Saint Vincent planetarium shows will explore the nighttime sky

Visitors can take a tour of the nighttime sky during four spring shows in the Angelo J. Taiani Planetarium and Astronaut Exhibit in Saint Vincent College’s Sis and Herman Dupré Science Pavilion.

The schedule kicks off Feb. 15, and continues with a Saturday show monthly through May. Shows begin at 11 a.m. and last about an hour.

The schedule includes:

• Feb. 15, “Winter Sky Show – Stars”

• March 14, “Vernal Equinox Sky Show – Back to the Moon”

• April 25, “Earth Day Sky Show – Oasis in Space”

• May 2, “Earth Day Sky Show – Dynamic Earth”

Programs will be conducted by members of the college’s physics department.

“Planets and deep sky objects, including star clusters, nebula and galaxies, will be visualized and concepts in astronomy and astrophysics discussed,” according to a release. “The shows will end with a 25-minute theatrically produced full-dome immersive video. Following each show, there will be a question-and-answer session for the audience.”

Each program also will include “The Sky Above Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” a 20-minute immersive and interactive production designed for children ages 3-10 and for those who grew up watching Mister Rogers.

“The audience will explore the daytime and nighttime sky with Mister Rogers and the animated characters from ‘Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,’” the release says. “Following selected showings, Fred Rogers Scholars and other Saint Vincent College students working to carry forward the vision of Rogers will supervise science-themed arts and crafts projects.”

Saint Vincent astronomy students also have constructed a scale model of the solar system along the Saint Vincent fitness trail.

“The model starts with the sign for the sun at the beginning of the trail next to the Fred M. Rogers Center and the historic marker. As you walk along the trail, signs for planets and major dwarf planets are placed at their relative distance from the sun,” the release says. “The most distant planet, Neptune, is at the one-mile mark of the trail, while the dwarf planet, Pluto, is a third of a mile further. After Pluto, there is a sign giving distance and direction to Proxima Centauri, the closest star (to) the sun.”

The model solar system will remain on the trail through early spring.

Attendance at all planetarium shows is free. Due to limited seating, reservations should be made at 724-805-2631 or stvincent.edu/planetarium.

Additional public shows may be added based on demand. Private shows can be scheduled for groups of 15-35 people, including scout groups working on merit badges.