Category: Planetarium News | Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium's Blog

May Astronomy

Posted: May 1, 2019| Categories: Fairbanks Museum, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy

May welcomes the return of some of the brighter summer stars, including Vega in the northeast, and Antares in the southeast. High in the south, Leo the Lion prowls toward the southwest through the month, identified by the “backwards question mark” that forms his head, mane, and shoulders. High above,… Read More

Skywatch Astronomy

Posted: March 28, 2019| Category: Skywatch Almanac Astronomy

This April starts with Orion and his companions the Big Dog and Taurus, the Bull, standing on the western horizon to start, but will be sinking through the month. The spring stars may not dazzle in comparison, yet the Big Dipper is placed high in the northeast, Leo, the Lion… Read More

Skywatch Astronomy

Posted: March 4, 2019| Categories: Eye on the Sky, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy

In March, Orion settles into the southwest for some great evening views. The evenings also feature the Big Dipper rising in the northeast, looking like a giant question mark. Follow the “handle” toward the horizon, where the star Arcturus rises by 9 o’clock. Venus sits quite low in the east… Read More

CNB Stories from Space

Posted: February 1, 2019| Categories: Fairbanks Museum, Planetarium News, Programs and Events

Sunday mornings are a blast in our planetarium! Community National Bank Stories from Space is for budding space explorers, infants to 5 years old and their families. Science educator Mike Ressler zooms kids through the solar system as he reads space stories. This family-friendly event in our Lyman Spitzer Jr. Read More

February Astronomy

Posted: January 30, 2019| Categories: Planetarium News, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy

February evenings feature the great Orion, mid-way up from the southern horizon by 8 o’clock, accompanied by the brightest star in our night skies, Sirius, below and left of Orion, marking the nose of the Great Dog. High in the south, Taurus, the Bull charges at Orion, as the Big… Read More

January Astronomy

Posted: January 8, 2019| Categories: Skywatch Almanac Astronomy, StarGazing

This month’s highlight, a total Lunar Eclipse on the night of the 21st into the 22nd. Orion becomes the center of attention in January, with his three belt stars drawing a line to the right, pointing to the red star Aldebaran, the “eye” of Taurus, the Bull. To the left,… Read More

Stellar Seating

Posted: December 4, 2018| Category: Planetarium News

How would you like to see your name on plush, new seating in our Lyman Spitzer Jr. Planetarium? Your gift of $200 or more now through February 28 gives you a chance to place your name — or the name of someone you want to honor — on a fabulous… Read More

December Astronomy

Posted: December 4, 2018| Categories: Fairbanks Museum, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy

Through the month, Orion rises earlier each evening, and dominates the eastern sky, often identified by his line of three “belt” stars. Extending this line to the upper rights leads to the red star Aldebaran, the eye of Taurus, the Bull, while looking to the lower left, the brilliant star… Read More

Planetarium

Posted: November 19, 2018| Categories: Planetarium News, Programs and Events

Winter hours: Shows at 12:30 PM every day, and 3:30 PM Saturdays and Sundays. Shorter days mean more night sky and fantastic stargazing. Whether you’re seasoned or just starting to explore, take a tour through the cosmoses in our Lyman Spitzer Jr. Planetarium. Our live presenters guide you through the visible… Read More

November Astronomy

Posted: November 2, 2018| Categories: Fairbanks Museum, Planetarium News, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy

November’s annual return to Standard Time, (on the 3rd), gives us a parting view of Saturn during the earlier evenings, inching lower in the southwest. The Milky Way arches high overhead, with the Summer Triangle slipping into the west, while the dazzling Capella rises higher in the northeast. Lower in… Read More