Report by Paula Antolini, February 20, 2019, 1:39PM EDT
WCSU will host a 7 p.m. planetarium shows, followed by telescope viewing of the sky from 8 to 10 p.m., at the Westside Observatory and Planetarium on the Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury.
The events are free and open to the public.
WHAT: WCSU Planetarium Show
WHEN: See dates below (during Jan. to May 2019)
WHERE: Westside Observatory and Planetarium on the Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury
Star Watch for January through May, 2019
The WCSU Planetarium and Observatory facility is CLOSED for the winter season but will hold its first Public Night of the 2019 spring season on Sat., March 23. See the schedule below.
Public Nights may be cancelled due to icy road conditions or severe storm watches or warnings. For updates, check the NOAA weather web site (www.weather.gov) on the day of an event. An update may also be issued on the observatory number, (203) 837 – 8672 . Sky viewing cannot be held during cloudy or precipitating weather, but a planetarium show may still be held as long as conditions are not severe.
Planetarium shows are appropriate for adults and older children, but generally not for infants or toddlers.
The Observatory and Planetarium facility lies atop the hill between the Westside Campus Center and the Pinney Hall dormitory; the entrance road faces the front of Pinney Hall. The road’s entrance apron is steep; come into it from an angle to avoid bottoming out. Parking is available but very limited around the facility; more may be found on University Boulevard.
SPRING, 2019 PUBLIC NIGHT SCHEDULE
| Date of Public Night | Planetarium Show Time | Observing (if clear) | Objects visible |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., March 23 | 7 – 8 p.m. EDT | 8 – 10 p.m. EDT | Mars, Pleiades, Orion Nebula, waning gibbous Moon |
| Sat., April 13 | 7 – 8 p.m. EDT | 8 – 10 p.m. EDT | Castor, Moon 1 day past 1st Quarter, Algieba |
| Sat., April 27 | 8 – 9 p.m. EDT | 9 – 11 p.m. EDT | Algieba, carbon star Y CVn, Mizar and Alcor, M44 star cluster |
| Sat., May 11 | 8 – 9 p.m. EDT | 9 – 11 p.m. EDT | 1st Quarter Moon, Mizar and Alcor, carbon star Y CVn, M13 star cluster, Epsilon Lyrae, Ring Nebula |
| Sat., May 18 | 8 – 9 p.m. EDT | 9 – 11 p.m. EDT | Mizar and Alcor, Full Moon, carbon star Y CVn, Epsilon Lyrae |
For more information, call (203) 837-8672.
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