Richland College planetarium to reopen on Friday

The planetarium will put on shows, starting with The Cowboy Astronomer, every six weeks through May 2009.

The planetarium at Richland College reopens Friday for star shows after a three-year hiatus. But like a shooting star, the free public showings will have a limited run.

Heather Appleby, the physics and astronomy professor at Richland coordinating the renewed effort, says she hopes to have shows about every six weeks through May 2009. After that, the planetarium will be remodeled to house the Center for Renewal and Wholeness in Higher Education.

Richland’s Planetarium will show The Cowboy Astronomer at 7 p.m. on Oct. 3 in Room S116 of Sabine Hall. The free show is family friendly and suitable for astronomers of all levels. A presentation of what stars, planets, and constellations are currently visible in the Dallas area nighttime sky will follow the show.

“I thought The Cowboy Astronomer was a great way to restart,” Ms. Appleby said. “It’s so funny, great for families and has lots of good information.”

From 1993 to 2005, Richland hosted free monthly planetarium shows in partnership with volunteers from the Texas Astronomical Society (TAS). The shows were well-attended and popular with the community. TAS volunteers decided to end the star shows in May 2005. Since then, Richland’s Planetarium has been used only by Richland faculty members and students.

Construction began in December 2007 on a $40 million, 114,000-square-foot facility that will house Richland’s science programs, Science Corner, bookstore, coffee bar, and conference rooms. College administrators, architects, and contractors are seeking platinum status under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. Officials expect construction to be completed in August 2009.

The college’s science programs, classrooms and offices will move from what is currently Sabine Hall to the new building. As a result, the planetarium will be remodeled and transformed into the the Center for Renewal and Wholeness in Higher Education (CRWHE).

The CRWHE’s mission is to help colleges and universities cultivate an environment that values healthy relationships with self and others, thereby creating healthier campuses that in turn enrich their communities. The CRWHE officially moved from the District Office of the Dallas County Community College District to Richland in August 2008.

Formerly known as the Center for Formation in the Community College and then the Center for Formation in Higher Education, the organization was launched by funding from the Fetzer Institute, sponsored by the League for Innovation in the Community College. To learn more, visit www.richlandcollege.edu/CRWHE.

Source: DCCCD