After being in the dark for the last two years due to COVID-19, the universe can be seen in full color once again, as the Planetarium opened back up to the public this November. 

Renovations have been in the works while the Planetarium was shut down to the public. These included updates to online ticketing and information, a new projector which provides a more clear and precise picture, and a solar system walk on campus. Anyone interested in learning more can take a walk behind the planetarium to see a scale model of our solar system.

“We are proud to have had the support of the student body and ASG to secure funding for this new projector,” said Michele Moore, Astronomy Faculty Planetarium Co-director. 

The scale model is 1 to 1 Billion, running east/west from the northeast corner of Building 28 to the end of the walkway along Elliot Drive. Each scale provides information about the model and which way to proceed forward. 

The planetarium is a unique feature in the Eastern WA area, not many community colleges have such a resource. Each presentation will feature a night sky tour and a dome feature movie. The movies include various topics like black holes, dark matter, dark energy, and star formation.

“We have a brand new movie called Dark Universe, it’s a very beautiful and visually effective movie,” Moore said. “Dark matter and dark energy are very immersive topics and this movie helps us to visualize that it is very beautiful.”

Spokane Falls Community College offers captivating classes in Astronomy in which the use of the planetarium and solar walk are a huge help with daily visualization and understanding of our solar system and constellations. 

“I took the Astronomy class here last quarter, it was really fun,” Trevor Weberg, 21, an aspiring education major said. “I think it is interesting that we know so much about the creation of stars, more than I thought we knew.”

More information and how to purchase tickets can be found at: https://sfcc.spokane.edu/For-Our-Students/Around-Campus/Planetarium Private shows and rentals are available as well.