Podcast: What’s Up Bainbridge:
Learn about sundials at the planetarium on Jan 9th

In this podcast interview, Frank Petrie of Battle Point Astronomical Association tells BCB host Channie Peters about the upcoming planetarium presentation at the Ritchie Observatory on Saturday January 9th at 5pm (for kids) and 7:30pm (for all).

On the same evening as the 5pm sundial-themed kids show by Dr. Erica Saint Clair, Frank will talk at 7:30pm about the history, science and art of sundials, with slides, videos and the technology inside the observatory.

We are so fortunate on Bainbridge Island to live in a community with its own planetarium, big telescope, beautiful artist-built sundial, and an astronomical association with members who can and do, monthly, explain to us what we see out there in the vastness of space.

Frank Petrie, BPAA board member and project manager for the sundial is just one of those sky savvy guys who knows what’s out there and can share his knowledge with us.

If you’ve never visited the planetarium, it offers a tour of the night sky as projected on the concave surface of its dome-like screen with accurate placement of constellations, galaxies, planets, the moon and sun. The projection can zoom in and out, run time fast-forward or backwards to show how the sky changes through the course of a night or a year. It can project far into the future or look back to prehistoric times when the constellations looked different.

All this will be happening at the John Rudolph Planetarium in the Ritchie Observatory in Battle Point Park. Admission is free to members; for nonmembers, the suggested donation is $2/person or $5/family. The planetarium has limited seating – about 50 people – so come early to get a good seat.

Learn more at the website of the Battle Point Astronomical Association.

Credits: BCB host: Channie Peters; BCB audio editor and social media publisher: Barry Peters.