May 23, 2018

The planet Jupiter is currently making its closest approach to Earth and the Delta College Planetarium is giving the public a chance to see it through telescopes. 

On Friday, June 1 at 8:30pm Planetarium Manager Mike Murray will host a presentation in the Dome360 Theatre to illustrate the current evening sky in the show “Gateway to the Stars.” The primary theme of the show will be the planet Jupiter and how to observe it with binoculars and telescopes. The program is free and open to all ages.

At 10pm (and weather permitting), the Planetarium will open up its rooftop observation deck so viewers can get a close up view of the gas giant planet. A variety of telescopes will be set up by planetarium staff and members of the Sunset Astronomical Society so viewers can get a variety of looks at Jupiter and even other celestial objects like the planet Venus. If the skies are cloudy, the public can see the planetarium show at 8:30pm and staff will provide some extra Q&A time in the dome theater.

“Since Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, it always looks brighter than the stars,” explains Mike Murray, Planetarium Manager. “But when it swings in closer to Earth it can look up to 50 percent larger in telescopes. This will make it easier to see bands of clouds in Jupiter’s atmosphere and the planet’s four largest moons.”

For more details, visit www.delta.edu/planet. News media interested in covering the event should contact Mike Murray, Astronomer and Planetarium Manager at 989-667-2270 or mikemurray@delta.edu.

The sky observing portion of the event is weather dependent but the Planetarium show will run rain or shine. Both the show and observing are free and all ages are welcome. To learn more about other shows and events at the Planetarium, go to www.delta.edu/planet or call 989-667-2260. The Delta College Planetarium and Learning Center is located in downtown Bay City at 100 Center Avenue.