DANBURY, CONN. — Western Connecticut State University’s Observatory and Planetarium on the Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury, has published the dates for the public Saturday night showings for spring 2012. These dates include an hour-long planetarium show with basic constellation identification, moon phases and star lore, followed by a two-hour sky observation, weather permitting. During the sky observation, guests will view the seasonal sky through the WCSU Observatory’s 20-inch, computer-controlled Ritchey-Chretien reflector telescope.

Admission is free and open to the public; donations to support operations and maintenance of the WCSU Observatory and Planetarium will be accepted.

• Feb. 18: Planetarium Show, 5 – 6 p.m.; Sky Observing, 6 – 8 p.m. (Pleiades star cluster,

Orion Nebula)

• March 3: Planetarium Show, 6 – 7 p.m.; Sky Observing, 7 – 9 p.m. (Pleiades star cluster,

Orion Nebula, waxing gibbous moon, Mars)

• March 17: Planetarium Show, 7 – 8 p.m.; Sky Observing, 8 – 10 p.m. (Pleiades star cluster,

Orion Nebula, Mars, Mizar and Alcor)

• Apr. 14: Planetarium Show, 7 – 8 p.m.; Sky Observing, 8 – 10 p.m. (Mars, Mizar and

Alcor, Saturn)

• Apr. 28: Planetarium Show, 7:30 – 8:30 p.m.; Sky Observing, 8:30 – 10:30 p.m. (moon

near first quarter, Mars, Algieba, Saturn)

• May 12: Planetarium Show, 8 – 9 p.m.; Sky Observing, 9 – 11 p.m. (Mizar and Alcor,

Algieba, Saturn)

Public viewings at the WCSU Observatory will be subject to cancellation in the event of cloudy or inclement conditions. Planetarium shows will be held unless access roads become impassable due to snow or ice conditions.

A complete listing of planetarium shows and observatory viewings is available at www.wcsu.edu/starwatch. For more information, call the observatory at (203) 837-8672 or the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486.

Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England’s best small private universities.