Santa Monica College’s John Drescher Planetarium continues its Friday evening events in August 2024 with free, live virtual shows presented online at smc.edu/planetarium. This month’s friendly shows continue the Women of Space series with an overview of women in spaceflight, and a look at the privately funded Polaris Dawn mission.
The Friday evening shows are at 8pm and are preceded by a streamlined virtual digest of the popular Night Sky Show at 7pm, 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 while SMC’s new planetarium and observatory are under construction. Free Zoom software is available for download at zoom.com.
The August 2024 shows are:
• Friday, August 2, Women in Spaceflight — Planetarium Lecturer Sarah Vincent. Drescher Planetarium’s Women of Space Series continues with a showcase of the careers of three female Space Shuttle Era astronauts: Sally Ride, Mae Jemison and Peggy Whitson. Free. Zoom here.
• Friday, August 9, at 8pm (following The Night Sky Show at 7pm): “Polaris Dawn” — Planetarium Lecturer Jim Mahon. Tonight’s show explores the Polaris Dawn mission, a private space mission that hopes to prove Crew Dragon is capable of supporting missions with extra vehicular activities (EVAs). Free. Zoom here.
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.
Submitted by Grace Smith
