Always a Starry Night at SMC Planetarium

By Ann Williams
Staff Writer

August 16 -- On September 2 just after sunset, you’ll be able to see Jupiter just after it passes below Venus in the Western sky -- even if it’s a cloudy night.

That’s because Santa Monica College’s popular Friday night astronomy series is bringing the night sky indoors as it kicks off a new season.

“The Night Sky Show” is the first act every Friday at 7 p.m. at the John Drescher Planetarium. Feature shows and guest lectures on the history and future of space exploration and up-to-date scientific explanations about our strange and spectacular universe follow at 8 p.m.

(Photo courtesy of Santa Monica College)

Director Jon Hodges’ lectures will give his listeners a taste for the excitement and unpredictability of scientific method as he explores the creation of the universe, missions to Mars and rational explanations for the Christmas star.

Once a month, he’ll be joined by guest speakers.

On September 30, Los Angeles documentary filmmakers Todd and Robin Mason will bring 3-D glasses for the audience as they preview a sample of their film about George Ellery Hale. Hale, who in his youth was influenced by Jules Verne, went on to be known as the “father of modern astronomy.”

Hale masterminded the building of the three largest telescopes of his time, including the one on Mt. Wilson. “The entire process,” claim the Masons, “initiated the era of big science.”

On October 28, the “largest collisions in our universe, when galaxies of billions of stars smash together” will be the exciting topic of UCLA post-doctoral researcher Sarah Gallagher’s lecture.

Edgar Rice Burroughs fans won’t want to miss the latest on the mission to map the Red Planet by JPL Project Scientist for Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Richard Zureck, who will speak on November 18.

The John Drescher Planetarium is named for the local eccentric millionaire bachelor who held nine patents for his World War II aerospace innovations, founded Drescher Engineering, and left more than $2 million to the College.

It is located on the second floor of the appropriately named Drescher Hall at 1900 Pico Boulevard. Tickets are $5 for single shows, or $9 for a double bill of “The Night Sky Show” and either the feature show or the guest lecture.

Guest lectures will take place in Science Lecture Hall 140.

There will be no show on Veterans Day, November 11 and the Friday after Thanksgiving, November 25.

For more information, including a list of celestial events such as full moons and meteor showers, see www.smc.edu/planetarium

Don't forget to bring your towel.