ISU Planetarium premieres full-dome astronomy show

Image courtesy of Illinois State University 

NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State University Planetarium is inviting visitors to experience the fast-paced and ever-changing universe with its newest full-dome production, Messengers of Time and Space, an immersive show that brings cutting-edge astronomy research to life.

Astronomer and planetarium director Thomas Willmitch described the program as a fully immersive experience that uses the entire dome to place viewers inside cosmic environments.

“It’s in full-dome format, which is a little hard to describe if you’ve never experienced it,” Willmitch said. “We use the entire planetarium dome. When you’re on the surface of Mars, you see Mars all around you, the sky arching overhead and volcanoes off in the distance. If you’re floating in the asteroid belt, you’ll see asteroids coming toward you in one direction and receding in the other. It’s a highly immersive environment.” 

Unlike traditional stargazing programs that focus on slow, long-term changes in the sky, Messengers of Time and Space highlights what astronomers call “time-domain events,” sudden, powerful phenomena that occur without warning. 

“These are events that are very rapid,” Willmitch said. “We have things like gamma ray bursts, where there’s a sudden flash of light that lasts just a few minutes and then it’s over. You never know when or where this is going to happen.” 

The show also explores extreme cosmic collisions, including black hole and neutron star mergers, which send ripples through space-time itself. 

“These are some of the most violent events in the universe,” Willmitch said. “When they occur, they send out gravitational waves, and astronomers use telescopes to respond quickly and study what’s happening.” 

 The program was produced by the National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory, or NOIRLab, and is currently being shown at planetariums nationwide. 

Willmitch said the topic stood out because of its growing importance in modern astronomy. 

“It just sounded like such a fascinating subject to dive into,” he said. “This is very much a topic that’s at hand right now. It’s a big thing currently in astronomy. 

The planetarium team hopes visitors leave with a new perspective on the universe and its constant activity. 

 “Space is not static,” Willmitch said. “You look up at the night sky, and it seems quiet and peaceful, but in reality, it’s anything but. There are asteroids zipping through space, stars exploding, neutron stars merging, and black holes colliding. Space is a really dynamic place with lots of things happening constantly.” 

 He added that the ultimate goal is to connect audiences with the science behind those dramatic events. 

 “That’s really the big takeaway,” Willmitch said. “Astronomers are studying these fascinating phenomena, and this show helps people see just how active and exciting our universe really is.”

Messengers of Time and Space premieres this weekend and runs through Feb. 28 at the ISU Planetarium. Showtimes are Fridays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Admission is $7 for adults; $6 for children ages 5 to 12, seniors 60 and older, and those with a valid ISU ID; and $5 for children ages 3 and 4.