The Tyler Junior College Earth and Space Science Center featuring Hudnall Planetarium will offer extended hours during spring break, March 8-13.
Center hours during spring break are 9:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday. Admission is $3 per person, and advance online reservations are required. All guests ages 10 and up are required to wear face coverings inside the building, and they are advised to review the guidelines on the website before their visit. The dome theater is thoroughly cleaned between each show.
Guests can reserve a private screening in the planetarium Monday-Friday, during the 9:45 a.m. timeslot. For a $25 flat fee, up to 20 visitors can enjoy a private viewing of any one of the shows from the center’s existing library.
Dome shows and times
• “Accidental Astronauts: An Earth, Moon, Sun Adventure” (11 a.m.) — In this show for children, families and school groups, robo-kids Cy and Annie, along with their dog Armstrong, get a lot more than they expected from their class field trip. Tag along on their impromptu adventure as they explore the sun, earth and moon, with a witty starship computer as navigator and guide. Race along on the surface of the moon! Collect an asteroid sample in low gravity! Survive a solar storm! Find new appreciation for the earth’s unique beauty.
• “SpacePark 360” (12:15 p.m.) — This show takes audiences on an adrenaline-filled trip through the Solar System while recreating the experience of amusement park thrill rides — roller coasters, pendulums, inverters and more. From the top of Jupiter's clouds to the icy depth of Neptune’s moon, Triton, each location serves to heighten the thrilling experience.
• “Laser Mania” (1:30 p.m.) — Set to a soundtrack of soft rock, pop, adult contemporary and easy listening music, this fun, family laser show is a beautiful artistic interpretation for all ages.
• “Asteroid: Mission Extreme” (2:45 p.m.) — Embark on an epic journey to discover the potential that asteroids present to facilitate manned space travel. Through stunning visuals and computer graphics, the film presents the fascinating idea that asteroids could serve as stepping stones to other worlds, veritable way stations in space enabling us to cross the entire Solar System.
• “Extreme Auroras” (4 p.m.) — Created by award-winning photographer Ole Salomonsen, “Extreme Auroras” is a visual feast. Join Salomonsen as he journeys through northern Norway, Finland and Sweden in pursuit of his passion to film nature’s wildest and most spectacular light show: the aurora borealis, or northern lights. Filmed with fisheye lenses that capture the whole sky and then projected in the full-dome theater, you will feel as though you are immersed in the arctic wilderness, witnessing this awe-inspiring natural phenomenon.
The science center is located at 1411 E. Lake St., on the TJC main campus. Parking is free.
To purchase advance tickets and review the health and safety guidelines, go to sciencecenter.tjc.edu.