A free program exploring the reversal of the Earth’s magnetic poles will be presented at the Illinois State University Planetarium at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 13.

The Earth’s magnetic poles periodically reverse, with north becoming south and south becoming north.  This has happened roughly every 200,000 to 300,000 years throughout much of our planet’s history.  However, it has been more than twice that long since the poles last reversed.

Carl Wenning, retired Planetarium director and instructional assistant professor of physics, will explore this fascinating topic, along with what an overdue pole reversal means for civilization and life on Earth.

The ISU Planetarium is in the Felmley Hall of Science Annex, at the corner of College Avenue and School Street on the edge of Uptown Normal.  The Planetarium entrance and white dome faces School Street.  Free parking is available in the ISU F-67 Red-tag Faculty lot, north of the Planetarium on School Street.  For more information, please call the ISU Physics Department at (309) 438-8756.