The Illinois State University Planetarium will be presenting two shows this fall from early September through early November, Life: A Cosmic Story, and Seeing! A Photon’s Journey Across Space, Time and Mind.

After each program, audience members will get to explore the real-time highlights of the evening sky. They will witness the bright stars, constellations, and planets visible from Central Illinois.

Life: A Cosmic Story will run from September 7 through November 10. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The show is narrated by Academy Award-winning actor Jodie Foster and will present the 14-billion-year saga of our existence. It presents the journey that begins with a microscopic view of a plant cell and concludes with the exploration of innumerable galaxies swirling in space.

Seeing! A Photon’s Journey Across Space, Time and Mind will run from September 8 through November 10.  Showtimes are 2 p.m. Saturdays. The show is based on the PBS documentary Sight–The Story of Vision. The show is narrated by famed physicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, and will explore science, technology, and medicine to help us understand how sight works. It will provide an overview of how eye diseases are cured, and vision corrected.

There will be no shows on Friday, October 26 and Saturday, October 27.

Admission to the ISU Planetarium is $4 for adults, $3 for children ages 5-12 and seniors, and $2 for children ages 3-4. Tickets may be purchased in the Planetarium Gift Shop, next to the Planetarium, beginning 20 minutes before each show. Seating is limited.

The ISU Planetarium is located under the white-domed roof at the eastern end of Felmley Hall of Science Annex. Felmley Hall is located on the northeast corner of the ISU campus at the intersection of College Avenue and School Street.

Free parking for the weekend programs is available a short distance from the ISU Planetarium in University parking lot F-67, located on the east side of School Street.

For more information, please call the ISU Physics Department at (309) 438-8756.