The WVU Planetarium and Observatory at White Hall displays weekly shows about our universe and beyond, educating WVU students, the Morgantown community and the state for over 30 years.
This semester’s shows are “Saturn & Beyond,” “Tales of the Mays Skies,” “From Earth to the Universe,” “Accidental Astronauts,” “Earth, Moon, Sun” and “Dynamic Earth,” according to the planetarium website. The shows change weekly, and there are usually two showings every Friday night, according to Jason Ybarra, assistant professor in the Astronomy and Physics department and program director.
The shows are 45-60 minutes long and open to students, K-12 class field trips or the general public on “public nights,” which are held twice a month.
“Planetaria have historically been a great way to engage not only students but the public in astronomy, in the wonders of the night sky. Because of the institution that we are, a land grant institution that is here to educate enrolled students, but we have this greater role of providing outreach and educational resources to the entire state,” Ybarra said.
The planetarium hosts special events and additional shows throughout the year, including Fall Family weekend, the holiday season and “meditation in the planetarium,” a partnership with WVU Collegiate Recovery.
On public nights, participants have the opportunity to use the telescope on the roof of White Hall after the shows, according to Ybarra.
“If it’s a clear night and there’s something that we can point the telescope to, you can go up there and look through the telescope,” they said. “About three weeks ago, it was like a near full moon, and it looked really cool through the telescope.”
Ybarra encourages everyone to attend a planetarium show for an experience like no other.
“For the night sky, it’s projected in the way like you would be out there looking at it because you have a full 180-degree view that you could see. …It’s a beautiful, audio-visual experience, as well as you get to learn something cool about our own universe,” Ybarra said.
Jordan O’Kelley, WVU astronomy graduate assistant, started working in the planetarium last year. He said it’s been a great way to put his passion into practice and teach others, specifically K-12 students.
“It’s one thing to educate people who are already in college in an astronomy course. It’s another thing to reach the younger people who might not know what they want to pursue yet and teach them about what I think is the coolest thing ever,” O’Kelley said.
O’Kelley said he’s currently in the process of creating his own planetarium show, but his favorite shows were on dark matter and Saturn.
He said that one of his favorite parts of the planetarium is that it gives the opportunity for everyone to learn something new.
“It offers a free and interesting way to learn more about astronomy. It’s great for school field trips in particular, but even a group of adults could walk into the planetarium and come out learning something new and have a good time while they’re at it,” he said.
For reservations and show details, visit the planetarium website.