We're back for the spring semester! We have new shows this spring, with both our regular weekday shows and our Saturday morning shows. We do not need to take reservations this spring. However, please be aware that, if you arrive and the door is closed, that means that the planetarium is full for that show - we are still accounting for social distancing.
This spring, our regular shows will be Wednesday, Thursday & Friday evenings at 7pm, and Saturday mornings at 10:30am.
Our weekday shows will be "Cosmic Origins Spectrograph" The Cosmic Origins Spectrograph instrument aboard the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) helps us understand what the universe was like billions of years ago and how it has changed over time. By following the path taken by light from a quasar, this film journeys across the cosmic web, touching on concepts such as spectra, formation of the elements, the electromagnetic spectrum, the distribution of gas around galaxies, and many of HST's showcase images.
Cosmic Origins Spectrograph was produced by the Fiske Planetarium at the University of Colorado - Boulder.
Our Saturday morning shows will be "Worlds of Curiosity." 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 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.
Worlds of Curiosity was produced by the Fiske Planetarium at the University of Colorado - Boulder.
For shows that require reservations: Please email planets@radford.edu with your name, your phone number, the date of the show that you would like to attend, and the total number of people in your group.
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Planetarium Location Map:
- 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: 50
- All shows include a tour of the nighttime sky using our full-dome projection system. Some shows will also have a full-dome, professionally produced show on an astronomical topic.
- 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
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.
