How are Stars Born?

The program will explore how hydrogen and helium gas, under the action of gravity, form stars-not only 5 billion year ago, when our own sun and solar system were formed, but right now throughout our galaxy. Some of the latest theoretical calculations of star formation will be shared with the audience. The most beautiful pictures ever taken of the sky are of star-forming regions. The planetarium sky projector will be used to show you where some of these exquisitely beautiful objects may be found. If the sky outside the planetarium is clear, we will view the stars with a telescope after the program. The sky is always clear inside the planetarium at Montgomery College.

The great Orion Nebula, Messier 42, NGC1976, a star forming gas cloud visible to the naked eye if viewed from a very dark place located in the middle of sword of Orion "the hunter".
The "How are Stars Born?" program will be partially understandable by children and adults of all educational levels. This is real science, and no one understands it all, including the speaker-but all will have the opportunity to increase their understanding. The pictures of star-forming regions are worth seeing for their beauty alone. Questions are encouraged during the show. A double-your money-back guarantee is assured. Of course, as always, the admission to these shows at the Montgomery College planetarium is free.

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.

A dark cloud called the horse head nebula, which is a star forming region in the constellation of Orion near the leftmost belt star, Alnitake. Directory of all files used, keynote and PowerPoints, on "How are Stars Born?" given on Saturday, January 26, 2013 at 7PM in the planetarium, obviously the planetarium  part is not shown.

Montgomery College's Planetarium home page

Web page by Dr. Harold Alden Williams.
Last changed 6:36AM, January 28, 2013.