Starstruck at the Hallstrom Planetarium
That insatiable urge to look up to the stars is the oldest one we humans have, and you can indulge it right down the street at Indian River State College's Hallstrom Planetarium, where the cosmos come to life across a 40-foot dome, along with thousands of stars we never see due to light pollution.
Just $7 buys an experience serene enough for an hour alone with your thoughts, yet awe-inspiring enough for a family outing or an incredible date night.
The stars told the first farmers when to plant and the first sailors how to get home, and nearly every culture on earth elevated its gods among them.
Hallstrom, the only planetarium on the Treasure Coast, has gained quite a cult following. The faithful turn out in force for the laser light shows, when the dome goes dark and the Grateful Dead or Pink Floyd takes over. For more information, click here.
Your guide is Jon Bell, the planetarium's director and the voice of SkyWatch on WQCS 88.9, the local NPR station, who writes and narrates many of the shows himself. He can show you the sky over the Treasure Coast tonight, rewind it to the one the ancient Greeks charted, or take the whole room to Mars. He may point out the faint smudge known as Andromeda, a galaxy of roughly a trillion stars and the most distant thing the human eye can see unaided.
Beyond its dazzling shows, the Hallstrom Planetarium reflects Indian River State College’s commitment to making discovery and learning accessible to the entire community. That spirit of opportunity is also central to the Indian River State College Foundation, which helps expand educational possibilities and connect the College’s mission with the generosity of the Treasure Coast community.
Coming up
From Stars to Starfish, Oct. 16 and 17. From the ocean floor to the autumn constellations, with a children's version Oct. 17 at 10:30 a.m.
Laser shows, Oct. 30 and 31 and Nov. 13 and 14. Music and light across the dome, Pink Floyd included.
Star of Wonder, Dec. 4, 5, 11 and 12.
Astronomy Day, Jan. 16. Free, with telescopes trained on Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.
A Bear Goes to the Moon, Jan. 30, Feb. 13 and March 6. For ages 4 to 12.
Tickets: irsc.edu/hallstrom-planetarium or 772-462-4750
