ORONO, Maine — When the weather permits, star gazers can take a closer look at the celestial bodies above every Friday starting at 8 p.m. at the University of Maine's Versant Astronomy Center.
Running through the academic year, the public is welcomed to look through the center’s historic Alvan Clark Telescope and learn about the night sky.
Shawn Laatsch, director of the astronomy center, says that this winter Jupiter and Saturn will be visible. Guests aren't required to bring anything, but he advises dressing warm.
"It's one thing if you are outdoors and you are skiing or snow shoeing," he said. However, due to the static nature of star gazing he will "always tell folks to dress a little warmer than they expect."
The weekly program is guided by volunteer astronomers like UMaine physics and astronomy junior Will Keifer. He enjoys showing others the sites that steered his career towards the stars.
"Every kid loves astronomy. I have never seen a kid who did not like it," Keifer said. "Their minds are always blown and it's so cool."
Before the outdoor viewing, the planetarium offers virtual experiences that take guests to often unseen places on Earth and outer space. Regardless of how far the shows go, Laatsch says he tries to make them local.
When one program took viewers underwater, Laatsch says he asked UMaine researchers to help make an introduction. Or if "we are talking about the space program, we might tie it into the University of Maine's engineering program and some of the projects they are working on there," he said.
Many still prefer to see the stars above directly and for some like Niru Ganesan, seeing sites light years away puts like in perspective.
"It gives us a feeling that we are a very tiny, tiny part of the universe and it sort of humbles me," Ganesan said.