Download Planetarium Program Document For Group Reservations

A Look at the Moon – Students review the concepts of
viewing the moon with their eyes and with a telescope.
Students learn what astronauts did on the moon. Phases of
the moon are demonstrated. (60 minutes)
Constellations – Students learn to read a star map and look
at the objects visible in the nighttime sky. (55 minutes)
Latin Star Names – A game-type program for Latin
classes. Students learn to write star names in Latin, and
then find “their” star in the planetarium sky. (55 minutes)
Lunar Geology Lab – NOT DONE WITH THE
PLANETARIUM PROJECTOR.
Students use moon
globes to measure and study surface features. A good
geology-related exercise. (55 minutes)
Mythology – Especially for English classes. Classic
mythology is related to the star patterns they are associated
with. Students then get to make up their own myths about
the sky. (55 minutes)
Navigating by the Stars – Participants learn the basics of
Celestial Navigation and a bit about how famous explorers
navigated and discovered sky objects. This program
includes a hands-on activity where participants use a
simple astrolabe to measure the altitude and azimuth of
stars and discover how these measurements change with
time and direction. This program has been used by social
studies classes and may be of use to ROTC and math
students. (90 minutes)
Our Galaxy and Beyond – Students learn to classify
galaxies, look at our own galaxy, and learn about the size
of our universe. (45 minutes)
Pulsars – What is a pulsar and how are high school
Spectroscopic Studies of the Stars – A program
recommended for Chemistry students that tells how we
learn about the composition, temperature, and motion of
the stars by studying its light through a spectroscope. (45
minutes)
students in the Pulsar Search Collaboration using real
data gathered from the Robert C. Byrd Radio
Telescope to discover them and earn West Virginia
University college credit? (Approximately 45
minutes)
Sun Moon and Stars – A guessing game program where
students learn what they can see in the day- and night-sky
and learn directions. Covers concepts of day and night,
earth’s rotation and shadows cast by the sun. (30 minutes)
Saving the Night Sky – An environmental program that
shows how we are losing our night sky to light pollution.
This program is supplied to us by The International Dark
Sky Association as well as the Southeastern Planetarium
Association. (Approximately 30 minutes)
The Planets: A Voyage Across Our Solar System – A
non-participatory program from the Southeastern
Planetarium Association. This program covers planets in
our solar system and exo-planets. Narrated by Star Trek’s
Kate Mulgrew. (Approximately 40 minutes. Shown only
during fall and spring.)
Seasons – Students learn that the angle of the sun’s rays
cause the seasons. Students also take part in an activity
that explains why some constellations are seasonal. (90
minutes)
The Stars at Different Places – Students view one
constellation on a trip around the world, and they view how
it changes at different places. (45 minutes)
The International Space Station Learn about how the
astronauts live, work, eat and sleep on board the
International Space Station. BOOK YOUR PROGRAM
WELL IN ADVANCE. (55 minutes)
The Sun – Takes a look at our nearest star. Students
compare it to other stars and learn about its features. If the
day is cloud free, students may use a special telescope to
study the sun safely and plot its sunspots. (45 minutes)
The Sun’s Family – A brief look at what planets are
visible in the current night sky and what their individual
characteristics are. Entertaining activities for remembering
the planets—according to the distance from the sun—are
given. (60 minutes)
 Please make your planetarium reservations
at least three weeks in advance.
 Make your reservations in writing on the
appropriate form. Programs are confirmed
when you receive the bottom portion of the
planetarium reservation form confirming
your visit.
 The planetarium can only hold 25 people at
one time. If your group is too large, the
students will be split into groups of 25 or
less and shown a related video while they
wait.
 Plan to enter and leave the planetarium
using the second main entrance to
Hedgesville High School located by the
auditorium.
No textbook, chalkboard explanation, or even the
clearest night of observation can describe the
concepts of astronomy the way a planetarium can.
With the sky theatre’s sophisticated equipment, we
can show students the apparent motions of the sun,
moon, stars, and planets.
 The planetarium and Hedgesville High
School are barrier free for the handicapped.
 Visitors are advised NOT to visit the
planetarium with shoes that light up or use
cell phones that light up when opened as the
light destroys the integrity of the dark,
adapted environment of the planetarium.

For safety reasons, there is no admittance
once a program has begun. Also, there is no
re-admittance once a person leaves the
planetarium.
Elizabeth S. Wasiluk
Planetarium Director
Hedgesville High School
109 Ridge Road North
Hedgesville, WV 25427
(304) 754-3354, Extension 3140
The phenomena of seasons, night and day, and the
changing phases of the moon are realistically
demonstrated. Stories of the constellations are told,
and finding the stars during the various seasons is
just one activity. Presentations are given showing
the sky as it would be seen from anywhere on earth,
any time of day, any time of year.
Against the backdrop of a realistic night sky, students
are introduced to the galaxies, nebulae, star clusters,
black holes, quasars, and the evolution of the
universe itself.