The Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Central Arkansas invites the public to experience astronomical phenomena through a different scope on the universitys campus.

This spring, three planetarium shows are planned Feb. 4, March 4 and April 1 and four observatory nights are scheduled Jan. 21, Feb. 18, March 18 and April 15.

Admission is free and open to anyone in the community for the shows.

Planned programs are subject to cancellation or delay based on the possibility of technical difficulties or weather.

Scott Austin, director of UCA Astronomical Facilities, said the planetarium in Lewis Science Center 010 acts as a sky theater for the audience to see a projection of how the sky appears on a 30-foot diameter dome through a Spitz 512 projector.

What I do for these shows for the general public is, I give a tour of the sky for that particular month, he said. The stars, the constellations, planets, special events like meteor showers.

Each planetarium show, about an hour in length, also includes flying the audience through astronomical data.

The 60-seat planetarium in UCAs Lewis Science Center hosts the shows on Wednesdays starting at 7 p.m.

I go over scientific discoveries so theres a science education aspect to it, Austin said, adding that hes explained landings on Mars and comet fly-bys at previous shows.

Austin said the program began in the 1980s upon completion of an addition to Lewis Science Center. He has been in charge of the planetarium programs here since 2000.

Originally posted here:

UCA's planetarium, observatory invites community to explore astronomy