Radford University Planetarium
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Welcome to the Radford University Planetarium!
We are closed for the rest of the summer after a highly successful James Webb Space Telescope community Event. We will reopen shortly after the start of Radford University's fall semester (which starts on Monday, August 22). Our reopening schedule will be posted here sometime after that date.
The Radford University Planetarium has joined hundreds of sites across the country to celebrate the release of the first science images from the James Webb Space Telescope, NASA’s next great space science observatory. The Radford University Planetarium will offer a range of public programs to bring the excitement of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) for all ages, and to everyone in the New River Valley and beyond. This will be on June 10-11 (Friday-Saturday) and everyone is invited. Our two-day event will feature multiple planetarium shows, the neighboring Museum of the Earth Sciences, many science-themed activities, games, displays, and more.
Activities and Presenters information
For the James Webb Space Telescope Community Event planetarium shows Friday and Saturday, we will have to have in-person tickets available in the Center for the Sciences each day starting at 9am for the shows. Unfortunately we could not get an electronic system for this event - my apologies for that. The tickets are free, but please make sure that you plan to show up for the ticket time that you get. We will need everyone to have lined up by at least 5 minutes prior to the show time in order to guarantee your seat. We will keep a waiting list in case people find that they can't use their tickets (but please return them if you can), or simply don't show up in time. The tickets for the shows each day will be available starting at 9am on that day (i.e. Friday tickets only on Friday, Saturday tickets on Saturday). Thank you for your patience and consideration in this, and enjoy the shows!
Preliminary schedule of events
- 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.