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Westminster College Announces Upcoming Public Planetarium Shows 

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Posted on Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Westminster College Planetarium will host fourteen shows in October, November and December, 2015. The shows are free and open to  the public, although registration is required at www.westminster.edu/planetarium or by phone at (724) 946-STAR (7827). 

“One World One Sky: Big Birds Adventure” will be shown October 10 at 5:30 p.m., November 7 at 4:00 p.m., and December 5 at 3:30 p.m. Suitable for younger audiences, viewers will explore the night sky with the Sesame Street characters, including Big Bird, Elmo and their friend from China, Hu Hu Zhu. 

“Back to the Moon for Good,” a fulldome show narrated by award winning actor Tim Allen, will be shown October 10 at 7:00 p.m. and November 7 at 7:00 p.m. The show highlights the history of lunar exploration and provides an insider’s look at the teams vying for the $30 million Google Lunar XPRIZE, the largest incentivized prize in history. Rooftop stargazing will follow each show, weather permitting. 

“Pluto: Exploring New Horizons,” recommended for ages eight and older, will be shown October 10 at 8:30 p.m. and November 7 at 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. The show focuses on the cold, dark, and distant dwarf planet Pluto, which was explored for the first time this past July by the New Horizons spacecraft. Rooftop stargazing will follow each show, weather permitting.

“Let it Snow: Holiday Music Magic,” recommended for all ages, will be shown December 5 at 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. and December 12 at 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. The show will feature a variety of festive Christmas songs accompanied by fulldome animation, with artists ranging from Frank Sinatra to the Trans Siberian Orchestra. The show will also include a live tour of winter constellations in western Pennsylvania skies. Rooftop stargazing will follow each show, weather permitting.

“Mystery of the Christmas Star,” recommended for ages eight and older, will be shown December 5 at 6:30 p.m. and December 12 at 6:30 p.m. Viewers will journey back 2000 years to Bethlehem to seek a scientific explanation for the star the wise men followed to find baby Jesus. Rooftop stargazing will follow each show, weather permitting.