Planetarium Featuring Prominent Celestial Objects

John L. Horst, acting director of the M.T. Brackbill Planetarium, prepares the Spitz projectorJohn L. Horst, acting director of the M.T. Brackbill Planetarium, prepares the Spitz projector for the January public program.
Photo by Jim Bishop

“The Spectacular Winter Sky” comes out to play in upcoming public programs at the M.T. Brackbill Planetarium at Eastern Mennonite University.

The 40-minute program, produced by John L. Horst, acting planetarium director, will be presented 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8 and 22, Feb. 5 and 19 and Mar. 19.

“The cold, clear winter sky offers the brightest and most distinctive star constellations of the year,” Horst said. “This show will feature some stories, demonstrate daily and annual motion, explain why different stars are visible in different seasons and spotlight the planet Saturn, which is currently prominent in the night sky,” he noted.

The D.R. Hostetter Museum of Natural History, with more than 6,000 items on display, will be open for browsing 2-3:30 p.m. in conjunction with the planetarium shows.

Admission to the planetarium and museum in EMU’s Suter Science Center is free.