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Dinner & a Show
The Frederic and Jean EDELMAN PLANETARIUM is an Out of this World Attraction
By Juliet Piccone

The Big Dipper, Orion’s Belt, and the Southern Cross: Due to light you can’t always spot these constellations in our area. However, Rowan University’s Fredric and Jean Edelman Planetarium Hubble Telescope show brightens not only the domed interior but also children’s minds, allowing them to see stars they wouldn’t normally be able to spot well.

The show gives a brief history of the Hubble Telescope, explaining how it works and how it’s maintained. Plus, the show explains about the expansion of the universe.

The planetarium is completely different than any other auditorium I have been in from its dome-shaped structure to the intricate projector inside—even the seats recline, giving the audience a different view of the screen.

All of these projections looked so realistic that my brother said to my mom, “I feel like I’m outside.” It’s not just an enjoyable experience; it’s educational, too. It offered so much information about space and astronomy that you would not be able to find in any book, because the research is done at Rowan University.

My favorite part of the show was the sunrise because everything from the coloring to the position in the sky appeared to be so genuine. Rowan offers a different show in the planetarium every season. The shows play every Saturday at 7p.m. After seeing the stars inside, you and your family can take a walk around the Rowan campus and try to point out all the constellations in the real night sky. This is a family-friendly show that people of all ages can enjoy.

And, what’s even more far out is that in October you can see “Cosmic Concert.” The show is performed by Denis DiBlasio and members of the Rowan Lab Band who will play heavenly jazz music accompanied by a star show in the planetarium. The concert takes place on Oct. 4 and 5.

That’s not all either. The Great Space Race shoots off in October and runs through Dec. 1. This star show is written and produced by high-school students at Weber State University. It depicts the tense contest between the U.S. and the Soviet Union to be the first to reach the Moon. You’ll see images and video clips on everything from Sputnik to the Space Shuttle.

Plus, if your child’s school is looking for an out of this world school program they don’t have to look further than Rowan. Throughout 2007, all the shows are FREE due to a generous donation by Ric and Jean Edelman. For more information, call 856.256.LITE (5483) or visit www.rowan.edu/planetarium.

If you go…

After looking up at the stars, grab a bite to eat at the neighborhood hot spot, the Landmark Americana Bar and Grill. It’s less than a five minute drive from the planetarium. You can eat classic family favorites from this American Grill. The menu offers appetizers, burgers, hot and cold sandwiches, and their famous buffalo wings. Landmark’s huge booths were perfect for my big family. We ordered a burger, a prime rib sandwich, chicken fingers, a buffalo salad, buffalo fries and, of course, wings! Everything was cooked perfectly and tasted great. The food portions were generous and my family finished their meals. For dessert they have a special sundae that feeds four to five people. The prices were reasonable and it was nice to support a local independent restaurant instead of a popular chain.1 E. West Street, Glassboro, N.J. For more information, call  856.863.6600.

Juliet Piccone is a senior at Moorestown High School.