Star patterns have entertained us for millenniums. Today, we commonly view them as some 88 constellations that we use to map the sky. But many of these constellation formations came down to us through ancient mythology. Orion rules the winter sky, Leo
the spring sky, Cygnus the summer and the Great Square of Pegasus rules the fall. These and other constellations have fascinating stories and they serve as guideposts to observing the sky and identifying our locations back here on Earth.
The constellation Orion represents a great hunter surrounded by animals in the sky. According to myth, Orion ended up being too successful of a hunter and had to be taken from Earth and placed in the sky to keep his prey from becoming extinct.
This is just one small part of the stories of our stars. Join Planetarium Director Pat Hanrahan for “Stellar Dramas: Ancient Stories of the Stars” on Tuesday, April 3, and Friday, April 6, with shows at 6 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. Each show will use the entire dome to introduce viewers to the constellations, discover
the stories behind each star formation, and show how each one relates to other constellations. Hanrahan will also cover the current night sky and what you can view in it.
Visitors are encouraged to ask questions during each 45-minute live program. Children are welcome to attend. The MHCC Planetarium is wheelchair accessible. Admission for the general public is $5, and $2 for children (17 and younger) and for MHCC students
(identification required). Seating is limited and available on a first come, first served basis.