
12/25/2020
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The Neil Armstrong Planetarium at Altoona Area High School hosts high school Astronomy classes and public and private sky shows- come "Inside Outer Space!"
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The Neil Armstrong Planetarium at Altoona Area High School (AAHS) is an active part of the Altoona and wider Blair County community. During the school day, approximately 150 high school students are educated in the Planetarium's 2 year-long Academic Astronomy classes (level 3) an 3 semester-long Astronomy classes (level 2). Astronomy is an elective at AAHS, but does count for science credits for participating students. Elementary school groups often visit the Planetarium in the afternoon, particularly students from nearby Penn-Lincoln Elementary, who all make the short walk to the Planetarium with their teachers 3x per year. The Planetarium has hosted groups from every public elementary school in Altoona, as well as Parochial and homeschool groups. A typical evening may see the Planetarium play host to a birthday party, visiting Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Brownies, or Girl Scout group, private sky show, or even a night of our new Adult Night Sky Study course! The Planetarium has truly become a cross-curricular facility, with interactive modules designed for mythology, history, English, and environmental sciences classes. We are expanding our community partnerships, and have worked with the Altoona Public Library, Quaint Corner Children's Museum, Fort Roberdeau, Indian Caverns, and the Church in the Middle of the Block community center. So come visit the Planetarium! There's always something to explore "Inside Outer Space!"
Mission: Our mission is to promote the science and history of astronomy, and a better understanding of our place in the Cosmos, to students and guests alike!
Operating as usual
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Not bound beneath our ever-present blanket of Central PA clouds, former AAHS teacher Amy Russell snapped this shots of the conjunction from her boat in Key Largo, FL!
It looks like you can even see some separation between the planets in her closeups. Thanks for letting us live vicariously through you, Amy! 🪐 🔭 ⛵️
So sorry friends! Due to a nasty weather forecast, in-person viewing of tonight’s epic conjunction at the Mt. Lion Observatory is canceled 😞
But check out the super-cute Google Doodle today, and keep an eye online for live sky feeds of the event from around the world!
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/alien-hunters-discover-mysterious-signal-from-proxima-centauri/?fbclid=IwAR0AmewB5UcF09XeZPYUGucj78eyVpr6CTYkbk1S8a96AkcaVle5L_Xb17Y
This seems promising! And if not Proxima, Alpha Centauri A and B are even more sunlike! (It is 2020, after all!) #SETI 👽 👽 👽
Strange radio transmissions appear to be coming from our nearest star system; now scientists are trying to work out what is sending them
You aren’t bound to a tiny screen for our holiday sky show. Our 6:00 guests are getting very creative! Here, Planetarium All-Star and all-around swell guy Mike Kess ling streamed it to his home theater screen, which is *almost* as big as our Planetarium dome.
His son Dylan insisted on popcorn, to complete the Planetarium experience. 🍿 🍿 🍿
Oh wow it’s really working! The 1st virtual sky show in Planetarium history is underway! #SeasonOfLight #aahsastronomy
Oh yeah! Only a few hours until showtime! Start a fire on the hearth, pop open your favorite bottle of sparkling cider, and snuggle down with your loved ones for our virtual “Season of Light” holiday sky show. 🎄 🔥 🥂 🎁
Please join us for our virtual Holiday Sky Show Friday night at 6:00, 7:00, or 8:00PM! #aahsastronomy
When our old lobby doors were replaced, we also lost our awesome entry decals with them. No fear! Thanks to Image Signs, they are back and better than ever!
Special shout out to owner Suzy and assistant Austin, who expertly installed them today, and our amazing graphic designer Eric Beeler, who has a hand in most of our artwork!
Photos from Neil Armstrong Planetarium's post
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/weird-news/former-israeli-space-security-chief-says-extraterrestrials-exist-trump-knows-n1250333
Look out. This official becomes at least the 2nd- along with former Canadian Minister of Defense Paul Hellyer- to admit that not only do extraterrestrials exist, but they have been interacting with Earth for a long time.
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A "galactic federation" has been waiting for humans to "reach a stage where we will understand... what space and spaceships are," Haim Eshed said.
Just recorded 3 new episodes, so stay tuned!
1) Arecibo message and crop circles
2) “Mel’s Holes”
3) Simultaneous inventions
@majesticearsonly on FB
https://jgeis1701d.wixsite.com/majesticearsonly
https://www.popsugar.com/node/48024008
Courtesy of one of our favorite patrons Lissa Huber, check out the awesome “Christmas Star” conjunction that’s arriving on the Winter Solstice on December 21st!
Jupiter and Saturn will align this December to create a "Christmas Star" in the night sky, so keep your eyes open!
https://weather.com/news/news/2020-12-01-arecibo-observatory-radio-telescope-collapses?fbclid=IwAR2CVEoy_nnvZFT7T6QG3nc1F6LCj5Kt88CuwXw3SZh0vxhnq34XdkFX0d0
RIP Arecibo. Thanks to my students and colleague Damian Branas for sending this my way. 👽 📻
Two cables snapped on the huge radio telescope in Puerto Rico earlier this year, forcing it to close. - Articles from The Weather Channel | weather.com
Yassssssssss. Figured out a way using a fisheye camera lens attachment to show the majority of our dome for sky shows while our students are virtual!
We will not be denied our Astronomy! Take that, Covid! ✨ 🔭
https://fb.watch/25eKAPs380/
Episode #152 of @ericmckennaofficial is live! We start on the spooky “Legend of Nibiru”, and then go all over the place. Check it out! 🛸 👽 @julie.winters7 @fredofdethofficial @fredkowalophotography
Unfortunately Planetarium friends and patrons, we have some sad news to share about our Apollo 21 project, begun nearly two years ago.
The attached letter shares with you why the capsule is not currently displayed outside of the Neil Armstrong Planetarium- an arrival the public has been anticipating for some time. Our administration has been amazing, and is supportive of our efforts to share this with you.
Thank you for all of your kindness and support over the years. Many more adventures lay ahead!
I like this. 🚀 🌙 🇺🇸 #Apollo12
Planetarium community service worker Adrianna K. will be helping us out on Mondays and Fridays this year. She made an immediate splash organizing vintage Space Race newspapers patrons were generous enough to donate. Go Adrianna go! 💥 🚀 🇺🇸
UFO Expo 2020: Be there! 🛸 👽
Getting into the season! #HarvestTime #Thanksgiving #aahsastronomy
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It’s good to be back! #Enya #SpitzSciDome #aahsastronomy
Ooh. I like the direction AAHS is going in the newly-renovated Field House lobby. #MoreMars
I commissioned local artist Samuel Dietze to paint the landscape surrounding the Mt. Lion Observatory, and he delivered! Sam rises above vision challenges to see the world with eyes unlike anyone I know.
His painting will be displayed in White Oak Hall for years to come! Thank you Sam. 🎨 ❤️
Despite the weather, nearly 200 guests attended our “Choose Your Own Halloween Adventure” and Denny Ivory Memorial Trick-or-Treat Night on Friday! Many thanks to John Gardner for his professional pictures.
Thank you all for a wonderful Mt. Lion Observatory season, and we’ll see you sometime this spring! ✨ 🔭 🎃
Neil Armstrong Planetarium
Neil Armstrong Planetarium
Our awesome volunteers overcame the weather to put on a great show for the public, as we Chose Our Own Halloween Adventure! #aahsastronomy
The skies are clearing just in time! Join tonight for Denny Ivory Memorial Trick or Treat and Choose Your Own Halloween Adventure! Tickets are $5 and available at the door at Fort Roberdeau!
If this couldn’t be more perfect, we will have Astronomers from the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) Institute present for our “Choose Your Own Halloween Adventure” night this Friday at Fort Roberdeau!
It’s not too late to buy tickets at the Altoona Area Public Library- especially if Trick or Treat is a wash tonight. Blair Candy’s generous donation will make the 1st Annual Denny Ivory Memorial Trick-or-Treat Night fantastic! #aahsastronomy
Looks like rainy weather for Trick-or-Treat night...
Bring your kids tomorrow night to Fort Roberdeau for the Denny Ivory Memorial Trick-or Treat Night! Followed by Choose Your Own Adventure stories - learn about UFOs, Bigfoot, or local folk legends; and night sky viewing. The weather looks to clear up tomorrow for some great conditions!
Tickets are still available at the Altoona Area Public Library for only $5!
Neil Armstrong Planetarium's cover photo
Event map for next Friday’s “Choose Your Own Halloween Adventure”, and Denny Ivory Memorial Trick-or-Treat Night, courtesy of the Fort’s Karen Morrow. Great job, Karen!
Treat Yo’ Self week comes to a close!
#HoustonAstros #Apollo11 #EagleHasLanded #treatyoself
1415 Sixth Avenue
Altoona, PA
16602
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Needless to say, the Perseid Party is now over. Thanks to everyone who attended, and keep in mind that the shower peak will continue into tomorrow!
Great MLTV edit from Mr. Doug Sipes and his AAHS students, over the Pennsylvania "Excellence in Parks & Recreation" Award won by the Astronomy Club and Fort Roberdeau.
Neil Armstrong was 5'11". James Lowe and I are 5'11". So obviously when we had a replica Armstrong Apollo 11 spacesuit created, you knew this was going to happen before it was placed in its display case for good. We both tried this moonwalk, but Jim was waaaay better at it than me, so his video survives!
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