AstroFriday

San Juan College Planetarium, Room 1723
Join David Mayeux, San Juan College Planetarium, for AstroFriday and enjoy the beauty and wonder of the night sky. This monthly program is a huge hit with local stargazers!
Join the San Juan College Planetarium for their AstroFriday presentation of “The Astronomy of Harry Potter,” a live sky show and tour of the heavens, identifying astronomical objects whose names appear in the popular Harry Potter series of books by J.K. Rowling and corresponding movies! Did you know that the character of Sirius Black (Harry’s godfather in the series) was named for the brightest star in the night sky as seen from Earth? And that it is also the chief star in the constellation of the Great Dog (i.e. – the animal that Sirius could shapeshift into in the stories)?! He isn’t the only character with an astronomical name…! You will learn MANY of the characters’ names in the series which have astronomical origins, as well as learn to locate them in the real sky with your own eyes! They will also give out spring sky maps while supplies last!

Show times will be at 6:30 and 7:30pm, and the doors will open for the first show at 6:15pm. If weather permits, they will offer a free public stargaze with telescopes at 8:30pm in the courtyard behind the planetarium after the last show. There is no capacity limit for the stargaze, which will last a maximum of one hour.

There is no admission charge, but there is a maximum seating capacity of 60 in the planetarium, so seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis. In order to preserve dark-adaption, there is no late admittance into the planetarium once the show has started! There is no capacity limit for the stargaze, which will last a maximum of one hour.

For more information, please feel free to call David Mayeux at 566-3361, or e-mail at mayeuxd@sanjuancollege.edu. Further information about Planetarium presentations and policies are available on the web on the SJC Planetarium Facebook page, or on the Events page on the SJC website.

AstroFriday Schedule:

Friday, February 7, 2025 The Astronomy of Harry Potter
Friday, March 7, 2025 Living Worlds
Friday, April 4, 2025 Micrometeorites
Friday, May 2, 2025 Losing the Dark