Explore the Sky

http://www.outerspaceuniverse.org/outer-space-deep-astronomical-covers-vast-distance.html

You'll find that the FSU campus can prove to be interesting when you actually go looking for something to do. If you happen to be on the third floor of Tawes, stop by room 302 and you'll see what I'm talking about. Once your eyes adjust to the darkness you'll find yourself in the middle of FSU's planetarium.

This room, which is specifically designed for the planetarium, has been in use as long as Tawes has been in use and Dr. Robert Doyle, Professor in physics and engineering, is the current host of it's shows. Though this may not be considered by Dr. Doyle as research he still considers it a learning experience for not only the students and locals who visit it but for himself as well. “I think that it helps my students become better learners”, Dr. Doyle replied after mentioning that he is looking into whether or not more visually focused lessons have an effect on his students. Many other professors require their students to visit the planetarium under these pretenses.

The shows at the planetarium vary in subject. The one that I attended was called, “Planet's Peculiarities”, which was all about the planets in our solar systems and what makes the different from one another. If interested in what shows are playing and when they are playing, visit the FSU planetarium home page, http://www.frostburg.edu/planetarium/index.htm. Here you'll also find “Weekly Sky Events, Sky Sights Reports, and 2011 Night Highlights”.

To you give you a taste of what you'll be getting into I'll describe what I had experienced. In the beginning Dr. Doyle explains how the machine works and what to look for in the sky such as planets, stars, and constellations. After a review to get everyone on the same page Dr. Doyle updates everyone on local sky sights. This fall, locals should look for:

• Yule Moon 11/10, 12/10

• See craters on the moon with binoculars, 11/3

• Jupiter in the eastern mid evening sky

• Summer Triangle in western sky

  http://www.dmns.org/science/collections/space-sciences-lab/research-updates/july-skies

• Golden Capella Star in the northeastern sky

  http://earthsky.org/tonight/capella-in-october

• Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces constellations in the southern sky.

  Courtesy of http://karthickhariharan.blogspot.com/2010/12/sun-god-and-heavens-thereof.html

• Glow of the milky way.

• Venus (and Crescent moon and Venus) low in the southwestern sky in Thanksgiving.

  http://stargazerslounge.com/observing-planetary/89381-saturn-venus-mercury-thin-crescent-moon.html

After this, the lesson starts. Dr. Doyle goes through each planet and describes their special characteristics. He even describes why Pluto is not considered a planet anymore and instead is considered a dwarf planet among the many other small orbiting bodies such as:

1. Ceres

2. Makemake

3. Haumea

and

4. Eris

http://incredibledad.com/dad-tips/instant-expert-cheat-sheet-space/

The show is not only educational but interesting and humorous, thanks to Dr. Doyle's jokes every now and then. I would advise everyone to visit the Planetarium at least once, no matter what your major is. Outer space has captivated human kind for thousands of years, I'm sure it'll captivate you.