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Thursday, July 28, 2022

Explore the Skies over Hogwarts on Friday, July 29!

 

August 2022

 

 


 

The Skies over Hogwarts

Friday, July 29

 


The Skies over Hogwarts

Friday, July 29, 7:00, 8:00 pm

Join the Planetarium’s witches and wizards as they guide you through a Harry Potter-themed tour of the night sky. Learn how J.K. Rowling used astronomy as the inspiration for some of her characters' names. (Recommended for ages 8 and older)



Laser Hollywood

Friday, July 29, 9:00 pm

Themes from some of everyone’s favorite movies have inspired this new laser concert, including Raiders of the Lost Ark, Pink Panther, Star Wars, and Beverly Hills Cop. (Recommended for ages 6-adult)


 

Public Shows for kids and adults

 

In July and August, public shows run on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons and Friday evenings.

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.

 

 

Weeks of August 1 and 8

 

Rockin' Rocket Ride

Wednesday and Thursday, August 3 and 4, 2:30 pm

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)

 

SkyLights music show

Wednesday and Thursday, August 3 and 4, 3:30 p.m.

Our youngest audience members can sing along with songs by mr. RAY (Family Ride, Kalien the Alien) and favorites like "Let it Go" and "Everything is Awesome." Some songs are illustrated with lasers and other songs feature video images. (Recommended for ages 3-8)

 

Accidental Astronauts

Fridays, August 5 and 12, 7:00 pm

Two robo-kids and their dog get an adventure while on a class field trip, when they unexpectedly blast off to an asteroid, the Moon, and the Sun! (Recommended for ages 6-12)

 

Astronomy Tonight

Friday, August 5, 8:00 pm

Explore the night skies in our digital theater with our planetarium educators! What stars and constellations are visible this month? Is there a meteor shower in August? What is the James Webb Space Telescope looking at now? Weather permitting, the 3M Observatory will be open after the program. (Recommended for ages 8-adult).

 

Summer Lights laser concert

Fridays, August 5 and 12, 9:00 pm

This playlist reminds us of summer. Wipeout by The Surfaris, Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffett, Heat Waves by Glass Animals, and more!

 

Mars 1001 
Only playing Summer of 2022

Friday, August 12, 8:00 pm

Someday soon, humans will go to the Red Planet. Mars One Thousand One is the story of one possible mission, and their journey there and back in 1001 days. (Recommended for ages 8-adult)

 

August At a Glance

 

Wednesday, August 3

2:30pm   Rockin’ Rocket Ride - ages 3-8

3:30pm   SkyLights music concert - ages 3-8

 

Thursday, August 4

2:30pm   Rockin’ Rocket Ride - ages 3-8

3:30pm   SkyLights music concert - ages 3-8

 

Friday, August 5   

7pm   Accidental Astronauts - ages 4-10

8pm   Astronomy Tonight - ages 8-adult

9pm   Summer Lights Laser Concert - ages 10-adult

 

Wednesday, August 10   

No shows   Staff at Somerset County 4H Fair   

 

Thursday, August 11   

No shows   Staff at Somerset County 4H Fair  

 

Friday, August 12    

7pm   Accidental Astronauts - ages 4-10

8pm   Mars 1001 - ages 8-adult

9pm   Summer Lights Laser Concert - 10-adult

 

Wednesday, August 17

2:30pm   Rockin’ Rocket Ride - ages 3-8

3:30pm   SkyLights music concert - ages 3-8

 

Thursday, August 18   

2:30pm   Perfect Little Planet - ages 6-12

3:30pm   Magic Tree House: Space Mission - ages 5-12

 

Friday, August 19   

7pm   Magic Tree House: Space Mission - ages 5-12

8pm   Mars 1001 - ages 8-adult

9pm   Summer Lights Laser Concert - ages 10-adult

 

Wednesday, August 24    

2:30pm   Accidental Astronauts - ages 4-10

 

Thursday, August 25   

2:30pm   Perfect Little Planet - ages 6-12

3:30pm   Magic Tree House: Space Mission - ages 5-12

 

Friday, August 26   

7pm   Magic Tree House: Space Mission - ages 5-12

8pm   Mars 1001 - ages 8-adult

9pm   Summer Lights Laser Concert - ages 10-adult

 

Public Shows will resume October 1.

 

 

Good to Know...

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 optional on campus.

 

The Sky in August

 

What's Up this Month?

 

Morning Sky 2022-06 midmonth

 

Evening Sky

Mercury can be found very low in the west throughout the month. Binoculars may be needed to find Mercury in the evening twilight glow. Mercury is highest for this poor apparition on August 16, only 2 degrees above the horizon at mid-twilight. Mercury will be easier to spot from low latitudes (closer to the equator).

 

Saturn is at opposition on August 14. At the start of the month, Saturn is just 2 degrees above the ESE horizon at mid-twilight as seen from latitude 40 degrees N. (That's where NJ is.) By the month's end, Saturn is 15 degrees above the southeast horizon.

 

Jupiter rises about two hours after sunset.

 

Morning Sky

Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn span across the dawn sky for most of the month. On August 1, they span 144 degrees. On August 24, the four planets span 173 degrees. Saturn leaves the morning sky during the last week of August. Venus rises an hour and a half before the sunrise on August 16. Venus passes less than 1 degree from the Beehive star cluster on August 17 & 18, but the morning twilight will make it a challenge to spot the star cluster. Jupiter and Mars are both high in the dawn sky all month long and easy to spot. Mars is 50 degrees east of Jupiter on August 17. Mars brightens through magnitude 0.0 in August. Uranus is 10 degrees west of Mars on August 18. Look for the +5.7 magnitude Uranus with binoculars. Uranus begins moving retrograde on August 24.

 

The Perseid Meteor Shower peaks overnight on Friday, August 12, into the morning of Saturday, August 13. However, a bright Moon spoils the view.

 


 

Moon Phases

First Quarter August 5

Full Moon August 11

Last Quarter August 19

New Moon August 27

 

Private Shows / Field Trips

 

You can schedule a private show in the Planetarium for your group of 1-100 people.



Weekdays: 10:00 am, 11:00 am, 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm

Weekday evenings will be considered on an individual basis.

Saturdays will be available starting in October.

 

 

Choose an astronomy show or a laser concert!

 


·     Rockin' Rocket Ride

·     Magic Tree House: Space Mission

·     Accidental Astronauts

·     From Earth to the Universe

·     Black Holes

·     Exploding Universe

·     Tonight's Sky

and more!

·     The Best of Pink Floyd

·     The Beatles

·     Led Zeppelin

·     Grateful Dead

·     Queen

·     Rock of Ages (music from the movie/Broadway show)

·     Pop Rock (family-friendly)

·     Laser Magic (family-friendly)

 

and more!

 

 


 




 

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 Microsoft Teams. You can also invite the Planetarium to join your preferred platform.

 


 

Explore the Universe with RVCC Planetarium

 


 

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.

 

Please Consider Making a Tax-Deductible Donation to the Planetarium

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!

 

 

To reach us, email planet@raritanval.edu.


 

RVCC Planetarium | 118 Lamington Road, North Branch, NJ 08876

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