Abrams Planetarium's
Home School Days for
the 2009-2010 School Year
Special Days for Home Schoolers
If you are a home schooler and would like to visit the Abrams Planetarium, here are some dates and times we've scheduled for you to visit. Of course you can still call and reserve any other show times, but these special homeschool dates are open to anyone. No reservation needed and no minimum group size charge.
We've set aside the 3rd Thursday of the month (2nd Thursday for October) for the 2009/2010 school year. Tickets will be sold at the ticket window starting at 1:00 p.m. Showtimes are at 1:30 p.m. There will be no late seating. Tickets are $2.00 per person.
Dates:
October 8, 2009*
November 19, 2009
December 17, 2009
January 21, 2010
February 18, 2010
March 18, 2010
April 15, 2010
May 20, 2010
* 2nd Thursday in October.
October 8, 2009, 1:30 p.m.
Two Small Pieces of Glass
(Recommended for grades 3 and up)Four hundred years ago, Galileo was the first astronomer to use a simple telescope to look into space, revealing an infinite and perplexing universe. Join us today as we celebrate that momentous event with the International Year of Astronomy (IYA 2009). This show discusses the history of the telescope, from its creation by Hans Lipperhey, to the technology that runs today's largest telescopes and explores what we have learned and what we hope to one day know. A live star talk ending with a question and answer session follows the recorded portion of the show. During the live portion of the show, we will discuss the Galileoscope, a IYA2009 telescope project.
November 19, 2009, 1:30 p.m.
Sky Tellers
(Recommended for grades 3 and up)Listen to stories of the stars told by Native American Master Storytellers. In this show, you will hear two stories. Spring Defeats Winter: A Seneca tale retold by Joseph Bruchac (Abenaki) and Why Coyote Howls: A star story retold by Lynn Moroney (Chickasaw). Her version is a blend of tales found in Native American oral narratives. This show was made possible by the Lunar and Planetary Institute. For more information about Sky Tellers and related activities, visit the Sky Tellers web site. A live star talk ending with a question and answer session follows the recorded portion of the show.
December 17, 2009, 1:30 p.m.
George and Oatmeal Save Santa
(Recommended for all ages)Santa Claus is missing! Mrs. Claus is worried and asks Oatmeal the snowman to help find him. Join Oatmeal and his friend George, the planetarium wizard, as they travel the world in search of Santa. Along the way they are told constellation stories from many cultures and how to use the stars of the Big Dipper to find north. This holiday show is particularly appropriate for young children and their families.
January 21, 2010, 1:30 p.m.
Bad Astronomy
(Recommended for grades 5 and up)Astronomy blogger Phil Plait aims to put a stop to astronomical myths and misconceptions. This show discusses UFO sightings, moon landing hoaxers, bad science in TV and movies, and astrology. The show is an adaptation of Phil Plait's book, Bad Astronomy. A live star talk ending with a question and answer session follows the recorded portion of the show.
February 18, 2010, 1:30 p.m.
Moonbeams
(Recommended for grades 2-5)Learn about lunar phases. Explore the scale of the earth, sun and moon. See the Apollo 17 astronauts work on the moon. Discover the best time to observe our nearest celestial neighbor. This is a live presentation. There will be time for questions and answers at the end of the show.
March 18, 2010, 1:30 p.m.
Solar System Safari
(Recommended for grades 2-6)A jungle adventurer uses a magical camera to take visitors on an exciting safari through the Solar System. The sun, moon, planets, and dwarf planets come to life, taking on unique personalities and describing their own characteristics and eccentricities. Students will learn about the characteristics of planets, as well as the current planetary status of Pluto. A live star talk ending with a question and answer session follows the recorded portion of the show.
April 15, 2010, 1:30 p.m.
The Universe of Dr. Einstein
(Recommended for grades 5 and up)Einstein's discoveries penetrated the hearts of stars and helped to explore the mysteries of black holes. Come with us and explore the life and achievements of one of the greatest scientists of all time. There will be limited amount of time for questions and answers at the end of the show due to the recorded show's length. (50 minutes)
May 20, 2010, 1:30 p.m.
The Sky Above Mister Rogers Neighborhood
The Sky Above Mister Rogers Neighborhood
(Recommended for grades preschool-2)Come explore familiar objects in the sky with Mister Rogers and your favorite characters from the Neighborhood of Make-Believe. A live star talk ending with a question and answer session follows the recorded portion of the show.
Parking
Parking can be difficult on the MSU campus on weekdays. There are metered spaces in the parking ramp behind the planetarium, but they tend to fill up early. There is no parking in the lot in front of the planetarium. That lot is for faculty and staff only. We have 6 spaces by the curb in front of the planetarium. We will give passes for those spaces on a first come basis. Click here for more parking information: DPPS parking information.
Adult Supervision
This is not a drop-off program. All students must be accompanied by an adult and supervised at all times. Parents and chaperones also must buy a ticket for $2.00. Children under two years of age will be admitted at no cost, but we strongly suggest children under two years of age stay home. If a child becomes noisy and disruptive, we may ask that you leave the planetarium theater.
Recommended Ages
The recommended grades given for the above shows are our recommendations based on the show's content. However, students of all ages will be permitted to any of the shows.
Back to Abrams Planetarium School visit page.
Click here for information about the MSU observatory public observing dates. The MSU observatory houses a 24" telescope used for astronomical research. One weekend a month, the telescope is set up for use by the public. Smaller telescopes are set up in the parking lot in front of the observatory. The telescopes will be looking at the Moon, planets and other celestial sights. The dates are typically the weekend closest to the First Quarter Moon
Click here for information about the MSU Astronomy Department lecture series. Once a month, an Astronomy Department faculty member gives a public talk about their current research. The lectures are geared towards general audiences. The lectures are free. Talks start at 7:30 p.m. and usually last about an hour.
Editors note: Homeschoolers often ask me about telescopes. What types to buy? Where to get one? etc. This year, the IYA (International Year of Astronomy) has come out with a great educational telescope. The Galileoscope. It's an easy to assemble telescope kit that is very inexpensive and good quality. I have bought one and used it to observe craters on the Moon, the rings of Saturn, and the moons of Jupiter. I highly recommend this telescope. If you are here for a show, feel free to ask about it. I'll be happy show you the one I have.
Sincerely,
John French,
Planetarium Lecturer.
Page created by John French, Abrams Planetarium
Schedule subject to change.