Planetarium Shows At MHCC In November Will Be Out Of This World

From MHCC: From afar, shimmering stars set in the night sky seem peaceful and tranquil. However, telescopic images can paint a different picture, showing us star “oddities.”

For instance, older stars can become unstable and even explode. Many stars have doubles; there’s at least one instance of a person describing a “star within a star.”

Some stars are outright dangerous, too. In 2004, a star exploding over 50,000 light-years away affected Earth’s atmosphere. The star was appropriately named ASASSN-15LH.

Another potentially hazardous star, WR 104, is pointed at us, but closer than ASASSN-15LH. And WR 104 could send a burst of gamma rays directly towards us.

Planetarium Director Pat Hanrahan will present “Space Oddities: Stars That Are Stranger Than Fiction” on Tuesday, Nov. 6, and Friday, Nov. 9, with shows at 6 and 7:15 p.m. on both days.

Hanrahan will also identify stars in the current night sky and show observers where to find some of these curious stars and other attractions. Visitors are encouraged to ask questions during each 45-minute live program.

Children are welcome to attend. The MHCC Planetarium is wheelchair accessible. Admission for the general public is $5, and $2 for children (17 and younger) and for MHCC students (identification required). Seating is limited and available on a first come, first served basis.

Don't miss these upcoming shows in the Planetarium Sky Theater:

• Dec. 4 and 7, 2018 — Treasures of Orion and his Neighbors
• Jan. 8 and 11, 2019 — A Snapshot of Upcoming Astronomical Events for 2019
• Feb. 5 and 8, 2019 — Seeing the Invisible Universe
• March 5 and 8, 2019 — What did NASA’s New Horizons Spacecraft Find Beyond Pluto?
• April 2 and 5, 2019 — Auroras, Cosmic Rays, Shooting Stars, and Other Space Invaders
• May 7 and 10, 2019 — Current Spacecraft Exploration by NASA/JPL and By Other Countries
• June 4 and 7, 2019 — To Be Announced

All planetarium shows are at 6 and 7:15 p.m.

For more information about the MHCC planetarium, visit mhcc.edu/planetarium. Private showings for groups are also available on Fridays.

Image via Mt. Hood Community College