FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The legendary “Star of Bethlehem” provides the focus for two holiday presentations at the University of Arkansas planetarium at 5 and 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18. The planetarium is located at the Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences in Room 201 of the former University Museum on Garland Avenue, next to the Arkansas Union.

Admission is free, but space is limited to 20 people per show. To reserve a seat contact Jessica Park at 575-7625 or at csaps@uark.edu.

The “Star of Bethlehem” presentation illustrates the major features of the current night sky, daily and annual motion of the stars, and the motions of the planets in the context of the Christmas story. The 30-minute program was developed by volunteer graduate students in the space and planetary sciences program to master the operation of the planetarium projector and its software.

The program will be used in other contexts as well, including presentations and laboratory classes for introductory astronomy and solar system courses taught by the astronomy program in the physics department. The planetarium is expected to be used in more advanced classes as well, such as an astronautics course in the mechanical engineering department where celestial navigation can be demonstrated as a complex three-dimensional display.

The planetarium was constructed and is operated by student volunteers under the leadership of Ahmed El Shafie, a doctoral candidate in space and planetary sciences, with guidance from Walter Graupner, laboratory manager for the Space Center, and with help from master research technician Jerry Homesley. The cost of materials came from the education budget of the Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences and profits from Meteorite magazine. Funds to purchase the projector were provided by the Sam M. Walton College of Business, the College of Engineering,the department of physics in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences and the Space Center.

The planetarium is a joint project of the Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences and the department of physics.