Planetarium Celebrates 35th Anniversary with Zeiss-Only Show

Former director Dave Leake to host special event featuring Carl Zeiss projector

In recognition of the 35th anniversary of its opening, the William M. Staerkel Planetarium at Parkland College is hosting a show Saturday, Oct. 1, featuring its original mechanical star projector, the Carl Zeiss Model M1015.

Called "Staerkel Unplugged: The Zeiss-Only Experience," the 2 p.m. show will be hosted by former planetarium director David Leake, who retired in 2019. Admission is $2 per person at the door.

Leake will operate the Zeiss projector and give the audience a glimpse of how shows were run before digital projectors were installed at the dome in 2010.

Please contact the planetarium at planetarium@parkland.edu or call 217/351-2568 for questions about the show schedule or for information about booking the dome. Visit parkland.edu/planetarium for show information.