The Illinois State University Planetarium will host its holiday show Dinosaurs at Dusk: The Origins of Flight at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Monday, December 31, followed by From Earth to the Universe at 9 p.m. that evening. Both shows are free and open to the public.

Dinosaurs at Dusk is the story of a father and his teenage daughter as they share a fascination with all things that fly. The duo travel back in time, exploring the Earth and observing extinct species such as the pterosaurs. However, the imminent “last day” arrives for the dinosaurs.

From Earth to the Universe follows the journey of celestial discovery. Explore the world of ancient Greek astronomy and see the world’s largest telescopes. The story expands outwards, experiencing the scorching Sun and the worlds in our Solar System, and into the unimaginable immensity of the Universe. In addition, we will also be taking a look at NASA’s New Horizons space probe. Free NASA New Horizons handouts will be available.

Doors will be open 20-30 minutes before each show. Seating is limited and is first-come first-serve. The ISU Planetarium is located under the white-domed roof at the eastern end of Felmley Hall of Science Annex, at the intersection of College Avenue and School Street. Free parking is available a short distance from the ISU Planetarium in University parking lot F-67. For more information, please call the ISU Physics Department at (309) 438-8756 or visit the Planetarium website.