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We are delighted to welcome visitors
back to the Planetarium!
Please make note of our health and
safety guidelines.
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· All persons ages two and older are required to wear
masks indoors regardless of vaccination status.
· Hand sanitizer stations are located in the Planetarium's
lobby, as are the restrooms with soap and water for washing hands.
· The Planetarium's HVAC system uses MERV 13 filters and
brings in fresh air to the room.
Information
about RVCC's COVID response and protocols can be found here.
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Public Shows on Saturdays
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Out of an abundance of caution, we
will delay our public shows until January 22.
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Magic Tree
House: Space Mission
Saturday, January 22, 3:00 pm
Join Jack and
Annie as they discover the secrets of the Sun, Moon, planets, space
travel, and more. Who can help them answer the questions left
for them by the mysterious "M"? This show is based on
the same-titled, best-selling series of novels. (Recommended for
ages 5 and older)
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First and
Farthest
Saturdays,
January 22, 29, 7:00pm
From the first rockets to the first man on the Moon, First and Farthest celebrates
humanity's great accomplishments in the Space Race. This show will
bring back memories for those who experienced the Space Race and
inspire new generations to keep exploring our universe. With its
discussion of science, technology, engineering and mathematical
concepts, First and Farthest supports a STEM-focused pursuit of
knowledge. The presentation is made possible with a grant from NASA’s
New Jersey Space Grant Consortium. Weather permitting, the 3M
Observatory will be open after the show. (Recommended for ages
10-adult)
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Laser Kids
laser concert
Saturday,
January 22, 4:00pm
A new mix of
music with a song list to entertain kids and kids at heart while
lasers dance on the dome overhead. Songs include “Bright,” by
Echosmith, “YMCA” by the Village People, “Mia” by Bad Bunny, and
“Waka Waka” by Shakira. (Recommended for ages 6-12)
Laser Grateful
Dead
Saturdays,
January 22, 29, 8:00pm
This show is a
psychedelic experience of light, sound, and color. Join us on a
musical journey with Grateful Dead’s classic hits including
“Truckin’,” “Touch of Grey,” and “Sugar Magnolia”. (Recommended
for ages 10 to adult)
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Shows for Our Youngest Visitors
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Rockin’ Rocket
Ride
Saturday,
January 29, 3:00pm
Put on your
space suit and blast-off into outer space to visit the Moon, Sun and
planets. A lively experience for young people with selected music
from "Journey into Space" by Jane Murphy. (Recommended for
ages 3-8)
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SkyLights
Saturday,
January 29, 4:00pm
Our youngest
audience members can sing along with songs by mr. RAY (Family Ride,
Kalien the Alien) and Jane Murphy (Moon Rock Rock, The Planet
Song). Some songs are illustrated with lasers and other songs
feature video images. (Recommended for ages 3-8)
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Saturday, January 22
3:00 pm - Magic Tree House: Space Mission
4:00 pm - Laser Kids
7:00 pm - First and Farthest
8:00 pm - Laser Grateful Dead laser concert
Saturday, January 29
3:00 pm - Rockin' Rocket Ride
4:00 pm - SkyLights music concert
7:00 pm - First and Farthest
8:00 pm - Laser Grateful Dead laser concert
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Good to
Know...
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Admission: $10
per person for one show
$18 per person
for two shows on the same day
Payments are
taken at the Planetarium on the day of the show.
Reservations
are recommended. Call 908-231-8805 or email the Planetarium.
Provide your
name, phone number, email, which show you want to see, and how many
tickets you'd like.
Please arrive
20-30 minutes before the show to pay for your tickets.
The closest
parking lots are #9 and #1. Here is a campus map.
Late arrivals
are NOT admitted to the Planetarium's theater once a show has
started.
Masks are
required indoors for everyone ages 2 and older regardless of
vaccination status.
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The Sky Above
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Saturday,
February 5, 5:00 p.m.
A special
astronomy and music show designed for families with children on the
Autism spectrum or those with developmental disabilities. These
sensory-friendly shows, which are appropriate for audiences of all
ages, will provide a comfortable and judgment-free space that is
welcoming to all families. During the show, the doors will remain
open so children may freely leave and return if they choose. Lights
will be left dim (instead of dark), and the audio will be lowered and
kept at a consistent level. “The Sky Above” show includes music,
laser lights, stories, and information about the planets, the Moon
and constellations. Content is presented on a kindergarten level.
Admission: $10
per person
Payments are
taken on the day of the show at the Planetarium.
Reservations
are recommended. Call 908-231-8805 or email the Planetarium.
Provide your
name, phone number, email, which show you want to see, and how many
tickets you'd like.
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Jupiter,
Saturn, Mercury, and Venus can all be spotted at dusk in the southwest at the
start of the month. Venus drops from view i the first week. Mercury
fades away mid-month. Saturn is lost in the Sun's glare in the last
week of the month.
Venus is at
inferior conjunction on January 8, when the planet passes between
Earth and the Sun. (It will be slightly higher than the Sun, not
going across its surface.) Venus will emerge in the eastern sky as a
pre-dawn planet several days later.
Mercury is
also at inferior conjunction this month, on January 23. It then moves
to become a morning planet too.
Look for Mars
low in the southeast before sunrise. Mars slowly climbs higher as the
month progresses.
The winter sky
is full of bright stars and easy to find constellations. Orion is the
best-known of them all. It can help you find Taurus, Gemini, Canis
Major, and more. Follow us on social media or visit the planetarium
for one of our star talks to learn more about the sky.
Sirius, the brightest star in the
constellation Canis Major, the Big Dog, as well as the bright star in
the night sky, was due south at midnight on January 1. Happy New
Year!
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Perihelion
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The Earth is
at its closest point to the Sun on January 4, 2022. At that time,
Earth is 0.983 astronomical units, or 91.4 million miles from the
Sun.
Earth and Sun
cartoon via Sara Zimmerman at UnEarthed Comics.
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Moon Phases
New Moon January 2
First Quarter January 9
Full Moon January 17
Third Quarter January 25
New Moon February 1
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Private Shows / Field Trips
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You can
schedule a private show in the Planetarium for your group of 1-75
people.
Weekdays:
10:00 am, 11:00 am, 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm
Saturdays:
12:00 pm, 1:30 pm, 5:00 pm
Weekday
evenings will be considered on an individual basis.
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Choose an astronomy show or a laser
concert!
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·
Rockin' Rocket Ride
·
Magic Tree House: Space Mission
·
Accidental Astronauts
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From Earth to the Universe
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Black Holes
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Exploding Universe
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Tonight's Sky and more!
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·
The Best of Pink Floyd
·
The Beatles
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Led Zeppelin
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Grateful Dead
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Queen
·
Rock of Ages (music from the movie/Broadway show)
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Pop Rock (family-friendly)
·
Laser Magic (family-friendly) and more!
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Virtual Field Trips
Teachers, Principals, Science
Supervisors, Scout Leaders, Home School coordinators, Senior Center
managers, and Parents!
Schedule virtual
field trips for your students and clients. Programs are led by a
live Planetarium Educator
and always include time for Q&A.
All programs support NGSS/NJSLS.
Scheduling is flexible. We can present
during the school day, after school, or evenings.
Number of attendees: up to 30 per
session
Fee: $100 for a 45-minute program
$125 for Magic Tree House: Space Mission
The Planetarium will provide a
password-protected Zoom link before your date. We can also schedule
programs on Google Meet or Microsoft Teams. You can also invite the
Planetarium to join your preferred platform.
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Explore the Universe with RVCC
Planetarium
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Watch our YouTube channel for weekly updates on what's visible in the sky
as well as activities you can do at home.
Do you miss
the Planetarium? Take a tour of the exhibits.
Join our Facebook
Group for regular posts about astronomy news, activities,
virtual tours, satellite passes that you can see in the real sky, and
more!
Follow us on Instagram to see pictures we take at the 3M
Observatory and other news.
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Please Consider
Making a Tax-Deductible Donation to the Planetarium
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Support from the community has
repeatedly played a key role in our success at the RVCC Planetarium.
We are proud to offer affordable, educational field trips and
engaging public events for our community. Your continued support
helps us to provide innovative, educational experiences for our
diverse audiences. Donations made to the Planetarium throughout the
year help support new and exciting programs and help us maintain and
upgrade our equipment.
Thank you for your support!
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