Radford University Planetarium
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Welcome to the Radford University Planetarium!
The Radford University Planetarium is located in the Center for the Sciences building (925 East Main Street) on the beautiful Radford University campus. The planetarium is the center for astronomy and space science education for the University and the surrounding area. We have regular free public shows and host numerous K-12 and community groups.
- March 25 (Sa) 10:30am "Worlds of Curiosity"
- March 29 (W) 7pm - "Cosmic Mashups"
- March 31 (F) 4pm - "Beyond the Sun" and 7pm "Cosmic Mashups"
- April 1 (Sa) 10:30am "Worlds of Curiosity"
- April 5 (W) 7pm "5000 Eyes: Mapping the Universe with DESI (Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument)"
- April 7 (F) 4pm "Eyes on Island Earth;" 7pm "5000 Eyes: Mapping the Universe with DESI (Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument)"
- April 8 (Sa) 10:30am "Eyes on Island Earth"
- April 12 (W) 7pm "5000 Eyes: Mapping the Universe with DESI (Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument)"
- April 14 (F) 4pm "Eyes on Island Earth;" 7pm "5000 Eyes: Mapping the Universe with DESI (Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument)"
- April 15 (Sa) 10:30am "Eyes on Island Earth"
- April 19 (W) 7pm "5000 Eyes: Mapping the Universe with DESI (Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument)"
- April 21 (F) 4pm "Eyes on Island Earth;" 7pm "5000 Eyes: Mapping the Universe with DESI (Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument)"
- April 22 (Sa) 10:30am "Eyes on Island Earth"
- April 26 (W) 7pm "5000 Eyes: Mapping the Universe with DSEI (Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument)"
- April 28 (F) 4pm "Eyes on Island Earth;" 7pm "5000 Eyes: Mapping the Universe with DSEI (Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument)"
- April 29 (Sa) 10:30am "Eyes on Island Earth" This is the last regular show of the spring semester.
5000 Eyes: Mapping the Universe with DESI (Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument)
The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) is creating the most detailed map of our nearby universe. Installed on the Mayall telescope on Kitt Peak in Southern Arizona, DESI's 5000 independently operated robots can measure the light from thousands of galaxies at once. Join us as we explore the science, instrument, and people behind this global endeavor to learn about dark energy. This show was produced by the Fiske Planetarium, CU-Boulder.
"Cosmic Mashups"
Supermassive black holes are found in most galaxies and we're beginning to uncover how the merging of galaxies activate galactic centers. This engaging fulldome film was produced by Fiske Planetarium in collaboration with CU Boulder APS Professor, Dr. Julie Comerford and former graduate student Dr. Becky Nevin through support from an NSF award.
Beyond the Sun
Join us for an after-school planetarium show! Fly through space and then enjoy the full-dome show "Beyond the Sun" in which our young heroine Celeste and her new friend Moon learn about life on our planet, and then the possibility of us living on other planets outside of our solar system.
Saturday mornings (until April 1)
"Worlds of Curiosity" dives into the questions of "What it would be like to live on an Earth with no Moon?" or "What if the Earth was tilted on its side (like Uranus)?" Join our animated friend Mateo and Dr. Alicia Woods as they explore how our lives would be different on these Earths, talk about other hypothetical planets that could exist, and marvel at the even stranger worlds that astronomers have discovered beyond our solar system.
The last showing of "Worlds of Curiosity" (this year) will be on Saturday, March 25.
Eyes on Island Earth
This show presents view of Earth that we have obtained from a fleet of NASA satellites. Learn how to find satellites in the night sky, and the types of information that they bring us. Using Hawaii as a big example, learn how our sun, the clouds in the sky, the water, and all things in Nature interact to create an environment. This show was produced by NASA.
- Location: Center for the Sciences room M75 (Main Street level). Enter through the doors from Parking Lot C. Click on the map for a larger image.
- All shows are free and everyone is welcome to come join us!
- Seating capacity for now: 50
- Shows include a tour of the nighttime sky using our full-dome projection system. Most shows will also have a full-dome, professionally produced show on an astronomical topic. The shows are described below.
- Parking for the evening (7pm) and Saturday morning shows in Lots C and B is free.
- Parking for daytime shows:
- There are 4 metered spaces in Lots C and B, next to the Center for the Sciences.
- There are also several metered spaces in the portion of Parking Lot A that lies directly between Martin Hall and Main Street.
- You can also pick up a free parking day pass by dropping by the Radford University Parking office in Heth Hall, or the Radford University Police Station (intersection of University Drive and Main Street).
- We have hearing-assist receivers for our sound system--please bring your own earphones (1/16 inch [3.5mm] stereo jack).
- No food or drinks allowed in the planetarium!
For more information, contact Planetarium Director Dr. Rhett Herman at rherman@radford.edu.
Schedule a Group Visit
We will resume special showings once the current crisis is resolved. Once that happens, special group showings for groups of 20 or more people may be arranged by contacting Dr. Rhett Herman at rherman@radford.edu (email preferred) or calling 540-831-5441.