Just around the corner from the SRJC Planetarium is Ed Megill’s office, the place where he teaches each planetarium show. Arranging and rearranging color slides on a light table, Megill meticulously shapes the next story that will transport the audience into an illusion of outer space.

Inside the dome is the Goto model GX-10 star projector that reproduces celestial sights onto the dome. The results are augmented with special effects projectors and 35 mm slide carousels that all interact, accurately reproducing images of stars, planets and celestial objects in a setting removed from city lights and smog.

The dome serves as a theater for public planetarium shows on the weekends. Although the demonstrations are entertaining, because of the darkness and convincing impressions, children under 5 aren’t suggested.

The planetarium also serves as an instructional facility for SRJC students as well as for elementary, junior high and high school students, some coming from as far away as San Francisco and Eureka.  Megill presents six different school shows, every one tailored to the sensibilities of each different age group. In the summers, the planetarium hosts groups from the YMCA, Girl Scouts, summer camps and special programs from Sonoma State University. The wide variety of programs keep Megill involved with his story plans as each new batch of breathtaking images come in from NASA.

Shows are on Friday and Saturday evenings at 7 and 8:30 p.m. The planetarium resumes its first Friday of the month free show on Feb. 7, presented at 7 and 8:30 p.m. These shows probe into the stars, constellations, planets and other interesting facts about the sky on that particular night.

Although we possess a staggering amount of information about the universe today, our curiosity and questions are ceaseless. The SRJC Planetarium engages our fascination while nurturing our inquisitive nature.