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STUDENTS
LOCAL
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Editorial/Our View
Space Encounter
Take a trip to the new planetarium to support UTA and science
There’s one event that should be on your schedule this weekend:
the opening of the new planetarium.
Admission is free for the grand opening Saturday, and there’s
almost no reason why the planetarium shouldn’t be packed at every
show on the hour from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Program coordinator Joe Eakin said Wednesday that “the software
and projectors alone for the project cost between $1.5 million and $2
million.” All of this was paid for by private donors. That’s
an amazing contribution. And we’re being let in for free. Donors,
no doubt, could have used that money for plenty of other things, but
they choose to give it to us so that the university and public can benefit
from science.
It’s not just a show about planets, stars and random gaseous clusters.
Laser-light shows will also be held at the planetarium every Thursday
night. Students can hang out, watch a show for the evening and listen
to music.
The complex has a 60-foot dome screen, 165 stadium-style seats and six
projectors.
The planetarium is a brand-new place at UTA that offers exciting events
for us. If we can go to a logo launch where a T-shirt and trinkets are
offered or Homecoming events where cars are painted in the name of spirit,
then surely we can devote an hour to the art of science.
The bright lights and cool visual effects will probably awe us and provide
an experience to remember. But it’s really more than that. You
might actually learn something.
Students, parents and alumni should bring their families and friends
to the shows, especially their children. According to a 2000 National
Center for Education Statistics report, students in grades four, eight
and 12 in Texas rank about average in science scores compared to other
states. Piquing their interest at a young age may help bump those scores
up.
The planetarium is in the new Chemistry and Physics Building between
Ransom and Trimble halls. After the grand opening, shows will cost only
$2 for UTA students, $4 for other students, children and senior citizens
and $5 for adults. Admission is $3.50 per person for groups of 10 or
more.
Everyone — students, alumni, faculty, administrators and their
families — should take this opportunity to experience something
new at the university. Take a break from the city lights, traffic, constant
noise and stress. Go see the stars — well, digitally projected
images of stars. But that’s close enough.
CORRECTION
The article should have stated that all planetarium shows will cost $2 for UTA students, $3
for faculty and staff and $4 for senior citizens and children.
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EDITORIAL ROUNDUP
The issue:
The planetarium in the new Chemistry and Physics Building opens to the
public Saturday, and students get in free.
We suggest:
Everyone should take this opportunity to check out the planetarium and
what it has to offer. Start by visiting http://www.uta.edu/planetarium.
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