WKU News

Attendance at WKU’s Hardin Planetarium has been running near capacity for the past two months as free public shows of Into The Shadow Of The Disappearing Sun have shared information about the Aug. 21 solar eclipse.

This rare and remarkable event will continue to be discussed at the planetarium, but during July the eclipse shows are being interspersed with Ring World: A Grand Finale, a new show about another event about to occur in our solar system.

Ring World: A Grand Finale tells the story of how we have come to learn so much about the amazing rings of Saturn. This spring, NASA's Cassini spacecraft began its the final chapter of its remarkable story of exploration of the beautiful ringed planet. Cassini has spent 13 years in orbit around Saturn, but the spacecraft is about to run out of rocket fuel and will no longer be able to adjust its course. To avoid the unlikely possibility of Cassini someday colliding with a moon that may potentially harbor life, NASA has chosen to safely dispose of the spacecraft in the atmosphere of Saturn. On Sept. 15, Cassini’s final images will be sent to Earth, then the spacecraft will send home in real time the data recording its fateful dive into the Saturn's atmosphere.

Ring World: A Grand Finale debuts at 7 p.m. July 6 with repeat presentations at 2 p.m. July 9 and 7 p.m. July 11. The eclipse show, Into The Shadow Of The Disappearing Sun, returns on July 13 then the two shows will rotate throughout July and early August.

Both shows are free and suitable for all ages. Note that the shows will begin on time, with no late entrance permitted. The Hardin Planetarium is located at the corner of College Heights Boulevard and State Street.

Ring World: A Grand Finale show times and dates:

• Thursday, July 6          7 p.m.
• Sunday, July 9             2 p.m.
• Tuesday, July 11         7 p.m.
• Sunday, July 16          2 p.m.
• Thursday, July 20       7 p.m.
• Sunday, July 23          2 p.m.
• Tuesday, July 25         7 p.m.
• Sunday, July 29          2 p.m.
• Thursday, Aug. 3        7 p.m.
• Tuesday, Aug. 8          7 p.m.
• Tuesday, Aug. 22        7 p.m.
• Thursday, Aug. 24      7 p.m.
• Sunday, Aug. 27         2 p.m.
• Tuesday, Aug. 29        7 p.m.
• Thursday, Aug. 31      7 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 3           2 p.m.
• Tuesday, Sept. 5          7 p.m.
• Thursday, Sept. 7        7 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 10         2 p.m.
• Tuesday, Sept. 12        7 p.m.
• Thursday, Sept. 14      7 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 17         2 p.m.

Into The Shadow Of The Disappearing Sun show times and dates:

• Sunday, July 2     2 p.m.
• Thursday, July 13   7 p.m.
• Tuesday, July 18    7 p.m.
• Thursday, July 27   7 p.m.
• Tuesday, Aug. 1    7 p.m.
• Sunday, Aug. 6    2 p.m.
• Thursday, Aug. 10    7 p.m.
• Sunday, Aug. 13     2 p.m.
• Tuesday, Aug. 15   7 p.m.
• Thursday, Aug. 17   7 p.m.
• Sunday, Aug. 20    2 p.m.

Contact: Hardin Planetarium, (270) 745-4044