Montgomery College's Planetarium at Takoma
Park, Maryland USA
Picture of the Planetarium from Fenton Street
Directions to the
planetarium
Exciting public planetarium programs are
offered at Takoma Park's own planetarium.
Astronomy is the oldest science and one of the few sciences that welcomes
amateurs. Astronomy is one of the few sciences accessible to any inquiring
mind. Come to a public planetarium program
and explore the universe with us. Every one who
looks up at the stars with wonder is an astronomer. The planetarium
is open from the last week in August until the Friday before Memorial day
in May. This is an academic institution so their are a few holidays
like Thanksgiving and around Christmas and new year's day when the entire
institution is closed.
Public Planetarium Programs for 1998-1999 academic
year
Wednesday, 23 September 1998 at 7:00 P.M.
When
the Sky Falls
Saturday, 17 October 1998 at 7:00 P.M. How
are Stars Born?
Saturday, 21 November 1998 at 7:00 P.M. Total
Solar Eclipses
Monday, 21 December 1998 at 7:00 P.M. The
Day of the Sun's Return, the Winter Solstice
Saturday, 23 January 1999 at 7:00 P.M. Astrolabes
Saturday, 20 February 1999 at 7:00 P.M. African
Skies
Saturday, 20 March 1999 at 7:00 P.M. The
Rites of Spring, the Vernal Equinox
Saturday, 17 April 1999 at 7:00 P.M. Black
Holes, Gravity to the Max
Saturday, 15 May 1999 at 7:00 P.M. The
Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
The planetarium shows 1,834 naked-eye
stars, the Milky Way (the diffuse band of light caused by the disk of our
own galaxy), and the five naked-eye planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter,
and Saturn) under a twenty-four-foot dome with forty-two comfortable chairs.
The planetarium is located on Fenton Street
on the Takoma Park campus of Montgomery College.
It is attached to the Science South building on the ground level and has
a conspicuous silver-colored domed roof.
The stars are the province of all of mankind. An astrophysicist
will answer questions about the universe. There is no admission charge
for these public planetarium programs.
Special Planetarium Programs by Appointment
Music/LASER Light Shows
- Live in RealVideo
Saturday, November 28, 1998, 8:00 PM EST
Besides the public planetarium programs there are monthly
music/laser light shows, and grade-specific
field trip programs offered for school and youth groups. Several thousand
people participated in our grade-specific program last year. All planetarium
programs and shows are free, but better
than many that cost an admission price.
Astronomy Courses in the Planetarium
Astronomy courses are also offered in the planetarium.
Would you like to explore how stars are formed, know what a black hole
is and where one might be located, find out what a neutron star is, find
out what the sun is composed of, find out how the elements were formed,
find out how and when the earth was formed, or learn the names of some
of the constellations and the names of the brightest stars in them? If
you would like to find out about these things, maybe you should consider
taking T
AS101, Introduction to Astronomy at Montgomery College,
Takoma
Park. Montgomery College at Takoma
Park is the only place in the Washington
Metro area that you can take a college astronomy
course from within a planetarium.The tuition is very affordable.
It is the best education bargain around. If
you do not need this course as a transferable lab science in your curricula
consider auditing it for the knowledge that you will learn, the fun that
you will have, and the greater appreciation for the universe that you will
acquire. Senior citizens can register for this
course for less than the cost of the text book on a space available basis
one week before classes start. T AS101 is offered in the planetarium
on Tuesday and Thursday from 1-3:45P.M. It is offered beginning in the
fall semester in early September through December. What if you want to
learn about astronomy, but your job or other activities keep you from attending
the Tuesday and Thursday afternoon 1-3:45P.M. classes. You can take AS101
by taking a distance learning telecourse with test given on Saturday morning
or other times by appointment. You can learn about the universe in a way
that will fit your schedule. See N
AS101, Introduction to Astronomy via distance learning course
syllabus, please note this is not a watered
down easy telecourse, but a serious college course for people that can
prioritize.
Special Summerish Planetarium Programs when the
planetarium is closed to the public
Something like the following programs will be done
next summer when the planetarium is closed to the public in 1999 subject
of course to funding in the case of the teacher workshops.
Fascinating astrolabe
stuff.
Astronomy Education
sites here and elsewhere.
Dr. Harold Williams
Planetarium Coordinator
Montgomery College
Takoma Avenue and Fenton Street
Takoma Park, Maryland 20912-4197
[240]-567-1463 planetarium office
[240]-567-1550 FAX in library
Send e-mail to Dr. Harold Williams
at hwilliam@mc.cc.md.us
Web page by Dr. Harold Williams, last modified January 12, 1999.
original design by Rupert Chappelle
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