SEMINOLE STATE COLLEGE OF FLORIDA LAUNCHES 2017 WITH A FLURRY OF SPACE WEEK ACTIVITIES

SEMINOLE STATE COLLEGE OF FLORIDA LAUNCHES 2017 WITH A FLURRY OF SPACE WEEK ACTIVITIES

- Week-long Space Celebration Culminates with Winter Sky Festival on January 14, 2017 -

 Seminole State College of Florida, home to the Emil Buehler Perpetual Trust Planetarium, will showcase the planetarium’s capabilities and the far-reaching impacts of space exploration to the local community through several planned “Space Week 2017” events. The week-long celebration culminates in the Winter Sky Festival, the largest astronomy-themed event held annually in Florida. With the exception of the laser shows, all events are free and open to the public. The planetarium has also programmed a trio of children’s matinees for kids of all ages.

Details of each of those events are included below.

·        Friday, January 6 and Saturday, January 7 – Always popular laser shows will return to the Buehler Planetarium the first weekend of 2017. Guests can expect an octet of fantastic laser displays cutting across genres and decades. There will be four laser shows each evening, at 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, and 10:00 p.m. The cost to attend is $10 for adults, $8 for students and adults 55+, and $5 for Seminole State College students/staff/faculty with ID.

·        Monday, January 9 – Students and the public are welcome to visit the Sanford/Lake Mary campus for Solar Observing between the A and UP buildings from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Planetarium representatives will set up three telescopes for solar viewing between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and will be holding several giveaways for free laser show tickets. Follow #SeminoleSolar on social media.

·        Tuesday, January 10 – The Space Times Media Roundtable will feature prominent local space journalists who will participate in a moderated panel discussion and provide perspective on the past, present, and future of the Space Coast and NASA. This event, free and open to the public, will occur from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. at the Fine Arts Concert Hall (Building G on the Sanford/Lake Mary Campus). It will also be livestreamed online. Stay up to date using #SpaceTimes on social.

Children’s matinee for kids of all ages: the planetarium is presenting a double feature at 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.: Legends of the Night Sky: Orion, one of the most well-received children's laser shows ever produced, along with a guided tour of the solar system utilizing the planetarium's immensely powerful full dome video system. This event is intended for ages 8 and under. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for children ages 3 and up. Capacity is limited to 50 seats per show, and advance registration at Eventbrite is required. More details and tickets are available by clicking here. The matinees repeat on January 11 and 12.

·        Wednesday, January 11 – As part of the Stellar Speaker Series of science lectures, this program will feature Dr. Humberto Campins, the Provost Research Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Central Florida. He will be presenting a talk titled: "NASA’s OSIRIS-REx and Asteroid Redirect Missions to Near-Earth Asteroids." This is scheduled to take place from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. at the Fine Arts Concert Hall (Building G on the Sanford/Lake Mary Campus). Stay up to date using #SpaceTimes on social. Children’s matinee registration for January 11 is here:

·        Thursday, January 12 – Join featured presenters from the Buehler Planetarium for Telescope Thursdays at The Abbey & Nerd Nite Orlando XLVII. Hosted from 7:00 - 9:30 p.m. at The Abbey in downtown Orlando, this special event combines a regularly scheduled Telescope Thursday with Nerd Nite Orlando. Children’s matinee registration for January 12 is here:

·        Friday, January 13 and Saturday, January 14 – Seminole State College proudly presents another weekend of laser light shows at the Buehler Planetarium. There will be four shows on Friday evening (7:00, 8:00, 9:00, and 10:00 p.m.) and five shows on Saturday evening, during the Winter Sky Festival (5:30, 6:30, 7:30, 9:00, and 10:00 p.m.). Prices are $10 for adults, $8 for students and adults 55+, and $5 for Seminole State College students/staff/faculty with ID.

·        Saturday, January 14 – The week-long celebration culminates in the Winter Sky Festival, the largest astronomy-themed event in Florida. With an expected attendance of at least 3,500, this includes talks and demonstrations, two dozen telescopes, laser shows, and food trucks. The event will occur from 5:00 – 11:00 p.m.; follow #WSF on social media.

“With one of the only planetariums in the Central Florida area, we look forward to opportunities to share our passions and capabilities with the local community, and all of the week’s events leading up to the Winter Sky Festival offer Central Floridians many chances to tap into their space exploration interests,” said Michael McConville, Coordinator of Seminole State College of Florida’s Buehler Planetarium. “This week-long celebration truly offers something for everyone.”

Located on Seminole State’s Sanford/Lake Mary Campus, the Emil Buehler Perpetual Trust Planetarium at Seminole State College of Florida offers live, interactive shows and full-dome video presentations. For more information on the Buehler Planetarium and upcoming Space Week 2017 events, visit https://www.seminolestate.edu/planet/, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @seminoleplanet, #SpaceWeek2017.