'Season of Light' planetarium show

John Deere Planetarium at Augustana College will present its annual holiday program, "Season of Light, Dec. 10-16.

The free planetarium show will be offered weekdays at 7 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. Admission is free, but reservations are required. The program is not recommended for children ages 7 and under.

“Season of Light” is a multimedia show that uses the planetarium sky projector, astronomical images, music and narration, all projected onto a 30-foot dome to tell the story of how holiday traditions are connected to the sky above.

December is the darkest month of the year and people all over the world have held festivals, lit candles and tried to bring light to the darkness of the winter sky.

The show also explains the seasons, the winter constellations and speculates about the Star of Bethlehem. Planetarium Director Dr. Lee Carkner will be leading the shows.

Just outside the planetarium, full-color images from the Hubble Space Telescope and a quarter ton piece of the Canyon Diablo meteorite will be displayed with interpretive information in the Getz-Rogers Gallery.

In addition, Augustana’s Fryxell Geology Museum, adjacent to the planetarium, will be open for visitors. Hours will be 1-4 p.m. the weekend of Dec. 10-11 and from 7:30-8:30 p.m. on the weeknights of Dec. 12-16.

Doors will open 15 minutes before each show. Late-comers will not be admitted.