New Jersey Astronomy Center for Education

PLANETARIUM

Public Star Shows

Laser Concerts

 

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picture inside the planetarium

 
 
the Planetarium
Public Star Shows
tunnel into planetarium


* Laser Concerts

* Star Shows & Laser Concerts
* Just for Kids
* Special Events
* Admission / General Policies
* Directions to the Planetarium
* Contact Us

All shows run approximately 40 minutes.
 

STAR SHOWS & LASER CONCERTS:

 

Admission: $5 for one show, $9 for two shows
Admission Price Change begins July 1, 2008
$6 for one show, $10 for two shows

Call 908-231-8805 for reservations!

Spring Schedule

March 29 - May 17, 2008 

Saturdays     3:00   Spring Skies
                      4:00   Laser Lite

                     7:00   Spring Skies
                     8:00   Pink Floyd: Dark Side of Oz
(March 29, April 26)
                               Pink Floyd: The Wall
(April 5, May 3)
                               Jimi Hendrix  (April 12, May 10)
                               U2 (April 19, May 17)
                              
There are no shows between May 19 and July 7.

Summer Schedule
July 8 – Aug 28, 2008
 

Tuesdays        2:00    Space Bus
                        3:00    Sky Lights: laser and video concert

Wednesdays  7:30    Summer Skies
                        8:30    Led Zeppelin
(July 9, August 6)
                                   Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon 
(July 16, August 13)
                                   Jimi Hendrix  
(July 23, August 20)
                                   Legends of Rock & Roll (July 30, August 27)

Thursdays      2:00    The Little Star that Could
                        3:00    Sky Lights: laser and video concert

 

Scroll down for show descriptions.

Limited-Engagement Shows:

The Skies over Hogwarts
Join our eclectic group of witches and wizards as they will guide you through a "Harry Potter"-themed tour of the night sky,  Learn how JK Rowling used astronomy as the inspiration for some of her characters' names.

Dates for the summer shows will be posted in June!
                                                                 $6 per person

Warner Bros. Entertainment and J.K. Rowling are not responsible for this event but, subject to conditions, they have kindly granted us permission to use the HARRY POTTER® trade mark and other materials.


JUST FOR KIDS

All shows run approximately 40 minutes.

Matinees

Sunday, March 9                  
     2:00 p.m.     Rockin' Rocket Ride 
(sold out)
     3:00 p.m.     Rockin' Rocket Ride 
(sold out)
For ages 3-7  Put on your spacesuit and blast off into outer space!  Sing along to catchy songs as you sit back and fly through the solar system.  Enjoy a guest performance by Mr. Moon Rock, singing the thrilling story of his life in the music video “Moon Rock Rock”.  See what constellations are visible in tonight’s sky before heading back home to Earth.  A lively experience for young people with selected music from the CD “Journey into Space” by Jane Murphy.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008
     2:00 p.m.     The Sky Tonight 
For school age   Find out which stars and constellations are visible in the sky tonight.  Locate the Big Dipper and Leo the Lion.  Are there any planets we can see with just our eyes?
     3:00 p.m.     Laser Kids
For school age Listen to songs like “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”, “Adams Family” theme song, and “God Bless the USA” while lasers draw pictures overhead.

Sunday, April 13, 2008  
     2:00 p.m.    
Secret of the Cardboard Rocket 
For ages 6-9   Two children tour the solar system in just one night with the help of their astronomy book.
     3:00 p.m.     Laser Kids
For school age Listen to songs like “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”, “Adams Family” theme song, and “God Bless the USA” while lasers draw pictures overhead.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008
     2:00 p.m.     The Sky Tonight 
For school age   Find out which stars and constellations are visible in the sky tonight.  Locate the Big Dipper and Leo the Lion.  Are there any planets we can see with just our eyes?
     3:00 p.m.     Laser Kids
For school age Listen to songs like “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”, “Adams Family” theme song, and “God Bless the USA” while lasers draw pictures overhead.

Sunday, May 18, 2008  
     2:00 p.m.     Rockin' Rocket Ride
(sold out)
     3:00 p.m.     Rockin' Rocket Ride
(sold out)
For ages 3-7   Put on your spacesuit and blast off into outer space!  Sing along to catchy songs as we fly through the solar system.  Enjoy a guest performance by Mr. Moon Rock, singing the thrilling story of his life in the hit music video "Moon Rock Rock".  We'll see what constellations are visible from our backyards tonight before heading back home to Earth.  Music is from the CD "Journey into Space" by Jane Murphy.

Admission: $5 for one show, $9 for two shows

Call 908-231-8805 for reservations!

Show Descriptions

Spring Skies (for general audience)  They say "March comes in like a Lion," as we see Leo prominently placed in the night sky.  Learn how to find Leo and other nearby stars and constellations of Spring.  Saturn, Mars, and Jupiter also make night time appearances.

Laser Lite (for general audience) Features songs like "Kokomo", "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", and "With or Without You."

Space Bus (Recommended for families with children ages 6-12)  Students go on the ultimate field trip: visiting the planets.  Fly over Mars, over Saturn’s rings, but what will the kids do when the bus breaks down out by Pluto and they are headed for the stars?

Sky Lights laser and video concert (Recommended for PreK and up) Lasers and video clips animate music by singer/songwriter mr. RAY and Jane Murphy’s “Journey into Space” CD.  Sing along to “Kalien, the Alien” and “Moon, Rock, Rock.”

Summer Skies (for general audience) The Summer Triangle dominates the evening skies this season.  Saturn and Mars edge closer to the Sun, while Jupiter shine brightly in Sagittarius.  Join us on Wednesday evenings throughout the summer to learn what stars and constellations we can see as well as hear about some current events in astronomy.

The Little Star that Could (Recommended for families with children ages 6-10) There are different kinds of stars in the galaxy, but only the most special have planets around them.

 

SPECIAL EVENTS

Limited-Engagement Shows:


The Skies over Hogwarts
Join our eclectic group of witches and wizards as they will guide you through a "Harry Potter"-themed tour of the night sky,  Learn how JK Rowling used astronomy as the inspiration for some of her characters' names.

Summer dates will be posted in June.    $6 per person

Call 908-231-8805 for reservation.

Warner Bros. Entertainment and J.K. Rowling are not responsible for this event but, subject to conditions, they have kindly granted us permission to use the HARRY POTTER®  trade mark and other materials.

Lectures

Launching DAWN (and Phoenix): From Behind the Scenes at Kennedy Space Center Press Site
Dr. Ken Kremer
, NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador and The Planetary Society
Dr. Kremer will present his behind the scenes” experience of the rarely seen ‘reporters perspective’ of the Space Press Corps at America’s Space Port including an “Up-Close and Personal” look at the newly launched NASA DAWN Asteroid Orbiter powered by exotic ion propulsion.  As the events unfolded during launch week, Ken filed reports as Guest Blogger for The Planetary Society Weblog.  Learn about the Phoenix mission to the martian north polar icy soil and see the latest amazing feats from the rovers Opportunity and Spirit.  Ken is a research scientist and has authored a Mars cover article for the Journal of the Explorers Club.  His international team of astronomy enthusiasts has published Mars images in magazines (including Aviation Week and Space Technology) and numerous other media (including Astronomy Picture of the Day). 
    
Wednesday, April 2, 7:30 p.m.
     $5 per person

Low Energy Routes to the Moon and Beyond
Dr. Edward Belbruno,
Innovative Orbital Design, Inc., and Dept. of Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton Univ.
As a member of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Dr. Belbruno’s work on finding low energy orbits to the Moon and other targets was used to rescue the Japanese spacecraft Hiten and send it to the Moon. He is author of Fly Me to the Moon, holds patents on routes in space and is an exhibiting artist.
     Thursday, May 8, 7:30 p.m.
     $5 per person

The Space Shuttle – Up Close and Personal
Dennis O’Leary,
Amateur Astronomer
The Space Shuttle continues its missions to low earth orbit.  Mr. O’Leary will describe the history of the STS, its ongoing missions, the structure, and the current fuel tank problems. Trivia and pictures will bring us up to date on this manned vehicle and the future of human spaceflight.
    
Tuesday, June 3, 7:30 p.m.
     $5 per person

 

JUST FOR KID


Admission / General Policies

  • Admission is $5.00 per person, per show, all ages, unless otherwise noted.
  • See two programs on the same day and get $1 off the second show.
  • Try a laser concert with 3D glasses for an additional $2
  • Same night Star Show and one Laser Concert for $9.00
  • Groups of 15 or more see both for $8.00 per person
  • No one is admitted into the planetarium after a show or concert has started; by order of the Fire Marshall.
  • Please arrive at least 15 minutes before show time. Shows and Concerts must start on time.
  • General seating tickets will be held until 10 minutes before show time at the Planetarium Gift Shop.
  • Reservations do not guarantee a seat if you are late for the show or concert.
Reservations are recommended for all shows by calling the Planetarium @ 908-231-8805. 

RVCC is located between Routes 78 and 22.  Click here for directions to the College.

On campus, park in Lot #7 or #1 and proceed up the steps to the Planetarium.
  Raritan Valley Community College Updated 8/152006 by ACG