The public program begins with a free planetarium show most Fridays at 8 p.m. Please make your reservation for the planetarium show as seating capacity is limited to 46.
After the planetarium show, view the real night sky through telescopes at the UNG North Georgia Astronomical Observatory (weather permitting). The new observatory facility is complete and open to the public, featuring a 28" reflecting telescope for viewing.
Our current public show is titled "Phantoms and Giants: Dark Matter and Galaxies." Runtime about 50 minutes.
The show begins with a full-dome video called "Phantom of the Universe" about the search for mysterious dark matter, narrated by Tilda Swinton. We’ll explore the beginnings of the universe and race around the largest particle accelerator in the world.
The show continues with a live presentation of the evening sky featuring some of the giant structures that are shaped by dark matter: galaxies.
Public shows incorporate full-dome video and a live presentation of what is up in the current night sky. Recent astronomical discoveries may also be presented.
The live content of the show changes throughout the year to reflect changes in the evening skies and new developments in science.
Shows may include stunning images of stellar nebulas, travel to distant planets or stars, and detailed instruction on how to identify constellations!