Planetarium open to public for Astronomy Night

Garrett Muggy

MCC held the second astronomy night of the semester on Oct. 2 in the new physical science building.The name of the show was called “Universe” and offered an entertaining and educational venue for the public to learn about astronomy.

The show featured information on the universe, telescopes, the planets, and the Big Bang.

Dr. Kevin Healy, an astronomy teacher at MCC and director of the planetarium, oversees the events.

“We were fortunate enough to get funding for the planetarium (when the phsyical science building was contructed in 2008).”

Healy has been teaching at MCC since 2005 and has had a long-term interest in astronomy.

“I was interested in it since I was little, (it’s) always (been) a hobby.”

The entire ceiling of the planetarium is a screen that patrons can look up at, giving the viewer the feeling of being under the night sky.

Those who attend the events can also take a look through MCC’s telescope.

Shows run in half-hour increments, with the first one starting at 6 p.m. and the last at 9:30 p.m.

They are open to the public and admission is free at the door. Tickets are given out on a first-come, first-served basis.

The event also features small exibits outside with infomation on planets and the solor sytem.

According to Healy about 500 people have attended the events this semester.

The next astronomy night will be held on Nov. 6, which will be a double feature. The first film will be from 6 to 8:30 p.m. and the next showing will be from 8:30 to 10 p.m.

  • Mesa Legend Staff

    These are archived stories from Mesa Legend editions before Fall 2018. See article for corresponding author.

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