DANBURY, CONN. — Four constellations whose prominent stellar alignments have inspired legends in Greek and Roman mythology will become the featured attractions during the fall 2008 series of Saturday matinee and evening shows at the Western Connecticut State University Observatory and Planetarium on the Westside campus, Lake Avenue Extension in Danbury.

Leading off the series will be “A Closer Look at Scorpius the Scorpion,” to be presented in hourlong planetarium shows beginning at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6. The second show will be followed by a viewing of the late-summer evening sky from 8 to 10 p.m., offering sightings through the WCSU Observatory’s 20-inch computer-controlled Ritchey-Chretien reflector telescope of the Milky Way, the moon and the giant outer planets Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune. The WCSU Planetarium will offer an encore presentation of “Closer Look at Scorpius” at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. shows on Saturday, Sept. 20, followed by a two-hour WCSU Observatory viewing starting at 8 p.m.

Scorpius, a constellation of the zodiac, occupies a prominent place in the Southern Hemisphere sky. Scorpius is known in Greek mythology as the natural enemy of the hunter Orion, whose stellar belt, arms and legs offer one of the most recognizable profiles in the evening sky in the Northern Hemisphere from late fall through mid-winter. Future shows in the WCSU Planetarium’s fall series will explore the astronomical, mythological and astrological significance of Orion and two other familiar Northern Hemisphere constellations, Cygnus the swan and Draco the dragon.

For the first time this fall, the WCSU Planetarium will offer afternoon matinee shows, as well as a second evening show followed immediately by observatory viewing. Admission is free and open to the public for all planetarium and observatory programs; donations to support operations and maintenance of the WCSU Observatory and Planetarium will be accepted.

Professor of Astronomy Dr. Dennis Dawson noted the mid-afternoon shows have been introduced to offer more opportunities for families with children to enjoy a trip to the planetarium. “The earlier show has been added for families who want some educational fun on a Saturday afternoon, as well as others who may not be able to stay out late,” Dawson noted in the current “Star Watch” guide published on the university’s Web site.

Future planetarium shows during the fall semester will include:

• “A Closer Look at Cygnus the Swan” at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4, and at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18. The observatory will be open from 8 to 10 p.m. on Oct. 4, and from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 18 for telescope viewings of Jupiter, the Andromeda galaxy and other early autumn sky highlights.

• “A Closer Look at Draco the Dragon” at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8, and Saturday, Nov. 22. Observatory viewings from 6 to 8 p.m. on Nov. 8 and Nov. 22 will cover an array of celestial features including the asteroid Vesta and the planets Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune, with Venus also appearing on Nov. 22.

• “A Closer Look at Orion the Hunter” at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, and Saturday, Dec. 13. The observatory viewings from 6 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 6 and 13 will feature the moon and the outer planets, with Venus still visible for the Dec. 6 program.

Public viewings at the WCSU Observatory will be subject to cancellation in the event of cloudy or inclement conditions. Planetarium shows will be held unless access roads become impassable due to snow or ice conditions.

A complete listing of planetarium shows and observatory viewings is available at www.wcsu.edu/starwatch. For more information, call the observatory at (203) 837-8672 or the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486.

Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England’s best small private universities.