 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2007) |
| William M. Staerkel Planetarium | |
|---|---|
 Exterior of the William M. Staerkel Planetarium | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Planetarium |
| Address | 2400 W Bradley Ave |
| Town or city | Champaign |
| Country | United States |
| Opened | 1987[1] |
| Affiliation | Parkland College |
| Website | |
| www | |
The William M. Staerkel Planetarium is a planetarium at Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois.[2] It is the second largest planetarium in the state, the largest being the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, and has the first Carl Zeiss M1015 opto-mechanical star projector installed in the western hemisphere.[3] The Staerkel Planetarium provides science education programs and light show entertainment to as many as 40,000 people each year. It has a 50-foot dome, seats 144, and private group and school show reservations can be made beyond the regular public offerings.[4]
Public shows are every Friday and Saturday evenings. Aside from their regular star shows, the planetarium also hosts a lecture series the first Friday of every month.
The planetarium is named after Parkland College's founding president, who led the college for the first 20 years.
- ^ Heckel, Jodi. "Staerkel Planetarium's new show geared toward adults". The News Gazette. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- ^ Elisa Drake (17 June 2014). DAY TRIPS FROM CHICAGO: GETAWAY IDE 2ED. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 123. ISBN 978-1-4930-1054-7.
- ^ "About The STAERKEL PLANETARIUM". Parkland College. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
- ^ http://media.www.prospectusnews.com/features/staerkel-planetarium-the-best-little-known-planetarium-in-illinois-1.2116158[permanent dead link]