Erika Gibb, chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at UMSL, spoke with St. Louis Public Radio about the newly renovated planetarium on campus, which held its first open house on Sunday. (Photos by Tim Wombles)

The newly renovated University of Missouri–St. Louis Planetarium was the star this past weekend on campus. The first open house for the new facility attracted more than a hundred visitors, selling out all five showings from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

The opening of the planetarium even caught the attention of St. Louis Public Radio. Erika Gibb, chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at UMSL, spoke about the planetarium’s importance to students and the community in the station’s preview of the open house.

UMSL Planetarium dome

“I did a school project in fifth grade on the life cycle of stars, and I was hooked,” Gibb told St. Louis Public Radio. “That’s why it’s so important to get these elementary school and middle school kids in because they’re so excited about science. If you can get them hooked at that age, you know, maybe a few of them will stick with it and go on to make discoveries.”

The $250,000 renovation includes a brand new projector and all new seating and carpet. In addition to community outreach, the planetarium will be used for astronomy and astrophysics courses at UMSL. Visits are free and open to the public.

Visit the St. Louis Public Radio website to read more.