LCC students and faculty tour the night sky at the planetarium
Planetariums have been in the United States since 1930. “Planetariums are essential educational tools that transform abstract astronomical concepts into immersive 3D experiences,” Cyburt said. “Helping students visualize complex mechanics like moon phases and seasonal shifts that are often difficult to grasp from 2D textbooks.”
The Adler Planetarium in Chicago, Illinois, pictured above, is the first ever planetarium opened in the U.S. Photo by John Cardamone on Unsplash.
By Emmett Roman
Staff Reporter
March 24 was an exciting day for STEM at LCC. From 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. students and staff were invited to LCC’s planetarium showcase in room 4110 in the Arts and Sciences building on LCC’s Downtown Campus. The event was organized by Kristen Wright, professor with the science and math department, with a total of 30 attendees.
At the event, students and faculty were introduced to the Star Ball—LCC’s projector that was installed in 1968—and new projection models that have recently came to LCC. These new projectors showcased a more in-depth 3D flythrough experience as well as interdisciplinary explorations. “LCC keeps the planetarium well maintained, and its starfield beats the resolution of the best digital projectors today,” Richard Cyburt, an LCC science professor said.
“Planetariums are essential educational tools that transform abstract astronomical concepts into immersive 3D experiences, helping students visualize complex mechanics like Moon phases and seasonal shifts that are often difficult to grasp from 2D textbooks,” Cyburt explained. “By acting as ‘astronomical laboratories,’ they allow educators to manipulate time and space, condensing months of celestial movement into a single session and providing a clear view of the night sky for students in light-polluted urban areas.”
Students interested in learning more about astronomy at LCC can consider enrolling in ASTR 201: Introductory Astronomy.
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