December 4, 2024 -- The Santa Monica College (SMC) Planetarium kicks off its December lineup Friday by taking a deep dive into planetary nebulae.

This month's shows at the John Drescher Planetarium also explain how to find constellations in the L.A. skies and explore the history and festivities surrounding the Winter Solstice, organizers said.

The free, live virtual shows -- which take place Fridays at 8 p.m. -- are preceded by a streamlined, virtual digest of the popular Night Sky Show at 7 p.m. that offers the latest news in astronomy and space exploration.

This Friday's show, presented by planetarium lecturer Sarah Vincent explores "planetary nebula" that consists of a glowing shell of ionized gas emitted from giant dying stars.

"Some dying stars explode in supernovae, some disappear into black holes, and some, like the Sun, leave behind stunning planetary nebulae," organizers said.

"But this is not an event without casualties. When the Sun dies, if it doesn’t destroy Earth completely, it will leave Earth a scorched cinder orbiting a dead star. Earth’s fate might be to become a zombie planet."

The series continues Friday, December 13, with “Constellations,” also presented by Vincent, which explores the human urge to find patterns in randomness, including in the stars.

"The International Astronomical Union (IAU) recognizes 88 official constellations, and several sub-patterns called asterisms. Tonight’s show highlights several and offers tips for finding them through LA’s light-polluted skies."

The series concludes on Friday, December 20, when lecturer Jim Mahon presents the holiday staple “A Winter’s Solstice," which explores the annual phenomenon marked by festivals and rituals that takes place on Saturday, December 21, the first day of winter.

Known as midwinter, it is the shortest day and longest night of the year, the day when the sun reaches its lowest point in the sky and is reborn.

The feature show "examines the history of various ancient observances of the Winter Solstice, and how they have evolved and melded with our later Judeo-Christian holidays," planetarium officials said.

For the pagans, Persians, Romans, Christians and other cultures around the world, the Winter Solstice marks a turning point in the year.

"People have long felt the need to face the coming of winter with festivities, and customs like the burning of the 'Yule Log' and hanging of evergreens seem to far predate the celebration of Christmas in December."

In northern Europe, the solstice was celebrated as a holiday called "Yule," which would take a more modern form in such popular traditions as the Christmas tree, the Christmas wreath and the Yule log.

The show also reviews the science that might explain the star mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew that appeared above Bethlehem the night Jesus was born.

In the Gospel story, the three Wise Men, or Magi, journey to Jerusalem to worship the infant Jesus by following the star.

The show "takes a look at a re-creation of the remarkable planetary conjunction in 2 BCE that is a leading candidate for a scientific explanation of the Star of Bethlehem."

Planetarium lecturers are currently using the Zoom platform to present shows while SMC’s new planetarium and observatory are under construction.

To attend the virtual shows, the Zoom software must be installed on the viewer’s computer. A free download is available at zoom.com.

"The shows include the chance to chat with the planetarium lecturers and ask questions related to astronomy and space exploration," planetarium officials said.

More information is available online at smc.edu/planetarium or by calling 310-434-3005. Shows are subject to change or cancellation without notice.