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The Raritan Valley Community College Planetarium in Branchburg will be offering a variety of “out of this world” programs in April, including a special “Astronomy Day” at the end of the month.

The Planetarium will present Astronomy Day, Saturday, April 29, at 2-5 p.m. and 6-9 p.m., with hands-on activities celebrating astronomy and science. Participants will be able to observe the Sun (safely) and the Moon through telescopes and use their body to tell time on a sundial. The 3M Observatory, located adjacent to the Planetarium, will be open for solar observing during the day and for peeks of the Moon and other celestial objects in the evening sky. The event is appropriate for families with children ages six and older. Astronomy Day activities are free of charge, but there are additional costs for star shows and laser concerts.

The following star and laser shows also will be offered throughout the month:

Astronomy Tonight, Saturday, April 1, 7 p.m.
Using the Planetarium’s DigitalSky digital theater, experience a guided tour of the night sky. Learn about some of the popular constellations visible from sunset to sunrise, as well as the stories behind them. Hear about how and where in the sky to find the brightest planets. Weather permitting, the 3M Observatory will be open after the show. (Recommended for ages 8-adult)

Laser Rock of Ages, Saturdays, April 1, 22, 8 p.m.
Enjoy a laser concert with songs drawn from the popular Broadway show and feature film, Rock of Ages. Sing along to “We Built This City” by Starship, “I Wanna Rock” by Twisted Sister, and “Talk Dirty to Me” by Poison.

To Worlds Beyond, Saturdays, April 8, 22, 29, 7 p.m.
The RVCC Planetarium is the first in the United States to present this show, which takes visitors on a journey through our solar system viewing beautiful images taken from orbiting satellites. The pictures are blended with high-end animations and current information about our neighborhood of planets.  (Recommended for ages 10-adult)

Pink Floyd’s The Wall laser concert, Saturdays, April 8, 29, 8 p.m.
Watch a laser concert while images “dance” on the dome overhead. The show features hits from the popular Pink Floyd album including “Another Brick in the Wall,” “Hey You,” and “Comfortably Numb.”

The following shows are specially designed for younger audiences:

The Little Star that Could, Saturdays, April 1, 8, 22, 3 p.m.
Travel with an average yellow star on his quest to get a “name” and a planet to call his own. A “cool” red star, a “hot” blue star, a dying star, double stars and the Milky Way Galaxy teach Little Star some important things about being a star. Imagine Little Star’s surprise when he discovers that several planets rotate around him. The show offers a great introduction to the different kinds of stars in space, as well as the planets in our solar system. (Recommended for ages 6-12)

Laser Magic, Saturdays, April 1, 8, 22, 4 p.m.    
Enjoy a laser concert featuring songs by a variety of artists including “We Are All Made of Stars” by Moby, “We Will Rock You” by Queen, “Best Day of My Life” by American Authors, and “Let It Go,” sung by Idina Menzel. (Recommended for ages 6-12)

Rockin’ Rocket Ride, Saturday, April 29, 3 p.m.
Put on your space suit and blast-off into outer space to visit the Moon, Sun and planets. The show offers a lively experience for young people, with selected music from "Journey Into Space" by Jane Murphy. (Recommended for ages 3-8)

Storybooks in Space, Saturday, April 29, 4 p.m.
Enjoy story time in the Planetarium as children learn about the stars and planets. (Recommended for ages 4-8)

Planetarium show tickets cost $8 for one show or $14 for two shows on the same day. Reservations are strongly suggested for all Planetarium shows. For additional information or to make reservations, call 908-231-8805 or visit www.raritanval.edu/planetarium.
                
Raritan Valley Community College’s main campus is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, NJ. Serving Somerset and Hunterdon County residents for close to 50 years, RVCC is an educational and cultural center that is nationally recognized for its innovative programming, service to the community and environmental leadership. The College offers more than 90 associate degrees and certificates, as well as career training, professional development and personal enrichment courses. The College also has a performing arts center and planetarium.

RVCC is committed to offering a quality and affordable education through effective teaching, liaisons with the community’s businesses, and state-of-the-art technology. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 9, 2017

Media contact: Donna Stolzer, 908-526-1200, ext. 8383

PR #122