Whether you’re into astronomy, astrology, space travel or are simply looking for a fun activity to do on a Wednesday night, the weekly public planetarium shows at the Michael and Kimthanh Lê Planetarium return on Sept. 11 at 7 p.m.
ODU’s planetarium can be found inside the new chemistry building – which finished construction in 2021 – located at 4501 Elkhorn Avenue. It is the second largest planetarium in the State of Virginia, after the Space Museum in Richmond.
The first show of the semester, “Forward to the Moon!” is about creating an attainable future in space. It is narrated by Kari Byron, best known for the Discovery Channel’s “Mythbusters.” The show will introduce NASA’s Artemis program – cleverly named after the goddess of the moon, who happens to be Apollo’s twin. This will be the first crewed mission to the Moon’s surface since Apollo 17 in 1972, and it will land the first woman, the first person of color and the first international partner on the moon. The mission’s goal is to learn more about living on another planet, with the hopes of one day making it to Mars.
Tickets start at $4, and can be bought using cash, credit, or debit at the door. Doors open thirty minutes before the show starts. “Forward to the Moon!” is open to the public and recommended for ages 10+. Seats are first come first serve, so get there early to get the best seat!
Don’t fret if you miss this first event, public shows happen every Wednesday at 7 p.m. Upcoming shows include “Mars: The Ultimate Voyage,” on Sept. 18, and “The Sun: Our Living Star,” on Sept. 25. If you’re not interested in space, but still want to take advantage of what ODU has to offer, the planetarium hosts movie nights throughout the year as well.
For a schedule of events at ODUs planetarium, visit here.
For more information about NASA’s Artemis program, visit here.
