Santa Monica College Planetarium features Star Clusters and a Waxing Moon This Month

By Lookout Staff

September 7, 2012 -- Visitors to the Santa Monica College John Drescher Planetarium will be treated to a super star performance up close on the first three Fridays of the month.

On September 7 and 14, the planetarium will showcase a region of the sky defined by the “Summer Triangle” of bright stars, planetarium officials announced.

The area is "rich in star clusters, planetary nebulae and even a bright supernova remnant,' officials said.

September 21 will feature "Special Observing Event: The Moon (& More) in the Eyepiece," which will give participants a chance to peer through the planetarium's telescope.

The eyepiece will be trained "at the waxing crescent moon and other celestial bodies – including a pretty, multicolored star," officials said.

If the night is cloudy, high-resolution images of the moon and "other fascinating wonders of the sky" will be shown inside the planetarium.

No shows are scheduled for Friday, Sept. 28 because of the “Carmageddon II” Interstate 405 shutdown that weekend.

The feature shows are at 8 p.m. and are preceded by “The Night Sky Show” at 7 p.m., which re-creates the night sky and provides the latest information on space exploration.

The John Drescher Planetarium, which features the Digistar projection system, is located on the second floor of Drescher Hall, 1900 Pico Blvd.

Tickets are $6 with discounts for children and senior citizens. For information and tickets, call (310) 434-3005 or go to www.smc.edu/planetarium.