Planetarium Renovation at SCSU

Tuesday, September 11th, 2007 at 03:26 PM by Dave

The SCSU Planetarium has undergone a renovation this summer. The old star projector was 35 years old and based on technology from the 50’s and 60’s. The new projector is a state-of-the-art projection system. It is capable of projecting 8,500 stars, more than double what the old projector could do. The new projector can illustrate 24 constellations instead of the 2 constellations the old one could project.

The star field is very realistic with stars that are small pin points, not like the round blobs of light the old projector would give us. Consequently, the dome had to be exchanged with a new dome with smaller ventilation holes. Additionally, new lighting and a sound system were installed. An automation controller was added to augment the auxiliary projectors and merge music, voice, and images together to make a complete planetarium package.

With this new system installed we are taking reservations for groups at:

http://www.stcloudstate.edu/physics/planetarium_sched.asp

We also have our Astronomy Public Nights which are given the first two weeks of November. Reservations can be made in the beginning of October at:

http://www.stcloudstate.edu/physics/planetarium_public.asp

To see images of the renovation please go to:

http://web.stcloudstate.edu/dlwilliams/Planetarium%20Renovation.htm

We hope you make an effort to see this new facility at St. Cloud State University.

Clear skies to you all!

Posted in Astronomy News | No Comments »

My Favorite Meteor Shower

Thursday, July 12th, 2007 at 03:06 PM by Dave

My favorite meteor shower is coming up. On the evening of August 12 through the morning of August 13, the Perseid Meteor Shower will occur. This meteor shower is due to the remnants of Comet Swift-Tuttle. As this comet went around the Sun, it melted, leaving a debris field of sand-sized particles. When the Earth enters this debris field we get the flurry of meteors which appear to come from the constellation Perseus.

Predictions of this shower indicate that around 2 am on Monday morning (August 13) the meteor rate will be around dozens per hour. Just before sunrise the number is expected to be over one every minute.

The best place to view this shower is out in the country away from any city lights. Look towards the North East to find the constellation Perseus after midnight and near the Eastern sky near sunrise.

I hope you will circle this date on your calendar, take a nap on the afternoon of the 12th, and then bring your lawn chair outside that night to enjoy a beautiful display.

Clear skies to you all!

Posted in Astronomy News | 1 Comment »

Jupiter

Monday, June 11th, 2007 at 10:28 AM by Dave

Just above the constellation Scorpius, in the constellation of Ophiucus, is the planet Jupiter. This planet is our largest planet in the solar system. Even though it is the largest, it is not the brightest. Venus has that honor. Jupiter is bright this month because it is the closest to the Earth as it goes around in its orbit. Venus is closer to the Earth so it appears brighter.

Jupiter has been touted as one of the pieces of evidence that Galileo supported the idea that the Sun is the center of the Solar System. When Galileo observed Jupiter through his telescope he discovered that several “stars” moved around Jupiter. He concluded that these were moons like our Moon. These 4 bright moons are named the Galilean Moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.

If you use a pair of binoculars you can see some of these moons. Be sure to rest your elbows on a fence or a chair when you look at Jupiter This way you’ll have the best opportunity to see the moons.

This month you will have excellent choices to view planets: Venus in the west and Jupiter in the East.

Clear skies to you.

Posted in Astronomy News | No Comments »

New Things at the Planetarium

Wednesday, May 16th, 2007 at 03:32 PM by Dave

For visitors to St. Cloud State University’s planetarium, you will find a significant improvement to the planetarium this fall. Currently, the planetarium is closed for the summer for renovation and an upgrade in equipment.

The current star projector is 34 years old. It was designed with technology that was developed in the 50’s and 60’s. The new star projector that will be installed will use up-to-date technology of fiber optics and lensed stars. The current projector shows 3,500 stars and the new projector will illuminate over 8,500 stars with deeps ky objects and galaxies.

Along with a new projector, the star projection screen (a 30 foot dome) will be replaced, new lights and sound system, along with an automation system to control the auxillary projectors used around the dome.

All of this work is expected to be completed before the start of the fall semester. It is expected to be used by our students in the introductory solar system classes.

Last year the planetarium was host to over 5,000 visitors in more than 125 different shows. With the introduction of this new projection system, this coming year the planetarium is planning on hosting more shows.

Please watch this space for updates in the planetarium. The planetarium link is http://www.stcloudstate.edu/physics/planetarium.asp

Posted in Astronomy News | No Comments »

Hey! What is that Bright Star near Sunset?

Friday, February 9th, 2007 at 12:48 PM by Dave

This reminds me of that quote from the original Star Wars movie, “That’s no Moon, it’s a Space Station.” Well, this is no star but a planet called Venus.

The ancient Greeks called the wandering stars, planētēs, or wanderers. We now use the word planet for these denizens of our solar system.

Venus will be an evening star for most of the spring and summer. This means that is will be found in the west just at Sunset for an hour or so until it sets.

If you could look at Venus through a telescope right now you would see that it has a shape to it. We commonly call this shape a gibbous shape, similar to one of the phases of our Moon. As Venus moves around the Sun this shape will change to a quarter phase then eventually to a crescent phase. When Venus is closer to the Earth we will see the crescent phase. You can see the crescent phase during the summer months with binoculars or a small telescope.

Galileo was the first to discover that Venus went through phases, like the Moon. This was proof of the Heliocentric Theory proposed by Copernicus, that everything went around the Sun (Venus included). At the time of Galileo the Earth was thought to be the center of the Universe (the Geocentric Theory).

Perhaps we can wax philosophically about the Goddess of Love right around Valentines Day?

Enjoy this lovely apparition through the upcoming months!

Posted in Astronomy News | No Comments »