State-of-the-Art Hybrid System Takes Visitors Where No One Has Gone

In 2024, the planetarium upgraded the video system, installing a Evans & Sutherland Digistar 7 system that displays full-dome videos that are two-and-a-half times sharper than high-definition television. Digistar 7 really brings planetarium astrophysics into the 21st century and this ability to convey these sometimes complicated ideas in a very beautiful, elegant, immersive way on the dome gives you the perspective as if you were a time traveler or an astronaut.

The video upgrade makes the Wells Planetarium one of only a handful planetariums in the world currently to have both the Digistar 7 ultra-high resolution digital projection system and a Goto CHRONOS opto-mechanical star projection system. The planetarium can display the nighttime sky as it would appear from anywhere on earth at any time of year. It also shows planetarium visitors what the nighttime sky would look like without interference from lights, something that's practically impossible from just about anywhere on Earth. The star projector to show students and visitors that light pollution isn’t just a big city problem. By displaying what the Shenandoah Valley looks like with and without light pollution, audiences gain a better understanding of the damaging effects.

The planetarium's full-dome feature shows gives visitors a total-immersion-in-space experience, something they can do for free on Saturdays from September through the end of June. The planetarium presents short full dome movies about space exploration and discovery every Saturday. The 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. shows are intended for audiences with young children while the later shows, at 2:15 and 3:30 p.m., caters to older children and adults. Each show is followed by a live star talk highlighting the Valley sky -- the stars, planets and constellations that visitors can see at that time of the year on a clear night in their backyard. 

The planetarium also provides visitors experiences outside Miller Hall. Monthly star parties are held so visitors can see the night sky for themselves through telescopes mounted on stands at the JMU Astronomy Park. These public star parties are scheduled for Thursdays during the school year and can be cancelled due to inclement weather.

Summer Science Explorers camps for children are held in July. "We seek to inspire and excite the next generation of scientists and engineers," at the JCWP. "Our summer camps demonstrate that science is constantly changing, constantly uncovering new clues about why our Universe is the way it is, and not some other way. We ask questions and then use the scientific method to try to answer them. We investigate the size and scale of our solar system, learn more about the robotic exploration of it and learn more about our own Planet Earth and our fragile environment." Many of the Camp counselors are JMU pre-service teachers and physics majors considering teaching as a profession to pursue after JMU. "What a great way to become dynamic science teachers!"

Even with all the technology and equipment, the best part of visiting or working at the Planetarium is sharing the fun, excitement, and enthusiasm about the universe we live in. The Saturday programs are largely run by a very dedicated group or trained JMU students. Seeing JMU students involved in giving public scientific presentations and running a $2 million, state-of-the art planetarium, the only one in the world like it, is wonderful.