SCSU planetarium to host Public Astronomy Nights in November

SCSU’s Astronomy Public Nights are back again this year and free for everyone to see and learn about what lies beyond earth.

SCSU’s Physics, Astronomy and Engineering Science Departments and the College of Science Engineering are planned to host the astronomy nights on Nov. 2, 4 and 5 in the Robert H. Wick Science Building’s planetarium.

Each night there is planned to be two shows beginning at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Each show is expected to last about one hour.

During each show, presenters will show the constellations that are viewable in the fall skies and tell the mythological stories that are associated with them.

Some of the objects that will be visible during the fall presentations are Jupiter, the Andromeda Galaxy, the Ring Nebula and the Double Cluster in Perseus.

Following the presentation, telescopes are expected to be available for the audience to use depending on the clarity of the sky.

2009 is also the International Year of Astronomy.

Due to high demands, students interested in attending one of the scheduled Astronomy Public Nights should make a reservation in advance to secure a seat in the planetarium.

Reservations can be made by e-mailing planetarium@stcloudstate.edu or by calling 320-308-2011 Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.