Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Cejka Planetarium in John J. and Char Kopchick Hall will host two programs during the fall semester: “Magical Lights: Stars” and “How Many Are There? Planet Nine.”
These programs are free and open to the community.
“Magical Light: Stars” will be offered on October 29 at 7:00 p.m. and November 2 at 11:00 a.m. This program will discuss what scientists have learned about stars, how they shine, how they are different from one another, and how long they last.
“How Many Are There? Planet Nine” will be offered December 16 at 7:00 p.m. This program will talk about the Pluto controversy of 2006, how we label objects as planets, and recent observations that suggest additional large objects are located farther from the sun, and the search to find them.
The shows are sponsored by the IUP Department of Anthropology, Geospatial and Earth Sciences and the IUP Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. The shows are developed and presented by Ken Coles, planetarium director.
Weather permitting, after-the-show telescope observing of the night sky (evening shows) or of the sun (daytime shows) will be available. Seating is limited; doors will open 15 minutes before each show. Groups that wish to attend are asked to call 724-357-2440 in advance of the shows.
The Cejka Planetarium, named in honor of the generosity of Tim and Debra Phillips Cejka, 1973 graduates of IUP, features a digital projector. It is located on the second floor of Kopchick Hall.