Wayne State College’s Fred G. Dale Planetarium will be having many shows this semester.
The planetarium is located in the basement of WSC’s Carhart Science building. There have already been four shows. September 12 had “Stars” and a laser show called “Laser Fun” and September 13 had “Astronaut” and another laser show called “Laser Beatles”, a show that was essentially a big compilation of Beatles songs, like “I Wanna Hold Your Hand,” “Yellow Submarine” and “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” with laser projections creating visuals. All laser shows are laser displays set to whichever music the theme is, so there will be a different one each time.
There will be plenty more shows in the coming semester. Upcoming shows include classic rock at 8p.m. on Friday, September 19, and 2p.m. on Saturday, September 20. On Friday, September 26, Led Zepplin will play starting at 8p.m., and Pink Floyd will play Saturday, September 27 at 2p.m. Both shows are during WSC Homecoming Week.
For more of the educational shows, September 19 will have “Cosmic Colors” at 7 p.m., September 20 will have “Space Opera” at 1p.m., and September 26 will have “The Living World” at 7 p.m. and another showing of “Stars” at 1:30p.m..
Admission for these shows is free for everyone with suggested donations of $5 for adults and $3 for children.
Todd Young, director of the Fred G. Dale Planetarium, describes the educational shows as “a tour of the night sky.” Planetarium shows are meant to showcase and teach about space. Patrons sit under a giant, white dome, like a projector screen, and a high-tech projector is used to simulate moving around in space. Another description from Young for these shows like “Cosmic Colors” and “Stars” is educational entertainment, teaching people about the night sky in a fun way. The laser shows are purely meant for entertainment. Sit back, listen to music and watch as the lasers paint visuals, like they’re creating a music video.
Young chooses his shows very carefully based on what’s happening each weekend, like for Homecoming or Family Weekend when lots of people will be on campus. The planetarium also hosts themed weekends throughout the year, like a kids’ weekend coming up in October, where the shows are themed specifically for younger kids. Young also chooses his shows based on the private groups he has throughout the week.
He does create his own shows. He has a specific curriculum to follow for his astronomy classes; thus, he must create a planetarium show specific to his classes. He has been running the WSC planetarium since 2010.
For other questions about shows or the planetarium itself, Todd Young is available at [email protected], or the WSC planetarium website at wsc.edu/planetarium.
** A warning to anyone with light sensitivity, motion sickness, etc. These shows, especially the laser shows, require you to look upwards, and the laser shows have moving, flashing lights. The dome of the planetarium creates an illusion and can cause motion sickness. Viewer discretion is advised for the viewing of these shows. **
