Fall Quarter 2009
Telescope Roof Nights & Planetarium Shows
Roof Nights and Planetarium shows are offered to all students enrolled
in the introductory Astronomy courses during the quarter. Members of
the OSU community (student, staff, and their families) are welcome to
attend on a space-available basis, with first priority given to students
currently enrolled in Astronomy courses (please see the
OSU Planetarium webpage for
more information about special programs for the general public).
Schedule
| Date |
Day |
Time |
TA |
| 29 September 2009 |
Tues |
7:00 pm |
Grier & Nataf |
| 30 September 2009 |
Wed |
7:00 pm |
Eastman & Pejcha |
| 1 October 2009 |
Thurs |
7:00 pm |
Mogren & Simha |
| 5 October 2009 |
Mon |
7:00 pm |
Siverd & Shappee |
| 6 October 2009 |
Tues |
7:00 pm |
Nataf & Grier |
| 7 October 2009 |
Wed |
7:00 pm |
Pejcha & Siverd |
| 27 October 2009 |
Tues |
6:30 pm |
Simha & Mogren |
| 28 October 2009 |
Wed |
6:30 pm |
Shappee & Eastman |
Weather Info
-
Please try to arrive 5-10 minutes before the scheduled time for
the planetarium show since the doors will remain closed once the
show begins in order to keep people's eyes dark adapted.
Planetarium Programs
Topics covered in the planetarium shows include a general description of
the night sky, how it changes over time, how it changes depending on
your position on Earth, and why the Earth has seasons. The shows are
given by graduate students in the OSU Astronomy Department and are
presented at a level appropriate for students taking the introductory
level Astronomy courses.
Some professors offer one-time extra credit for attending planetarium
programs. Please see the TA giving the show after the program to
get on the sign-up sheet. You must sign-in in-person (no proxies).
Students who leave early will not receive attendance credit.
Telescope Observing Sesssions
Once the planetarium show is completed (approx. 45 minutes), there will
usually be a viewing session at the roof-top observatory. Telescope
viewing sessions feature the department's 12-inch Meade
computer-controlled telescope. If you want to attend only the telescope
viewing on nights when a planetarium show will also be presented, then
please arrive about 45 minutes after the time the planetarium show is
scheduled and you can go up to the roof with the others once their show
is finished.
All Telescope Roof Nights are subject to cancellation due to weather without
notice. (You can't see stars through clouds, and you don't want to get the
telescope wet!) If a Roof Night is cancelled, then we usually try to have an
"Alternate Roof Night" on an alternate night. Any rescheduled roof nights
will be posted on this web site beforehand.
Directions
The OSU Planetarium is located on the 5th floor of Smith Laboratory [
MAP]. To
get there, use the north-east entrance and take the elevator to the 5th
floor. The planetarium will be to your right, and a sign will be
pointing the way.