The Whittenberger Planetarium at The College of Idaho will recognize the autumnal equinox with a program that explains the reasons for the seasons in addition to a tour of September’s constellations. The program is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21 at the planetarium, located inside Boone Science Hall on the C of I campus.
“The planetarium is a tool that can help us gain a better understanding for what is really causing the days to get shorter and cooler,” said planetarium director Amy Truksa. “The planetarium is a great place to rediscover the night sky and to remind us what is right outside our doorstep every night. We are really fortunate to have one of the few planetariums in Idaho right here in our community.”
The September program is geared toward adults and children middle school level and above. Tickets cost $2 for children ages 4-17 and $4 for adults. Reservations are required as space is limited. Reserve your seat by calling Kinga Britschgi at 459-5211.
The Whittenberger Planetarium is named in memory of Caldwell philanthropists Dr. Claude and Ethel Whittenberger. The facility includes a 24-foot dome with seating for 50 people and a projector which shows northern and limited southern constellations, all planets visible to the unaided eye, the sun, the moon and the respective nightly and annual motions of each. The planetarium serves as a community outreach tool with public shows, private shows and school fieldtrips making up the bulk of the annual shows. Church groups, scouts and various C of I classes and organizations also use the planetarium, which hosts an annual National Astronomy Day and other special events. For more information, visit the planetarium online.
Founded in 1891, The College of Idaho is the state’s oldest private liberal arts college. It has a century-old tradition of educating some of the most accomplished graduates in Idaho, including six Rhodes Scholars, three Marshall Scholars, and another ten Truman and Goldwater Scholars. The College is located on a beautiful campus in Caldwell, Idaho. Its distinctive PEAK curriculum challenges students to attain competencies in the four knowledge peaks of the humanities, natural sciences, social sciences and a professional field, enabling them to graduate with an academic major and three minors in four years. For more information on The College of Idaho, visit http://www.collegeofidaho.edu.
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