The Mt. SAC

Happy 2021! Here's a fun fact for the new year: The Kepler-444 is an ancient system with five planets. This system was formed when the Milky Way galaxy was only 2 billion years old. All five planets orbit their sun like star in less than ten days. Learn more here: https://nasa.gov//kepler-444-an-ancient-system-with-five-p

Be sure to check out the Grand Conjunction of 2020 today! Jupiter and Saturn will appear very close together in the sky even though they are 456 million miles apart. This is a once in a lifetime event. The last time they lined up like this was 800 years ago! This is also a similar conjunction that happened around the birth of Christ and is theorized to be possibly an interpretation of the Bethlehem star. If you want to check it out look for the brightest point of light in the sky towards the southwest just after sunset. That will be Jupiter and the faint dot of light right next to it will be Saturn. Don't wait too long after sunset to see it, you won't be able to see this very well after 7:00 PM as it will be too low in the sky. Happy stargazing!

Fun Fact: Olympus Mons on the planet Mars is the largest volcano in the solar system. Learn more here: https://jpl.nasa.gov/spaceimages/details.php?id=PIA00300

Fun Fact: The Carina Nebula is an enormous cloud of gas and dust where a whirlpool of star birth and death is constantly taking place. This nebula is situated 7,500 light-years away in the southern constellation of Carina, the keel of a ship. Learn more: https://hubble25th.org/images/10#image

Catch Mercury! Mercury will be at its greatest western elongation. This is the perfect time to spot Mercury in the early morning sky. Learn more here: http://seasky.org/astronomy/astronomy-calendar-current.html

Dark energy is rapidly increasing the rate of our universe’s expansion over time. It is estimated to make up 68% of our universe. The term Dark in dark energy is used to describe something unknown rather than the literal meaning of dark. Learn more: http://ow.ly/sJVT50BABVX

Spooky Fun Fact: The young star HBC 672 is casting a shadow resembling a bat’s wings upon a star forming region. This bat shadow also flaps its wings. This phenomenon is caused by a nearby planet tugging on the disk and warping it. Watch here: https://nasa.gov///hubble-sees-cosmic-flapping-bat-shadow/

Did you know? Jupiter’s Moon IO is the most volcanically active in the entire solar system. This moon was discovered by Galileo on Jan. 8, 1610. For the very first time, a moon was discovered orbiting a planet other than Earth. Learn more here: https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/moons/jupiter-moons//overview/

Fun fact: Stephan’s Quintet was discovered by the French astronomer Edouard Stephan in 1877. Stephan’s Quintet includes four distant galaxies that are only connected to one another by their gravity. Learn more here: https://hubble25th.org/images/21#image

Happy Halloween! Here’s a spooky fun fact: This is the spiral galaxy NGC 4151 and was dubbed the name The Eye of Sauron by astronomers for its similarity to the eye of an evil character in The Lord of The Rings. Learn more: https://nasa.gov/mission_pag/chandra/multimedia/11-029.html

Spooky Fun Fact: This is the Witch Head Nebula which resembles a crone's head. In actuality this is a reflection nebula glowing with light from the star Rigel. A reflection nebulae is light reflected from a nearby star as seen in this image. Learn more: http://ow.ly/k77u50BABxS

Spooky Fun Fact: Millions of young stars lie in this hyperactive star birth region known as 30 Doradus. It is located 170,000 light-years away in the heart of the Tarantula Nebula and is home to some of the most massive stars in our galaxy. Learn more: http://ow.ly/lGsA50BACe5

The Mystic Mountain Monster is in actuality inanimate pillars of dark grey dust that has dispersed from newly forming massive stars. Inside of the monster’s head is a star that is slowly destroying the pillars. In a couple of million years, the monster's body and head will be mostly evaporated by internal and nearby stars. Learn more here: https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap200525.html

Spooky Fun Fact: The tarantula nebula is a nursery for star formation. These newly forming stars can be seen clearly in the infrared part of the spectrum using the Spitzer Space Telescope. Learn more here: https://www.nasa.gov//tarantula-nebula-spins-web-of-myster

Spooky Fun Fact: This is the Ghost of Jupiter, also known as NGC 3242. This is a planetary nebulae created by gasses ejected from a dying star. It is located about 1,400 light-years away in the constellation Hydra. Learn more here: https://www.nasa.gov/content/ghost-of-jupiter-nebula

Fun Fact: Did you know? On June 30th, 2019 the Hubble captured an aurora in Jupiter’s atmosphere. Unlike Earth, these auroras never end and they are a hundred times more energetic. Learn more here:... https://www.nasa.gov//hubble-captures-vivid-auroras-in-jup See more

Fun Fact: The Ring Nebula also known as M57 is a planetary nebula in the constellation of Lyra. The small white spot in the center of the nebula is the star’s hot core called the white dwarf. Learn more here: https://www.nasa.gov//godd/2017/messier-57-the-ring-nebula

Fun Fact: Did you know? The Babylonians were one of the very first people to track the motions of Jupiter through geometry? Learn more here: https://www.npr.org//track-jupiters-path-like-an-ancient-b.

Fun Fact: Did you know? The Rapa Nui peoples were keen observers of the night sky. They dedicated a cave called Ana UI Hetu’u to serve as an observatory for star watching. It was also used as a school to teach others the science behind the night sky. Learn more here: http://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/2004JHA....35..421E

Fun Facts: The early Polynesians were exceptional navigators and sailors. They used a technique known as wayfinding to navigate the ocean. This method involved the use of the rising and setting of stars to measure latitude. Some of the stars they looked to for guidance was the constellation of Maui’s Fish Hook, known to the western world as Scorpius. Wayfinders also relied on wave patterns, winds, and birds for navigation. Learn more here: http://blog.sailtrilogy.com//maps-stars-polynesians-used-c

DId you know? The Ancient Inca’s architecture imitates various celestial objects and constellations. The Inca City of Macchu Picchu is built resembling the Sun. The streets of the ancient city Cusco imitate constellations in the night sky. Learn more here: https://www.ticketmachupicchu.com/astronomy-inca/

Fun Fact: Did you know? The Babylonians were one of the very first people to track the motions of Jupiter through geometry? Learn more here: https://www.npr.org//track-jupiters-path-like-an-ancient-b.

Fun Fact: Did you know? The Rapa Nui peoples were keen observers of the night sky. They dedicated a cave called Ana UI Hetu’u to serve as an observatory for star watching. It was also used as a school to teach others the science behind the night sky. Learn more here: http://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/2004JHA....35..421E

Happy Fall! Today is the autumnal equinox which marks the official start of the Fall season.

Fun Facts: The early Polynesians were exceptional navigators and sailors. They used a technique known as wayfinding to navigate the ocean. This method involved the use of the rising and setting of stars to measure latitude. Some of the stars they looked to for guidance was the constellation of Maui’s Fish Hook, known to the western world as Scorpius. Wayfinders also relied on wave patterns, winds, and birds for navigation. Learn more here: http://blog.sailtrilogy.com//maps-stars-polynesians-used-c

Fun Fact: The Incas highly valued astronomy because it was crucial to their agriculture. The night sky was used as a guide for them on when to sow, harvest, and store different foods. Learn more here: https://www.ticketmachupicchu.com/astronomy-inca/

Fun Fact: The Mayans calculated the year relative to Venus and not the sun. The planet Venus was sacred to the Maya because it represented their God Quetzacoatl, the Feathered Serpent. Mayans timed their wars and special ceremonies according to the movements of this planet. Learn more here: https://www.historymuseum.ca//exh/civil/maya/mmc07eng.html

Did you know? Nasa discovered five planets around the star 55 Cancri. 55 Cancri is located inside the constellation of Cancer and is best seen with a pair of binoculars underneath a dark sky. Learn more here: https://www.nasa.gov/audie/formedia/telecon-20071106/1.html

Fun Facts: The Aztecs used two calendar systems. The first calendar is known as the counting of years called the xiuhpohualli which follows the solar cycle and it contains 365 days divided by 18 months and 20 days. The second calendar was called the tonalpohualli and regarded as highly sacred because it was mostly used for divinatory purposes. It resembled the counting of days which consisted of 260 days,13 numbers, and 20 symbols. Learn more here: https://www.wdl.org/en/item/6732

This September Full moon is known as the Corn Moon to mark the time for early farmers to harvest corn at this time of year. Learn more here: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/harvest-moon.html

Did you know? The first view of Earth from the Moon was taken by the Lunar Orbiter I in the year 1966 when the spacecraft was on its 16th orbit and nearly behind the Moon. Learn more here: https://hubble25th.org/history/pre-launch

This is the Porpoise Galaxy that was taken by the Hubble Telescope. This is a pair of interconnecting galaxies known as Arp 142. Some say this looks like a penguin protecting an egg. Learn more here: https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap200510.html

The Cat's Eye Nebula (NGC 6543) is a planetary nebula which is formed when a sun-like star is in its final phase of life. The halos of gaseous materials are formed from material shed off during active episodes in the star's evolution. Learn more here: https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap200607.html

Did you know? Black Holes are formed when the center of a huge star collapses. This occurrence is called a supernova. A supernova can develop a black hole or neutron star. Around these objects interstellar jets can form that shoot ionic matter into space at nearly the speed of light. ... Learn more here: https://www.nasa.gov//nasa-kn/what-is-a-black-hole-k4.html

Happy National Airplane Day! Learn how to build your own aerodynamic paper airplane rocket. Also known as a glider to celebrate National Airplane Day! Follow along here: https://informal.jpl.nasa.gov/museum/calendar

Hello everyone, We are excited to share with you a FREE planetarium show "We Are Aliens" that you can watch for free at home! Please tune in and share with your friends and families. #FamilyMovieNight It will only be available for the next two weeks. ... Here is the link to watch: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=274056797101047 Enjoy

Look out for tonight's Supermoon This is a special Full Moon that occurs when the moon reaches its closest point in orbit to Earth which is called the perigee. This makes the full moon appear slightly larger and brighter than normal. Read more here: http://ow.ly/wYnJ50zzgXJ

Did you know? Today we are celebrating 50 years of Earth Day Show our mother planet some love from home ... Fun Fact: The first life on Earth believed to have started in the oceans through a process called abiogenesis or biopoiesis. This is a natural process from which life begins to grow from non-living matter like simple organic compounds. Learn more here: https://theplanets.org/earth/

Due to cloudy weather, telescope viewing is CANCELED for tonight! Hopefully we'll have clearer skies for next month telescope night on April 3, 2020

Last Tuesday was a big day for the space community as a 112-foot-wide antenna had its groundbreaking in a Southern California desert. The antenna, which is a part of the Deep Space Network (DSN) represents a future in which more missions will require advanced technology, such as lasers capable of transmitting vast amounts of data from astronauts on the Martian surface. (NASA/JPL) More about this exciting moment here: https://solarsystem.nasa.gov

The largest canyon system in the solar system is Valles Marineris on Mars. It’s more than 4,000 kilometers (3,000 miles) long enough to stretch from California to New York. It is nine times as long and four times as deep as Earth’s Grand Canyon! (Extreme Space Facts) Learn more about VallesMarineris and other wild space facts here: http://ow.ly/QnsW50ynpxJ

"I laughed and giggled all the way up." - Guion Bluford As a mission specialist aboard the space shuttle 'Challenger' in 1983, Guion "Guy" Bluford became the first African American to travel into space. Bluford completed four missions during his career as an astronaut, and went on to become founder and president of The Aerospace Technology Group in 2002.

#WomenInSpaceWednesday "All adventures, especially into new territory, are scary." - Sally Ride Sally Ride (1951-2012) became the first American woman in space on June 18, 1983, while aboard the space shuttle, Challenger. Ride, also an astrophysicist and gifted tennis player, beat out over 1,000 candidates for NASA’s astronaut program in 1978, where she went through the program’s rigorous training and became a mission specialist, and helped to deploy satellites while aboard the Challenger.

How many of you got to enjoy the beautiful full moon this weekend? Did you know that the Moon is the Earth’s only natural satellite? A natural satellite is a space body that orbits a planet, a planet like object or an asteroid. Read more fun moon facts here: http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/space/moon.html

Do you ever wonder how planets get their names? Most planets bear what some may consider bizarre names, but there’s actually a great deal that goes into naming planets, asteroids, comets, moons, minor planets as well as other objects that occupy our solar system. The International Astronomical Union, formed in 1919, saw a great need for the ability to record what celestial bodies have already been discovered, as well as systems for naming them in the future. Read more about the naming scheme here: http://ow.ly/D1bN50yhID9

We're one day closer to the weekend! What fun things do you have planned? Check out our list events and their times for today and tomorrow - see you under the stars! - von Karman Lecture Series - TONIGHT @ 6:30 pm ... - Wonders of the Universe - Friday @ 4:30 pm - Star Tales: Winter Skies - Friday 6:00 pm AND 7:30 pm - Public Telescope Night - Friday @ 9:00 pm See more

Have you purchased your tickets for this Saturday's showing of Romance in the Stars? Join us for an evening under the stars while listening to legends of love written in the constellations above. Tickets are available online now! Click the link below for more info, and as always, we'll see you under the stars! http://ow.ly/zZID50ycJFq

Happy Tuesday, friends! Did you know we're ending this first full week of February with a full moon? Take a look at what else is happening here at the Planetarium this week, and we'll see you under the stars! - Theodore Von Karman Lecture Series: Thursday @ 6:30 PM - Wonders of the Universe: Friday @ 4:30 PM... - Star Tales: Winter Skies: Friday @ 6 PM AND 7:30 PM - Public Telescope Night: Friday @ 9 PM - One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure: Saturday @ 4:30 PM - Romance in the Stars: Saturday @ 6 PM https://www.mtsac.edu/planetarium/ See more

#WomenInSpaceWednesday If women can be railroad workers in Russia, why can’t they fly in space? Valentina Tereshkova On June 16, 1963, Soviet Cosmonaut and accomplished parachutist Valentina Tereshkova (1937- ) became the first woman in space. At just 25, Tereshkova was chosen along with four other women, one pilot and three other parachutists, to begin rigorous training to eventually partake in a Vostok space flight.... Aboard the Vostok 6, Tereshkova was launched into space, and after just under three days, 48 orbits and 71 hours, she returned to Earth, only after ejecting via parachute at 20,000 feet upon reentry. Read more about Tereshkova here: http://ow.ly/sLLb50y8eIZ Credit: History Channel / Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova becomes the first woman in space

Happy Tuesday! Here's a little Fuel for Thought; Did you know that the sun burns 600 million tons of hydrogen ...per second?! *mind blown* We're hoping everyone's week has been off to a great start - and as always, we'll see you under the stars.

This just in! We’re on Instagram and Twitter, too! Follow us on the different platforms and stay up to date with Planetarium event info, space and science facts, and everyone’s favorite - PUNS! Instagram: @mt.sacrplanetarium Twitter: @MSRPlanetarium ... See you under the stars!

Happy Friday to all our fellow astronomers! What fun things do you have planned this weekend?? Check out below some of the far-out showings we have happening today and tomorrow evening - and as always, see you under the stars! Friday:... Two Small Pieces of Glass - 4:30pm (30 min showing) Cosmic Origins Spectrograph - 6:00pm AND 7:30pm Saturday: Astronaut: 4:30pm We Choose Space: 6:00pm AND 7:30pm

Happy (Fun Fact) Friday, everyone! 410 years ago, the Italian astronomer, Galileo Galilea, discovered Jupiter's moons. He observed and later concluded that what he thought were stars were actually moons orbiting the ringed planet. This observation was later published in his book, Siderius Nuncias. Read more at: http://ow.ly/cWu950xXDT5

Why couldn't the astronaut focus? Because he kept spacing out! Happy Punday... I mean Monday! Let's stay focused folks, and while you may be planning out your week, don't forget to visit the Planetarium's website to see what out-of-this-world shows and events we have lined up.... See you under the stars! https://www.mtsac.edu/planetarium/

Happy Friday - we've just reached our 1,000th Like! Thank you to all of our mighty astronomers out there for your support! Here's a list of today's shows, events and their times - see you under the stars! - Legends of the Night Sky: Orion - 4:30pm... - Star Tales: Winter Skies - 6:00pm AND 7:30pm - Public Telescope Night - 9:00pm See more

What's up with Betelgeuse? Did you know that Orion's most famous star has fallen from 10th to 25th brightest nighttime star? Read more about this fading supergiant below, and don't forget to join us this Friday at 4:30 p.m., for Legends of the Night Sky: Orion, as we look at the stories and legends about Orion, the great hunter of the winter sky! https://www.skyandtelescope.com/observ/fainting-betelgeuse/ And learn

"Season of Light explores the reasons humans are so fascinated with lighting up our lives during the December holiday season. It's an exploration of the astronomical meanings behind seasonal traditions, including the 'Star over Bethlehem'." Tickets can be purchased at the door or online: https://tickets.mtsac.edu/Online/default.asp... See you under the stars on 12/20 & 12/21