The Southwest Minnesota State University Planetarium is a theater of the universe. It can surround you with an accurate image of the sparkling night sky as well as display the complex motions and cycles that take place around us. State-of-the-art technologies create a fully immersive multi-media experience.
The three primary projection systems include a laser phosphor digital fulldome system, an LED driven optical-mechanical star projector offering the most pristine look at the night sky, as well as a full-color laser light show system that can fill the entire dome with mesmerizing laser light. To augment this experience a powerful audio system enhances the impact of the experience as you take in the wonders of the cosmos. This unique experience will interpret the universe in a way that appeals to both the mind and eye. The Planetarium will introduce you to a life-long acquaintance with the sky and the dynamic universe we are a part of.
To book a group planetarium star show and/or laser light show by contacting the planetarium director:
Ken Murphy
ken.murphy@smsu.edu
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2021 Sky and Space Calendar Preview
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| January 2 | Earth at perihelion, closest point to the sun, 91.4 million miles |
| January 4 | Latest Sunrise |
| January 23 | Saturn at Superior Conjunction—behind the sun |
| January 28 | Jupiter at Superior Conjunction—behind the sun |
| February | China’s Tianwen 1 (orbiter & rover) reaches Mars |
| February 6 | 50th Anniversary of the First Golf Shot on the moon—Alan Shepard, Apollo 14 |
| February 12 | Chinese New Year—Year of the Ox |
| February 18 | Perseverance rover Lands in Jezero Crater on Mars |
| February 20 | NASA’s Parker Solar Probe mission makes fourth Venus flyby |
| March 14 | Spring ahead! Daylight Saving Time begins; Pi Day and Einstein’s Birthday |
| March 20 | Spring begins at 4:37 a.m. CDT |
| March 26 | Venus at superior conjunction—behind the sun as viewed from Earth |
| April 12 | 60th Anniversary of First Person in Space—USSR’s Yuri Gagarin; 40th Anniversary of First Space Shuttle Launch |
| April 26-27 | Super Full Moon |
| May 5 | 60th Anniversary of First American Person in Space—Alan Shepard |
| May 26 | Partial Super Moon Lunar Eclipse; Marshall, MN Times: 4:45 a.m. to 5:23 a.m. CDT |
| May 28 | Venus and Mercury close in evening sky |
| June 10 | Partial Solar Eclipse; Marshall, MN times: 5:12 a.m. to 5:41 a.m. CDT |
| June 14 | Earliest Sunrise |
| June 20 | Summer Solstice starts at 10:32 p.m. CDT |
| June 27 | Latest Sunset |
| July 5 | Earth at aphelion, the farthest point from the sun, 94.5 million miles |
| July 4-5 | Penumbral Lunar Eclipse (not visible in Minnesota, North America) |
| July 12 | Mars and Venus—very close in evening sky |
| July 22 | Launch of NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) to asteroids Didymos & Dimorphos |
| August 1 | Saturn at opposition, visible all night |
| August 11-13 | Perseid meteor shower peaks |
| August 19 | Jupiter at opposition, visible all night |
| September 14 | Neptune at opposition |
| September 22 | Fall arrives with the autumnal equinox at 2:21 p.m. CDT |
| October 16 | NASA’s Parker Solar Probe mission makes fifth Venus flyby; Launch of NASA’s Lucy flyby mission to multiple Trojan asteroids |
| October 31 | Launch of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope |
| November | Launch of NASA’s Artemis I to moon, test mission, no astronauts |
| November 4 | Uranus at opposition |
| November 7 | Fall back! Daylight Saving Time ends |
| November 19 | Almost (97%) total lunar eclipse; Marshall, MN times: 1:18 a.m. to 4:47 a.m. CST |
| December 4 | Total Solar Eclipse—Antarctica |
| December 7 | Earliest Sunset |
| December 12-14 | Geminid meteor shower peaks |
| December 21 | Winter Solstice starts at 9:59 a.m. CST |