Not every area is blessed to have a local university.  Institutions of learning can open up whole new worlds to students and area residents alike—literally!  People often forget or are unaware that Sam Houston State University has a planetarium and observatory, available to the public and not just the students.  We recently visited with Michael Prokosch, the public outreach director in charge of the planetarium and observatory, to get the “Big Dipper” scoop on the facilities and available indoor and outdoor programs.

The Planetarium

Located on the SHSU campus in the Farrington Building (Room 102), the university’s indoor planetarium can offer the public the opportunity to explore our solar system and beyond the Milky Way. The planetarium’s dome is 7.3 meters and 22 feet across (shaped like an umbrella).

The planetarium shows movies and a digital night sky within the room. Such shows can last about an hour and are ideal for those with younger children or students who want to explore constellations. There are also feature programs and readings for about twenty to thirty minutes each. But there is always something different about the shows, so an audience would not experience the same thing twice.

If there is an interest in visiting the planetarium on campus, people can visit the SHSU Physics Department page (www.shsu.edu/academics/physics/links) and the SHSU Planetarium Facebook page to see when and what is available that month. You can also contact Michael Prokosch at (936)294-3664 to make an appointment.

During the fall and spring semesters, when the campus is more active, the planetarium only offers one show a month or by appointment.  During the summer, there are two shows (one at 7:00 pm and another at 8:00 pm)—once a week, with thirty seats available for appointments.  This is an ideal time for scout troops, churches, homeschooled children, and similar groups to experience what the planetarium has to offer. The physics department physics also includes planetarium show trailers which offer a preview as to what people can expect when visiting.

Most importantly—the planetarium shows are free!

When people visit the planetarium, there is parking located off Sam Houston Ave and Bowers Blvd; this parking is paid by the hour using the ParkMobile app, available in the app store. The Farrington Building is located between the Estill, Marks, and Academic Building III buildings.

Sam Houston State University’s planetarium has been in existence since the construction of the Farrington Building in 1956.

The Observatory

Another former part of the Farrington Building, until its removal in 1985, is the Sam Houston State University Observatory. The observatory is currently located off Highway 19, north of Huntsville, where the public is able to visit with appointments. The address is 39 Knox Circle, Huntsville, Texas. Allow for 25 minutes of drive time once you leave campus.

There is a current transition going on with the observatory, with its original telescope being replaced and wheelchair accessibility added for people to view the telescope. These improvements are expected to offer the opportunity for more events at the location.

To set-up appointments, follow the same procedures as for the planetarium.  There is not a set schedule for the observatory, due to the unpredictability of Texas weather throughout the year. When there are eclipses or meteor showers, the observatory has special events associated with such happenings.

When there is the opportunity to visit the observatory, digital cameras and different gear associated are allowed. With the observatory being outside, it is important to arrive early enough to set-up your equipment before it gets too dark. But, being without a digital camera should not stop people from coming out.  According to Prokosch, though, Android phones are able to capture night vision, due to the accessible use of shutter speed and iOS options for people to better capture the night sky. Newer Apple devices are improving in this area.

A word of warning:  Being outside comes with “The Dew Factor.”  Excess moisture during cool, clear nights when the SHSU Observatory is accessible for perfect sky viewing is common. This can wet equipment if people do not have access to something able to wipe down the surfaces. With this, Prokosch states, “Less gear is better,” because everything eventually gets wet.

Going to the SHSU Observatory offers people the opportunity to see parts of the Milky Way not accessible when standing in a neighborhood, restaurant parking lot, or shopping center due to light pollution.  According to Prokosch, light pollution can make people forget that the Milky Way has color and can cast a shadow from its light, if light pollution were non-existent.

Make “Space” in Your Schedule for a Visit

Our rat race pace in life can be daunting at times. The planetarium and observatory can offer a welcome change of speed. First, the planetarium offers indoor programming with preparation for scheduling a day with Mr. Prokosch. The observatory, opposite in terms of location and scheduling, is offered at night when the brutal sun has set for the day, and a calming breeze blows throughout the location. People can spend their time at the observatory reclining in silence while gazing at the different constellations or taking the time to capture better images of the night sky.

By going to the SHSU Planetarium and Observatory, you can forget about your day for an hour and try to comprehend the massive size of our universe. Search for Venus, Jupiter, or Mars in the night sky at the observatory; connect the dots of Orion’s Belt or the Big Dipper on your search for Polaris, the North Star. If the observatory is not available, visit the planets and stars within reach at the planetarium. The sky isn’t the limit, after all.