Free open house set Saturday at TJC science center

The Tyler Junior College Earth and Space Science Center will open its doors for free on Saturday, Jan. 11, offering the public an opportunity to check out recent technology updates and enjoy a new show under the Hudnall Planetarium’s 40-foot dome.

The TJC science center is located at 1411 E. Lake St., and Saturday’s operating hours are 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Parking is free.

At 11 a.m., noon and 1:30 p.m. in the planetarium, representatives from the Perot Museum of Nature and Science will present “Atmospheric Adventure,” which explains what influences global weather patterns, how seasons occur, the importance of the water cycle, and how severe weather develops.

“We’re honored to have educators from the Perot Museum provide live science demonstrations on the atmosphere,” said Dr. Beau Hartweg, TJC science center director, “and we’re excited to showcase our newly updated Hudnall Planetarium.”

The center recently upgraded from Digistar4 to the Digitarium Aethos system, which uses 4K laser projection technology to create a vibrant, immersive theater experience.

Nightshade NG software allows for displaying high-resolution imagery of earth, the night sky, solar system, and deep space beyond the galaxy.

“We’re proud to be the first science center in the state to have this system,” Hartweg said. “The first one was installed in Eugene, Oregon, in 2018, so we are only the second center in the country to have it.”

Saturday’s dome shows include:

• 3 p.m.: “Journey Through Space Live!” — This live-interactive presentation will take audiences on a journey to the planets in the solar system and beyond.

• 4 p.m.: “Eclipses and Phases of the Moon” — Learn about the role of the moon in solar eclipses in this 20-minute planetarium show.

Theater seating is limited, and it is recommended that tickets are reserved in advance at the front counter or online.

For tickets and the full schedule of shows, go to sciencecenter.tjc.edu.