Planetarium

Discover a world of wonder and excitement when you journey into the Planetarium at RVCC!

Things to do at the RVCC Planetarium

• Plan a VIRTUAL Field Trip
• Watch From Home
• Observatory
• Virtual Public Shows -- Discover the planets, stars and constellations we can see in tonight’s sky, mythologies of the constellations, and hear current events in astronomy.
  More information and dates coming soon.
• Resources for Teachers and Parents and Interested People - See Below
• Connect with Social Media - See Below
• Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter click here

Office hours:
Monday-Friday, from 8:30am to 4pm

Email:
planet@raritanval.edu

Address:
118 Lamington Road, Branchburg, NJ 08876

Phone:
908-231-8805

Social Media

Subscribe to RVCC Planetarium's YouTube Channel for weekly Star Talks

Join our Facebook Group for astronomy and Planetarium news

Follow us on Instagram too!

Resources for Teachers and Parents and Interested People

While you are home and looking for one more thing to help with homeschooling or to entertain yourself or the family, we’ve put together a list of some of our favorite websites.  This is by no means a complete list of what’s out there, just some of the ones that we go to regularly. 

For everyone

• Astronomy picture of the day https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
• EarthSky, updates on the cosmos; astronomy news; sky events to look for; etc.  https://earthsky.org/
• Gotta stay healthy while you are in space! A document on Space Nutrition https://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/669816main_Space%20Nutrition.pdf
• Spot the Station: looking for International Space Station in the night sky.  Put in your zip code, click on a locator icon near your home, then click on “View sighting opportunities”.  https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/
• Spaceweather, a website to explore the Sun-Earth system.  Includes daily pictures of the Sun and aurora predictions.  https://www.spaceweather.com/
• Space.com, astronomy news  https://www.nasa.gov/
• NASA, they are currently accepting applications for the next astronaut class!  Plus there is news, activities, links to missions, and so much more. https://www.nasa.gov/
• Infiniscope, Use real NASA data as you do exploratory activities. This site makes the vastness of space and space exploration inviting, accessible, and interactive for educators and learners of all ages.  Infiniscope provides a virtual space to connect users to cutting edge space exploration experiences that inspire curiosity, excitement, engagement, and confidence.  https://infiniscope.org/

For Younger explorers and Elementary Grades

• NASA’s Space Place, information and activities, geared towards young people, but written so all ages (adults too!) can understand ideas  https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/
• SciJinks: It’s all about the Weather (sponsored by NOAA)  SciJinks features information, illustrations, and learning tools for many different weather topics!  https://scijinks.gov/
• Storytime from Space (Astronauts aboard International Space Station reading picture books) https://storytimefromspace.com/
• My Sky Tonight, activities for Preschool / early learners from the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. https://astrosociety.org/education-outreach/early-learners/my-sky-tonight.html

For Middle and High Schoolers

• Khan Academy has a Cosmology & Astronomy section. https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/cosmology-and-astronomy?fbclid=IwAR3GexU3_uKAsQYod4AGZlTpQ3DnzgiLDvS0v0dgeXrz0udjjpO7U7KKxRo
• Latest earthquakes from USGS  https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/map/
• Zooniverse zooniverse.org, citizen science projects including Galaxy Zoo (classifying galaxy pictures) and Star Notes (transcribing notes from some amazing, early female Astronomers.)  There are also citizen science projects in other disciplines like Arts, Literature, and Medicine.
• Podcasts from NASA’s Johnson Space Center https://www.nasa.gov/johnson/HWHAP
• Your Weight on Other Worlds https://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/weight/
• National Radio Astronomy Observatory.  Radio telescopes on Earth look at the sky in a wavelength different from what we see with our eyes, and that opens up a whole new level of wonder and information.  Multiple radio telescopes and also work together as if they were one giant telescope. Explore NRAO’s website for galleries of pretty pictures, information on the different observatories they operate around the world, and news about discoveries they are making. https://public.nrao.edu/

YouTube Channels

• Discover the Universe: science lessons for kids  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdfR3_eoqih4_VyYnxfzQng/featured
• Hubble Space Telescope.  Check out their Public Lectures, Tonight’s Sky, Visualizations.  It’s all great.  https://www.youtube.com/user/HubbleSiteChannel/playlists
• Learn the Sky.  Learn about constellations.  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiPlOyqYe7N35RNlKL_yvBA/featured