Fiske Planetarium and Sommers-Bausch Observatory at the University of Colorado at Boulder will hold Astronomy Day activities including rocket launches, sunspot viewing and demonstrations of planetarium and observatory equipment on Saturday, April 20, from noon to 7 p.m.
Astronomy Day is an annual event celebrated at planetariums and astronomy clubs around the world that is meant to bring astronomy to the public. All of the day's activities at Fiske Planetarium and Sommers-Bausch Observatory are open to the public and most are free.
Visitors will get to tour Fiske Planetarium's sound lab and preview the new Hubble Space Telescope exhibit set to open this summer. They also will learn how rockets fly and take part in the launch of water rockets across from the planetarium on the CU Business Field.
"It's an opportunity for us to go all out to get people excited about astronomy and space science," said Sanlyn Buxner, an education specialist for Fiske Planetarium.
The planetarium also will have two free shows, beginning at 2 p.m. with "Kids in Space." At 5 p.m. visitors can get answers to the astronomy questions they always wanted to ask during "Revealing Astronomical Misconceptions."Ìý
At 3:30 p.m. the laser show "Space Odyssey" will be shown, and at 6:30 p.m. "Jazz Fantasia," also a laser show, will be presented. These shows are in the planetarium and feature Fiske's new laser projection system and cost $5 per person. All other activities are free.
The 16-, 18- and 24-inch telescopes at Sommers-Bausch Observatory will be available for use. Weather permitting, visitors will be able to look at sunspots using the Sommers-Bausch Observatory's heliostat -- a specialized solar telescope that transfers the sun's light via a series of mirrors and lenses and projects it on a flat surface for safe viewing.
Fiske Planetarium hosts monthly live shows giving the audience a chance to talk to numerous experts from CU-Boulder, as well as weekly star shows, family matinees and laser shows.
Fiske Planetarium is located at Regent Drive and Kittredge Loop Drive on the CU-Boulder campus. Sommers-Bausch Observatory is adjacent to the planetarium.
For more information on upcoming planetarium shows or other programs call (303) 492-5001 or visit the planetarium's Web site at .