Seniors see the stars

A much-anticipated planetarium show brought the night sky indoors for dozens of area seniors on Wednesday, Nov. 19, as the Museum of Science’s Star Lab made its debut at the Waltham Senior Center, transforming the space into a hub of astronomical discovery for 29 eager participants.​

Groups of seniors gathered in a circle of chairs inside the inflatable Star Lab, where the museum’s Programs Operations Manager Matt Pacewicz and Senior Education Associate Emily Pease led immersive sessions with the lights dimmed to simulate the real night sky above Waltham from 7 to 9 p.m. on that day. Highlights included identifying visible constellations, planets and the sweep of the Milky Way.​

“I loved it!” said Neeta after emerging from the Star Lab. Marianne described the experience as “very impressive,” noting that the ideal amount of information was delivered. Brad was pleased to finally distinguish between Sirius and Venus in his own nighttime observations.​

Ursula Gage of Waltham shared her family’s connection to astronomical history, recounting how her grandfather Max Wolf, a noted astronomer and engineer in Germany, proposed the idea for one of the earliest planetariums in the 1920s using an innovative brass globe projector. Such installations became popular entertainment and scientific resources for communities at the time.​

Tips for Local Stargazing

Museum staff encouraged residents to seek out darker skies in areas away from Route 128 — such as Beaver Brook and open spaces along Trapelo Road — where celestial viewing is far less impacted by artificial light. They advised allowing about 20 minutes for eyes to adjust to darkness for the best star-gazing results.​

Most attendees said they hadn’t visited a planetarium in years and welcomed the Star Lab’s arrival. Council on Aging Director Patrick O’Brien expressed hope that the program would return to the Senior Center in the future.