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The Raritan Valley Community College Planetarium in Branchburg will present a variety of star shows and laser concerts in February, including special programs for children. The following shows will be offered:

Astronomy Tonight, Saturday, February 4, 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 to adult)

Laser Beatles, Saturdays, February 4, 18, 8 p.m.
Enjoy a laser concert featuring songs from throughout the Beatles’ long career, including “Twist and Shout,” “Help!” and “Revolution.”

Follow the Drinking Gourd, Saturdays, February 4, 11, 18, 3 p.m.
Learn to find the Big Dipper and other stars in our night sky. Then we’ll go “back in time” to follow a family trying to escape oppression. The Big Dipper guides them through a frightful but rewarding voyage. Sing along with the slaves who used the song of the “Drinking Gourd” to travel north on foot from Alabama to Canada. Based on Jeanette Winters’ book by the same title, the show describes the astronomy behind the slave song “Follow the Drinking Gourd.”  (Recommended for ages 6-12)

Laser Magic, Saturdays, February 4, 11, 18, 4 p.m.    
Enjoy a laser concert featuring songs by a variety of artists. Selections include “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)

Laser Queen, Saturdays, February 11, 25, 8 p.m.
Tunes by Queen are featured in this laser concert. Some of the hit songs include “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” “Another One Bites the Dust,” “Under Pressure” and “We Are the Champions.”

SETI: The Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence, Saturdays, February 18, 25, 7 p.m.
The prospect that we may not be alone in the universe is taken as fact by the movies, authors, and a great many scientists. As yet, we have no hard evidence of life outside Planet Earth. SETI: The Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence explores all sides of this topic, from the planets we are finding around other stars, to the feasibility of traveling to the stars, to the possibility that UFOs have been visiting and the various methods that scientists are using to communicate. The program also includes a live tour of the current night sky and/or an exploration of the planets that have been discovered around other stars.  (Recommended for ages 10 to adult)

Rockin’ Rocket Ride, Saturday, February 25, 3 p.m.
Put on your space suit and blast-off into outer space to visit the Moon, Sun and planets. The star 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, February 25, 4 p.m.
Enjoy story time in the Planetarium as we 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

January 18, 2017

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

PR #83