By Lookout Staff

April 22, 2025 -- The Santa Monica College Planetarium next month will explore radio astronomy and look back at the history of the Hubble Space Telescope that has been circling Earth for 35 years.

The John Drescher Planetarium will also look at gems of the late spring and early summer skies during its series of free, live virtual shows on Fridays at 8 p.m.

The shows 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, May 2, when lecturer Sarah Vincent presents “Radio Astronomy: Exploring the Low-Energy Universe."

Radio frequencies are used for "peering through dusty veils of nebulae and galactic discs to reveal secrets that are hidden in visible light," event organizers said.

"Galactic cores, protoplanetary discs, and the event horizons of black holes all shine brightly in the radio spectrum.

On Friday, May 9, Vincent will share Hubble Space Telescope images that offer "breath-taking views of the cosmos and looks at the science behind the images.

Launched on April 24, 1990, Hubble "is the first astronomical observatory placed into orbit around Earth with the ability to record images in wavelengths of light spanning ultraviolet to near infrared," according to NASA.

The observatory orbits roughly 320 miles above Earth’s surface, completing 15 orbits per day, at a speed of about five miles per second, "fast enough to travel across the United States in about 10 minutes," NASA said.

Vincent continues her look back at the Hubble on Friday, May 16, four days before the 35th anniversary of the telescope’s “First Light.” Her lecture will explore the "storied telescope’s path to launch, on-orbit repairs, and stunning contributions to astronomy."

Next month's lineup concludes on Friday, May 30, when Lecturer Jim Mahon presents “Late Spring and Early Summer Deep Sky Wonders.”

"As nights become warmer, the skies of late spring and early summer beckon with a dazzling collection of objects beyond the solar system, but well within range of amateur telescopes under dark skies — which Southern Californians can reach with an easy drive," organizers said.

The show will "use images to review some of these night-sky gems, and discuss opportunities to get out there and view them.

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.