourth Ave., Stevens Point. Parking is available in Lot D behind the building and is free in all university lots after 7 p.m. and on weekends.
Stargazing sessions are available Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 8:30-10 p.m., weather dependent, in the Sundial, nested between the new Kirby Library and Resource Center, Trainer Natural Resource Building and Noel Fine Arts Center, 1800 Portage St, Stevens Point, WI. Viewings will be held only if the skies are clear and the temperature is above 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Please check the department’s website linked below for weather status updates. Free parking is available across the street from the sundial in campus Lot R.