The Illinois State University Planetarium will present Distant Worlds – Alien Life? and The Sun, Our Living Star, September 6-November 23. Showtimes are at 2 p.m. on Saturdays for Distant Worlds and 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays for The Sun, Our Living Star. There will be no shows on September 20-21 or October 25-26.

Distant Worlds – Alien Life? investigates the conditions required for life, beginning with planets and moons in the Solar System and venturing out to some of the newly-discovered exoplanets orbiting other stars. Potentially habitable exoplanets are now being discovered regularly. Experience what life might look like on these worlds and the chances of encountering intelligent life in the future.

The Sun, Our Living Star is a visually striking planetarium show about the most important star in our lives. The Sun has shone on the world for four and a half billion years. It is the nearest star and the planet’s powerhouse, the source of the energy that drives winds, weather, and all life. Discover the secrets of this star and experience never-before-seen images of the Sun’s violent surface in immersive full-dome format.

Following each program, Planetarium staff will explore highlights found in the current evening sky; including the bright stars, constellations, and planets visible from Central Illinois.

Admission to the ISU Planetarium is $5 for adults, $4 for children ages 5-12 and seniors, and $3 for children ages 3-4.  Tickets are available in the Planetarium Gift Shop, next to the Planetarium, beginning 20 minutes before each show.

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

For more information, please call the ISU Physics Department at (309) 438-8756 or visit the Illinois State University Planetarium website.