The Sun
Sunnyvale's Newspaper

Photograph by George Sakkestad

Karl von Ahnen, technical director of Minolta Planetarium, is hooked on space.

Star-studded show

Talk about a summer getaway--local planetariums let you visit the galaxy

By Pam Marino

The stars and planets in the heavens above have been real celebrities this year, from the Hale-Bopp Comet to solar eruptions on the sun to the discovery of another faraway planet. This summer is a good time to find out more about these media "stars" at local observatories and planetariums.

The Foothill Observatory at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills has free viewing through its telescope every clear Friday night from 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Chairman Brian Day said staff point the observatory's two telescopes--a 16-inch reflecting telescope and a 6-inch refracting telescope--at various stars, planets and nebulae, "all the fascinating denizens of the galaxy."

On clear Saturday mornings the observatory uses special safe solar filters to aim telescopes right at the sun for a spectacular view of sun spots and solar prominences, which Day described as eruptions of "big, huge fountains of hydrogen." The viewing, which is also free, lasts from 10 a.m. until noon.

Visitors must park in Parking Lot T, which is halfway around the campus from the front entrance. Cost for parking is $2; bring eight quarters for visitor parking machines. For more information call 415/949-7334.

At De Anza College the Minolta Planetarium has entertaining and educational programs at its Family Astronomy Evenings, every Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. until June 21. Tickets go on sale at 5:30 p.m. at a cost of $4 for adults and $3 for kids under age 12. There is a different topic each night, and telescope-viewing outside the planetarium is available after the programs, weather permitting. After the last show on June 21, programs resume in September.

In addition to its programs, the planetarium features ongoing exhibits, such as a rotating Earth display, a model-rocket display and an ozone-study exhibit. Laser shows are also featured at the planetarium; call 864-5791 for ticket prices and show times.

Park in Parking Lot E; bring $2 for a visitor parking pass. There is a machine near the planetarium that takes both coins and bills.

For kids who want to learn more about space, the planetarium is hosting its third annual Space Science Camp Aug. 4-8. Kids ages 8 to 12 will meet every day from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. to learn about the moon, planets, stars, galaxies and constellations. Karl von Ahnen, the planetarium's director, serves as camp director for the week. At the end of the five days, campers and their parents get to participate in a special planetarium presentation and telescope-viewing. The cost of the week is $165 per camper; scholarships are available. Registration is by mail only.

For more information about the planetarium and its astronomy programs, call 864-8814.

High atop Mt. Hamilton, overlooking the Santa Clara Valley, is the first permanently occupied mountain observatory in the world, the James Lick Observatory. Now more than 120 years old, the observatory houses seven research telescopes, including a Shane 120-inch reflector telescope. Visitors are welcome daily to see the Shane telescope from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The visitor center is open from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends. Touring the facility is free.

After a several-year hiatus, the Friday Night Summer Visitors Program is back on a limited basis. Those who order free tickets in advance will have a chance to look through both the observatory's 36-inch refracting telescope and its 40-inch reflecting telescope. An astronomer from UC-Santa Cruz, the observatory or UC-Berkeley will give a lecture. Activities begin about half an hour before sunset. The program is only offered on June 27, July 11, July 25, Aug. 8 and Aug. 22. Six tickets are allowed per person; only 250 tickets are distributed for each evening.

In addition to the viewing program, the observatory also sponsors a benefit concert series. On July 19, Aug. 15-16, and Sept. 12-13, the Great Hall of the Visitor Center will be the location for music and interesting talks about the cosmos. Viewing is offered through the 36-inch telescope afterward. Tickets, which must be ordered by mail in advance, are $30 each.

To receive a ticket-order form for both the viewing and the music programs, contact the observatory between 12:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. at 274-5061.

From Highway 101 take Tully Road east to Quimby Road, following the road several miles more until it joins Mt. Hamilton Road. The observatory staff says the drive takes about 45 minutes to an hour from San Jose because of the winding roads. The observatory is at 4,200 feet, which means evenings can be cool.

For a virtual tour of the observatory, visit its Web site at http://www.ucolick.org.

Local amateur astronomers are always willing to share their telescopes and knowledge with anyone interested. For a free list of the nine local astronomy clubs and their monthly events, as well as updated star maps, visit Orion Telescope and Binocular Center at 10555 S. De Anza Blvd. in Cupertino.

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This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, May 28, 1997.
©1997 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.