Santa Monica College’s John Drescher Planetarium continues its Friday evening events in May 2022 with free, live virtual shows presented online at smc.edu/planetarium. This month’s friendly presentations will cover the latest information on the Artemis Program, and take a look at Lucy, NASA’s mission to explore the Trojan asteroids.
The Friday evening shows are at 8 p.m. and are preceded by a streamlined virtual digest of the popular Night Sky Show at 7 p.m., offering the latest news in astronomy and space exploration. The shows include the chance to chat with the planetarium lecturers and ask questions.
Planetarium lecturers are currently using the Zoom platform to present shows. To attend the shows, the Zoom software must be installed on the viewer’s computer. A free download is available at zoom.com.
The May 2022 shows are:
• Friday, May 6 & 13, at 8 p.m. (following The Night Sky Show at 7 p.m.): “Artemis Program Update” — Senior Lecturer Jim Mahon. The highly anticipated flight of Artemis 1 has been delayed again, and is now scheduled for a possible launch no earlier than June. The show — presented twice this month — will offer a shuttle program veteran’s perspective on developments, and will review program status and likely paths forward after that first uncrewed test flight. Free. Zoom at smc.edu/planetarium.
• Friday, May 20, at 8 p.m. (following The Night Sky Show at 7 p.m.): “We Love Lucy” — Associate Lecturer Sarah Vincent. NASA is sending a first-of-its-kind mission to Jupiter. Show will present an in-depth look at Lucy, an extraordinary mission that will explore both sets of Trojan asteroids for clues to the history of the solar system. Free. Zoom at smc.edu/planetarium.
More information is available online at smc.edu/planetarium or by calling 310-434-3005. All shows subject to change or cancellation without notice.
Santa Monica College is a California Community College accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
Submitted by Grace Smith