Novins Planetarium Offers Kid-Friendly Programs For Spring Break

If you’re looking for something different to do while the kids are home for Spring Break this week, the Robert J. Novins Planetarium at Ocean County College is offering several programs just for them.

Come explore the sky with Big Bird, learn about what start you can see from your backyard, and more.

The planetarium, building 13 on the campus map is open today, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday with the special programming. Check out the schedule below.

Tickets are $10 adults, $8 for seniors, $7 for children 12 and under. A value pack for two adults, three children is available for $35.

Arrive 20 minutes prior to the show start time, as no seating takes place after the show starts, the planetarium information says.

Monday

• 11:30 a.m.: One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure. Join Sesame Street’s Big Bird and Elmo as they explore the night sky with Hu Hu Zhu, a Muppet from China. Learn about the moon, the Earth, bright stars and constellations. A live presenter gives a brief tour of the night sky over New Jersey so children can learn where to look for some of the constellations and visible planets of the season. Recommended for ages 7 and under.
• 1 p.m.: The Stars From My Backyard. Beginning with a beautiful sunrise, children learn about the sun, moon, weather, and the constellations and planets visible in the current sky. The program includes fun stories, songs and even a passing rainstorm to make it memorable, for ages 10 and under.
• 2:30 p.m.: Kaluoka’hina: The Enchanted Reef. Join Jake and Shorty, two adventurous and humorous fish, on an animated quest to restore the magic of their reef that will protect it from man’s destruction. In order to do this they must learn how to “touch the moon”! In addition, a live presentation will tell how to find constellations and even planets visible over the night sky in New Jersey. Recommended for kids 10 and under.

Tuesday

• 11:30 a.m.: One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure
• 1 p.m.: The Stars From My Backyard
• 2:30 p.m.: The Secret of the Cardboard Rocket. Two children use their imaginations, a refrigerator box and a helpful animated astronomy book to take a tour of the solar system. Travel with them to the planets and learn why each one of them is unique. In addition, take a tour of the night sky over New Jersey so children can learn where to look for some of the constellations and visible planets of the season. Recommended for kids 12 and under.

Wednesday

• 11:30 a.m.: One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure
• 1 p.m.: The Stars From My Backyard
• 2:30 p.m.: Cosmic Colors

Thursday

No Public Shows

Friday

• 11:30 a.m.: One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure
• 1 p.m.: The Stars From My Backyard
• 2:30 p.m.: The Secret of the Cardboard Rocket

Saturday

• 11:30 a.m.: One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure
• 2:30 p.m.: The Stars From My Backyard
• 7 p.m.: Wonders of the Springtime Sky: Live Star Talk. A live planetarium presenter will talk in-depth about the springtime sky over New Jersey. Find out what constellations you can see, visible planets, deep sky objects and celestial highlights. Constellation mythology and recent events are also included. Recommended for those ages 8 and older.
• 8:30 p.m.: Laser Led Zeppelin

(Photo of the Big Dipper, courtesy of NASA)