planetarium header
New Planetarium Show: When Venus Transits The Sun
Date: T June 5th, 5p.m.-8p.m.
Admission: $5
Come join us on June 5th as we witness a spectacular sky phenomenon known as a "Transit of Venus."  You will get a chance to view it through one of SMSU's telescopes and witness venus crossing in front of the Sun.  There will also be a planetarium show included with the live observation session detailing the rich history of this rare phenomenon and how it was used to measure the size of the solar system!
New LASER Light Shows
Planetarium Show List
How To Book A Show
Tour the Planetarium
Directions to Planetarium
What is a Planetarium?
ViewSpace @ the SMSU Science Museum
SMSU's New Telescope
Astronomy Picture of the Day
Buying a Star FAQ (Can I buy a star?)
Cool Astronomy/Stargazing  Links


Live Picture of Sun
 Current Moon Phase
Live Satellite Map
Satellite Map
Space Exploration Missions
International Space Station
Hubble Space Telescope
iss_badge.jpg (9882 bytes)

Page Created and Maintained by Ken Murphy
Space Calendar for 2012

January 1: Grail Space Probes Arrive at the Moon
January 4: Earth at perihelion—closest point to the Sun

February 9: Venus & Uranus very close together—need telescope to see Uranus
February 20: 50th anniversary of John Glenn’s first orbital flight
February 29: Leap Day

March 3: Mars at opposition (seen in sky all night)
March 11: Spring ahead! Daylight Saving Time begins
March 14-15: Venus & Jupiter conjunction—evening sky
March 20: Spring begins—officially at 12:14am CDT

April 15: Saturn at opposition—up all night

May 20: Annular Solar Eclipse visible in SW United States, small partial eclipse will be visible in Minnesota just before sunset starting at 7:30 p.m.

June 4: Partial Lunar Eclipse—better visibility in western America, very limited visibility in Marshall starting around 5:15 a.m. Just as Moon is setting.
June 5: Venus Transit—last one for 105 years! 5:14 p.m. To 11:15 p.m. in Marshall
June 20: Summer starts at the solstice, 6:09pm CDT
June 29: Dwarf planet Pluto at opposition

July 4:  Earth at aphelion—farthest point from the Sun
July 9: Venus & bright star Aldebaran—morning sky
July 27: Dawn spacecraft leaves asteroid Vesta for dwarf planet Ceres where it will arrive in 2015

August 6: Landing! Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity Rover)
August 12: Perseid Meteor Shower peaks
August 23: Neptune at opposition

September 22: Fall arrives—Autumnal Equinox at 9:49am CDT
September 28: Uranus at opposition

October 3: Venus & bright star Regulus—morning sky
October 4: 55th anniversary of Sputnik launch and orbit

November 4: Fall back! Daylight Saving Time Ends
November 13: Total Solar Eclipse—N. Australia, South Pacific
November 27: Venus & Saturn together in morning sky

December 2: Jupiter at opposition
December 13: Geminid Meteor Shower peaks
December 21: Winter commences at solstice, 5:12am CST
http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/calendar/