Newsroom

The Raritan Valley Community College Planetarium in Branchburg is shining bright in August, with special shows for children, a laser concert featuring songs by female artists, and programs that explain the mysteries of space. The following shows will be offered:

Space Shapes & Tycho to the Moon, Wednesdays, August 1 & 22, 2:30 p.m.
Explore shapes in space and ponder whether the Moon and its orbit are round like a ball or flat like a pancake. Play connect-the-dots with the stars to find triangles and squares and constellations. Then meet Tycho, a dog who doesn’t just howl at the Moon, but wants to go there. Blast off on an amazing ride to learn about night and day, space travel, the Moon, and the Sun. (Recommended for ages 5-8)

Storybooks in Space, Wednesdays, August 1 & 15, 3:30 p.m.; Friday, August 3, 7 p.m.
Enjoy story time in the Planetarium as youngsters and their families learn about the stars and planets. There’s no extra charge for stuffed animal friends. Those attending the August 3 show are encouraged to wear their pajamas to make the evening extra fun. (Recommended for ages 4-8)

Rockin’ Rocket Ride, Wednesdays, August 8 & 15, 2:30 p.m.; Friday, August 17, 11 a.m.; Saturday, August 25, 2 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)

SkyLights, Wednesdays, August 8 & 22, 3:30 p.m.; Friday, August 3, 11 a.m.; Saturday, August 25, 3 p.m.
Our youngest audience members can sing along with songs by mr. RAY (“Family Ride,” “Kalien the Alien”) and Jane Murphy (“Moon Rock Rock,” “The Planet Song”). Some songs are illustrated with lasers, while other songs feature video images. (Recommended for ages 3-8)

Magic Tree House: Space Mission, Thursdays, August 2, 9, 16, 23, 2:30 p.m.; Friday, August 3, noon; Fridays, August 10 & 24, 7 p.m.
Join Jack and Annie as they discover the secrets of the Sun, Moon, planets, space travel, and more. Who can help them answer the questions left for them by the mysterious "M"? The show is based on the same-titled, best-selling series of novels. (Recommended for ages 5 and older)

Laser Pop Rock, Thursdays, August 2, 9, 16, 23, 3:30 p.m.
Lasers dance across the dome while music is played. Songs include "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" by The Tokens, "Campfire Song Song" by Spongebob Squarepants, and "Shake It Off" by Taylor Swift. (Recommended for ages 6-12)

Earth, Moon, Sun, and Coyote, Thursdays, August 9 & 23, 4:30 p.m.
Coyote has a razor-sharp wit, but he’s a little confused about what he sees in the sky. Join this amusing character (adapted from Native American oral traditions) in a fast-paced and fun, full-dome show that tells Native American stories, explores eclipses and other puzzles, and examine how humans learn through space exploration. (Recommended ages 8-12).

Astronomy Tonight, Friday, August 3, 8 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 Ladies, Fridays, August 3 &10, 9 p.m.
“Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” is this show’s theme, with music featuring major female artists like Aretha Franklin, Madonna, Gloria Estefan, Shakira, and Rhianna. (Recommended for ages 10 and older)

Astronaut, Friday, August 10, 8 p.m.; Saturday, August 25, 4 p.m.
The exploration of space is the greatest endeavor that humankind has ever undertaken. But what does it take to become an astronaut? Experience a rocket launch from inside the body of “Chad,” a test astronaut. Then explore the amazing worlds of inner and outer space, from floating around the International Space Station to maneuvering through microscopic regions of the human body. The presentation is made possible with a grant from FirstEnergy Foundation. (Recommended for ages 10 and older)

The Little Star that Could, Friday, August 17, noon
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 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)

Attack of the Space Pirates, Friday, August 17, 7 p.m.
The starship Intrepid races across the galaxy in a desperate bid to prevent space pirates from locating a powerful alien technology that threatens the fate of the galaxy. Can Intrepid's crew solve the science clues leading to exotic places on foreign planets, defend against the space pirate fleet, and rescue the device before the pirates obtain it? (Recommended for ages 10 and older)

Dark Matter Mystery, Fridays, August 17 & 24, 8 p.m.
What keeps galaxies together? What are the building blocks of the Universe? We know that the Universe is filled with a mysterious glue—Dark Matter—but we have no idea what it contains. Join the scientists on their hunt for Dark Matter with experiments in space and deep underground. (Recommended for ages 10 and older)

Best of Pink Floyd laser concert, Fridays, August 17 & 24, 9 p.m.
Lasers dance across the dome while participants listen to Pink Floyd songs including “Comfortably Numb,” “Another Brick in the Wall, part 2,” and “Money.” (Recommended for ages 10 and older)

Planetarium tickets cost $10 for one show, $16 for two shows on the same day. For reservations and information, call 908-231-8805. For additional information, visit www.raritanval.edu/planetarium.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 30, 2018

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

PR #11