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Planetarium show reveals stars to Bruins

By Daily Bruin Staff

April 9, 1998 9:00 p.m.

Friday, April 10, 1998

Planetarium show reveals stars to Bruins

SCIENCE: Physics and Astronomy Department offers telescope
viewings for cosmic experience

By Marisa Yamane

Daily Bruin Contributor

There are billions of stars in the universe. Unfortunately, many
Los Angeles residents are unable to freely stargaze because the
bright city lights and smog obscure most of their view.

The UCLA planetarium gives students the opportunity to see the
night sky minus all of the lights and smog in a "planetary
simulation."

On Wednesday night, the Physics and Astronomy Department held
their first planetarium show for the spring quarter, followed by a
telescope viewing.

"The good thing about the planetarium is that we can travel to
anywhere in the world and see what the night sky would look like,"
said James Colbert, a teaching assistant in the Physics and
Astronomy Department and the host of the show.

Colbert pointed out celestial bodies such as the Milky Way, the
Andromeda galaxy and the North Star.

"Los Angeles is at 37 degrees latitude, so that’s how high the
North Star will always appear to us. Ancient mariners used the
North Star to guide them on voyages," Colbert explained.

Students also saw cartoon figures of the constellations Orion
and Taurus, who looked like they were about to engage in a battle.
Following the simulation, students viewed the real stars through a
telescope.

"Not only is it a learning tool for students in Astronomy, it is
also an open house for others to learn and look through the
telescope," Colbert said.

Through the telescope, students saw the Orion nebula, the moon
and – UCLA’s favorite – the blue and gold double star known as the
Bruin.

"People have given various telescopes to the department, and as
long as there are telescopes, we will continue to have this open
house," Colbert said.

Planetarium shows will be held on Wednesdays and Fridays at 7:30
p.m. and on Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. throughout the rest of the
quarter.

Telescope viewing will be available following the sky show on
Wednesdays ( subject to weather). Both are located on the roof of
the Math Sciences Building. HENRY YANG

James Colbert, a teaching assistant for Astronomy 4, peers
through the telescope on the top floor of the Math Sciences
Building.

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