Taylor Swift AND Sunset Meditation this month at the RVCC Planetarium!

 

May 2023         May Shows   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. The Planetarium will be closed May 26-29 for Memorial Day Weekend.   Full schedule is on our website   Accidental Astronauts Saturdays, May 6, 13, 20, 3:00 p.m. Join Robo-kids Cy and Annie alongside their dog Armstrong as they explore the Sun, Earth, and Moon! Help them as they collect asteroid samples & survive a solar storm with a witty starship computer as a navigator and guide. Find a new appreciation for the unique beauty of our home planet, Earth. (Recommended for ages 5-12)   Laser Magic Saturdays, May 6, 13, 20, 4:00 p.m. Sing along while lasers dance on the dome over your head. Songs include “Fireworks” by Katy Perry, “We Don't Talk About Bruno” from Disney's Encanto, “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen, and “Let It Go” from Disney's Frozen. (Recommended for ages 6-12)   Cosmic Address Saturdays, May 6, 13, 20, 7:00 pm We all know our home address, but where are we in the Universe? Using the Planetarium's DigitalSky digital theater, take a guided tour of our night sky from Earth, past the Oort Cloud, to the Milky Way Galaxy and beyond! Come see where our tiny planet fits into the great big Universe. Weather permitting, the 3M Observatory will be open after the show. (Recommended for ages 8 to adult)   Taylor Swift Laser Concert Saturdays, May 6, 13, 20, 8:00 p.m. Calling all Swifties! Whether or not you are going to the concert in-person, join us for some great music! Sing along to your favorite Taylor Swift songs while lasers dance along the dome! (Recommended for ages 10-adult)   For Our Youngest Visitors   Saturday, May 20 "Rockin' Rocket Ride" at 3 p.m. "Skylights" at 4 p.m. Join us for an afternoon your little ones will love! Shows feature "Rockin' Rocket Ride", a lively journey into outer space and "Skylights", an illustrated laser sing along concert. Songs feature "I Don't Want to Live on the Moon" from Sesame Street and "Everything is Awesome" from The Lego Movie. (Recommended for ages 3-8) Regular admission applies for astronomy and laser shows.   Relax at the Planetarium   Sunset Meditation Friday, May 12, 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)   Sensory-Friendly Program   The Sky Above Saturday, May 6, 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.   May at a Glance   Saturday, May 6 3:00 pm  Accidental Astronauts (ages 5-12) 4:00 pm Laser Magic Laser Concert (ages 6-12) 5:00 pm The Sky Above *sensory friendly 7:00 pm Cosmic Address (ages 8-adult) 8:00 pm Taylor Swift Laser Concert (ages 10-adult) Saturday, May 13 3:00 pm  Accidental Astronauts (ages 5-12) 4:00 pm Laser Magic Laser Concert (ages 6-12) 7:00 pm Cosmic Address (ages 8-adult) 8:00 pm Taylor Swift Laser Concert (ages 10-adult) Saturday, May 20 3:00 pm  Rockin' Rocket Ride (ages 3-8) 4:00 pm SkyLights Music and Laser Concert (ages 3-8) 7:00 pm Cosmic Address (ages 8-adult) 8:00 pm Taylor Swift Laser Concert (ages 10-adult) No Shows on Saturday, May 27.   Visit our website for Show Schedules and Descriptions   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.   Moon Phases Full Moon May 5, 1:34 pm Flower Moon Last Quarter May 12 New Moon May 19 First Quarter May 27     Flower Moon The Full Moon of May is known as Flower Moon to signify the flowers that bloom during this month. Native Americans called it Budding Moon, Egg Laying Moon, and Planting Moon. The Anglo-Saxon name for May’s brightest Moon phase is Milk Moon from the Old English Rimilcemona. It means three-milkings-month in modern English because cows were milked three times a day during this time of year. The Celtic and Old English names are Mothers’ Moon, Bright Moon, Hare Moon, and Grass Moon. Many wildflowers bloom in May in the Northern Hemisphere, where these traditional Full Moon names originated. For example, many types of anemone, wild garlic, indigo, bluebells, lupine, sundrops, and violets, to name just a few. It is no wonder that the colorful displays these flowers create in nature have inspired people to call this time after them. Read on for more about the May Full Moon.     Solar Eclipses on the way! It's never too early to start thinking about upcoming solar eclipses. Saturday, October 14, 2023 Annular Eclipse, stretching from Oregon to Texas to South America. New Jersey will see about 35% of the Sun get covered by the Moon. Monday, April 8, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse, path moving from Mexico to Texas to Buffalo, NY New Jersey will see 90% of the Sun get covered by the Moon! This is a total eclipse for some people. The path of totality will run from Mexico, through Dallas, up to Buffalo. We highly recommend going to see it. The RVCC Planetarium has eclipse glasses in stock already!   Student Resource Center and Food Pantry at RVCC   Did you know that 10% of RVCC students have experienced homelessness and 30% experience food insecurity? Please consider purchasing some of the listed items for donation. You can bring your donations to the Planetarium when you visit. Thank you.  · Cup of Noodles (shrimp, chicken & beef) · Chef Boyardee · Jar Spaghetti Sauce · Pancake Mix · Syrup · Mac & Cheese Cups · Frozen Microwavable Meals · Laundry soap · Fruit cups (4 pack) · Individual & Regular sized snack foods · Shelf Stable Milk · Ready to eat tuna & chicken kits · Cereal · Juice (full size & individual) · Hot Pockets · Uncrustables     Explore the Universe with RVCC Planetarium     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!   Donate   To reach us, email planet@raritanval.edu.