Planetarium shows, star parties return to Penn State Mont Alto for spring 2026

MONT ALTO, Pa. - The opportunity to get a closer look at the night sky is returning to Penn State Mont Alto in spring 2026. The popular "Evening Series" will once again feature shows, evening talks and star parties where community members can learn more about constellations, galaxies and planets. All events are free to the public and will be offered both in-person, weather permitting, and virtually. Advance registration is required.

Planetarium Shows

Mar. 26 and 27, May 1 and April 30

Participants can explore the night sky, fly around solar system objects, and immerse themselves as they enter one of many astronomy-themed full-dome videos. Hosted by Penn State Mont Alto associate professor of physics and astronomy Kim Herrmann, evening planetarium shows will be offered to the public.

One 7 p.m. show per night is scheduled for the evenings of Mar. 26, Mar. 27 and May 1 in the Allied Health Building White Box (Room 115). An 8 p.m. show is scheduled for April 30. Feel free to bring a pillow to sit on, though plastic chairs and foam mats will be available.

Click here to learn more about Penn State Mont Alto's Portable Planetarium.

Evening Talk

April 16

Join us for an Evening Talk, either via Zoom or from the Auditorium in the General Studies Building: 7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 16: "The Ad Hominem Fallacy: The Rhetorical Power of Name-Calling." In this Talk, associate professor of communications David Seitz will provide a colorful lecture. "Ad hominem" is Latin for "to (or against) the person"; in rhetorical studies, the ad hominem fallacy is understood as the practice of name-calling, of calling one's interlocutor or political opponent a derogatory name to deflect criticism and/or distract an audience from a given issue, topic, or crisis at hand. Offering many past and present-day examples to clarify the major points, this talk will reveal how the ad hominem fallacy is an effective, common - yet unethical - rhetorical device.

Advance registration is required for the "Evening Talk."

Star Parties

To be scheduled as weather permits

Unlike in previous semesters, a star party will not be scheduled after the evening talk. Instead, a few star parties will be scheduled a few days in advance when the weather is expected to cooperate. Star parties consist of telescope viewing and night sky tours with laser pointers. Also hosted by Kim Herrmann, any star party will be held in the field between Orchard Road and the Mont Alto campus' General Studies Building parking lot after dusk.

Those who are interested in attending a Spring 2026 star party and would like to help schedule a few star parties, can complete this form.

Multiple telescopes may be available, courtesy of the TriState Astronomers, a local amateur astronomy club. In the event of cold weather, patrons should wear layers of clothing and bring jackets, hats, and gloves. Surprise precipitation, cloud cover, or very cold temperatures may cause a Star Party to be canceled.

For more information about Penn State Mont Alto's Evening Series, contact Kim Herrmann at [email protected].