CCSU Planetarium to Have Free Show on Collision of Galaxies

CCSU’s Copernican Planetarium and Observatory is presenting a free show on how our own Milky Way Galaxy is to merge with the large Andromeda Galaxy.

The Copernican Planetarium and Observatory on the CCSU campus will present a show, “Collision of the Giants,” saying, “Witness a simulation of the Collision of the Giants, i.e. the Milky Way and the Andromeda galaxies.”

Astronomers predict that the two massive galaxies will collide and combine, as the force of gravity pulls them together.

But don’t worry. Our home planet is safe from the collision. As NASA has said, “It is likely the sun will be flung into a new region of our galaxy, but our Earth and solar system are in no danger of being destroyed.”

Also, the real life collision is not coming any time soon.

“The real event won’t happen for another 4.5 billion years,” says the Copernican Planetarium and Observatory, jokingly adding, “but it’s always a good thing to be prepared!”

The “Collision of the Giants” show is to be on Friday, January 17, 2020. It is to be from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. “Show is an hour,” says the Planetarium and Observatory, “with observing afterwards if skies are clear.”

The Copernican Planetarium and Observatory says,

Doors to the planetarium will open 30 minutes before the advertised show time. Seating is on a first-come basis – the planetarium seats 100 which cannot be exceeded due to the fire code. On January 3 we had to turn away dozens of people. The program begins promptly at the advertised start time and there is no late admittance. This is a matter of safety, as the planetarium is much darker than a movie theater. If you arrive and the doors to the planetarium are closed, the show has started and admittance is no longer possible. Banging on the closed doors is disrespectful to the attendees and will not gain you entrance.

After the show, if skies are clear, we invite you to join us for observing of the real night sky through our telescopes. Note: Please be aware that very cold temperatures can negatively impact the functioning of the telescopes and dome.

The Planetarium and Observatory adds that, “All of our programming is free and open to the general public. We do have space for wheelchairs. The observing deck with portable telescopes is handicapped accessible but the observatory involves stairs.”

CCSU is at 1615 Stanley Street, but the Copernican Planetarium and Observatory is located in Copernicus Hall, which is located next to the Copernicus Parking Garage that is accessed from Manafort Drive.