The West Virginia Wesleyan College Planetarium is once again welcoming the public for monthly shows that explore the wonders of the universe, complete with a guided tour of the night sky and telescope viewing, weather permitting.
Held at 8 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month, the programs take place in the 40-seat planetarium located on the second floor of Christopher Hall. Each evening includes a themed video presentation, an indoor tour of the current night sky, and, if skies are clear, outdoor telescope viewing of celestial objects such as the moon and Mars.
Seating is first-come, first-served, and doors open 30 minutes before showtime. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for students and seniors, and free for children under 18. Proceeds help maintain the facility and provide free shows for school and youth groups.
Dr. Tracey DeLaney, associate professor of physics and director of the planetarium, said the shows are as inspiring for her as they are for audiences.
“I like doing the shows because it’s revisiting astronomy at the level that I fell in love with the field,” DeLaney said. “Now, I do research on minute details of a few objects, so it’s nice to revisit all of the super cool stuff that is awe-inspiring.”
She noted the planetarium’s long history of community engagement.
“When Christopher Hall was planned and built in 1967, one of the missions of the planetarium then was to share with the community,” DeLaney said. “The Naylor Family gift that allowed us to purchase the digital projection system was made on the basis of, again, sharing with the wider community. The planetarium is a wonderful resource to share and have fun with.”
Attendance since reopening has been strong.
“We have 40 seats and we’ve been full up, or nearly so, for every show,” DeLaney said. “We’re like the third coolest thing to do in Buckhannon on a Saturday night.”
While DeLaney previously held public programs twice a month, she said she plans to continue with one show per month on the first Saturday for now, and to run them continuously throughout the year.
