ML Interest Tag: astronomy

Explore the Cosmos at the Griffith Observatory

by Jennifer O'Brien

The City of Angels may be chock full of stars, but the Griffith Observatory gives families the best opportunity to see the ones in the sky. Between the mesmerizing planetarium shows that take kids on a journey of cosmic exploration and discovery, fascinating exhibits, and telescopes that provide the most amazing views of LA and the stars above, the Griffith Observatory is the perfect pitstop for all the astronomers in your family.

photo: Griffith Observatory

Samuel Oschin Planetarium 
The Samuel Oschin Planetarium is a truly magical and memorable experience for families. As the Zeiss Star Projector and digital projection system transform the dome into the night sky, visitors are transported to worlds beyond their wildest dreams.

Presently, the planetarium offers three shows to choose from that are presented by a live and engaging storyteller: Centered in the Universe takes visitors on a journey of cosmos; Water is Life leads the audience on a search for water and possibly life beyond Earth while Light of the Valkyries (their 75th anniversary show) reveals the magic of the Northern Lights.

Live presentations are scheduled every 60-to-90 minutes. Note that children under 5 are only admitted to the first show each day (12:45 p.m. on weekdays and 10:45 a.m. on weekends).

Insider Tip: It gets quite dark in the planetarium at the beginning of the show, so prepare your astronomers, especially those that may be afraid of the dark. Tickets may only be purchased on-site at the Observatory for that day’s shows—no advance purchases are available.

photo: Griffith Observatory

The Exhibits

Within the Griffith Observatory, there are two floors of incredible exhibits waiting to spark the imaginations of visitors and encourage them to ponder their own relationships to the universe.

Don’t miss: Scales that tell guests how much they would weigh on each planet and our moon, the Foucault Pendulum—one of the largest scientific instruments in the world that proves Earth is spinning on its axis, and the Tesla Coil which discharges sizzling lightening sparks to the walls of its alcove.

photo: Griffith Observatory

The Telescopes

The main highlight for every Griffith Observatory visitor is getting to look through the famous Zeiss telescope on the roof. More people have looked through this telescope and learned about the movements of the heavens than any other telescope on Earth! After checking out this viewfinder, make sure to check out the other telescopes located on the vast terraces that provide more earth-bound, breathtaking views like the Hollywood sign, DTLA, and the Pacific Ocean.

photo: Jennifer O’Brien

Observatory Events

Special events occur all year long at the Griffith Observatory, but little ones will especially love the “Let’s Make a Comet” presentation in the Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theater during holiday breaks and summertime. During the 30-minute show, visitors help create a comet out of household ingredients.

Once a month, the Observatory hosts a Star Party where kids of all ages can look through dozens of telescopes on the lawn and interact with astronomy enthusiasts from local astronomy clubs, as well as Griffith Observatory employees.

Insider Tip: If you plan on visiting the Griffith Observatory on a Sat. or Sun., try to arrive right as close to 10 a.m. when they open to the public. Crowds will be lighter, and there should be available parking (with the exception of holiday weekends which can get a little crazy to say the least). If you become a member of Friends Of The Observatory, you can reserve parking ahead of time and even book tickets to the planetarium shows.

Where to Eat: Hungry star watchers can grab a bite on the lower level of the Observatory at Wolfgang Puck’s Café at the End of the Universe. A vast menu (including meals for kids) is available with everything from soups and salads to sandwiches and sweet treats. Visitors will find plenty of seating inside or outdoors on the terrace with stellar views of the city and Hollywood sign.

2800 E. Observatory Rd.
Los Angeles
213-473-0800
Online: griffithobservatory.org

To see what Red Tricycle Editors are up to this month, follow us on Instagram!

–Jennifer O’Brien

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Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star: The Best Spots for Stargazing

by Kate Loweth

2017 is a big year for those looking skyward, with a total solar eclipse scheduled to cross the U.S. on August 21st. Gear up for that big day by getting the kids interested in all things beyond our atmosphere. From museums to planetariums to gatherings of astronomy buffs, there are tons of opportunities to encourage your kids’ cosmic curiosity. Read on to see what’s available near you!

Photo: Chabot Space and Science Center

East Bay

Chabot Space and Science Center
The Chabot boasts three powerful telescopes allowing 180 degree access to the sky above. Two planetarium shows are included with each general admission to the center. Daytime viewing on the observatory deck happens on Saturdays and Sundays with volunteers available to point out the sun, moon or Venus. On Friday and Saturday evenings after the sky goes dark, visitors have complimentary admission to the observatory deck to access the telescopes.

10000 Skyline Boulevard
Oakland, Ca
Online: chabotspace.org

Lawrence Hall of Science Planetarium
A visit to the Lawrence Hall of Science is incomplete without a stop at the planetarium. Offering six interactive shows from 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., kids can learn how NASA’s Kepler space telescope discovered thousands of planets orbiting other stars or how astronomers measure stars and galaxies without ever going out into space. Planetarium tickets are $4 in addition to the admission price.

One Centennial Drive
Berkeley, Ca
Online: lawrencehallofscience.org

Photo: Hiller Aviation Museum

Peninsula

Starlab Planetarium at the Hiller Aviation Museum
Crawl through a short tunnel to enter the Starlab Planetarium and you will be rewarded with glittering stars projected overhead. Learn about the constellations, planets and more in this one-of-a-kind show. Ideal for kids 5 and up, tickets for the shows can be purchased at the museum gift shop on the day of the show. Check the online calendar for showtimes.

Hiller Aviation Museum
601 Skyway Road
San Carlos, Ca
Online: hiller.org/event/starlab

Photo: Chabot Space and Science Center

South Bay

Montalvo Arts Center
Once per summer, Montalvo welcomes astronomers of all ages to join them for their Starry, Starry Night program. Stargaze through telescopes set up on the Great Lawn, engage in cosmic art-making activities and be transported by star-inspired stories and poetry. After enjoying the evening’s festivities, you are welcome to roll out your sleeping bags and sleep under the stars. The event concludes the next day with a pancake breakfast.

Date: June 22-23
Price: $50/adult, $25/child
15400 Montalvo Road
Saratoga, Ca
Online: montalvoarts.org

DeAnza College Fujistu Plantetarium
Head to DeAnza College for some out of this world fun! In September through March they offer afternoon programs on Saturdays and Sundays for families. Programs like “The Magic Tree House” teach kids about the night sky with presenters available to answer questions. Special for 2017, learn about the eclipse this summer by attending one of their showing of “Totality” – an examination of how and why eclipses occur. (Showing on June 24, July 15, July 29, August 5 and August 12.)

21250 Stevens Creek Boulevard
Cupertino, Ca
Online: planetarium.deanza.edu

San Jose Astronomical Association
Join the San Jose Astronomical Association as members set up telescopes and share their knowledge with the public at their free In-Town Star Parties and special events like the Mercury Transit. All ages welcome. If you have your own telescope, arrive early to set it up. An hour before the star party, there is an astronomy talk which is also open to the public.

Various locations in and near San Jose
Online: sjaa.net

Halley Hill Observatory
The Halls Valley Astronomical Group hosts monthly star parties at Joseph D. Grant County Park in the hills east of San Jose. Telescope docents are present to point out stars, planets and more to kids and parents alike. Book a nearby campsite for the weekend to get the full experience and avoid having to drive down the windy road at night. Looking for more nearby stargazing adventures? Check out the Lick Observatory on top of Mt. Hamilton for their stargazing events.

Joseph D. Grant Park
18405 Mt. Hamilton Road
San Jose, Ca
Online: hallsvalley.org/starparties

Photo: John Belew via San Francisco Amateur Astronomers

Marin

Astronomy Nights on Mt. Tamalpais
Mt. Tam is the site of a gathering of the San Francisco Amateur Astronomers group where the public can hear a lecture on topics like how black holes can blow bubbles or how astronomers measure distances to far-away galaxies. Lectures are followed by public viewing through the telescopes. The group meets monthly from April through October.

Mt. Tamalpais
3801 Panoramic Highway
Mill Valley, Ca
Online: sfaa-astronomy.org

Photo: SFSU Observatory

San Francisco

City Star Party and Telescope Night
Join the San Francisco Amateur Astronomers group and other star-lovers at this monthly gathering in San Francisco. Monthly location varies so check the schedule for this month’s spot. New members who bring their telescopes will have access to the collective wisdom of more-experienced members to answer scope questions. Or wait in line to see if you can see the rings of Saturn in one of the group’s telescopes that are set up for public viewing.

Online: sfaa-astronomy.org

San Francisco State University Observatory
During the fall and spring semesters, the public is invited to join students and professors for viewings on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights at the SFSU Observatory. The observatory houses four telescopes and knowledgeable folks are always present to answer questions.

1600 Holloway Avenue
San Francisco, Ca
Online: physics.sfsu.edu

Morrison Planetarium at the California Academy of Sciences
The 75-foot dome at the Morrison Planetarium provides a virtual view of the cosmos that precisely mirrors its real-world counterpart. See traditional star programs, special films and even live broadcasts from Academy scientists in the field. Tickets to the planetarium are included with admission.

California Academy of Sciences
Golden Gate Park
55 Music Concourse Drive
San Francisco, CA
Online: calacademy.org

Photo: Kate Loweth

Worth the Drive

Fremont Peak Observatory
Looking for a stargazing road trip? Head down to San Juan Bautista and then drive up to the Fremont Peak Observatory. Every Saturday from April through October when there is not a full moon, the observatory is open to the public with a discussion followed by viewing through the 30-inch diameter “Challenger” Newtonian telescope. Daytime solar programs are held on certain days from 2-5 p.m. where special filters are used to see details on the surface of the sun. Make a night of it with camping at Fremont Peak State Park and walk over to the observatory for the show.

San Juan Bautista, Ca
Online: fpoa.net

Where do you take your stargazers for some telescope time? Let us know below!

-Kate Loweth

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See Stars (and More!) at Free Columbia U. Astronomy Nights

by Cheryl de Jong-Lambert

You might think that New York City is one of the last places for quality star-gazing, and to some extent you’d be right; views of the Milky Way in all its glory aren’t happening here. However, the Big Apple is home to both some high-powered and historic observatories, as well as the big brains (read: academics) who come to New York to study the science of sky and beyond. Here’s the best news: you and the kids can take advantage of all of this for free, through Columbia University’s Astronomy Public Outreach program. Outta sight!

photo: Cheryl and William de Jong-Lambert

Stargazing, City-style
It’s true! The public is invited to come learn about astronomy and make use of Columbia’s high-powered telescopes to gaze into the night sky at no charge. Held every other Friday during the school year and monthly in the summer, Columbia University’s Astronomy Public Outreach program evenings are held every other Friday during the school year and monthly in the summer. Events are free of charge of no reservations are required. Just show up!

The events are geared towards families with children of all ages, as well as scientifically-curious adults, and start around 7 p.m. in winter when the days are shorter, and at 8 p.m. or after in summer when night falls later. (We suggest packing a picnic and enjoying Columbia’s resplendent lawns as you wait for show time in summer months.)

photo: InSapphoWeTrust via Flickr

Program of Events
The evening kicks off with a mind-opening 30-minute lecture that includes big-screen visuals that bring a complicated astronomical topic down to earth for laypeople. Next is a Q&A during which the presenters—many of whom are renowned in their field—answer questions from fellow researchers and children alike. (To be honest, they seem to have a bias toward calling on the children in the crowd.)

Finally, everyone is invited up to the historic Rutherfurd Observatory, located on the roof of Columbia University’s Pupin Physics Laboratory, which also happens to be a National Historic Landmark. In these hallowed halls, the atom was first split in 1939 and the Manhattan Project—the secret project to develop the first nuclear weapon during World War II—was launched.

Visiting the roof is weather-dependent (call or check the website), but the talks are held rain or shine. On a clear night—even in winter—the program can attract some 300 visitors, but even on a recent cloudy night with no roof access, the 275-seat lecture hall was near capacity.

The talk we heard, “New Horizons: The Pluto Encounter,” featured stunning new, up-close photography of Pluto’s surface and five moons, two of which were discovered during the space telescope New Horizon’s recent voyage. The speaker, graduate student Lauren Corlies, explained how images captured by the telescope are sent from space to earth. She also unpacked current thinking on Pluto’s surprisingly varied topography, which we now know includes massive craters and ice volcanoes. The next event, featuring the talk  “The Explosive Origins of Our Elements” is Friday, April 29, at 8 p.m.

During the summer summer the events are held monthly, and the lectures are replaced by sci-fi flicks, followed by curated discussions that help the audience distill fact from fiction. Then the astronomers bring powerful, portable telescopes out onto campus to provide views of the cosmos to attendees and passersby.

photo: hjhausman via Flickr

Up On the Roof
The 90-minute roof scene is run by graduate students in Columbia’s astronomy program, all of whom clearly love this volunteer gig. (Who wouldn’t enjoy talking about their passion and life’s work to a rapt audience?) The Laboratory is home to two antique observatory domes: one large, that is accessed via a steep, narrow staircase, and a small one that stargazers crawl into.

Both are exciting to enter, but the large wooden dome is particularly awesome as an artifact in astronomic history. Built in 1927, it has been continuously maintained, but because of its landmark status, it has not been renovated or upgraded. The dome is opened and later rotated throughout the night (to keep up with the earth’s rotation) by way of hand cranks that creek and roll the roof into action with a tremendous rush.

Visitors take turns stepping up to a dais where a roof volunteer helps people zero in on particular stars, planets, and constellations. Smaller children stand on a stool or step ladder and must be held by an adult. If there are enough small children on line, the volunteers might treat everyone to a slow but exciting ride as they raise the old mechanical floor to effectively shrink the dome and give children easier access to the telescope. (When this happens, adults have to kneel.)

photo: Christopher Michel via Flickr

Constellations on View
Depending on the earth’s location, any number of planets—Saturn, Jupiter, Venus, and Mars—might be on view, along with Betelgeuse, a big red star that (relatively) is about to explode, and close-ups of major constellations such as Cassiopeia, the big and little dippers, Orion’s belt, and much more.

The dome’s light blue interior is also decorated with various constellations, including Orion, Deneb, Vega, Albireo. As you chat with graduate students along the way, you also learn about various subspecialties in field with far-out names such as galactic and extragalactic astronomy, asteroseismology, exoplanet research, and compact objects—an area that includes black holes and neutron stars.

Astronomy Outreach Program
Pupin Physics Lab (enter campus at 116th St. and Broadway)
Columbia University
Morningside Heights
212-851-7420
Online: outreach.astro.columbia.edu

Have you attended a Columbia Astronomy Public Outreach Program event as a family? Tell us what the kids (and you) learned in the comments!

—Cheryl de Jong-Lambert

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A Total Eclipse of LA: See It With Little Stargazers

by rtandreakagey

Opposites attract for one spectacular view on Sunday, September 27th when the sun and the moon tango in the sky for a rare total lunar eclipse. Grab some blankets and hot chocolate and take your little Galileos out for an unforgettable view of the night sky. Check out our suggestions of best places to sneak a peek at this “sheer lunar-cy” with or without telescopes.

photo credit: Kolleen G. via Yelp

Stargazers Unite
Griffith Observatory
The popular Observatory will be hosting a free Lunar Eclipse Presentation on Sunday, September 27 with astronomy staff members explaining the phases of the eclipse to the crowd as they happen. The event will run from 6:30-9:45 p.m. and if a beautiful night under the stars isn’t enough, the Observatory will also have a pianist at a grand piano playing “moon themed music.” (Moonlight Sonata, anyone?) Take note, however, that parking is limited at the Observatory itself and the winding side street has been known to cause quite the traffic jam on popular nights, especially if there is a concert at the Greek Theatre. We suggest arriving quite early for a prime viewing spot and stress free parking or take the Metro Red Line (Sunset/Vermont) and the DASH Observatory Weekend Shuttle; they’re expecting an enormous crowd and parking will be challenging. If you can’t make it to the Observatory but still want to partake in the commentary, they’ll be live streaming the lunar eclipse on Griffith TV via their website.

2800 East Observatory Rd.
Griffith Park
213-473-0800
Online: griffithobs.org

photo credit: Santa Monica Mountains National Rec Area Facebook Page

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
Head up to the Santa Monica Mountains and join Focus Astronomy for a special lunar eclipse viewing party. They provide the telescopes, you provide the inquiring minds. Telescopes will be available for viewing and photographing the eclipse until 10 p.m. When the sun sets they’ll train the telescopes to the moon as it rises over the hills. This free event is from 5-10 p.m. Contact the Visitor Center for more information at 805-370-2301.

Rancho Sierra Vista
4121 Potrero Rd.
Newbury Park
805-370-2301
Online: nps.gov/findapark/event-listing.htm?eventID=27035

photo credit: Dennis E. via Santa Monica Sidewalk Astronomers Website


Take to the Streets
Santa Monica Sidewalk Astronomers
Look for these star guides on the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica. They’ll have their telescopes set up for your galactic crew to view. And if your pint-size Copernicus catches the astronomy bug then Barnes and Noble is nearby for all of your star-reading needs. Or drive a little further up the boardwalk to Venice Beach where you’ll find more Sidewalk Astronomers near the Rose Avenue outfall. Either way, you can’t beat a starry sky over crashing waves.
Online: nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/club-view.cfm?Club_ID=700


Burbank Sidewalk Astronomers
You can find some of the Burbank Sidewalk Astronomers set up at the Asia Pacific Museum in Pasadena where they’ll provide telescopes for the public. Keep an eye on their website for details and updates.
Online: home.earthlink.net/~sidewalkastronomers/index.html


LA Sidewalk Astronomers
Take the metro to the North Hollywood stop and enjoy people watching and star gazing alike. The LA Sidewalk crew will be set up near the NoHo Metro station.
Online: nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/club-view.cfm?Club_ID=1224

Party in Your Backyard
The sky should be clear enough on the 27th to enjoy the eclipse from the comfort of your own backyard—even without a telescope. Here’s an approximate time frame for Los Angeles of what to expect from the cosmos:

6:45pm: Moon rises (Moon in partial eclipse)
7:11pm: Totality begins (Moon is totally covered in shadow)
7:47pm: Maximum eclipse
8:23pm: Totality ends (Moon emerges from shadow)
9:27pm: Umbral eclipse ends

photo credit: NASA Moon Images Flickr album/Bob Gent

Party in the Forest
Worried about getting a clear view of the sky from your personal city scape? Pack your binoculars and try one of these LA starry views for a cosmic retreat.  All are spectacular star watching spots on this or any night.

  1. Templin Highway, Angeles National Forest
  2. Saddleback Butte State Park, Antelope Valley
  3. Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve, Antelope Valley
  4. Topanga State Park, Santa Monica Mountains
  5. Malibu Creek State Park, Santa Monica Mountains
  6. Mount Wilson, Angeles National Forest
  7. Frazier Park & Mount Pinos, Los Padres National Forest

Don’t see your favorite star gazing spot listed above? Share it with us in the comments!

—Andrea Conway Kagey

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