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Department of Astronomy
What, no cheese?

Roof Nights
&
Planetarium Shows

 Oooh, the moon!

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

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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.