Reservations
are recommended. Call 908-231-8805 x5 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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Sunset
Meditation
Friday,
December 2, 7:00 p.m.
How do STEM
workers, NASA professionals, athletes, and business executives cope
with stress? Mindfulness. Meditation is a powerful tool for
maintaining psychological health and resilience. Since the
planetarium offers a dark and quiet space for relaxation, it is the
perfect place for meditation. Enjoy a guided meditation experience in
the comfortable, reclined seats in the RVCC Planetarium. Relax under
a night sky filled with stars. (Recommended for ages 10-adult)
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Perfect Little
Planet
Saturday,
December 3, 3:00 p.m.
Join a family
in search of the perfect vacation spot! Which of the planets and
moons in our solar system will be their favorite choice? (Recommended
for ages 6-12)
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Laser Kids
Saturday,
December 3, 4:00 pm
Sing along
to an updated playlist while lasers dance on the dome
overhead. Songs include “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X and Billy
Ray Cyrus, “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond, “Levitating” by Dua
Lipa, and “Can’t Stop this Feeling” by Justin Timberlake.
(Recommended for ages 6-12)
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Astronomy
Tonight
Saturday,
December 3, 7:00 p.m.
Using the
Planetarium’s DigitalSky digital theater, experience a guided tour of
the night sky. Learn about some of the popular constellations visible
from sunset to sunrise, as well as the stories behind them. Hear
about how and where in the sky to find the brightest planets. Weather
permitting, the 3M Observatory will be open after the show.
(Recommended for ages 8 to adult)
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Pink Floyd:
The Wall laser concert
December 3
at 8 pm
Chill out to
the music of Pink Floyd, with hits from this album including
"Hey You" and "Comfortably Numb." Just a
reminder, we are a smoke-free campus.
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The Sky Above
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Saturday,
December 3
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.
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The Alien Who Stole Christmas Saturdays, December
10 and 17, 3:00 p.m.
Discover
the stars visible in the winter sky. Then follow Santa on a
trip through the solar system when a friendly alien kidnaps
him. The kids on the other planets need presents too, you
know! (recommended for ages 6-10)
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Winter Wonder Lights laser concert Saturdays,
December 10 and 17, at 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Listen to
holiday hits such as “Wizards in Winter,” “Rockin’ around the
Christmas Tree,” "Heat Miser" and "Snow Miser,"
and “Dominic the Donkey” while lasers dance on the dome overhead.
(Recommended for ages 6-adult)
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The
Christmas Star
Saturdays,
December 10 and 17, 7:00 pm
Over the
years, many people have tried to explain the appearance of the Star
of Bethlehem, as described in the Bible. Was it an exploding star, a
comet or some other natural event in the sky? Potential natural
explanations for the Star of Bethlehem and common modern-day
misconceptions are discussed. The program includes a brief tour of
the current night sky. (Recommended for ages 8 to adult)
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Friday,
December 2
7:00 pm Sunset
Meditation
Saturday,
December 3
3:00
pm Perfect Little Planet (ages 6-12)
4:00 pm
Laser Kids laser concert (ages 6-12)
5:00 pm The
Sky Above, a sensory-friendly program (all ages)
7:00
pm Astronomy Tonight (ages 8-adult)
8:00 pm Pink
Floyd: The Wall laser concert (ages 10-adult)
Saturday,
December 10
3:00
pm The Alien Who Stole Christmas (ages 6-10)
4:00 pm
Winter Wonder Lights laser concert laser concert (ages 5-12)
7:00
pm The Christmas Star (ages 8-adult)
8:00 pm
Winter Wonder Lights laser concert laser concert (ages 5-12)
Saturday,
December 17
3:00
pm The Alien Who Stole Christmas (ages 6-10)
4:00 pm
Winter Wonder Lights laser concert laser concert (ages 5-12)
7:00
pm The Christmas Star (ages 8-adult)
8:00 pm
Winter Wonder Lights laser concert laser concert (ages 5-12)
The
Planetarium is closed December 23, 2022 – January 2,
2023. Public shows resume Saturday, January 7, 2023.
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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
optional on campus.
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Moon Phases
New Moon November 23
First Quarter November 30
Full Moon December 7 The Cold Moon
Last Quarter December 16
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December is the month when winter truly
begins in most of the Northern Hemisphere. Most of the ancient Full
Moon names are related to the low temperatures and darkness of
December. The most common name is the Cold Moon, while another is
Long Night Moon.
The Anglo-Saxon
name was the Moon Before Yule, which is the ancient celebration
around the winter solstice. The December Full Moon is also
called Oak Moon, while a Celtic name was Wolf Moon. Today, however,
this name is more common for the January Full Moon.
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Wednesday,
December 7, 11:00 pm
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Don't miss the
spectacular pairing of Mars and the Full Moon!
Mars is
shining at a respectable magnitude -1.8, but the Moon is SO BRIGHT at
magnitude -12.
From many
places, observers will watch the Moon actually block Mars briefly.
New Jersey appears to be just outside of the area where the
occultation will happen, but we will see the two awfully close to
each other.
Now, will we
have clear skies that night?
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Winter Solstice - December 21
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On the
December Solstice, the Northern Hemisphere is leaning away from the
Sun. We have the fewest number of daylight hours. We often call this
the shortest day of the year, even though the rotation of the Earth
still takes about 24 hours.
The Sun is
directly overhead on the Tropic of Capricorn (latitude 23.5 degrees
South). Near the equator, everyone has about 12 hours of daylight. As
you get farther north of the equator, you have less and less hours of
daylight. In New Jersey, we'll have about 9 hours of daylight. Above
the Arctic Circle, they are in polar night, with no sunlight at all.
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Explore the Universe with RVCC
Planetarium
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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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