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Review: Autumn Sky
The MHCC planetarium lights up the first Monday of each month
The Advocate
"Wonders of the Autumn Sky" displayed Monday what is seen in our galaxy this time of year in a virtual walk through at the MHCC planetarium.
The planetarium just looks like a classroom, with auditorium style seating for 70 people. But as the viewers look up, they observe a high spherical ceiling. This vaulted ceiling is used to emulate the sky by projecting stars, planets, and galaxies realistically for the audience.
Pat Hanrahan, the planetarium director and astronomy instructor at MHCC, shows spectators the constellations of the night sky. He displays up-close pictures of planets, some of which he took from his own telescope.
Hanrahan also includes many facts and stories related to astronomy to get your mind wandering; he also encourages questions. The show is intimate and interactive; the audience can ask questions whenever the need arises.
Asked whom the shows are geared toward, Hanrahan replied, "We try to have it so (the shows) cover all age groups. You'll notice when I talk about the stars I use very general terms so everyone can understand."
Many fifth-grade classes take field trips to the planetarium to get energized about studying astronomy. "There are people that come in here that have fond memories of coming here when they were little," Hanrahan said.
There is a different show playing at the beginning of each month. Next month's show is about the lifetime of a star. Admission is free for all students and $2 for non-students.
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