The Wadesboro Rotary Planetarium and Science Center, an Anson County Schools learning resource center, will present a special program that combines astronomy and holiday traditions.
The Season of Light, a 35-minute full-dome video projected on the planetarium dome, is a program about the coldest and darkest of seasons — a time that holds some of the warmest and brightest celebrations of the year.
This presentation traces the history and development of many of the world’s most endearing holiday customs, all of which involve lighting up the winter season — from the burning Yule log, sparkling Christmas tree lights and candles in windows, to the lighting of luminaries in the American Southwest and the traditional ritual of the Hanukkah menorah.
The show also recounts the historical religious and cultural rituals practiced during the time of winter solstice — not only Christian and Jewish, but also Celtic, Nordic, Roman, Irish, Mexican and Hopi. It also takes a look at some of the more lighthearted seasonal traditions: from gift-giving and kissing under the mistletoe to songs about lords a-leaping and ladies dancing and the custom of decking the halls with greenery and candles.
St. Nicholas, Sinterklaas, Kris Kringle, Father Christmas and Santa Claus all drop by as well.
Naturally, there is some astronomy in Season of Light. Audiences learn a selection of Northern hemisphere winter constellations, and find out why we even have seasons, as presenters demonstrate the sun’s path across the sky throughout the year and the Earth’s tilt and orbit around the sun.
And, of course, the program explores the possible astronomical explanations for a “Star over Bethlehem” in the last quarter of the show: comets, meteors, novae and supernovae and planetary conjunctions.
Audiences will also have a chance to experience the planetarium’s new full-dome projection system with information on seasonal stargazing as well as a trip through the solar system’s planets. A hands-on trip in the animal room, the Lives of the Tree exhibit, the John Kiker exhibit and a look at the extensive mineral collection, donated by Ansonian T. D. Burns, will be available during the visit.
Shows are scheduled for 6 p.m. next Monday and Tuesday, 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 21 and 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 22.
The Season of Light show is designed for all ages. The cost of the show and visiting the animal room at the science center is $5 for adults and $2 for children. All proceeds from admissions will help finance the purchase of future full-dome digital science shows.
Seats are limited in the dome to 20. Reservations are encouraged. Call the Rotary Planetarium and Science Center at 704-694-4417, extension 01005, and leave a message with your name, contact number, and the number of seats you would like to reserve.
Church groups may call and talk to the planetarium director to schedule a private showing for their group.
Wendy P. Efird is the planetarium director of Rotary Planetarium and Science Center for Anson County Schools.