AstroFriday

The show is held at the San Juan College Planetarium with a stargaze to follow.  All AstroFridays, unless otherwise indicated, are at 6:30 & 7:30pm, and stargaze afterwards (weather permitting) is at 8:30pm. Show times for May AstroFridays are at 7:30 & 8:30pm, with stargaze (weather permitting) following at 9:30pm.The planetarium reserves the right to substitute shows. It is also possible (though not probable) for there to be a change in a show's date due to unforeseen circumstances. Special events (SE) will have unique schedules to be announced.

SJC Planetarium Public Shows for 2023-2024

• March 15 - The Astronomy of Harry Potter

Join the San Juan College Planetarium for their AstroFriday presentation of “The Astronomy of Harry Potter,” a live sky show and tour of the heavens, identifying astronomical objects whose names appear in the popular Harry Potter series of books by J.K. Rowling and corresponding movies! Did you know that the character of Sirius Black (Harry’s godfather in the series) was named for the brightest star in the night sky as seen from Earth? And that it is also the chief star in the constellation of the Great Dog (i.e. – the animal that Sirius could shapeshift into in the stories)?! He isn’t the only character with an astronomical name…! You will learn MANY of the characters’ names in the series which have astronomical origins, as well as learn to locate them in the real sky with your own eyes! We will also give out spring sky maps while supplies last! The show times are at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. There is no admission charge, but seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis. In order to preserve dark-adaption, there is no late admittance into the planetarium once the show has started!

If weather permits, they will offer a free public stargaze with telescopes at 8:30 p.m. in the courtyard between the Planetarium and the Connie Gotsch Theatre after the last show. The stargaze will last a maximum of one hour. There is no capacity limit for the stargaze, so come and observe with them! Around the beginning of the stargaze, they may have a glimpse of the brilliant Jupiter and its Galilean moons for the last time at an AstroFriday until fall! They also plan to view the colorful double star Gamma Andromedae, and binary north star, Polaris! If weather conditions are exceptionally favorable, they may also see such deep-sky objects as the fanciful “E.T. Cluster” in Cassiopeia, the Seven Sisters star cluster, the majestic Orion Nebula, and the Beehive Cluster in Cancer!

For more information, call David Mayeux at 566-3361, or e-mail at mayeuxd@sanjuancollege.edu.

• April (SE) 8 - *** Total Solar Eclipse Viewing! ***
• April 12 - Galaxies (fulldome)
• May 3 - Solar Quest (fulldome)

No reservations are taken or required for these, but indoor programs have a limited seating capacity of 60 per show, and the outer doors lock from the outside once the show has begun. There is also no charge for presentations. NO food or drinks are permitted in the indoor planetarium presentations.

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