Planetarium Presents “Are We Alone?” Nov. 4

VALDOSTA — The Valdosta State University Planetarium will present “Are We Alone?” at 7 p.m., 8 p.m., and 9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 4. The presentation is free of charge and open to the public.

“Are we who inhabit the earth alone in this vast universe? To begin to answer that question we need to distinguish what is alive and what is not,” shared VSU’s Department of Physics, Astronomy, and Geosciences. “Otherwise, we might stumble over it and miss it as we go exploring the solar system. We also need to think about how life started in the one place we know it exists — the earth.

“Recent observations by NASA's orbiting Kepler Telescope indicate that stars possessing solar systems with planets of various sizes is the norm, rather than the exception. In the VSU Planetarium, we will explore the intriguing possibility that we are not alone.”

“Are We Alone?” will be presented by Dr. Cecilia Barnbaum, a faculty member in VSU’s Department of Physics, Astronomy, and Geosciences.

Seating for each of the three presentations is limited to 47 guests. Free admission tickets will be distributed beginning at 6 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis at the VSU Planetarium.

The VSU Observatory will be open from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., weather permitting, allowing guests the opportunity to view the planets and the stars.  

Located on the third floor of Nevins Hall, the VSU Planetarium features a Digitarium Kappa digital projector, which can reproduce the night sky as seen from anywhere on Earth or from the surface of any object in the solar system, at any time in history, past or future. This technology is the first of its kind in the world.

Limited parking will be available in front of Nevins Hall and across Patterson Street.

Planetarium public outreach shows are appropriate for children ages 5 and up. Upcoming presentations include “The Star of Bethlehem” on Friday, Dec. 2.

Contact VSU’s Department of Physics, Astronomy, and Geosciences at (229) 333-5752 for more information.