The ETSU Planetarium Logo

View of the planetarium dome from Lamb Hall

Planetarium shows are held from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM on the third Thursday of each month from September through April.  They are open to the public and are FREE!!! For a current list of shows, click HERE.

The East Tennessee State University Planetarium became operational in Fall 1962. It has remained in operation since then as a supplemental part of the ETSU Astronomy classes, an instrument used for public shows to interested parties (especially groups of school children), and a source of a series of monthly astronomy presentations by ETSU faculty which are free to the public.

The Spitz Model A3P Projector

The projector is a model A3P made by Spitz Laboratories, Inc. It is capable of projecting stars down to magnitude 5.4 (a total of about 6,000 stars) and is housed under a 24 foot dome in Room 207 of Hutcheson Hall on the campus of East Tennessee State University (click HERE for a map). There is seating for a total of 50 people. Handicap access is also available.

The Planetarium Console

The Control Console is the "nerve center" of the planetarium complex. It serves as the speaker's lectern and offers control of all motions and projectors. Auxiliary instruments are available for simulations of planetary motion (including an orrery), projection of coordinates and the meridian, projections of the planets, sun, and moon (including phases), projection of a simulated twighlight, projection of a meteor shower and a simulation of a low Earth orbiting satellite. The daily motion of the Earth can be simulated, as well as the precession of the Earth. A slide projector which projects images in both the northern and southern hemispheres of the celestial sphere has been installed to facilitate lectures.

Two ETSU faculty members (Bob Gardner and Gary Henson) were recently awarded an (internal ETSU) "Instructional Development Grant" to help modernize the ETSU Planetarium. New equipment installed includes a DVD player and a sound system. Equipment was also purchased to help produce digital sound and video for planetarium shows. This allows for all-digital shows. "Stay tuned" for the latest developments and keep an eye out for new shows which make use of this equipment!

The ETSU Planetarium is a part of the larger program of astronomy research and education at ETSU. An integral part of the educational aspect of this program is the new ETSU observatory which houses a 14 inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope under a dome and has pedestals for up to eight smaller 8 inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes which are used for astronomy classroom laboratories and public star parties. The star parties often include a brief lecture on some contemporary topic. Click HERE for additional information on these public events. On the research side, ETSU is a member of the Southeastern Association of Research in Astronomy (SARA) which operates a 0.9 meter telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona.

For details on the astronomy research program at ETSU, click HERE.

For additional information on the planetarium, or to schedule a special presentation for your school group, contact:

• Dr. Gary Henson, Planetarium Director
  Department of Physics and Astronomy
  East Tennessee State University, Box 70652
  Johnson City, TN 37614-0652
  Phone: (423) 439-6906, FAX: (423) 439-6905
  e-mail: hensong@etsu.edu, or
• Dr. Robert Gardner, Planetarium Co-Director
  Department of Mathematics and Department of Physics and Astronomy
  Institute of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
  East Tennessee State University, Box 70296
  Johnson City, TN 37614-0296
  Phone: (423) 439-6978 or (423) 439-8684, FAX: (423) 439-8361
  e-mail: gardnerr@etsu.edu

The following is a list of ETSU faculty with a deep interest in astronomy:

• Bob Gardner, Department of Mathematics, Department of Physics and Astronomy (adjunct), and the Institute of Mathematical and Physical Sciences (treasurer). Bob is a prolific researcher in the area of math and is deeply interested in astronomy. He is co-director of the ETSU Planetarium.
• Mark Giroux, Department of Physics and Astronomy. Mark's interests include the thermodynamics of the intergalactic medium and quasar absorption line systems, cosmogony and large-scale structure of the universe, quasar absorption spectra, theory of galaxy formation. He teaches introductory physics and upper level classes.
• Gary Henson, Department of Physics and Astronomy. Gary is interested in the visible and infrared photometry of variable stars. He teaches introductory astronomy courses, physics courses, and is the director of the ETSU Planetarium and Harry D. Powell Observatory.
• Richard Ignace, Department of Physics and Astronomy. Rico is interested in hot stars and gravitational lens. He teaches introductory astronomy courses and physics courses.
• Don Luttermoser, Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Institute of Mathematical and Physical Sciences (vice president). Don is a prolific researcher and concentrates his research efforts on the study of the spectroscopy of Mira type variables and nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium models. His work involves a great deal of computer simulations of spectra. He regularly teaches the introductory astronomy courses and has developed an upper level "Astrophysics" class.
• Harry Powell, Department of Physics and Astronomy (retired). Harry is interested in the photometry of variable stars.
• Beverly Smith, Department of Physics and Astronomy. Bev studies star formation in interacting galaxies. Her area of research can most broadly be described as "multi-wavelength extragalactic astronomy." She is a prolific researcher and often teaches introductory astronomy classes.

1. Bays Mountain Planetarium.
   
2. Planetariums in Tennessee.
   
3. Sky and Telescope Planetarium Listing.
4. International Planetarium Society.

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