CSN Planetarium

Provides Family Acitivity

Needing an alternative weekend family activity? The CSN Planetarium provides three shows suitable for families. From 2 January through 25 February the Planetarium will be showing  "Two Small Pieces of Glass" at 6:00 PM and "Bad Astronomy" at 7:30 PM Friday and Saturday evenings.  The 3:30PM Saturday afternoon matinee will be "Molecularium". A short "Winter Stargazing" feature, hightlighting the seasonal wonders of the night sky, follows each presentation. Check out the new DigiStar 4 Projectors with 4 times the brightness and resolution of the previous projector system. Come see the interesting shows and the life-like presentation of the night sky. Immediately following the 7:30 shows, guests are invited to view the planets and other celestial objects through the Planetarium's telescopes in the Observatory compound. Right now, the giant planet Jupiter highlights the evening viewing. All tickets are $6.00 for adults and $4.00 for Seniors, Students, and children. Discounts are also available for multiple shows and groups. For more information about the CSN Planetarium, click on the Planetarium banner below.

Green Laser Safety Reminder!

This is a reminder to LVAS members that own and use green lasers to be extremely safety conscious when the lasers are being used.  In the light of recent incidents of pranksters painting aircraft and other moving vehicles with green lasers, it is imperative for members of the Astronomical Community to exercise extreme caution and good judgement when using green lasers to point out celestial objects.  Users should always be conscious of aircraft activity and when possible, use a spotter (another watching person) so that an aircraft is not accidently painted by a green laser.  Anytime an aircraft, regardless of the distance from the observing location, is spotted moving toward an area of the sky where a laser is being used, the laser must be turned off or moved away from the aircraft until the aircraft departs that area of the sky. Astronomers using green lasers to guide their scopes to celestial objects should be especially careful to not leave the laser turned on while obsserving.  At no time should an Astronomer surrender control of a green laser to anyone other than another Astronomer, especially not to children who may not understand the consequences of improperly using a laser. Remember - it is a Federal Offense to paint an aircraft, any moving vehicle, or a person with a laser of any type - punishable by up to 20 years of imprisonment.