Did you know that Western Connecticut State University has an Observatory and Planetarium? Several times a month they host Public Nights where visitors can view a planetarium show and observe the night sky. And the best part: it is FREE.
Public Night Schedule, Fall 2014: All events are on Saturdays.
|
DATE |
Sunset (Norwalk-Stamford) |
Planetarium Show |
Sky Observing (if clear) |
Objects |
|
Sept. 6 |
7:16 p.m. EDT |
7 - 8 p.m. |
8 - 10 p.m. |
Waxing gibbous Moon, summer Milky Way sky objects |
|
Sept. 20 |
6:54 p.m. |
7 - 8 p.m. |
8 - 10 p.m. |
Summer Milky Way sky objects |
|
Oct. 4 |
6:29 p.m. |
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. |
7:30 - 9:30 p.m. |
Waxing gibbous Moon, summer Milky Way sky objects |
|
Oct. 18 |
6:07 p.m. |
6 - 7 p.m. |
7 - 9 p.m. |
Summer Milky Way and early autumn sky objects |
|
Nov. 1 |
5:47 p.m. |
6 - 7 p.m. |
7 - 9 p.m. |
Moon just past First Quarter, autumn sky objects |
|
Nov. 15 |
4:32 p.m. EST |
4:30 - 5:30 p.m. EST |
5:30 - 7:30 p.m. EST |
Autumn and early winter Milky Way sky objects |
|
Dec. 6 |
4:24 p.m. |
4:30 - 5:30 p.m. |
5:30 - 7:30 p.m. |
Full Moon; autumn and early winter Milky Way sky objects |
The facility is located atop the hill between the Westside Campus Center and the Pinney Hall dormitory. Limited parking is avail-able around the facility, with additional parking on University Boulevard.
Planetarium shows are appropriate for adults and older children, but generally not for infants or toddlers.
GENERAL INFORMATION about the planetarium and observatory:
- Public Nights are free, but we do accept donations in the planetarium and in the hyperbolic funnel ("black hole") in the lobby.
- Planetarium shows will be held as scheduled, rain or shine, unless severe storms or hazardous driving conditions are predicted. The telescope cannot be used if skies are cloudy or precipitating. (Use the National Weather Service link, above, to see the forecast for any scheduled Public Night date.)
- Parking is very limited (4 to 6 vehicles) atop the hill where the facility stands, but more is available on University Boulevard (the main Westside Campus road).
- The planetarium has a seating capacity of 40. The telescope chamber can accommodate 6 to 8 at one time, with additional standing space on the stairs.
- Planetarium shows usually last about one hour and are geared to adults and families with preadolescent and older children; i.e., older than baby or toddler. Younger children may be disturbed by the dimming of lights in the planetarium and other special effects.
- It is requested that people attending planetarium shows turn off mobile phones, digital cameras and other electronic devices, as their use during the show is disturbing to others. The same request holds for flashlights, lighted sport shoes and other sources of illumination.
- The observatory houses a 20-inch f/8.1 Ritchey-Chretien reflecting telescope that is used for public observing and astronomy research by WCSU students and faculty. It has a German-type equatorial mounting (the telescope has counterweights) and a computer controlled pointing and tracking system.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS to the WCSU Observatory and Planetarium: