By Lookout Staff

December 20, 2024 -- Kick off the new year by diving into galaxies and roaming the surface of Mars during live virtual shows at the Santa Monica College Planetarium.

Lunar surface (Courtesy of NASA)

January's free shows at SMC's John Drescher Planetarium also include a quick tour of the moon's "seas" and craters and a walk around winter skies brimming with stars.

The shows take place Fridays at 8 p.m. and 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.

Next month's lineup kicks off Friday, January 10 with “Deep Sky Deep Dive: Galaxies” presented by lecturer Sarah Vincent that explores the different types of galaxies and "how these distant marvels are studied."

"Originally called 'spiral nebulae,' galaxies like the Milky Way contain hundreds of billions of stars and come in many shapes and sizes," the event's organizers said.

The following Friday, January 17, Vincent presents “The Robots of Mars,” which recounts the history and evolution of the robots that inhabit the Red Planet.

"Curiosity and Perseverance are currently exploring its dusty surface, but they are just the latest in a long line of robotic explorers" featured in the show.

On January 24, Vincent presents “Luna: Earth’s Natural Satellite, a show that "provides a quick guided tour of the Moon’s mare (Latin for 'sea') and craters."

"Tantalizingly close, yet so far away, Earth’s constant companion inspires dreams and exploration with its familiar face," organizers said.

Next month's lineup concludes on January 31, with a presentation by lecturer Jim Mahon of the popular show “A Walk Around the Winter Hexagon.”

"The winter sky offers a bounty of bright stars surrounding its signature constellation, Orion the Hunter. Embedded in the Sword of Orion is the mighty Orion Nebula, the large area of star formation closest to the solar system."

Using "spectacular images," the show explores the Orion and Rosette nebulae, several beautiful star clusters, Barnard’s Loop, red giant Betelgeuse, Sirius (the brightest star in the skies of Earth), the Crab Nebula, and other treasures of this rich area of the winter sky."

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.