Back to Planetarium

Interesting Information

Sky Calendar 2024

  • * Partial in Tidewater

  • Occultation = Moon occults celestial object

Earth’s Moon

craters on moon

Scientists believe that the moon is 4.3 billion years old and is 239,000 miles away. Astronauts have landed on the moon six times and have collected over 800 pounds of rocks. The first moon landing was on July 16, 1969.

The moon take 27.3 days to orbit around our planet and is a driving force in the rising and lowering of the tides

Space Probes

Space probes are used by researchers to gather information about places and surfaces that are not reachable for humans. The technology allows researchers to gather pictures, data, and more information about celestial bodies in our solar system. Probes have landed on or orbited Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

Rover 1

Mars Rocks

Art

These Space Art paintings by Dr. Robert Hitt are done in watercolor and airbrush.  Each image is some imaginary view from a planet or moon.  Some of these paintings have been used in planetarium programs and printed media.  Dr. Hitt had participated in local art shows and his paintings have been sold to collectors throughout the world.

Slider is playing
Space Art by Dr. Robert Hitt